Most Reliable Trucks to Buy Used: Longest-Lasting Trucks on the Market

You have saved up enough and are in the market for a truck. Whether you’re thinking of replacing your old one or you are a first-time buyer, you have two main options: Going for a brand-new one or searching the used market for the perfect deal. New trucks come with a couple of perks; the feeling of being the first owner of the vehicle, having the latest in technology, smelling that new car smell, and things like that may be irresistible, but going for a used one has significant advantages compared to the perks of getting a new one.

First of all, you pay a lower purchasing price when buying used. Although after the 2020 pandemic used prices are nowhere near as they were but there’s still a comparable difference. You’ll also face much less depreciation compared to a new vehicle. You’ll get lower sales tax, registration tax, and insurance costs.

Whatever you buy, it is extremely important to get something with a well-documented service history. If you get a truck that is known for its reliability, and get it with a good history, you'll have a truck that will last you for the long haul.   

Even though trucks are generally durable and dependable vehicles, there are still good and bad ones. It is hard to know which brand, model, or year is the one to get if you don’t have first-hand experience with the vehicles. The next best thing you can do is to search online. But there is a catch with internet searching: People only post bad experiences online, no one talks about the good stuff. So, while internet forums are great resources nonetheless, you should take what you read online with a grain of salt. 

What are the Most Reliable Trucks?

So the question is, how will you find out about the longest-lasting trucks? Numerous companies conduct researches on durability, reliability, longevity, and customer satisfaction annually with real-world drivers of vehicles from all segments to come up with the most reliable trucks and other vehicles. We have reviewed these researches and compiled the top three most durable, reliable, and longest-lasting trucks in all segments to help you decide on the best deal for your long-term needs.

Outline of the List:

• The list does not go far back for trucks older than 3 to 4 years, so we have included trucks from 2020 or newer.
• Our imaginary budget is $30,000 for mid-size trucks and $35,000 for full-size trucks.
• Our list only includes mid- and full-size trucks, as heavy-duty trucks are more oriented towards commercial use and largely aimed at fleet buyers.
• We left out anything over 75.000 miles on the current listings. 

Longest-Lasting Trucks: Mid-Size Top Three

Highly versatile and very functional, mid-size trucks fall between the full-size and the compact trucks. They may lack the capabilities of the full-sizers, but most of them can get the towing and hauling jobs done perfectly. Some of them even come with trim levels that offer heavy-duty components, making them competent off-road machines.

Shopping for the right mid-size truck in the used market can be challenging and fun at the same time. There are numerous offerings throughout the years, but once you set your priorities right, the picture becomes more clear. What kind of a body or bed style you’ll get depends on your personal preferences and needs, but we can guide you through the longest-lasting trucks in the mid-size segment.

Here are what we’ve come up with through the researches about the most reliable trucks in the segment. Our budget is $30,000, and we are not looking at anything older than 2020 and/or has more than 75,000 miles on the odometer.

Toyota Tacoma Third Generation

Toyota trucks are reliability monsters, topping every list and research. Their owners praise them for being among the longest-lasting trucks. The latest Tacoma hit the market in 2024, and it is a relatively new vehicle, so it may be a bit early to talk about its durability and dependability. Also, it is better to wait for the manufacturers to iron out the little issues that come with a vehicle’s first production batch.

The third-generation Tacoma, sold between 2016 and 2023, is a better match for our list. It proved itself to be one of the most reliable trucks in the segment by being one of the top performers in reliability researches and lists. You can get a bare-bones, king-cab Tacoma (probably with a manual gearbox) around the $20K mark. Prices climb to the new truck territory of $45K and beyond, buying you a very low mileage, almost-new 2023 Tacoma.

Luckily the sweet spot for a used third-gen Tacoma is our $30,000 budget. 30 grand buys a 2-year-old SR5 Tacoma with around 50,000 miles, and you can even get a TRD Off-Road version with a bit more miles on the clock. With its reputation as one of the longest-lasting trucks, a $30,000 third-gen Taco will come with a lot of life left in it.

Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon Second Generation

When it comes to trucks, no one does it like the Americans. The Chevrolet Colorado and its sibling GMC Canyon are among the most reliable trucks, offering class-leading towing and payload capacities in a compact, mid-size shell. If you don’t need the raw power and the large space of full-size and heavy-duty trucks, take a look at these two.

The Colorado and Canyon's latest generations hit the market in 2023. Still relatively new, the third generation received great customer reviews and feedback. You shouldn’t underestimate the previous generation, too, as it is another mid-size offering that has proven itself as one of the more dependable trucks, ranking close to the top spot in longest-lasting trucks researches.

Prices start from as low as $15,000 for a second-gen Colorado with strictly work attire, and just above $20K for a second-gen Canyon SLE. Anything over $45,000 and up to $50,000 buys you a very low-mileage latest generation of both.

With our budget of $30,000, you can find pretty good examples of a two-year-old Z71 or ZR2 Colorado, or LT with seriously low mileage. On the classier and more mature GMC side of things, 30K buys you a two-year-old double cab Canyon Elevation or Denali with around 30-50K miles on the clock.

Ford Ranger Fourth Generation

Since its inception in 2019, the Ranger T6-series has offered competitive towing and payload capabilities. But the real trick under Ranger’s sleeve is its fuel efficiency. Unlike its bigger brother’s V6 and V8 powertrains, the Ranger offers an efficient turbocharged EcoBoost inline-4 and a ten-speed automatic gearbox, providing ample power and better fuel economy when needed. On top of all that, Ford Ranger comes almost always in the top three of the most reliable trucks researches.

Ford Ranger comes in various body and bed types, and the prices for a sub-75K-mile king-cab 2020 Ranger start from just over $20,000. A 2023 Lariat or a 2023 sub-10K mile XLT will set you back in the region of $40,000. The budget of $30,000 will easily put you behind the wheel of a two-year-old XLT with relatively low miles.

Longest-Lasting Trucks: Full-Size Top Three

Full-size trucks offer more versatility than almost any vehicle, coming in an incredible variety of bed and cab configurations. Some even make great off-roaders when equipped with the correct trim level or aftermarket upgrades. They are true powerhouses when it comes to work-related tasks, and at the same time, they can meet your daily and recreational needs with modern creature comforts.

Once again, picking the right half-ton truck with the right specifications depends on your needs and priorities. As far as dependability goes, here are the top three most reliable trucks in the full-size segment in the longest-lasting trucks researches.

Toyota Tundra Second and Third Generation

Toyota does it once more in the full-size truck segment, topping every reliability and dependability chart. Tundra is one of the longest-lasting trucks in the half-ton segment, perfectly combining the infamous Japanese reliability with American truck buyers’ needs.

Released in 2009 and updated twice in its lifetime, the second-generation Tundra offers two different V8 engines and rear- and all-wheel drive options. The second generation is old enough to prove that it offers more than enough durability. In 2022, the fourth-generation Tundra came along with more efficient twin-turbo V6 engines. While the first batch of any all-new vehicle comes with its unique set of little issues, the Tundra did not lose its reliability prowess even a single bit.

Used Tundra prices start from around $30,000 for newer-than-3-year-old, less-than-75,000-mile examples. 30K buys you a work-spec, 3-year-old SR; latest-gen TRD Pros stretch all the way up to $65,000. Our sweet spot, the $35,000 budget, will put you behind the wheel of a clean, low-mile SR5 from 2020 or 2021.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Fourth Gen / GMC Sierra 1500 Fifth Gen

Two classics on USA roads, the Silverado and its luxury brother Sierra, have been reliably and comfortably hauling loads in worksites, towing trailers to lake houses, and doing anything in between for almost forever! Silverado’s fourth and Sierra’s fifth generations have been strong contenders in the reliability charts for the last three years. 

Redesigned and completely overhauled in 2019, the fourth-generation Silverado brought significant advancements to the half-ton pickup. The truck comes with a wide selection of engines, from V6s and high-output turbocharged inline fours to torquey Duramax diesels and large V8s. Offering a variety of configurations to meet any need, the Silverado blends ruggedness and utility with daily comforts and luxuries. If you want more luxury in your truck, you can always go for the sibling, the GMC Sierra 1500.

Prices start at $25,000 for a two- to three-year-old, sub-75K mile, long bed, and short cab work-spec Silverado 1500 or a Base Sierra 1500. 60-65 grand is where the prices top, and this kind of money will get you a Silverado ZR2, or a Sierra Denali Ultimate. Our budget of around $35,000 will buy you a below-50,000-mile 2021-2022 Silverado 1500 RST, Custom, or LT; or an immaculate example of a two to three-year-old Sierra 1500 Elevation.

RAM 1500 Fifth Generation

“Built to serve,” and serve it does. First, let's talk a little about the previous generation. The RAM 1500’s fourth generation was so durable and reliable that the brand decided to sell it among the all-new version. This fact alone proves that the RAM 1500 is one of the longest-lasting trucks on the market. The researches do not disagree.

The fifth generation of the truck was unveiled in 2019. It offers Pentastar V6s for base models, HEMI V8s for higher trims, and an optional EcoDiesel. With many trim levels and a wide variety of bed/cab configurations to cater to any need, the 5th gen RAM 1500 is amongst the best in the full-size segment.

If you decide to go for the fourth-generation Classic, you can get a good example for as low as $20,000 in the used market. The fifth generation starts at around $25K for a basic work truck, goes all the way up to $100,000 for the monstrous TRX. $35,000 will put you in the driver's seat of a clean and well-equipped Laramie or a Laramie Longhorn.

Unlock Raw Power with Pedal Commander Throttle Response Controller

Buying the latest and greatest might sound and feel good, but there are amazing deals out there in used car lots waiting to be bought and enjoyed for many more years to come. If you want to enjoy your new-to-you used truck even more, you must first upgrade it with the Pedal Commander throttle response controller.

Many used trucks might still have some warranty, or you may get an aftermarket or extended warranty. One of the best advantages of Pedal Commander is that it does not void any warranty. It is untraceable and does not make permanent changes, keeping your warranty intact.

Pedal Commander throttle response controller integrates to the factory throttle pedal assembly with OEM-style connectors. It eliminates throttle lag by modifying the stock throttle signal, and changes how much and how fast the electronic throttle valve opens. Pedal Commander throttle controller also gives you the adjustability to make the throttle feel suit your driving tastes and needs.

You can switch between four preset driving modes (Eco, City, Sport, and Sport+) and fine-tune them with nine additional sensitivity levels for each mode. From improved fuel efficiency and smooth towing and hauling to instant power delivery and improved acceleration, Pedal Commander gives you total throttle control.

Click here to learn more about the best and most reliable truck upgrade on the market!

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