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Year's Best: 5 of our favorite trucks of 2016

We had a ton of trucking fun this year in everything from stalwart workhorses to rambunctious Raptors.

Emme Hall
I love two-seater, RWD convertibles and own a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata for pavement fun and a lifted 2001 Miata for pre-running. I race air-cooled Volkswagens in desert races like the Mint 400 and the Baja 1000. I have won the Rebelle Rally, seven-day navigational challenge, twice and I am the only driver to compete in an EV, the Rivian R1T.
Emme Hall
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1 of 15 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

5. 2017 Honda Ridgeline

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline might be a Pilot underneath, but it functions like a truck, and that's all most buyers will care about.

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2 of 15 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

The Ridgeline has an in-bed auto system, enough power for a big-screen TV and a huge integrated cooler.

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2017 Hone Ridgeline-39
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3 of 15 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

It really is a tailgater's dream.

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4 of 15 Ford

4. 2017 Ford F-series Super Duty

The 2017 Ford Super Duty trucks are the best-selling work trucks in America, and with good reason. These babies are towing beasts.

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5 of 15 Emme Hall/Roadshow

Maximum payload is 7,630 pounds, up nearly 600 pounds from the 2016 model.

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6 of 15 Emme Hall/Roadshow

And if you need help backing up that trailer, the guidance system makes it a snap with overlaid graphics to let you know which way to turn the wheel.

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7 of 15 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

3. 2016 Ram Rebel

We had a blast in the 2016 Ram Rebel. It's got off-road capabilities, on-road manners and it looks badass.

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8 of 15 Ram

Off-road goodies include a 1-inch lift, Bilstein shocks and meaty, 33-inch Toyo Open Country A/T tires.

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9 of 15 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

And the bonus? An available 5.7-liter V8, good for 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. Yes, ma'am, we'll take it!

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10 of 15 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

2. 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

The 2017 Toyota Tacoma is always welcome in the Roadshow garage, especially in TRD Pro trim. With bigger Fox shocks, Goodyear Wrangler rubber over 16-inch wheels and a 1/4-inch kid plate this Taco is ready for action.

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11 of 15 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The Crawl Control function can unbury the truck, even if it's stuck up to the axles. You can also use it to maintain a constant speed while you just concentrate on steering around obstacles. Or over them. You decide.

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12 of 15 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The best part: It's available in a six-speed manual for ultimate truck control.

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13 of 15 Matt Scott

1. 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

We waited a long time to drive the 2017 Ford Raptor and it did not disappoint.

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14 of 15 Emme Hall/Roadshow

A new 3.5-liter V6 engine produces 450 horsepower and a whopping 510 pound-feet of torque.

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2017 Ford Raptor
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15 of 15 Ford

The Raptor also boasts a 10-speed automatic transmission, six selectable terrain modes and (my favorite) 13 inches of travel in the front and 13.9 inches of travel in the rear. Yowza!

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