A good used truck is one of the most useful tools you’ll ever buy, and finding one for less than $10,000 can be a challenge — but when you do, you’ll have a vehicle that will serve you well for years. This list of pickups includes the best options in the sub-$10,000 price range, but it’s important to keep your mind open to other years or configurations to find the best possible example near you.
Here are 10 of the best used trucks under $10,000.
1. 2010 Toyota Tundra
Although it’s not as popular as trucks from the Detroit Three, the 2010 Toyota Tundra is a highly capable truck, with up to 10,800 pounds of towing capacity, 1,645 pounds of payload capacity, and available 4-wheel drive (4WD). For maximum capability, look for models equipped with the 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine.
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2. 2010 Ford F-150
The best-selling truck series in America is always a solid pick, and the 2010 Ford F-150 is one of the most capable on our budget, with a standard V8, available 4WD, and 11,300 pounds of towing capacity. If you’re looking for a truck for work or play, the F-150 is a great all-around choice.
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3. 2010 Toyota Tacoma
If you don’t need a full-size pickup, the 2010 Toyota Tacoma is the right-sized option for you. The Tacoma is an especially good choice if you enjoy off-roading, as it’s very capable and the Tacoma has huge aftermarket support for customization and performance enhancements. It’s also a more efficient suburban pickup that’s more than up to the task of weekend yard maintenance or other projects.
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4. 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is the Bow Tie alternative to the Blue Oval’s half-ton offering, and it’s a great choice, too, with 5,110 to 10,000 pounds of towing capacity, depending on configuration, a choice of V6 or V8 engines, available 4WD, and a range of cab and bed options. A 2-mode hybrid version is available, but its improvements to fuel economy likely aren’t as relevant on the used market as its limited towing and hauling capacity and higher maintenance costs.
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5. 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
A near-twin to the Silverado, the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 has a slightly different look and slightly different equipment, but most of the same features, capability, and value. A 4.3-liter V6 is the base engine and a 6.2-liter V8 is available, but the 5.3-liter V8 is the value sweet spot for our budget, with up to 10,400 pounds of towing capacity and 1,654 pounds of payload capacity.
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6. 2012 Nissan Frontier
The newest truck on our list, the 2012 Nissan Frontier is often overshadowed by the Tacoma, Canyon, and Colorado in the midsize pickup segment, but it’s a great truck in its own right, with up to 6,500 pounds of towing capacity, a choice of an efficient 2.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine, available 4WD and off-roading trims like the PRO-4X, and even luxurious upgrades like leather seats, a moonroof, and more.
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7. 2011 Ford Ranger
There’s a new Ranger on the market these days, but the 2011 Ford Ranger was more of a compact pickup than a midsize model, with efficient 4-cylinder models that make great around-town utility trucks, or 4WD V6-powered examples that make great off-roaders, and several stops between. You may have to shop around a bit on our budget to find a lower-mileage example, but it’s worth the hunt.
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8. 2011 Ram 1500
Big-rig style and luxurious interior options are two of the hallmarks of the 2011 Ram 1500, although our budget may be constrained to the lower half of the trim range. Even so, you’ll get a choice of V6 or V8 engines, between 9,100 and 10,450 pounds of towing capacity, depending on configuration, and up to 1,909 pounds of payload capacity.
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9. 2008 Honda Ridgeline
Standing out from the crowd here thanks to its unibody construction, the 2008 Honda Ridgeline brings crossover sensibilities to the pickup class without sacrificing much in the way of utility, especially for the way most of us actually use our trucks. The in-bed trunk/ice box is as handy at the grocery store as it is at the tailgate cookout, and the dual-action tailgate can flip to the side as well as down — and that’s just scratching the surface of the Ridgeline’s features.
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10. 2008 GMC Canyon
The 2008 GMC Canyon is tied for the oldest model on this list with the Honda Ridgeline, and in both cases, that’s a great indicator of how well these trucks hold onto their value. The Canyon, especially in Crew Cab form, is a great balance between size and function, with decent interior space and up to 5,500 pounds of towing capacity.
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10 Best Used Trucks Under $10,000
- 2010 Toyota Tundra
- 2010 Ford F-150
- 2010 Toyota Tacoma
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2012 Nissan Frontier
- 2011 Ford Ranger
- 2011 Ram 1500
- 2008 Honda Ridgeline
- 2008 GMC Canyon
