Which Used Trucks Should You Focus On?

One thing guides us when we work with customers to find a great used truck: the best pickup at the best price possible. That’s easier said than done if you’re trying to find a truck on your own without anyone to help you, which is why we’re here to provide all of our customers with terrific service and an incredible selection of used trucks for sale near Salt Lake City. And yet, even when you work with friendly people, you can still find yourself overwhelmed by all of the options that are out there on the used truck market. So today, we’re going to take you through some of our favorites when it comes to used trucks and focus on a few particular model years and features that you should keep an eye out for as you shop for your next pickup.

The Chevy Silverado 1500

It should come as no surprise that we’re fans of Chevy’s iconic full-size truck, but there’s a lot more to it than the fact that we’re a Chevy dealership. For more than 20 years, the Silverado series of trucks have been among the most powerful, sophisticated, and capable pickups on the road; they give you robust power that you can count on when driving around Salt Lake City each day. Whether you’re looking for something that can help you get your job done or you want a great truck for enjoying the weekend (or both), the Silverado 1500 is a fantastic choice. First released for the 1999 model year, recent Silverado trucks feature some of the best engines in the auto industry and stunning designs that are built to impress.

As you’re looking at used Silverado 1500 trucks, a 2016 model is as far back as we’d go, which gets you a third-generation version. Notably, that year saw a mid-generation refresh and update for the Silverado, which is why we’d go with that one if you want something older. For a newer model, focus on a 2019 or later Silverado 1500—this kicked off the fourth generation for this truck. As you look at these fourth-gen Silverado models, keep an eye out for the incredible 6.2L V8 engine if you want the best performance and capability possible or the legendary 3.0L Duramax diesel engine if you prefer diesel power. The 2022 Silverado 1500 received an update and refresh from Chevy, so these are amazing used pickups to choose from if you want the latest features; look for a ZR2 model if you want to head off-road or the High Country for the finest luxury and comfort features.

The GMC Sierra 1500

Speaking of luxury and sophistication, if you like the performance and capabilities of the Chevy Silverado 1500 but are interested in a more refined cabin, then you should keep an eye out for a pre-owned GMC Sierra 1500. The Sierra shares a platform and much of the engineering with the Silverado, so you get similar power and capabilities from it. In general, GMC tends to focus more on luxury and comfort features in their trucks, creating cabins that surround you with sophisticated options and designs. A Denali trim of the Sierra 1500 will provide you with the highest level of luxury, while AT4 models are great if you’re looking for a comfortable and polished experience with a truck that can head off-road with ease.

The Ford F-150

For more than 40 years, the F-150 has been one of the most popular and impressive trucks on the road, which makes it a great choice as you’re looking for a used pickup. You’ll find a lot of these out there since so many of them sell each year, and while we might favor Chevy and the Silverado 1500, we can’t deny that Ford’s truck has a lot to offer. This is a full-size pickup, just like the Silverado and Sierra models, which means you can find powerful engines and robust capability on a pre-owned F-150. It’s a great choice if you need a truck to get you to work each day around Salt Lake City, though it works just as well as a daily driver.

The F-150 is currently in its 14th generation, which means there are a lot of different used models out there, but we’d stick to more recent years for this truck. In general, the 13th generation is the furthest back we’d go, which started with the 2015 model, but you’re better off looking for one from 2018 or later when it received a mid-generation refresh and after the introduction of a new 3.5L EcoBoost engine the previous year. If you want more modern features, then look for a 14th-generation F-150 starting with the 2021 model year. When looking at these trucks, keep an eye out for the PowerBoost hybrid engine for the best performance; note that the diesel engine was discontinued after 2021, so keep that in mind if you want a diesel.

The Ram 1500

We can’t talk about great used trucks and overlook the Ram 1500, which is in the top three for American pickups alongside the Silverado and F-150. Known as the Dodge Ram since its introduction in 1980, the “Dodge” name was dropped, and Ram became its own brand with the fourth generation and the 2011 model. That means any used truck you’re looking at should simply be a Ram 1500 since anything with the Dodge name on it is older than we’d recommend. The Ram 1500 is known for having impressive performance and some of the most luxurious interiors on the market, which are worth looking for as you shop for used pickups to drive around Salt Lake City and enjoy each day.

The fourth generation of the Ram 1500 is an important one for another reason: it is the best way to find a newer truck with a manual transmission since one was still available through 2018, whereas Chevy and Ford dropped theirs in 2011 and 2007. One thing we should note is that the fifth-generation Ram 1500 was introduced for the 2019 model year, but the previous fourth-gen version remained in production as the Ram 1500 Classic. This is important to keep in mind as you look at used trucks from the last few years; Ram 1500 Classic models can be less expensive since they’re still the previous generation, but you’ll find more advanced features and tech on the standard Ram 1500 pickup.

The Toyota Tacoma

So far, all the trucks we’ve looked at are impressive full-size models, but we wanted to mention a different option: the midsize Toyota Tacoma. Toyota makes a full-size truck, the Tundra, but we like the Tacoma a bit more because of its impressive performance and great features, which it offers in a smaller size. First released back in 1995 as a compact truck, the Tacoma is one of the only smaller trucks that has been available uninterrupted since it was first released, though it changed to a midsize pickup thanks to a redesign for its second generation in 2004. Third-generation Tacoma models can go back to 2016, but we’d suggest something more recent: a facelift and update for the 2020 model year is the perfect place to start if you’re interested in a Tacoma. If you want a great midsize truck to take off-road, then keep an eye out for a TRD model, particularly the top-end TRD Pro and its fantastic capabilities.

Find the Perfect Truck for Salt Lake City Driving

As you can see, you have quite a variety of options available to you as you’re exploring different used trucks to meet your needs. Keep in mind also that the Toyota Tacoma isn’t the only great midsize pickup out there; the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon are both fantastic options that deliver impressive power and a smaller size that can easily fit into any lifestyle. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something with greater power and capability, then you might consider a Silverado 2500 HD, a Sierra 3500 HD, or even a Ford Super Duty model. With such a tremendous variety to choose from, picking the right dealership makes a big difference in ensuring you find exactly what you need. That’s why we work so hard to provide a fantastic selection of used trucks to our customers; all you have to do now is decide on the features and models that sound best to you.