Trucks are essential work vehicles for many people, and they’re popular personal vehicles, as well. After all, you can carry boxes of tools, furniture, and your family and all their gear. That’s why trucks account for a quarter of all vehicles in Texas. They’re subject to a lot of use and abuse, and the high price tag that comes with many models means that many of us have to go with used rather than new. But what are the best used trucks to buy?
Ford F-150
Used Ford trucks are the most popular type of used trucks in Texas. That’s only a continuation of their popularity in the new vehicle market. Ford trucks are a good overall value. You get a solid work vehicle with the space to carry a family of four, unless you pay more for an extended cab. The basic model costs as much as a mid-market car, but you can tow modest loads and carry a lot of stuff in the truck bed. Higher-end vehicles have more engine power, greater towing capacity, and more amenities. For many would-be truck buyers, buying a Ford F-150 used is the only way they can afford the full-powered V6 engine or get heated leather seats.
The F-150 series is rarely changed because it is a classic. Ford has sold a million F-150 and Super Duty trucks a year every year for years, and one out of every six of them were bought in Texas. And they did that without changing the F-150 truck design barring little upgrades like a better infotainment center or new features like pedestrian collision warning systems. The Ford King Ranch F-150 is a luxury version of the F-150. For example, you get seats that can be heated or cooled, leather trim, and a two-bar chrome grille on the front of the truck.
Chevy Silverado
The Chevy Silverado has been the number 2 selling truck in the United States for years, though it is losing ground to the Ram truck. They sell almost 600,000 trucks a year, accounting for roughly a quarter of all trucks sold in the country. Unfortunately, sales of these models are on the decline though the full-sized pickup market is growing around 2 percent a year. Chevy tried to turn this around by coming up with a Texas Edition package that adds extras like an adjustable powered seat and remote start. A used Texas Edition truck is affordable whereas a new one is out of reach of most truck buyers.
The Dodge Ram 1500
The Dodge Ram 1500 is the top selling Dodge Ram truck model, and it is the third most popular truck in the U.S. They sold half a million models from 2017 through 2019, meaning Ram sold 22 percent of all trucks sold those years. Why is Ram attracting Silverado buyers? It is because it has better fuel economy, and its design is more compatible with “lifestyle” buyers. The truck lets you load water skis, camping gear and ATVs in the back without having to attach a trailer. It also has the space for a family of four and all their stuff in the back. Yet it can serve as a work-truck in most cases.
Texas is such a large truck market that Ram came up with a model aimed at Texas: The Ram 1500 Lone Star edition. It was reintroduced in 2019. It is available with either a 5.7-liter V-8 engine or 3.6 liter V-6. It has a plush interior, chrome grille with a star logo, and polished wheels. You can get a great deal on this deluxe truck if you buy it used.
