The Consumer Guide to Best Used Trucks

When you decide on the best-used trucks, it’s essential to consider what is necessary for you. What are your needs and budget as a driver? Do you consider a used truck model for its safety, comfort, interior room, luxury, or price? There’s a lot of information available about used trucks, but the necessities are important for you as a consumer to find a reliable truck. A few basics are power, comfort, and gas mileage. Before searching for a “used car dealer near me,” you are gonna want to know what type of truck you are looking for. We at Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick want to help those in the Lexington, KY, area, and beyond find the best used truck.

What to Know Before You Buy

Trucks come in different weights, cabs, and capabilities for hauling loads. Start your selection with an assessment of what you need. Choosing a heavy-duty truck when you only need to haul light weights is probably not worth the expense. Pickup trucks come in full-sized or compact with long beds or short. The cab size is also varied, so if you need to be able to fit multiple passengers, you will need to take that into consideration. Regular, extended, or crew cab are available options with two doors or four.

Choosing the engine type is essential as well. With two-wheel or four-wheel drive options out there, you should choose based on where you drive. Consider if your driving will consist either on paved roads mostly or if you’ll be venturing off-road a lot. Engines range from the smaller four-cylinder and V6s to V8s or big diesel engines for heavy hauling.

What you buy depends on your lifestyle and transportation needs. For example, if you need a workhorse and family transportation, consider buying an extended-cab or crew-cab model with four doors. Another consideration is your seasonal weather needs. If you have to deal with conditions such as snow or deep mud or if you regularly go off-road, choose a four-wheel-drive truck. Once you have made your decision, have a mechanic look at the truck before you buy the vehicle.

Pickup Types

Pickups have specific classifications. Full-sized pickups, also called half-ton trucks, have the designation number 1500. Heavier-duty trucks are 2500, 3500 or F-250, and F-350 and upward. Legally, a truck that weighs less than 14,000 pounds, even one designated as a 3500-series model, is a light-duty truck. Terms such as compact and midsize refer to smaller truck models that are usually built on a smaller chassis. These trucks will often offer a range of V-6 and four-cylinder engines. The most popular truck types are:

Full-Sized Pickup Trucks

Full-sized pickup trucks are larger and more rugged than the average pickup. They ride higher off the ground than compacts or midsize trucks, giving you plenty of room to see the road or the trail. These trucks are typically numbered as 1500-series or 150 in the case of Ford light-duty trucks.

Heavy-Duty Trucks

Heavy-duty trucks carry numerical designations such as 2500 or 3500. These trucks are manufactured for heavy loads and rough hauling, such as fifth-wheel trailers. Heavy-duty trucks usually have a hitch point in the cargo bed center for trailer hauling. These trucks are best if you need to do a lot of hauling for work or your hobbies.

Economic Considerations

Pickups vary in fuel economy, usually depending on size. Trucks with the best fuel use are typically smaller, weighing less with less powerful engines. Heavier-duty trucks tend to be hard to maneuver, use more gas to operate, and have bumpier rides than smaller trucks.

With all of that to consider, it may seem like too much to get through in order to find the best used truck for you. So, we decided to take some of the research load off of your shoulders. Here are some of our picks for the best used trucks.

Best Used Trucks

Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 is most popular as a truck for its interior room, power cargo capacity, and reliability. The engine depends on what year model you buy, such as the six different engine models for the 2019 model. This F-150 year model comes with five engine options, including a 290 hp 3.3L V6 engine and a 325 hp 2.7L twin-turbocharged V6 engine. A 395 hp 5.0L V8 engine, a 375 hp 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 engine, and a 450 hp 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 engine is available. A 250 hp 3.0L turbo-diesel V6 engine is also an option. And this is just the options for one model year.

Generally, buying a 2011 or later model is recommended for F-150s because of the stronger V6 engines. In the past, the 150 designation has meant a 1,500 towing capacity difference for Ford trucks, but the engine model now is more important for towing capacity, not the model number. Model years 2015-2019 Ford F150 can be equipped with different engine options, including the V6 and V8 engines as well as gasoline and diesel engines. With such a variety of choices out there, you are sure to find one of these trucks on the lot.

Dodge Ram 1500

The 1500 pickup truck class across brands tends to be popular. This is true for the 2009 to 2018 years of the Dodge Ram 1500. During these years, the Dodge Ram added unique features, such as a full-size pickup with a manual transmission. Other trucks in this class and years had automatic transmissions.

Furthermore, the Dodge was the only one available with a diesel engine. Its 3.0-liter Eco-Diesel V6 began in 2014. Trim levels that set the Dodge Ram apart from other trucks are the 4-door Mega-Cab and Rambox storage system. This system consists of boxes inside the truck bed walls that allow you to carry tools and supplies without sacrificing bed or cab space. The Dodge Ram 1500 is definitely one to look out for on the used truck lot.

Chevy Silverado 1500

Silverados have been trusty vehicles that hold up well over time and are reliable. Used Silverados are still customizable, with interiors and other trims able to be changed with the same ease as if a customer were buying a new vehicle. Dealer and aftermarket add-ons make this truck model a flexible choice for drivers.

Since its origins in 1999, the Silverado has many engine choices such as the 5.3-liter and the 6.0-liter and 6.2-liter V8s. The best years for this brand for durability and longevity are the late-model and second-generation Silverados from 2011 to 2014 with modern features and equipment. For those with a larger budget, a Silverado from the years 2016 to 2018 will give a driver most of the luxury features found in newer models. Silverados have great trailer capacity and payload competition against other truck brands. For those wanting to haul heavier payloads more than 8,000 pounds, heavy-duty Silverado 2500s or 3500s are strong contenders.

2004-2015 Nissan Titan and 2009-2015 Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Titan has a robust V8 engine that produces 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft torque. This is enough to pull 9,500 pounds. Its cousin vehicle, the Nissan Frontier, has a powerful V6 engine for great acceleration. The Nissan Frontier’s off-road Pro 4X trim gives buyers the best off-road experience, but they do run a little more expensive. The Frontier has a simple exterior trim, but it is nonetheless reliable and has longevity. It has an available manual transmission for those who want a traditional driving experience. The vehicle comes in a king cab or four-door cab option for passenger and driver flexibility. So take a look around your local used dealership, and see if you can find one of these trucks to take for a test drive.

Since You’re Here…

Whatever your choices for a used truck, whether it is a light-duty vehicle used for everyday cargo or a heavier hauler for trailer tasks, our dealership can help you find the truck you need. When you are looking for a used truck to buy or lease, our Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick is here to make your experience a positive one. We keep an inventory of used trucks available on the website for your consideration before you even come for a test drive. Vehicle listings provide a full catalog of features and images of each vehicle’s exterior and interior. We look forward to talking to you about our current specials, lease options, financing programs, and application for pre-approval. Be sure to visit us at 1020 M.L.K. Jr Blvd in Paris, KY, so we can put you in your next truck today!

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