15 Best Used Pickups Worth Buying Today

Pickup trucks are all the rage right now. Gone are the days when this breed was mostly chosen by the working class. These vehicles are built tough and durable. If you use them to their full potential, they also offer the maximum bang for the buck. A used truck is one of the best ways to go when you want to save the extra cash that a new dealer charges.

However, many trucks out there are as good as new because they haven’t been used and abused to their limit. That is one of the reasons why choosing a used pickup truck makes sense nowadays. Plus, even though the supply problems are getting a little under control when ordering a new truck, some things may not be included due to those supply issues.

The problem is that there are so many vehicles on the market to choose from that it may become frustrating to find one that fits your needs and will not break down in the near future. With all that in mind, here’s a list of the top 10 best used trucks to buy today.

Updated April 12, 2023: The used truck market has been crazy over the last few years. Prices have soared to all-time highs, but demand has risen even more. The industry-wide problems of low supply amounts owing to the chip shortages, have taken a toll on all the manufacturers. Even though things are starting to level out, it can be almost guaranteed that prices will not come down. That is why today is as good a day as any to get yourself into a new truck. You will find that the original 10 trucks are still listed here from the first time it was published, but five more have been added to broaden your choices.

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2007 Nissan Titan Can Be Bought For $8,000 Or More

On the inside, it came with stuff like a navigation system, DVD player, and side airbags. If you hunt carefully, you’ll be able to find models equipped with the Pro-4X off-road package as well. The Nissan Titan came packed with a 5.6-liter V-8 mill under the hood, that put out 317 ponies and 385 pound-feet of torque. It was available in two-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations. Power was sent to the wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. The truck could also tow 9,500 pounds, which isn’t bad by any means. You can find the 2007 Nissan Titan for as low as $8,000.

2007 Nissan Titan specifications

2009 Mitsubishi Raider LS Sells For Around $10,000

There are some models that bomb the market due to a variety of reasons, and the Mitsubishi Raider LS is one of them. Mitsubishi fixed this in the next model year, but guess it was too late. Despite the low selling volume, there’s no denying that the Raider LS was one of the most reliable trucks at the time in its class.

It was powered by a 3.7-liter, V-6 engine that developed 210 horses and 235 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed auto gearbox was also available as an option. Towing and payload capacities were rated at 4,100 pounds and 1,650 pounds, respectively. You can find 2009 models retailing for around $10,000.

2009 Mitsubishi Raider LS specifications

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2009 Ford F-250 Super Duty May Be Found For As Little As $12,000

The Ford F-250 comes with the Blue Oval badge, a testimony to its reliability. This full-sized pickup truck was offered with three engine options that included two V-8s – one gas and one diesel – along with a V-10 gas mill. The 6.4-liter, V-8 diesel makes 350 ponies and 650 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to either the rear or all four wheels via a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox.

The truck could also tow up to 12,500 pounds and haul up to 3,150 pounds. While it was a solid truck generally, the F-250 Super Duty has been reported with fuel pump and fuel pump driver module errors once it passed 100,000 miles on the odometer. The truck has a high demand, and finding any well-maintained model under $12,000 will be difficult.

2009 Ford F-250 Super Duty specifications

2010 GMC Canyon Starts At $12,000

The V-8 engine churned out 300 ponies and 320 pound-feet of torque. You could choose between a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic transmission that would send power to either the rear wheels or all of them. The maximum towing and payload capacities were rated at 6,000 and 1,422 pounds, respectively. A 2010 model starts at around $12,000, but the prices go up for the V-8 option. However, it is one of the best-used pickups you can buy today.

2010 GMC Canyon specifications

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2009 Ford Ranger Can Still Be Bought For Under $10,000

Don’t judge a book by its cover because the Ranger was a reliable truck. It was powered by a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that made 143 horses and 154 pound-feet of torque. An FX4 off-road trim was also available and was a better option in all senses as it came with Ford’s 8.8 rear axle, a limited-slip differential, skid plates, tow hooks, Bilstein shocks, and 31-inch all-terrain tires.

A 4.0-liter V-6 mill powered this trim, producing 207 ponies and 238 pound-feet of torque. The latter could also tow up to 6,000 pounds and haul up to 1,260 pounds. Power was sent to the wheels via a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. You can get decent examples for under $10,000.

2009 Ford Ranger specifications

2011 Toyota Tundra Sells For Around $16,000

The 5.7-liter, V-8 engine produced 381 horses and 401 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The Tundra could also tow over 10,000 pounds. That is one of the reasons why the Tundra made for an excellent work truck. On the top trim, it even comes with stuff like GPS navigation, a rearview camera, a rear-seat entertainment system with a nine-inch LCD screen, and so on. The Tundra commands a premium in the used markets, and a 2011 model should be available in the ballpark of $16,000.

2011 Toyota Tundra specifications

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2012 Toyota Tacoma Can Be Bought For Under $20,000

The Tacoma is arguably the best small truck we have ever seen. It basically owns the compact truck segment. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it a compact truck segment’s Ford F-150. Its rock-solid reliability is the icing on the cake. As for the cons, the truck’s ride is somewhat choppy, and the seats aren’t the best out there, either. The base trims have a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 159 ponies and 180 pound-feet of torque.

However, we recommend getting the larger 4.0-liter, V-6 mill that produces 236 horses and 266 pound-feet of twist. The former has a standard five-speed manual, whereas the V-6 is mated to a five-speed automatic. The 2012 model saw a mighty increase in the towing capacity, and the truck can now tow up to 6,400 pounds. Hunt the internet with a keen eye, and you can find examples with the optional TRD off-road package as well. The 2012 models generally sell in the ballpark of $18,000.

2012 Toyota Tacoma specifications

2012 Honda Ridgeline Can Be Found For Under $20,000

Honda is not your typical truck brand, but its offering, the Ridgeline, is good enough to strongly compete against its rivals, especially if you are looking for a truck that works like a good family hauler and doesn’t have a traditional truck appeal. Honda has plonked in a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine under the hood, making 250 horses and 247 pound-feet of torque.

Power is sent to all the wheels via a five-speed automatic gearbox. As for the towing prowess, the Honda Ridgeline can tow up to 5,000 pounds and haul 1,546 pounds. As with any Honda product, the Ridgeline also commands a high price in the used market. That said, the Ridgeline is one of the best-used trucks under $20,000.

2012 Honda Ridgeline specifications

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2017 Chevrolet Colorado Sells Used For Around $20,000

The 2017 Chevy Colorado will tick all your boxes, especially related to infotainment and tech features since it’s a new model. The V-6 made 308 horses and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sent power to all the wheels. With the turbodiesel, the Colorado can tow up to 7,700 pounds. The V-6 can pull around 7,000 pounds. Payload capacity is rated at 1,574 pounds. You’ll be able to find good examples for approximately $20,000.

2017 Chevrolet Colorado specifications

2012 Ram 1500 Can Be Bought For Under $20,000

Ram has changed its fortunes in the last couple of years and has a loyal fan base. However, things were a little different in the early 2010s. Ram offered 1500 with three engines – a 3.6-liter, V-6, 4.7-liter, V-8, and 5.7-liter, V-8. The 1500 with the biggest engine targeted people who wanted something more than a mere work truck. It churned out 390 horses and 407 pound-feet of torque.

Power was sent to either the rear wheels or all the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the trim, the truck can tow up to 12,750 pounds and haul up to 1,781 pounds. You should be able to find suitable models for under $20,000.

2012 Ram 1500 specifications

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2013 Nissan Frontier Is A Very Affordable $10,000 Or Less

Midsized trucks are definitely not as big of sellers as the full-size versions. However, there are still many buyers out there that prefer something smaller that is easier to drive and park. The Nissan Frontier is an excellent truck because it has a powerful V-6 that can push out 261 horsepower and tow over 6,000 pounds.

It may not be able to pull the full-sized camper or boat you have in the backyard, but it can easily handle an average-sized one since the basic weight of a typical trailer is only 5,000 pounds. Plus, if offroading is something you take to heart, the new Desert Run trim can get you to off-the-beaten-path locations in style. If you are patient, it is possible to find a truck like this in good condition for under $10,000.

2013 Nissan Frontier specifications

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Is Selling For $15,000 Or More

The 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 is a full-size pickup truck with options. Numerous engine choices are available, including some V-8s, ranging from the standard 4.3L V-6 to the 6.2L V-8 that can put some sports sedans to shame. It is stable in corners, smooth on acceleration, and can tow up to 9,400 pounds.

The best thing about the 2018 Silverado is that the company went all out and created an offroad version known as the Silverado LTZ Z71. This beast packs enough punch to make any road or terrain easy to travel. So much so that you may not even have to put it in four-wheel mode, on an average backroad or trail. This truck is only about 5 years old, so a Silverado 1500 in good shape will cost you up to $15,000 or more.

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 specifications

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2010 Ram 2500 Diesel Is $20,000 Or More

When this truck was designed, it was engineered to be the “ultimate tow vehicle.” The reason for that is relatively simple; an HD truck is meant to put in a hard day’s work, a weekend of fun, and a quick family trip to the store. It needs to be a truck that can do it all, but when put to the test, it must be able to tow the biggest trailers because that is what an HD pickup is all about.

The 2010 Ram 1500 came standard with the Hemi 5.7L V-8, but the one to look for is the truck that has the 6.7 inline diesel. This powerful engine can push out up to 350 horses and has a torque rating of a whopping 650 pound-feet. Since this truck is designed for heavy use, the price tag for a used 2010 Ram 2500 Diesel can be almost $20,000, but it is well worth the little extra money when an all-around pickup is needed.

2010 Ram 2500 Diesel specifications

2014 Ford F-150 Is Available For Under $10,000

The Ford F-150 has been the number-one-selling truck in America for 46 years now. That should mean that it is the best truck, and by all accounts, the Ford faithful will agree. The standard engine for the 2014 Ford F-150 is the fuel-efficient 3.7L V-6, but there are as many engine choices as there are for trim levels (almost any way.) One of the best options for the truck is the reliable and ever-faithful 5.0L V-8. Since it is no longer the dreaded Triton engine, it is safe to go with this pickup that can still be bought in good shape for under $10,000.

2014 Ford F-150 specifications

RELATED: The Jeep Gladiator is the Most Off-Road Worthy Pickup on the Market Today

2021 Jeep Gladiator Is A Little Expensive At $25,000

The Jeep Gladiator is a refreshing sight for the Jeep faithful wanting the company to produce a midsized pickup truck version of the Wrangler. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator is just the truck they have all sought. Like almost every other Jeep on the planet, the Gladiator is always off-road ready, regardless of the trim level and options.

The base-level Jeep comes standard with the 3.6L V-6, but several options are on the table, including a brand new for the year 3.0L turbo diesel. Any Jeep will cost a little more than the average pickup, but for all those that have had the privilege of driving one, it is well worth the $25,000 that it costs today.

2021 Jeep Gladiator specifications