10 Best Used Trucks under $20,000

2014 chevy silverado red ・ Photo by General Motors

Trucks are designed to work hard, but it’s always difficult (and expensive) to put a new truck to the test by dropping a load of gravel into its pristine bed or by taking it through some rough terrain and scratching its fresh paint. By purchasing a used truck, some of that guilt is taken away, a bundle of money can be saved, and a wider array of models become attainable. Let’s take a look at the 10 best used trucks under $20,000 to see just what that sort of money can buy, and whether any of them can fill your wants and needs.

10) 2013-2015 Ram 2500

If you’re looking for a used heavy duty truck under $20,000, the Ram 2500 is one of your options. For that money you can afford a 2013 or 2014 model, or even a higher mileage 2015 model. While most models in the price range will be gasoline-powered, you might be able to find a higher mileage Cummins diesel-powered 2013 model within our budget, but they’ll be few and far between, and don’t expect them to be well optioned. If you need an even heavier duty truck, you’ll need to step up to a Ram 3500, and you’ll probably have to settle for a 2012 model with the big straight-6 diesel.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

9) 2013-2015 Ford F-250

It seems as though the upcoming release of the next-generation of the Ford Super Duty lineup has made the used models slightly more affordable, and with some searching, you'll be able to pick up a 2015 F-250 for less than our $20,000 limit. If you want the torque of a diesel motor, you’ll need to go back to the 2013 model year, and if you need to haul heavier loads, you might be able to find a 2014 F-350 model, though it will be gasoline powered. Like all heavy duty trucks, the ride is very stiff (especially when unloaded), so make sure you aren’t actually buying more truck than you need.

Photo by Ford

8) 2013-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/GMC Sierra 2500

When it comes time to purchase a heavy duty pickup truck, it mostly comes down to a matter of personal preference, as they all feature incredible towing capacities and massive amounts of power. The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and its relative, the GMC Sierra 2500, are no exception. For $20,000, you might be able to find a 2015 model, but chances are that most models within that price range will be from 2013 or 2014. Diesel-powered models command more money, but if you are patient you should be able to find a higher-mileage base model; if you need a heavier-duty 3500 model, you’ll probably need to settle for a 2013.

Photo by General Motors

7) 2013-2014 Honda Ridgeline

The midsize Honda Ridgeline is an interesting take on the pickup truck. Instead of the typical body-on-frame design found in most pickups, the Ridgeline uses a unibody design like most modern cars, and instead of a longitudinally mounted engine driving the rear wheels, it uses a transversely mounted V6 that sends most of its power through the front wheels. The result is a truck that drives like a car, but with some sacrifice to cargo capacity. Unfortunately, our budget isn’t enough for the newest version that came out in 2017, and we have to limit ourselves to the 2013-2014 model years (the Ridgeline was not built for 2015 or 2016).

Photo by Honda

6) 2014-2016 Nissan Frontier

The midsize Nissan Frontier is great for people who use a truck like a truck. It doesn’t have the best on-road handling, the interior is quite low-rent and fuel economy isn’t great; on the other, hand it’s fun to drive, has a strong V6 engine, is decently capable off-road, and is easy to use. For your $20,000, you can get a well-equipped 2014 or 2015 model, or a relatively low-mileage basic 2016 model. If you drive in the mountains or plan on doing any hauling at all, we’d recommend the V6 model, as the fairly large increase in power is more than worth the small sacrifice in fuel economy.

Photo by Nissan

5) 2013-2015 Toyota Tacoma

The new midsize Toyota Tacoma was released for the 2016 model year, and if you get lucky, you might be able to find one within our budget, but if you do, it will most likely be a base model with the under-powered 4-cylinder. If you want the more powerful V6 (and you probably do), you’ll be looking at 2014 or 2015 models. In these trucks, the interior is rather utilitarian and the ride comfort isn’t great, but they are capable when the going gets rough, especially when equipped with locking differentials. If you’re looking for a small but good used truck under $20,000, the Tacoma might be right for you.

Photo by Toyota

4) 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500

If you are in the market for a used fullsize truck, $20,000 will get you a relatively new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500. If you need a V8, you’ll most likely have to make do with the pre-facelifted 2014-2015 model; if you want an updated 2016 model, you’ll need to settle for a lower-spec truck with a V6, or spend a bit more for V8 power. The interior is up to the standards of the class, and the ride is nicely refined. The V6 is sufficiently powerful and the V8 is very strong, but the 6-speed automatic’s gear ratios can be a bit wide, especially when towing.

Photo by General Motors

3) 2015-2016 Ford F-150

You can get the latest version of the Ford F-150 with its lightweight aluminum body for less than our $20,000 limit, but you’ll have an extremely hard time finding a 4-wheel drive model for that price, and you might be limited to trucks with the normally-aspirated V6 or work trucks with the V8. Still, you get a truck with competitive towing and payload numbers that is capable both on and off the road. The interior is quite nice, though the F-150’s ride is a bit stiffer than some of its competitors. Despite these limitations, the F-150 is one of the best used trucks under $20,000.

Photo by Ford

2) 2014-2016 Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 is one of the best used trucks under $20,000, and a lower-spec 2016 truck or a well-equipped 2014 or 2015 model should be within our budget. For that money you should also be able to find a 2014 EcoDiesel V6 powered model that would make a great (and economical) tow vehicle for most loads. The Ram has one of the nicest interiors you can get in a truck, and thanks to its rear coil springs, it’s also one of the better riding and handling trucks. The tradeoff is a slightly lower towing capacity than some of its competitors (though still more than enough for most owners).

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

1) 2015-2016 Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon

Not everyone needs a fullsize truck, and for those looking for something smaller, the latest version of the compact Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon siblings are just about the best on the market. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to afford a diesel in our price range, but the gasoline engines are up to most tasks. The 4-cylinder is adequate for light duty, but the V6 is much more powerful and nearly as economical. The ride is comfortable on road (if you haven’t been in a modern truck you’d be surprised how well the Colorado and Canyon ride), but the front bumper hangs low, which can be a problem off road.

Photo by General Motors