Big Towing Power On A Small Budget? These Used Trucks Fit The Bill – Jalopnik

Trucks and towing go collectively like burgers and fries. But how a lot you possibly can pull will depend on the automobile and your checking account. For new pickups, the upper the value tag, the larger the towing capability. With a beginning value of $39,495 (together with vacation spot expenses), the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado is the most affordable new full-size truck in the marketplace. It can pull at the least 9,000 kilos. Stepping as much as a heavy-duty truck expands towing capability. For instance, a 2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty can deal with a trailer weight of at the least 14,400 kilos. Yet the bottom MSRP is $48,270 (together with vacation spot charges). These costs aren’t in everybody’s finances.

So, this obtained us questioning: what sort of tow-friendly truck might you purchase for half the price of a brand new Chevy and even much less? The excellent news: you’ve gotten choices, resembling a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a 2014 Ford F-150, or a 2009 Nissan Titan. There are extra. The not-so-good information: do not anticipate something new and plan on six-figure mileage. Because the emphasis is on “big towing power,” we skipped midsized vehicles just like the Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado. That mentioned, for those who solely want to drag a smaller load, these pickups are among the many most cost-effective you should buy.

Be positive to evaluation the methodology data under. Our strategy included reviewing Autotrader listings for undamaged used vehicles 20 years previous or newer, ideally with fewer than 150,000 miles. We additionally used A-Z Eventz (KBB) pricing estimates (Autotrader and KBB are owned by the identical firm). Keep in thoughts that we have listed the utmost towing capability for every pickup. Actual functionality could also be decrease on account of engine kind, mattress size, cab configuration, and drivetrain. Verify your towing wants earlier than shopping for. And all the time get a pre-purchase inspection earlier than signing something.

According to CarGurus, the typical value of a used automotive elevated by greater than 31% since December 2019, earlier than COVID grew to become a family phrase. This makes staying underneath the $5,000 threshold tough however not inconceivable. The internet result’s you could have to accept a truck that is older than 20 years or has greater than 150,000 miles. Something has to present. Rear-wheel drive might also be a part of the equation. In addition, do not anticipate all kinds of selections on this value vary. You might also need to strive non-public sellers to stretch your cash, slightly than paying retail at a seller.

A very good place to begin is the 2008 Ford F-150, which is the final yr of the eleventh technology. You’re more likely to spend each penny of that $5,000 finances, however the trade-off is a truck that may tow as much as 11,000 kilos. Some variations with the 4.2-liter V6 engine had been outfitted with a five-speed guide gearbox, for those who like rowing your personal gears.

You’ll additionally should work laborious to discover a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 in the same value vary, however there are wallet-friendly examples on the market. Towing capability maxes out at 9,100 kilos, however remember that’s for fashions with the 390-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Mopar followers could recall that 2009 was the final mannequin yr earlier than Ram was spun off from Dodge to turn into Chrysler’s standalone truck model.

Given the dominance of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis within the full-size truck phase, it is easy to concentrate on the F-150, Silverado, and Ram. Yet, there are different selections for dealing with your towing wants. The 2009 Nissan Titan comes commonplace with a V8 and may pull as much as 9,500 kilos. You may need a thousand or two left over for gasoline and insurance coverage. Or you possibly can max out the $10K restrict on one thing newer. The 2008 Toyota Tundra is one other non-Detroit possibility. V8 energy can also be commonplace, with both the bottom 4.7-liter or non-compulsory 5.7-liter engine. The bigger engine presents as much as 10,300 kilos of towing capability.

Pushing as much as a five-figure finances opens the door to a heavy-duty pickup just like the 2011 Ford F-250. Admittedly, there could be nothing left over, however you will drive away in a Super Duty truck with a traditional tow score of as much as 17,500 kilos (fifth-wheel towing has a 24,400-pound restrict). If that is over and above your wants, contemplate the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a part of the GMT900 household and the truck’s second technology. A ten,700-pound tow score can deal with a fair proportion of watercraft and campers. You should not have any bother finding examples inside finances and underneath 150,000 miles.

The 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD (and its Silverado 2500HD company twin) can also be a part of the GMT900 sequence. For lower than $15,000, you will discover examples in decrease trims with an everyday cab configuration. The most towing capability with this setup is 13,000 kilos. At the value, it is best to be capable of discover choices that keep inside the 150,000-mile threshold. With diligence, you would possibly be capable of improve to the next trim or a crew cab physique with out breaking the finances ceiling. Similarly, the 2012 Ram 2500 is one other heavy-duty pickup that falls into this value vary. However, when outfitted with the bottom 5.7-liter Hemi V8, this truck presents a barely increased high towing capability of 14,400 kilos.

Shopping for a 2014 Ford F-150 means choosing the final yr of the twelfth technology. You’ll be capable of discover fashions on the decrease finish of the trim vary (XL and XLT) with about 100,000 miles on the odometer. This F-150 offers as much as 11,300 kilos of towing. If the Blue Oval is not your most well-liked alternative, spending the identical sum of money yields a more recent 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — the primary yr of the facelifted third technology — with a tow score of as much as 12,000 kilos.

Look at inexpensive truck purchasing this fashion: spending round $20,000 will get you a pickup from the 2020s with a contemporary look and entry to extra expertise. Think about that when the typical new F-150 purchaser pays about $900 monthly. A facet advantage of this strategy is that automobiles with 100,000 miles or fewer aren’t laborious to seek out or priced out of attain. The 2020 Ram 1500 is one instance. With a most trailer weight of 12,750 kilos, some trims had been optionally outfitted with superior security options like ahead collision warning and a surround-view monitor. The 2020 Ford F-150 additionally falls on this vary, edging out the Ram with a tow score of as much as 13,200 kilos. All trims come commonplace with computerized emergency braking, whereas blind-spot monitoring and different driver-assist options are included with increased grades.

Completing the $20K truck trio is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. One trim, the double cab RST with the 6.2-liter V8, can tow as much as 13,300 kilos. Otherwise, the highest trailer weight is capped at 12,100 kilos. Advanced driver tech was an possibility on most trims. What you will not discover on this value and mileage vary is a more recent heavy-duty truck.

These truck suggestions are primarily based on Autotrader listings inside 500 miles of the 60601 zip code (Chicago). Why this vary and area? This zone covers city, suburban, and rural areas, whereas reaching all through the Midwest and into parts of the South. In brief, this offers an excellent cross-section of the used truck market. Of course, pricing and availability could differ nearer to house, however at the least you will know what to search for. A-Z Eventz market-value estimates helped verify that pricing was real looking and never a one-off unicorn or a lowball seller providing.

At a minimal, we sought out vehicles with a transparent title and no reported historical past of accidents or body harm. When potential, we focused examples with fewer than 150,000 miles and mannequin years 2005 or newer. Consumer Reports says a well-maintained automobile from a dependable model must be drivable for at the least 200,000 miles. Lastly, we stayed away from any mannequin and mannequin yr with a “Clunker” or “Avoid Like The Plague” score on CarComplaints.com, however you will nonetheless need to do your personal analysis about reliability.