THE 9 BEST USED TRUCKS TO BUY

9. 2005–2020 Nissan Frontier

The second-generation 2005-2020 Nissan Frontier crams a lot of bang for the buck into a durable and surprisingly utilitarian package. Available with crew cab layouts that seat five; a deep, usable bed; solid body-on-frame construction; and a durable chassis built to withstand use in countries with unimproved roadways, the Frontier isn’t a frail wallflower. Its interiors are a bit spartan, but if you’re looking for a solid meat-and-potatoes truck for transportation and work, there’s almost certainly a second-gen Nissan Frontier available for every budget.

8. 2003–2012 Chevrolet Colorado

The first-generation 2003-2012 Chevrolet Colorado (and its GMC Canyon counterpart) were available in multiple configurations, from standard-cab short-bed to crew cab long-bed and almost everything in between. The same can be said for the Colorado’s engine and transmission options. Available powerplants ranged from turbocharged and naturally aspirated inline-fours, a naturally aspirated inline-five, to even a 5.3-liter V-8 with 300 hp and 320 lb-ft, with manual or automatic transmission options and 2WD or 4×4 configurations.

7. 2009–2018 Ram 1500

One word when it comes to half-ton Ram Truck: Hemi. Don’t bother with the V-6 or 4.7-liter V-8, though the 3.6-liter Pentastar is surprisingly economical and puts out a respectable 305 hp. When Ram introduced the 5.7-liter Hemi engine in its pickup line in 2003, it came to market with nearly 100 horsepower more than Ford or GM. The hemi has proven to be a durable engine, despite additions such as the Multiple Displacement System that deactivates cylinders for fuel economy.

6. 2014–2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

We’ll be coming back to this point later in this list, but consider the fact that many different kinds of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups were used for fleet service. That means replacement parts are plentiful, cheap, and stocked virtually everywhere. It also means used variants with high mileage but otherwise good maintenance upkeep should continue to populate the used market. Heck, even Home Depot buys these trucks to rent out. Finding a good used Silverado or Sierra 1500 to haul, pull, tow, or push whatever you’re looking to work with shouldn’t be hard.

5. 2007–2013 Toyota Tundra

The first-generation 1999-2006 Toyota Tundra isn’t really a full-size pickup in our book, no matter what the marketing literature says. With a four-speed automatic backing a respectable 245-hp 4.7-liter V-8, they’re solid trucks that offer a lot of bang for the buck. But by now these vehicles will be getting up there in the mileage department, and despite their durability and quality components, in the long run you’re probably better served shopping for a second-gen 2007-2013 Tundra. These trucks received a full makeover with a truly full-size body and the option of Toyota’s excellent 381-hp 5.7-liter V-8. This puts the Tundra firmly on level ground with domestic half-ton competitors from Ram, Ford, and Chevy in terms of towing, hauling, and just racing from stoplight to stoplight.

4. 2003‒2018 Ram 2500/3500 Cummins Turbodiesel Inline-Six

Seriously, in many cases Ram 2500 or 3500 trucks equipped with a Cummis Turbodiesel engine hold their value so well it’s not uncommon to find used models with 100,000 miles on them being sold for just a few thousand dollars shy of a brand-new model. But when you consider that these engines will pull just about anything you ask them to until the truck falls apart around them, you begin to understand why they fetch such a premium. If you’re looking for a good used tow rig, a Ram 2500 or 3500 should be on the top of your list. The new crew-cab body style came in 2003, with these older models still enjoying the 5.9-liter Cummins that had a four-speed auto or six-speed manual, with the manual getting the higher torque rating. Then in 2007, the new 6.7-liter Cummins was introduced behind a six-speed auto that could handle the new engine’s higher 650-lb-ft rating. However, these first-year 6.7-liter Rams made do with a regenerative system to cook off the DPF soot; the system used a lot of fuel and wasn’t quite perfected.

3. 2011–2016 Ford Super Duty (Gasoline)

Ah, the good old Navistar 7.3-liter Powerstroke. What? Your Ford Super Duty was made after 2003? If it’s a diesel, it probably has some sort of problematic issue, from FICM to blown head gaskets, faulty turbo, and an ensuing list of crap we don’t have energy to list. The later 6.0-liter, 6.4-liter, and yes, even 6.7-liter turbodiesels have a raft of issues you have to visit the aftermarket to properly deal with. And it’s for that reason, along with the switch in 2005 to a more supple coil-sprung front suspension and tighter-turning Dana 60 in the 4x4s, that we’d be shopping for a later-model Super Duty; in our mind the only reason to get the 1999-2003 truck would be the 7.3-liter Power Stroke. But wait, there’s more! If you fast-forward to 2011, you’ll see Ford gave its F-250 and F-350 Super Duty

a much-needed face-lift with updated sheetmetal, a new grille, and an updated interior. Also, the frame was thickened and strengthened, and a 6.2-liter gas V-8 that cranked out 385 hp and 405 lb-ft was added to the non-diesel engine options alongside the 362-hp, 457-lb-ft 6.8-liter Triton V-10.

2. 2016–2023 Toyota Tacoma

Seriously, who doesn’t want a Toyota Tacoma? You see everybody driving them, from little old grandmas to high school kids, and with good reason; since the Tacoma came on the scene, they’ve been ubiquitous in terms of being comfortable, economical, safe, purposeful, and plentiful. A used Toyota Tacoma can be pretty much anything you want it to be, with the exception of cheap. That goes especially for our pre-owned Tacoma of choice, the third-generation 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma. For whatever reason, the Tacoma, especially a third-gen version, is one of those vehicles that frequently makes more sense to purchase new than used, with 100,000-mile Tacomas routinely selling for only a few thousand off brand-new sticker prices. Supply and demand, we guess.

1. 2009–2014 Ford F-150

Yeah—who didn’t see this one coming? There’s a reason the Ford F-150 has been the bestselling pickup truck in America for a gazillion years. With a longer generational lineage than most monarchies, it’s hard to pick a favorite, but the more recent generations of this iconic pickup undoubtedly offer lower miles and more features to the modern shopper looking for a mix of utility, reliability, and comfort. We’re not superfans of the newer aluminum body construction, so for us we prefer the 12th-generation 2009-2014 F-150 variants. Whether 2WD or 4×4, a dizzying array of engine options including 3.7-liter V-6, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, 4.6-liter, 5.0-liter, 5.4-liter, and even the burly 6.2-liter (Raptor) was available in this chassis.