Check Out 6 of our Favorite Used Trucks

Shopping for a used truck can be a little intimidating, but the good news is that simply by choosing a used pickup, you have already narrowed down your options quite a bit. With so many used trucks for sale out there, however, figuring out which one is perfect for you can be tricky. Here at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, we asked around to see what our employees liked. In particular, we were curious if there were any specific years that our folks often recommend to customers, or that they keep an eye out for when they’re looking for a used truck.

Here are some of our favorite models, with some information about each one so you can get a sense of what they have to offer. While we haven’t gone into too much detail about specific model years, we have noted a few here and there that we noticed getting talked about a lot. Getting into each model year for each truck would be a bit exhausting, so we kept this a little simpler and more accessible.

Keep reading to learn about our favorite used trucks for sale, and come visit us in Duluth, GA, to see what we have and find the perfect pickup for your needs.

#1 – The Chevy Silverado 1500

When you’re looking at used trucks for sale, you might as well start with one of the best trucks on the road: the used Chevy Silverado 1500. Sometimes simply referred to as the Silverado, this is a full-size pickup that is perfect for a wide range of people. It is usually seen as Chevy’s flagship truck, so everything they have to offer is available on these pickups, and they are designed to get a lot of work done.

In terms of which model years to look for when shopping used trucks, some of our favorites fall between 2014 and 2018, which was the third generation for the Silverado. You will find a lot of these out there, and while there are some differences in terms of what was available each year, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Two things worth noting: if you find models from 2015 or later, the 6.2L EcoTec3 engine was paired with an 8-speed transmission for a better driving experience; and there was a mid-cycle refresh in 2016, so models from that year and on will look a bit different and can have some nicer features.

#2 – The GMC Sierra

In many ways, the GMC Sierra is the sibling of the Chevy Silverado, so if you like what you see in the Silverado but cannot find a model year for sale that you want, check for a Sierra from that year. This gives you a lot more freedom when shopping used trucks for sale, because you can find exactly what you want with more options to choose from. In general, a used GMC Sierra is a little nicer than the Silverado in terms of interior features and luxury options, so you can find more in a Sierra, but it might also cost a little more.

For the most part, mechanical features will line up between the Silverado and Sierra per each model year, with the same engines and transmissions available. We like models between 2014 and 2018 for the Sierra just like the Silverado. A new generation started for both of these trucks in 2019, so if you can find a used 2019 model, it might cost you more but it will have the best features available.

#3 – The Chevy Colorado

If you’re more interested in a midsize pickup truck, then the Chevy Colorado is a great option that should meet all of your needs. As a midsize option, this is a great choice if you’re looking for a more all-around used truck for sale, rather than something with a focus on power and towing performance. This is also a great choice if you are interested in going off-road, just look for the ZR2 trim, which is a dedicated off-road build.

We like models from 2015 and on, which has been the second generation for the Chevy Colorado. One thing worth noting is that a 2.8L Duramax turbodiesel engine became available on the Colorado starting in 2016, so if that’s something you’re interested then skip 2015 models. Sales for the used Chevy Colorado have been going up each year during this generation, so you can find a lot of these used trucks for sale at a wide range of prices. If you’d like the potential for slightly nicer features inside, then look for the GMC Canyon, which is the sibling to the Colorado, and has a bit more to offer in terms of luxury options.

#4 – The Ford F-150

Of course, when looking at used trucks for sale, we can’t leave out the ever-popular Ford F-Series, in particular, the F-150. The Ford F-150 has been one of the most popular trucks in America for decades, so you will find a lot of used models out there. In particular, our folks tend to like models from 2015 and on, which has been the thirteenth generation of F-150s on the market. These models feature a new design that significantly reduced their curb weight and great engine options. A mid-cycle redesign occurred in 2018, so more recent models will have slightly different styling, and a PowerStroke diesel engine also became available on the used Ford F-150 for the first time that year.

#5 – The Ram Pickup

The Ram Pickup, also known as the Ram 1500 or Dodge Ram (depending on the truck’s age), is also a great choice if you’re looking for full-size used trucks for sale. These pickups have been quite popular and are well-made, plus you can find manual transmissions on them even though most of their competitors these days only offer automatics. We like models from 2009 and on, especially more recent 2018 models that feature an updated 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 turbodiesel engine. If you’re interested in going off-road, look for a used Ram Pickup Rebel from 2016 or newer, which is their dedicated off-road trim.

#6 – The Chevy Silverado HD Series

Finally, we come to the big boys in the pickup market, heavy-duty trucks that can handle pretty much anything you can think of throwing at them. The used Chevy Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD are full-size, heavy-duty pickups designed to get some serious work done. If you want a direct step-up from the standard Silverado, then the 2500HD is a great choice. With the used Chevy Silverado 3500HD, you get the highest towing and payload capacities available on a consumer Chevy truck, making it a great option for anyone in a trade or with a massive trailer to haul.

We like models from 2014 and on, as these are part of the third generation of the HD Chevy trucks, much like the standard Silverado. In particular, look for models from 2015 and later, as these were the first heavy-duty trucks from Chevy with active safety features like adaptive cruise control, a forward collision warning system, and a lane departure warning for a safer overall driving experience. One thing to note is that the standard Silverado received an all-new update in 2019, but the HD models had to wait until model year 2020 for their update.

Much like the Silverado and the Sierra, the Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD are the sibling models to these pickups. If you want fantastic power and towing capacity, with some nicer interior options and features, then check out a heavy-duty Sierra model. For an unparalleled off-road experience, you should look for a Sierra HD All Terrain X model from 2017 or later.