If you love off-roading, need a powerful vehicle for work, or just need something big enough to fit all your gear for a weekend in the great outdoors, you’ll probably need a capable pickup truck. But with the newest F-150, GMC Sierra, and Toyota Tacoma starting at just under 30 grand, and higher-end trucks closing in on 60 grand, there’s a lot of upside to finding a cheaper, used truck. While older trucks don’t have the same luxury components that can be found in their modern counterparts, there are a ton of pickups from 10 years ago that can hold their own against the newest trucks from Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet, and more.
To help you fulfill your off-road dreams without breaking the bank, we’ve got some information on the best-used pickups around.
Toyota Tacoma (2015 And Earlier)
While the newest generation of the Tacoma has suffered from transmission issues, the previous generation was a solid truck that boasted power, maneuverability, and reliability. Under the hood, they can come with either a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder or a 4 liter V6 Engine. Of the two options, the V6 is significantly more powerful than the 4 cylinder. The smaller 4 cylinder engine only produces 159 horsepower, whereas the V6 is capable of producing 230 horsepower. Because of the discrepancy between power ratings, you'll want to look for a vehicle with the V6 if you want to do anything more than drive it to work.
The Tacoma also has a sizable bed for quick transport and (when equipped with the V6) can tow up to 6,500 lbs. Models with a lot of kilometers can be found for under $5,000, but if you’re looking for a Tacoma with even average mileage the price can get close to $15,000 quickly. Since it's a Toyota though, you can generally trust the Tacoma to be a reliable truck that will hold its value.
Ford Ranger (2001-2012)
The third generation of the Ranger was introduced in 1998 but really came into its own in 2001 when the engine was upgraded to a 4 liter V6 that could produce 207 horsepower.
Like the Tacoma, it was meant to be a smaller, maneuverable truck that still had good power, towing, and storage capabilities. With its new engine, the Ranger could tow up to 6,000 lbs. It was also built remarkably well and easy to maintain, so the Ranger can easily get above 300,000 kilometers. Because there are still so many of them, finding a Ranger with around 150,000 kilometers for around $5,000 shouldn’t be too great a challenge, although you may have to sacrifice 4 wheel drive if you want lower mileage and a good price.
Ford F-150 (2004-2008)
The F-150 has always been a great truck, and there’s a reason that it’s the best selling pickup in American history. Between 2004 and 2008, the the11th generation F-150 won countless awards for its reliability, making it a great purchase if you're looking for a used truck. The base model for these years had a 4.2-liter V6 engine that could produce 210 horsepower, and the most powerful engine available (a 5.4 liter V8) could produce 300.
All that power gave the V8 a massive towing capacity of up to 11,000 pounds. However, while the F-150 is a solid vehicle to drive, they are expensive to buy and to drive. Without hybrid technology or an Ecoboost option, the massive V8 means that you'll be spending a lot of time (and money) at the gas station. Because these trucks have held their value so well, they’re also pretty expensive to buy even 12 years after they were replaced by the 12th generation F-150.
Even for a truck with high mileage, a 2008 F-150 will probably cost you 10 to 15 thousand dollars for one with high kilometers. Still, that’s half the price of a cheap modern pickup, so if you want something powerful enough for anything, this is it.
Dodge Ram (2002-2008)
To keep pace with its competitors in the early 2000s, Dodge reinvented it’s Ram in 2002 as a powerful work truck. What it came up with was a massive, powerful, and good looking truck.
It had 7 different engines to choose from, the most powerful of which was a 5.9-liter V8 engine that could clock 345 horsepower, allowing it to tow 8,650 lbs. It’s bigger than the F150 that’s on this list in every measurable dimension, so this may not be the truck for you if maneuverability is important. However, while the Ram is generally cheaper than the F-150 (you can find them for well under $10,000), it’s less reliable and due to its age, it can be harder to find with low kilometers. That being said, if you can find one with the right mileage and price, you’ll have got yourself a spectacular truck.
Toyota Tundra (2000-2006)
A fan favorite and a truly indestructible pickup, the first generation of the Tundra is certainly one to consider if you’re looking for a cheaper way into the cab of a pickup truck. Over the course of the first generation, the Tundra’s power fluctuated between 245 horsepower in 2000 and 282 horsepower in 2005. A reduction in power was seen in 2006, but still gave the Tundra an engine that was more than capable.
With all the bells and whistles, the Tundra could tow around 7000 lbs and plenty comfortable to drive thanks to a solid suspension and a smaller size than the larger American pickups on this list. But the best part of these trucks is that they’re cheap and reliable. Tundras from this time period are known to go 300,000 miles (that’s nearly half a million kilometers) if properly maintained, and usually cost between 5,000 and 12,000 dollars for one in good repair.