Trucks have always been the backbone of the American automobile market, and they probably will always be that way, whether they run on gasoline or electricity. But we do not want to wait for the future to arrive, we want to buy a pickup truck right now. A new Ridgeline, F-150, Tacoma, or a Sierra all cost at least $30,000 to begin with. That’s just the starting point, trucks can cost all the way up to $80,000 for some extra power and features. But when it comes to the core duty of the Truck, the purpose of its existence, the used cheaper ones get the job done nonetheless.

Moreover, if you may be a first-time buyer and are looking to get into the world of trucking, then buying a cheap used one makes more sense. That way, while getting used to it, a couple of bumps and scratches won’t increase your blood pressure that much. Also, you do not want your learning phase to go viral by crashing a big, hunky truck that’s filled with features that you might not understand or even need.

While you can easily go to a used car lot and get a decent truck under $10,000, we are pushing the envelope even further. Any decent and reliable truck you get for $5,000 is an automatic win, considering it's a sum almost anyone can set aside for a great workhorse. These are 10 of the trucks to look for in that price range.

10 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra

Via: Auto Detective

If you want a full-size truck under $5,000 but do not want an overly big one like what we see today, then a first-generation Tundra (likely SRS) might be perfect for you. It was first named the T-150, but Ford sued Toyota for a similar name, so we got the name Tundra instead.

via AutionTime

Either way, it picked up the ‘Truck Of The Year’ award by Motor Trend Magazine in 2000 nonetheless. Expect 15 to 18 mpg, which is nothing to complain about in a truck.

9 1997 - 2004 Nissan Frontier

2002 Nissan Frontier
via Nissan Frontier Forum

The Frontier is a very reliable truck and it's a great bargain for $5,000. 1st and 2nd Gen Frontier can be easily found under our budget, but you can find one as new as 2009 or 2010 in the same price range if you look harder or get lucky.

2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
Via CarSpecs

Nissan has had its ups and downs in the automotive industry, but its reliability has rarely been questioned. The Frontier is more than just a capable, reliable truck and for such a low price, it's an easy no-brainer.

8 Early '70s International Harvester Pickups

via wikipedia

We have seemed to be overlooking trucks from International and prefer Ford or Chevy over them. This can be a good thing for buyers because they can now get a well-maintained old International truck like a Light Line pickup, also known as the D-Series for a fraction of a price compared to Dodge, Toyota, Ford, or Chevy.

1954 International Harvester Farmall Super C
Wikipedia

International is known for making good tractors but people didn’t expect them to make really good and strong trucks. Now, looking at them still going strong might make them want to reconsider their thoughts.

Related: The 1953 International Harvester Travelall Is A Wholesome Classic

7 1995 -2004 Toyota Tacoma

2002 Toyota Tacoma
Via: Bringatrailer.com

These trucks held their value for a long time. Still, you can find these, especially the 1995 - 2000 ones under our strict $5,000 price range. Elaborate or widen your search a bit more and you may end up with a newer model, but probably with 2 wheel drive and a single cab.

Via ZombDrive.com

As far as the 1995-2000 generation goes, they will be more easily available if you do not have that much time. But these things are built to last and they will last if you take good care of them.

6 2nd - 3rd Gen Dodge D-100

1966 Dodge D-100 Custom Sports Special
Via Hagerty

Dodge D-100 is an excellent pickup truck if you're interested in vintage models. You'll easily find restored 2nd and 3rd generation D-100s for under $5,000. Even a 1959 D-100 came with a 5.2-Liter V8 that made 205 HP, so power is not lacking.

1963 Dodge D-100
Via: Mecum Auctions

Alternatively, restoring a classic pickup can be a lot of fun, you can get yourself a slightly beaten up mid-'60s D-100 and work on it. The average price on Hagerty for a restored one is about $8,000 but you can find one's that need a bit of work in our budget.

5 The '70s or '80s Dodge D-200

1971 Dodge D200 Sweptline Truck
Via YouTube /John Bisceglie

If you liked the aforementioned Dodge D-100, but want a bigger and more powerful truck, then its brother, the D-200 might do the job for you. For a little more money, you can have a late ‘70s to early ‘80s D--200 and forget about any concerns regarding its reliability or spare parts availability.

Dodge D200
via Driving Line

Speaking of, if you would like to work on the truck and are willing to buy one that’s not well maintained, you can have them for a lot less. It's a great bargain when it comes to classic pickups.

Related: The Mopar Lowliner Concept Reimagines A 1968 D200-Series Pickup

4 2004-2012 Chevrolet Colorado

2009 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 crew cab
via Wikipedia

When Chevy launched the Colorado, it replaced the old faithful S-10(more on that coming up). Neither it was the most popular nor the most powerful with its 220 hp, 225 lb-ft. inline-5 engine. More powerful trucks were present from trusted and reliable brands.

2012 chevrolet colorado regular cab pickup 1lt
via Edmunds

But as time went on, the trucks kept on proving just how sturdy and long-lasting they were. Them not becoming the most beloved helps us today when buying used ones. You may also get lucky and get yourself a four-wheel-drive version or one with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer.

Related: Here's Why The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado Is Great Bang For Your Buck

3 Early ‘80s To Mid-’00s Chevy S-10

1989 Chevrolet S-10 Baja Side Profile
Via: gmauthority.com

The Chevy S-10 has been sold in North America from 1981 all the way till 2004 when the Colorado replaced it. The sheer abundance makes it less exclusive and more hassle-free in terms of buying a used model and maintaining it. Over the years, the S-10 has evolved into a truly iconic American Pickup.

Black Chevy S10 Truck
Via: Instagram @mandrew_made_life

A quick search on the used marketplace will yield S-10s ready to be owned for as low as $2,200! Moreover, there’s no particular year that needs to be avoided or anything like that, all the S-10s have been pretty good both visually and mechanically. Finding one won’t be hard either.

2 1998-2011 Ford Ranger

Red 2008 Ford Ranger
Via Wikimedia Commons

You might notice a pattern here; Most of the trucks listed here have been available for a lot of years, making them abundant. Well, the Ranger is no exception. Sold from 1983 to 2011, the Ranger has shown time and again that it is a very strong, rugged, and reliable machine.

Yellow 2001 Ford Ranger
Via Mecum Auctions

The A-Arm generation from 1998 and 2011 will bring out the most out of your $3,000-$5,000. They come in a 4-cylinder engine, a 3.-Liter V-6, or a 4.0-Liter V-6 which is utilized best for 2001 or newer models.

Related: Ranking The 10 Best Ford Rangers Ever Made

1 1998-2003 Ford F-150

2000 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
Via: Mecum Auctions

The F-150 is probably the best value-for-money ½ ton truck available in the market right now. For $5,000 or less, you get a solidly built truck with a V8 under the hood. The market was flooded with F-150s so finding one for cheap is a piece of cake, the same goes for its maintenance and spare parts.

2003 Ford F-150 Lightning
Mecum

You can also find F-150s with extended cabs or crew-cabs pretty easily. If you find the Lariat trim or hopefully a Harley Davidson edition or SVT Lightning(which adds an extra 100 HP to the already powerful 5.4-Liter V8), you are in for one heck of a deal.