Top 10 Television Pickup Trucks, Part 1
By Robby DeGraff and Mike Levine
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No. 10: Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2, "Storm Chasers"
The tank-like Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2 in the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" started life as a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 dual-rear-wheel 4x4 pickup. Its pickup body was replaced with a new steel-frame safety structure, covered in 1/8-inch-thick welded steel plates. The sides were fitted with hydraulic skirts that could be lowered on demand to direct high-speed tornado winds safely around the truck. Power to the truck's three driven axles came from a 6.7-liter six-cylinder Cummins turbo-diesel, outfitted with propane and water injection. The two rear axles were Dana 80s needed to support the TIV's 17,500-pound curb weight.
No. 9: 1973 Ford F-100, “The Dukes of Hazzard”
When you’ve got two young nephews who race and jump a 1969 Dodge Charger nicknamed the General Lee all over the county, what better vehicle to follow behind to help pick up the pieces than a Ford F-100? The beat-up old truck was Uncle Jesse’s faithful rig in almost every episode of “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
No. 8: 1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty, "King of the Hill"
We all know a guy like Hank Rutherford Hill. He's conservative, no-nonsense, a hard worker and loves his son no matter what. Hank could be your next door neighbor. So what better vehicle for dependable Hank to drive than a 1999 Ford F-250? He bought it after his Ford Ranger was destroyed by a train. The Super Duty even has a manual transmission. No wonder "The Economist" called Hank one of the wisest characters on TV.
No. 7: 1921 Oldsmobile Model 46 Truck, "The Beverly Hillbillies"
What’s the perfect vehicle to move your family to swanky Beverly Hills after discovering bubbling crude in Appalachia in the 1960s? If you’re Jed Clampett, it’s a 1921 Oldsmobile roadster with a custom flatbed on the back to carry all your prized possessions and, of course, Granny’s rocking chair. George Barris, the legendary Hollywood car builder known for creating the Batmobile, created five of these trucks for the television series. One example recently sold at a Barrett Jackson Auto Auction for more than $125,000!
No. 6: 1979 Dodge Macho Power Wagon, "Simon & Simon"
Two brothers with polar-opposite personalities and lifestyles team up and form a detective agency in San Diego in the 1980s. A.J. Simon is a yuppie who likes fast cars while Rick Simon, a former Marine, gets around in a Macho Power Wagon with a front bumper fit for a Texas cattle ranch or running baddies off the road. Guess whose vehicle always saved the day? Yep, you nailed it.
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Comments
I didn`t realize that the TIV was now a Dodge. The first was a Ford. The TIV was recently feature on Mythbusters where they blasted with 250mph exhuast from a jet engine to see if it would hold up. Pretty cool.
The F250 in King of the Hill is a gasoline powered truck. he has complained about having to fill it up with 87 octane, in that complaint he also says something amongst the lines of dealing with knocking and pinging throughout the whole tank.
@Kemo: Thanks! I updated the post.
I remember on the fall guy during a very good jump the trucks front axle broke in half and they quickly cut to another scene of it driving. Maybe that was in the clip above.
Also Mike you should mention that Walker originally started out with a Chevy Z71 before morphing into the Dodge a few seasons later. Kind of like Daren on Bewitched.
@Mike Things on the truck changes throughout the show. At one point, it has quads coming out the rear, and another part during the very same episode it has one side pipe. Pretty sure that truck had both trannies in it, gotta love the consistency!
@Mike, what about the Chevy pickup from the show "The Fall Guy" with Steve Austin. I'm not at all a Chevy guy but I did watch the show.
@Mike
Ive got a few nominations.
There was the late 1960's Model Ford F-250 from the 1974 movie Mr. Majestyk. That whole chase scene with that truck was great! With its dukes of hazerd like jumps.
And anytruck from the Movie Twister. The little Yellow Jeep J-10 that sacrarificed itself during the first tornado chase? Or the Red Dodge Ram that was sucked up by the last tornado in the movie?
@Fordguy1988: Check out our Top 10 Movie Pickup Trucks too: http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/stories/lists/movie-trucks/top-10-movie-pickup-trucks-1.html
@Fordguy1988 i remember that moive spend the whole time trying to figur out if it was a gas or diesel turned out to be gas
Sorry to argue guys but, it was mentioned that Walker Texas Ranger drove a Z71. He did not! His first truck was a blue GMC ext.cab step side TWO WHEEL DRIVE . if you will look at the reruns you will see a lifted two WHEEL DRIVE five lug WHEEL piçkup. I have watched the show for years and have never saw a four wheel drive until the Dodge came about. Some of the later shows the shots of CD's bar from outside and the blue GMC is sitting in front.
what no GMC from ROCKFORD FILES??????????????????? phhfffffffffffttttt............... and besdies the power wagon was a MACHO edition from S+S and still exists today on the backot of universal
I have remembered 1979 Dodge Macho Power Wagon, "Simon & Simon". Thanks for the putting all incindents at a single place.
I have remembered 1979 Dodge Macho Power Wagon, "Simon & Simon". Thanks for the putting all incindents at a single place.
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