Les Stroud
Profession: Adventurer, filmmaker and musician
Age: 49
Hometown: Mimico, Ont.
Notable achievements
- Nominated for six Gemini awards for Survivorman, one of the highest-ranked TV shows on OLN Canada and the Science Channel US
- Received seventh Gemini nomination in 2010 as executive producer/host of the TV series Survive This (YTV, Cartoon Network)
- Author of best-selling books: Survive! Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere – Alive! and Will to Live
- As a musician, has shared the stage with Alice Cooper, Tommy Shaw, and Robby Krieger
Upcoming
- Developing new adventure shows
- New adventure cookbook comes out next spring
- Acoustic concerts this summer in Ontario
He’s a survivor who takes wilderness adventures to the extreme.
Les Stroud is best known as the creator, producer, star, and cameraman of the hit reality TV series, Survivorman. His battle to stay alive has taken him from the frigid, frozen Arctic to the thick jungles of Central America.
When filming his escapades, he often rents Jeeps and Land Rovers. But when he’s back on home turf in northern Ontario, Stroud drives a 2011 Ram 1500 truck.
Why did you buy a Ram?
When it comes to the pickup trucks for me, the Dodges always seem to pay more attention to aesthetics and style. I always liked that.
I’ve been driving them for a long time and I’ve never experienced any issues with them. I don’t haul tractor trailers with it. But if I got to go through rough roads, rough mud I’ve never been stuck.
What does a Ram say about you?
It says I’m a realist.
We all lead lives of conflict, environmentally. Obviously I’m very concerned environmentally yet at the same token I drive a Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi. What does that say? It says there’s a lot of conflict here.
Part of the conflict is that I get myself into pretty thick places sometimes where I need a vehicle that can handle it. The reality is it’s not going to be a Prius or a cute little car. It’s going to be a vehicle that can handle the kind of lifestyle I live.
I accept that life of conflict as we all have to. I do whatever I can. I utilize my truck minimally as much as possible. I don’t use it for superfluous driving here or there or in the city. I use it when I’m in the bush. It says I accept the life of conflict and I’m a realist.
Are you a truck guy?
Yeah. I am. I love it. I love having a pickup truck.
I started having pickup trucks about six-seven years ago. I had the suspicion I would like it and once I had it, it was oh, this is good.
I started out with used trucks – the first one was a GMC Dually diesel. The next truck was a Dodge Ram. I’ve been a Dodge Ram three vehicles strong now.
This time around, I got the shorter box – it’s the first time I’ve had it. I have teenagers so I opted for the bigger room in the cab and the lesser room in the box. I’m not a carpenter so I’m not using it on the job site.
It’s doing me just fine. I’ve never felt for a loss that I need that extra nine inches in the tailgate.
Why didn’t you go for the diesel instead of a Hemi?
I decided I didn’t like diesel.
I know everybody says they’re great now, there’s no problem with them now. All I know is the one I had gave me problems at minus 30 so that scared me off of them.
It used to be diesel was the more economical route – that’s all changed.
Are you mechanically inclined?
No. No.
I’m not oriented that way. I’m a driver.
