When you think of pickup trucks what comes to mind? Is it the ability to tow large loads without breaking a sweat; do you think of the enjoyment you can have on the trails in a great 4WD pickup; have you thought about the need to have a pickup for your business to get lots of work done; or are you someone who looks at a pickup and thinks about the fact that these vehicles have a history of being hard on fuel and burn lots of gas? No matter your thoughts about pickups, most of this is true, but these workhorses of our daily lives have evolved into something truly special.

Much of what we believe in the past in regards to trucks should remain in the past. Now we have trucks that ride smooth, offer high end technology and even have at least a modicum of fuel efficiency while still being powerful and strong to get the job done. With that in mind we take a look at two of the favorite trucks on the market, the RAM 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado which are two extremely different ways to tackle the same job of getting things done.

Starting with the RAM 1500 we see a choice of three engines for you to make the right decision for your truck. You can have a 3.6-liter V6 engine that gives you 305 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 which offers up 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque or the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that produces 240 horsepower but the most torque at 420 lb.-ft. For some engines you will have a six-speed automatic transmission, but stepping up to the eight-speed makes for an even better overall ride in the RAM Tough truck.

When you think of the RAM 1500 you might not consider it a soft ride at first, but think again. The RAM offers you an optional air suspension in order to give you the best possible ride from a pickup truck that’s ready to get to work and make things happen. With the choice of fuel economy in the smaller engine and diesel or the massive power of the Hemi V8 and low end torque in the diesel it’s easy to see why the RAM 1500 has become one of the most popular trucks on the market as it continues to be an impressive choice.

As for the Silverado 1500, it now also has three engines to choose from starting with a 4.3-liter V6 that gives you 285 horsepower and 297 lb.-ft. of torque, a 5.3-liter V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque and the top end is a massive 6.2-liter V8 which brings the power with 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. All three engines are built from an aluminum construction and offer direct fuel injection along with a cylinder management system to keep the fuel mileage up and the weight down. There are two automatic transmissions for the Silverado which are of six and eight-speeds, similar to the RAM 1500.

As for the cabin life and the features offered in the Silverado this truck is offered with available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Not only that you can have a Wi-Fi connection through the OnStar 4G LTE system while still enjoying the benefits of Duralife brake rotors and trailer sway control which helps when you need to haul a heavy load. The Silverado is built to be ready for any task and cleans up nicely when it’s time to head to church or out on a date.

Which truck is the one you’d choose? Do you want the increased power of the Silverado and the upgraded interior connectivity or does the Hemi and EcoDiesel sound like the right way to go for you? Are you going to need to be able to two heavy loads and need some trailer sway control or is a smoother ride on an air suspension more your choice? Regardless of which one of these two trucks you choose it’s easy to see why the RAM 1500 and Silverado 1500 are two of the most popular trucks on the market.