Great Pre-Owned Truck Options That Deliver Excellent Value

In case you haven’t noticed, pickup trucks are increasing in price. Pickup trucks used to be the everyman’s vehicle, built for the job site. They are the vehicles that move equipment across farms and transport blocks of cement across construction sites. Typically, when someone buys a pickup truck, it’s usually for work-related tasks. Manufacturers have historically been aware of that and made pickups affordable so people didn’t have to spend too much money on transportation that essentially helps them earn a living. But as time has passed, pickups have gotten pricey, mainly due to the inclusion of more luxury-oriented features. If you’re an Oklahoma driver looking at cars for sale in Oklahoma City, you’ve probably seen this firsthand during your search. While the added luxury is a contributing factor, there are many other reasons.

For starters, more people are driving pickups. It’s no longer just your contractors or agricultural workers. Parents are driving pickups as everyday commuters, while weekend explorers and off-road adventurers are getting behind the wheel of pickups because of their great towing abilities and beefy tires. Pickups have also become physically larger. They’re a far cry from the little two-benchers you used to see. They also have an array of heftier engine options. So, what’s a person supposed to do who just wants a solid, affordable pickup truck? A perfect option is to invest in a pre-owned model, as you can pick up a more recent model at an affordable price and get all of the modern features you expect in an up-to-date vehicle. Let’s take a look at some notable pre-owned truck options that will be sure to add tremendous value at home or on the job site.

A Classic and Beautifully Simple Work Truck: The 2018 Ram 1500 Tradesman Trim

The thing you need to know about the 2018 Ram 1500 is that it comes in 16 trims. That’s a lot to digest; however, if you want something easy on the budget that’s ready for hard work, the base-level Tradesman trim has everything you need. This is a two-door, three-seat model, and its standard engine will be a V6, and with that, it can trailer up to 5,020 lbs. It’s an easy-to-handle pickup, and for those with mid-level towing needs, it’s got you covered. With an eight-speed automatic transmission, it gives you more than enough small steps for the modest trailering ability it has.

For a 2018 model at a really low price, this truck also has some safety-enhancing features that will help you feel confident on the road. One of these is the Electronic Stability Control, which helps detect and prevent traction loss when doing things like taking corners and making abrupt turns. It’s also got a tire-specific low-pressure warning, so you don’t need to waste time running around to all four tires with your pressure gauge before finding the one that’s acting up.

This is meant to be a bare-bones work truck so that you won’t find much in the way of infotainment and connectivity. However, that’s part of the beauty of it, as many manufacturers seem to have completely given up on making simple trucks like these for drivers on a budget. If you just need a solid work truck and are tired of paying for luxury features you will not use, you’ll love the stripped-down nature of the 2018 Ram 1500 Tradesman.

An Affordable Everyday Family Truck: The 2017 Toyota Tacoma SR

You’ve likely heard that Toyota Tacomas are some of the longest-lasting trucks on the road. In fact, many are known for lasting over 250,000 miles, so if you find one with even 100,000 miles on it, that truck still has a lot of life left in it. The 2017 Toyota Tacoma SR is another beautifully simple but effective pickup. It can seat five passengers and has four doors, so if you need room for a crew or a family, this truck has you covered. We include it because it is a pretty family-friendly pickup, and it’s hard to find one of those these days without a lot of upscale features that drive up the price.

You’ll love how many great interior features you get in this pickup for the cost. A 60/40 split-folding rear bench allows you to turn this into just a two, three, or four-seater when you want to create extra cargo room inside the truck. A rear and front cupholder gives you and a passenger somewhere to store your beverages, and there’s even a locking glove box for stashing your valuables when you can’t monitor your truck. While they’re not the most cutting-edge features, they certainly offer a lot of practicality to your daily drive. The 2017 Tacoma SR also has some decent safety features, like a backup camera for tricky reversing and rear child safety locks. It also gets Traction Control to help your tires retain proper contact with the ground at all times.

A Tough Truck That’s Ready for Challenging Work: The 2018 Ford F-150 XL

The Ford F-150 has long had a reputation for being highly capable. However, today, drivers have to pay a high price for good capability out of a pickup. That’s why we love the 2018 Ford F-150 XL; it’s the base-level trim. It has impressive features and capabilities that those who spend long days on a work site will love.

Starting with the truck bed, you get 78 inches of cargo box floor and 62.3 cu.ft. of cargo space, giving you plenty of room for bulky and long items. Transporting the goods you need to tackle your tasks should be easy enough with this bed. Thanks to a rear step bumper and tailgate rear cargo access, you can also get into it without much hassle. Plus, if your work day goes later than expected (or begins before the sun is up), you’ll like the standard cargo lamp that will illuminate your load.

As for towing, the standard towing ability maxes out at 5,500 lbs. However, find a 2018 Ford F-150 XL equipped with the Trailer Tow Package, and that towing ability jumps to an impressive 11,100 lbs, giving you the power to do much more with your pickup. This package also gets a class IV trailer hitch receiver and pro trailer backup assist to help you reverse when trailering.

Find a Great Pre-Owned Truck With Us

Many drivers have accepted the fact that they’ll just have to pay a high price tag for pickups today. However, we don’t think you need to submit that to that fate. Yes, manufacturers continue to dangle high-end and huge pickups in front of drivers with their newer lineups, making it seem like that’s just what a truck is now. But there are still many great used pickups that offer all you need without costing you a small fortune.

Online.cars has one of the most expansive national inventories of pre-owned trucks, giving you the power to check out hundreds of models in one (virtual) place. One of our Vehicle Solution Specialists will be ready to answer your questions at any time. Since we carry so many generations and trims of trucks, we know you’ll find it easy to identify the one that’s right for your needs and budget. It’s time to find the perfect pre-owned truck, and you can do it on your schedule and terms by exploring our vast selection of vehicles at Online.cars.