The 4 Most Badass 4x4’s in Film

You all know what I’m talking about: those trucks, Jeeps and SUVs in movies that fulfill all your 4×4 fantasies in spectacular, screeching, explosion-filled action. The bitchin’ lift kit, the monstrous tires, the sick exterior accessories – they all come together in a fuel-injected roar of glory. Here are four such wondrous pieces of pure, unadulterated Hollywood badassery.

1963 Jeep Gladiator Thriftside – Tremors

“Forget shooting them, can you get to your truck?”

When they first debuted, Jeep described the Gladiator (J-series) as “an entirely new series of versatile, powerful, virtually indestructible trucks.” With the extended, Thiftside step-side Jeep fender flares 4-6 in. lift and front and rear Dana 44’s the Tremors J-200 is truly drool-worthy.

While not pictured in the final movie cut, the DVD Outtakes Feature has an off-roading scene showing off the Gladiator’s wheeling prowess.

1955 Peterbilt 281 Tanker – Duel

“O.K., you wanna play games?”

In a film where the villain has no speaking part, this demonic tanker dominates the bad guy role. Possessed by a psychotic, ruthless trucker whom we never see, the killer rig is one of the few vehicles worthy of our nightmares.

The Tumbler – Batman Begins/The Dark Knight Rises

“’My mother warned me about getting into cars with strange men.’ ‘This isn’t a car.’”

Batman, especially his Batmobile, is the very definition of badass – and anyone who disagrees can go cry to Aquaman. The Batmobile has often been depicted as  a smooth sports car, but Dark Knight threw that out the window and replaced it with … well, a tank, essentially.

Despite weighing in at 2.5 tons, the actual Tumbler used for the film can handle 60-70 ft. jumps and just about outrun a Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG. Take that Kia.

1982 Jeep J10 – Twister

“’Where’s my truck?’ crunch ‘There it is.’”

Although the film ends in tragedy (for the Jeep), it plays a valiant role throughout the story, diving into deadly storms head-on for the sake of science. Not only does it handle the trail like a beast, it does so while outrunning a tornado, because it doesn’t need truck nutz to prove it’s got balls.

Rachel Bowes is a copywriter with 4 Wheel Parts