12 of our favorite off-road trim package names
For most of us, buying a vehicle is an emotional decision. If we were thinking with pure logic, we wouldn’t be car enthusiasts. Because we actually care about how our cars and trucks make us feel, their names can be important. When it comes to trucks, that’s especially true as plenty of them go by a number and not a name, like F-150 or 1500. Whether they’re named after desert races, desert creatures, or just plain deserts themselves, many of our favorite off-road trim packages lend a totally different personality in addition to their added capability. Lots of these trim names have a southwest flavor, but some are interesting for other reasons. Here are our top names for off-road trim packages.
Rubicon
Perhaps no brand knows its audience the way Jeep does. It has been providing Wrangler buyers with scores of opportunities to build their perfect off-roader for years. The first Wrangler Rubicon set a simple formula that all future models would follow: tall tires, front and rear selectable lockers, and a deep low range for an impressive crawl ratio. The challenging Rubicon Trail is this Jeep’s namesake, and the Sierra Nevada rock-crawling destination is still a proving ground for current off-roaders to test their mettle. It’s now available on the Gladiator as well, where the same hardware makes it a formidable trail rig.
Prospector
Ram trucks had abandoned the Prospector trim for decades when American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) picked it back up. The ¾-and 1-ton off-roaders are upfitted with a winch, steel bumpers, and a lifted suspension and fender flares that help it clear 40-inch tires to get plenty of ground clearance. We’re glad this name was brought back, as its connotations of a solitary backcountry adventurer are so fitting for this brute.
Tremor
It doesn’t have the wide fenders and bedsides of the Raptor, but the F-150 Tremor does pack 33-inch tires, skid plates, and tow hooks to go along with its “Tremor” graphics. For the Super Duty, the Tremor package also has skid plates and graphics but adds a locking rear axle, limited-slip front differential, and a taller suspension to fit 35-inch tires. As for the name, we think the burly Super Duty model is more fitting of an earth-shaking moniker. While it might not be our first choice to outrun graboids, it’s not a bad place to start if you’re after a pickup that can venture off-road with the family.
Mojave
Take the ground clearance and beefy axles of a Gladiator Rubicon but add FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks for soaking up high-speed whoops and you’ve got the Mojave. Introduced for the 2020 model year, it was the first Jeep to wear “Desert Rated” badges. Sure, it doesn’t have a front locker or a 4:1 low-range in the transfer case like the Rubicon, but this thing was made for the desert and its name reflects that. Aside from bringing up images of spiky cacti, rugged terrain, and resilient fauna, Mojave is just fun to say. There are larger deserts in North America, but could you imagine if this sand-slinger were named “Chihuahaun”?
Bison
You could be forgiven for thinking that Bison is an odd name for an off-road vehicle, but the beautiful bovines are known for thriving in a wide range of environments. That’s an attribute that definitely applies to the top trim of Chevrolet’s 4x4s. First used on the Chevrolet Colorado and now available in Silverado 1500 and Silverado 2500, Bison adds even more underbody armor, unique bumpers, and taller tires to the already capable ZR2 models.
Raptor
With splashy graphics and the name of the most feared Jurassic Park denizen, we’re either talking about a ‘90s NBA expansion team or Ford’s full-size desert runner. Ford was the first manufacturer to kick off the resurgence in high-speed off-roar performance that we’re currently enjoying, with a 5.4-liter V-8 powering the initial models until the 6.2-liter SOHC Boss V-8 debuted in 2010. They’re brash, they’re almost cartoonish, and they are an absolute blast to drive. Two generations later and Raptor continues to be a strong performer for Ford, so much so that the trim level has spread to the mid-size Ranger and its SUV platform-mate, the Bronco.
TRX
When it comes to wild graphics and cartoony option packages, Mopar takes the cake. Ever since the heyday of the muscle car, Mopar brands have taken big swings and given enthusiasts what they want. TRX almost seems like a random alphanumeric name, but it’s a very unsubtle swipe at Ford’s Raptor, with an Easter Egg under the hood depicting a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a limp Velociraptor in its jaws. The Ram 1500 TRX comes with a desert-tuned suspension and flared fenders and bedsides that arguably make it the shapeliest full-size pickup currently on the market. Oh, and it has a 700-hp supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi. They’re absolutely bonkers and that’s why we love them.
Trail Boss
Almost all truck brands have some sort of trim that’s got pioneer or wild west connotations, so Chevrolet’s mid-range off-road package isn’t terribly unique in that regard. The trail boss would be in charge of an overland expedition, like a wagon train. It’s a bit cheesy, we admit, but that’s part of its charm. Some of the best car and truck packages have had borderline hokey names: Beau James, Honcho, The Dude, Warlock, Lil’ Red Express, etc. And Chevrolet did give the Trail Boss some decent off-road equipment, with a factory-lifted suspension with additional wheel travel and taller tires, slotting it just below the ZR2 in its off-road hierarchy.
Rattler
Ford’s entry-level F-150 off-road package is named for a rattlesnake, another desert critter. Even though it’s new in the F-150 lineup, Rattler already feels like it’s a proper off-road name, with skid plates, an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent control, and a uniquely tuned suspension to back it up. We’re not exactly sure why, but the name was instantly catchy and we were onboard immediately. Maybe it was the snake-inspired graphics.
Power Wagon
We’re so used to a wagon being used to describe an enclosed vehicle with a long roof, but the original definition was a vehicle used for transporting goods. The original Dodge Power Wagon was a civilian version of the 4×4 trucks used by the US military in WWII. Today, the Ram Power Wagon is a heavy-duty trail rig with locking axles, huge tires, and a factory-mounted winch. The name is simple, but the rugged reputation of the trucks is what makes it such a great name today.
Baja
In the late 1980s, Chevrolet gave the S-10 an off-road suspension, a bunch of skid plates, wider fender molding, a grille guard, and a bed-mounted light bar to create the Baja package. Of course, there were also some sweet graphics and embroidered upholstery to show off. You could also opt for a bed-mounted spare tire or aluminum wheels, but the color choices were limited to red, black, or white. Its name reflects the kind of off-road racing the Baja California peninsula is known for, where Chevy was competing with successful drivers like Larry Ragland. When the second-generation S-10 added a capable off-road package, Chevrolet went with ZR2, and we’re kinda sorry they made that change. On the other hand, a Baja Bison wouldn’t make much sense. Are you also picturing a Bison, lounging on the beach, eating a fish taco?
Dakar
No, it’s not a pickup, and it might not be up to the same kinds of punishing, rocky terrain that many of the aforementioned pickups can traverse, but the Porsche 911 Dakar does look to have what it takes for spirited rally adventures and it’s got one of the best off-road names in the biz. The Dakar uses a twin-turbo, 473-hp engine that sends power to all four wheels, and all four wheels get in on the steering too. Its suspension has an additional 1.96 inches of ground clearance compared to a normal 911, but when needed, it can raise an additional 1.18 inches. Naturally, the name comes from the famed and treacherous Dakar Rally, one of the most grueling races in the world. Porsche won the Dakar in 1984 with a 911, it’s just surprising that it took this long to get a rally-ready 911 on dealership floors.
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I always loved the name Power Wagon, and not only because the truck more than lived up to its name in the early years. I don’t know much about the newer ones, but in my off-roading past, Power Wagon conjured up visions of a vehicle that could go darned-near anywhere with relative ease – and they did. Dodge didn’t need to use cartoonish graphics or double-entendre names, they just built a damned rugged vehicle that worked hard and played harder.
This is really more of an “off-road adjacent” trim package, but who could forget the chicken-tax inspired Subaru BRAT (“Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter”)? Loved those little weirdos!
We bought the first Subaru Brat in Billings, Montana. I loved it when my brother-in-law’s big 4WD Ford pickup got stuck in the snow, and we didn’t! But here’s my question, which came first, the Chevy Baja or the Subaru Baja?
Some good names there. Since they promoted the big horsepower engine of the TRX, they neglected to include the Raptor R engine and it’s performance horsepower.
always thot it was interesting that Toyota would choose TRD as their performance off road moniker. Who wants to drive a TuRD!?!? Just sayin… lol
Probably one of the most awesome off-roaders to not have a name was the Lamborghini LM 002. And back in the days of dinosaurs when I was young, “Jeep” meant “offroad.” No glorification needed.
Jeep wrote the book.
Still love my ‘86 CJ7 with the Laredo trim package…
Just a bunch of silly marketing names.
Raptor the truck designed to jump but not land. bent frames.
Bison the name of an old delivery truck.
Rattler? What Ford isn’t a Rattler?
Tremor the body shake you feel off road due to frame flex
Power Wagon. Is it really a wagon?
Mojave, Dakar, Baja and any other point on a map Ehh?
Though Dodger and Ram does give me some pause. What will their smaller truck be Impact?
One left off here Hummer. Think about it.
We have done better with names in the past. Silverado, Ranger, Canyon, Colorado, CJ, XLT, Blazer, Bronco etc.
There always has to be someone negative in the group. No matter what you call them ,these are a great collection of trucks.
Firstly, really?
Secondly, the bent frames on the Raptor are basically a mechanical fuse. If the frames didn’t bend like that after an… optimistic jump then it would do the famous “mule kick” which would almost certainly cause a loss of control and likely put you on your roof. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather go home in shame with a bent frame than go to the hospital in an ambulance and have a totaled truck.
You should do stand up.
I’m guessing you watched Dukes of Hazzard as a kid and thought the General Lee always landed safely and in-tact. I’m sorry to have to break this to you, but many a Dodge was destroyed during filming, and if you pay attention, you’ll see that lots of the jumps were reused in several episodes. Nothing flies high and lands unharmed. There’s only so much suspension available to absorb an impact. On that note, the Raptor flies higher than anything like it. But just because someone puts it 20 feet in the air doesn’t mean it was designed to do that. It was designed to fly over whoops and catch some air and manage the landing.
Ever heard of Bigfoot or Gravedigger?
Welcome to the Internet. You could post pictures of the most adorable animals and somewhere around the 4th comment, some curmudgeon will post a critical comment. Since hyperv6 is so critical, I’ll be critical back:
“We have done better with names in the past. Silverado, Ranger, Canyon, Colorado, CJ, XLT, Blazer, Bronco etc.”
Silverado, Canyon, Colorado … and any other point on a map Ehh?
Ranger … a keeper of a park, forest, or area of countryside?
CJ, XLT … you think letters are better than a name?
Blazer … will it catch on fire?
Bronco … Spanish for “rough”, Portuguese for “obtuse”, “dumb”
I guess the focus groups rejected “Mall Crawler”, “Lookatme”, “Poseur Xtreme”, and “Anatomy Challenged” ?
Homer Simpson really wanted a Canyonero because it was big, jacked up, and overpowered. The commercials featured a singing voice over that sounded like the theme from Rawhide. Then he found out that the tricked out unit was intended for women, complete with a holder for a lipstick tube. Still, it belongs on your list.
Every Jeep has the same name to me, “Offroad Vehicle That Never Leaves the Pavement”
Oh man, are YOU gonna hear it from some of the most serious off-roaders and rock-crawlers on the planet (most of whom choose Jeep products) if your remark goes public, A Ski. Not to mention tons of hunters. I’ve had at least one Jeep product in my stable since the 1960s, and I guarantee you they have each spend 3-4 times as much time offroad as on.
Better names than “Swinger”. Mopar is the king of cringey names.
You’d have to kill me to pry my 2013 Raptor out of my cold dead hands.
And your Raptor salesperson would be administering CPR to make sure you could lease another one.
MACHO. Dodge Line-Up from the 70’s
33” tires and tow hooks is all could say about the F-150 Tremor ? Your research didn’t turn up the lift, suspension travel increase, Raptor transfer case, Torsen front differential, unique front suspension bits, tuned off road shocks & springs. Not to mention the tech features like one pedal drive, trail turn assist, hill decent control, and off road camera views, really…. ?
Gee, you sound like you work for Ford or something :).
Yeah I might be a bit sensitive on this one….it’s not like the Tremor was my personal pet project before retiring last fall or anything. Need to get these guys to hire me, would love to dabble in the automotive culture arena now that I’ve walked away from big corporate life.
Torsen front differential? Didn’t we get rid of those horrible things in the 90’s?
90% of all those cool named trucks will never see dirt. But they sure look cool on the blacktop.
Hard to beat Hodaka their line up included the Dirt Squirt, Super Rat, Combat Wombat, and Road Toad.