As the price of new trucks skyrockets, the practicality of owning one as part of a small business or for personal use is diminishing. Luxury used trucks aren’t much cheaper as recent supply chain issues affect new truck production, making late model used trucks highly desirable. But is buying an older used truck a good idea?
Is it a good idea to buy an older used truck?
Buying an older truck, especially one under $5,000, carries a higher risk of problems, including accidents or unreported breakdowns, and offers less safety technology and fewer convenience features.
However, it’s easier to pay a $5,000 truck up front or make monthly payments that Car and Driver calculated at less than $100 than it is to pay $600 or more a month for a new base model truck. If the older truck continues to run for a year, you’ll be ahead of the curve.
What are the best used trucks under $5,000?
Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 pickup truck enjoys immense popularity among a wide range of drivers. Small businesses involved in construction, landscaping and delivery services use them. Still, families enjoy the easy access to the rear seats of the double cab models and the safety they offer thanks to the strong frames and large dimensions.
Start your search for an F-150 under $5,000 in the 10th generation range from model year 1997. Find a truck with a V8 engine, four-wheel drive (4WD), and a recent tune-up which included new spark plugs to avoid the dreaded factory-installed two-piece plugs should be easy in this range.
Bonus tip: Shop in the southern US for trucks with less rust from driving on treated winter roads.
Ford Ranger
As modern small pickup trucks grow larger and compact unibody trucks offer reduced towing capacity, returning to a 1990s Ford Ranger offers a practical package at a low price.
Car and Driver says other older small trucks have excessive frame rust and calls the Ranger “basic and frugal.” Look for a Ranger with a 4.0-liter V6, extended cab and 4WD for maximum functionality and resale value, but be aware that some models don’t have ABS or only offer it on the rear brakes.
Ram 2500
Look for a second generation Ram 2500 to get the most capable truck for the money. You’ll have to hunt to find one without excessively rusted paint or a faulty 4WD vacuum actuator. For less than $5,000, it will have a gasoline engine instead of the six-cylinder Cummins diesel.
However, it will pull its weight at the workplace, camping, or as family transportation to soccer fields and grocery stores.
Are Trucks Under $5,000 Worth Buying?
While trucks under $5,000 usually have 100,000 miles or more on the odometer, they still have plenty of miles left in them, provided the previous owners did proper preventative maintenance, such as oil changes and tune-ups. As a result, it’s not uncommon to see older trucks on the road daily with 300,000 miles on them.
Of course, there’s the risk of breakdown, as with any vehicle of any age, and a truck in this range won’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. They will, however, have airbags, decent safety ratings, and possibly Bluetooth or an auxiliary input for listening to music from your phone or iPod, if anyone still has an iPod.
