Four Reliable Pickup Trucks Worth Checking Out

So you need a truck that you can count on, but you can only afford to get a used model. You’ve searched for a used truck dealership near you and seen that there are a lot of options out there. How do you tell which ones are the most reliable? As the best used truck dealership in Shelbyville, we’re here to help you answer that question.

There are a few factors you should take into account when figuring out which pre-owned truck models are the most dependable, besides their obvious versatility and capabilities. We’re talking about: how long the model has been on the market (longer is better), pickups that have had the fewest complaints and recalls, and trucks that can handle hundreds of thousands of miles without an issue. The Chevy Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and Ram 1500 are four of the most reliable trucks on the market. We consistently see these trucks arrive and be sold because people love them, and they last a long time on the road.

#1: Chevy Silverado 1500

The full-size, light-duty Chevy Silverado 1500 earned its place on our most reliable truck list; it’s not here just because we’re a Chevy dealer. The Silverado 1500 is not only one of America’s best-selling trucks, but it’s been building its reputation as a reputable model since the 1999 model year. With its numerous cab and bed variations, trim levels, and powertrains, which include gas, diesel, and hybrid options, it can be a commuter vehicle with exceptional fuel economy, a family hauler that can seat up to six passengers, and even a work truck with outstanding towing and hauling capabilities.

It is fashionable, tough, and offers a wide range of safety measures. The 2016 model year saw the introduction of Teen Driver technology, which can monitor the new driver in your family while you are unable to. And did we mention there are also off-road specific trims available like the Z71, Custom Trail Boss, LT Trail Boss, or the more recent Silverado 1500 ZR2?

You can consider it a truck you can rely on, especially with honors such as being named Truck of the Year by MotorTrend multiple times in its lifetime and North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show for 2007. It also received the Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award in 2017 for the full-size pickup truck segment. Plus, with an above-average reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 from RepairPal, you can’t go wrong. On average, Silverado 1500 models last well over 200,000 miles, some even beyond 300,000 miles, which brings you around 15 to 20 years of driving as long as you keep up with routine maintenance.

#2: Ford F-150

There’s no way we could have possibly left out the Silverado’s lifetime rival, the full-size Ford F-150. It, too, is one of America’s favorite trucks. Believe it or not, the F-150 has held the #1 best-selling truck position for over 40 years, with the Chevy Silverado 1500 close behind, even dethroning the F-150 for the first time in years mid-way through 2021. However, the F-150 quickly made its way back to the top.

The F-150 is another light-duty, reliable, affordable, and extremely capable pickup that’s purpose-built, providing the flexibility your lifestyle requires with the ability to accommodate your working, commuting, and family needs. It’s been on the market since 1975 and shows zero signs of leaving any time soon. Similar to the Chevy Silverado 1500, the Ford F-150 can accommodate up to six passengers comfortably with a lengthy line of trims to appeal to any style and preference.

It is available in multiple cab configurations, bed sizes, and powertrains, so you can tailor your choice to match your needs. The F-150 is making a lot of strides in engine tech, with a hybrid powertrain having been available for some time and an all-electric model coming out soon. However, the used market will still have to wait a little while before we see the all-electric version. Diesel lovers, be warned that you won’t find a used diesel F-150 newer than the 2021 model since Ford decided to drop the diesel engine from the F-150’s powertrain list.

The 2021 F-150 model received the same recognition the Chevy Silverado 1500 did years ago as the North American Truck of the Year. It also shares the same reliability rating from RepairPal. On average, the Ford F-150 will see as many miles and last just as long as the Chevy Silverado 1500 when taken care of. This truck has been a best-seller for a long time because it lasts.

#3: Ram 1500

Next up is another pickup that’s at the top of America’s best-selling truck list. It even stole the second place position for top sales from the reigning Chevy Silverado 1500 for a short while after Ford regained its top spot in 2021. The iconic Ram nameplate has always been known for its massive size, even when it was introduced to the market in 1981 as a Dodge pickup. But, once the Ram brand separated itself from Dodge to focus on its pickup line in 2009, the already popular and appreciated full-size truck, the Ram 1500, improved significantly.

As with all pickups, the Ram 1500 is customizable for any lifestyle. You can choose from three cab sizes and three bed sizes depending on which edition you choose: the modern Ram 1500, the Ram 1500 Classic, or the performance and trail-ready Ram 1500 TRX, which came out for the 2021 model year. It also leaves plenty of room to select a suitable style, capability, performance, comfort, convenience, and technology with ample trim levels and powertrain options.

Like the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500, the 2022 Ram 1500 proudly offers a diesel engine still, if that’s your preference. What separates the Ram from even the Silverado, besides having the most intimidating appearance and standard premium features, is its spacious cab space capable of accommodating a maximum of six passengers with more rear legroom than its competitors. However, luxury and space do come with a price, so the Ram 1500 is more expensive compared to both the Chevy Silverado 1500 and Ford F-150.

As expected, like the already mentioned trucks, the Ram 1500, on average, lasts over 200,000 miles and around 13 to 20 years with proper care. It even holds the same 3.5 out of 5 reliability rating on RepairPal as the other two do, with below-average repair costs, less severity, and a lower frequency of repairs. What’s more, the Ram 1500 has even taken home a few Truck of the Year accolades like the other two, including the 2019 North American Truck of the Year award.

#4: Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra is the youngest truck on our list, with its earliest model from 1999 resembling its predecessor, the Toyota T100, which entered the lineup in 1993. Despite its brief history, the full-size light-duty Tundra has established a solid reputation for itself, sharing Toyota’s legacy of producing high-value, high-quality products that are dependable. The Tundra closely competes with the Ram 1500 over the others on our list as a high-end mainstream pickup with a big, comfortable, and premium cabin area seating up to six passengers with excellent capabilities. However, it doesn’t offer as many customizable options as the others, with only two cab configurations available after discontinuing the three-seater cab and much fewer engine options.

All Tundras for the 2020 and 2021 model years came with a 5.7L V8 engine. If you are familiar with the current version of the Tundra, then you’ll know the powertrain lineup drastically changed in 2022 when the V8 was eliminated, the V6 became the standard, and a hybrid engine became an option for greater fuel efficiency. So, if you are a fan of the V8 engine, buying used is the way to go. The Tundra is built to last just as long as the others on this list and has the same reliability ratings as the Silverado 1500, F-150, and Ram 1500.

The Tundra was actually the first to earn the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Safety Pick award for the full-size pickup segment. It was also named the 2008 MotorTrend Truck of the Year. You can expect a Tundra model to last between 150,000-300,000 miles if you take care of it. So, even when you buy a used model, you will still have a lot of time left to drive it.

There’s More Than Just One Reliable Used Pickup

Even with the abuse they’ll endure while working, the four trucks on our list are dependable and durable. You can count on these trucks to handle the tasks you throw their way, and you can expect them to last a long time. It can be difficult to choose one over the other, but as a used truck dealership, we’re here to assist you in figuring out which model would match your needs both financially and practically.