Sweet spot for used HD pickups.

Greatly depends on how that truck was maintained and treated throughout its lifetime. I would think it is always cheaper to keep an old truck than buy a new one. Things that would help would be doing you own maintance and repairs if possible.

Diesel trucks...Ford 7.3 and Dodge pre 98.5 ( the ones with the 12 valve cummins) would the most reliable and economic to repair and operate.

Gas trucks...I would say brand wouldn't matter that much as they all make good ones and lemons.

with that said our shop trucks are chevy gas, we have a 2010 2500 with 283,000 miles and still going strong, and I would drive it anywhere.


I am a Chevy guy but own a 1993 Dodge diesel.....go figger.

Maintenance and miles are major factors. Less miles is only good to a degree, I would be nervous about a 10yr old truck with on 20k miles on it as sitting for long periods is bad.

No data to point to but we picked up a 10yr old truck with 110k miles on it last summer. I see no reason we won't get 100k more out of her (it's nothing to get 200k miles out of a modern gas or diesel truck). At $6k used vs $60k new, I don't see how we can go wrong.

There are a lot of variables, but first, you have to consider payload. The recommended payload is rather anemic in older trucks compared to the models for the past 8 years or so for all trucks and even newer for Dodge and GM. The problem with newer trucks are the additional emissions in the diesels. The problem with a gasoline truck is the length of life of the engine compared to diesel and less powerful engines for towing and hauling.

With those factors in mind, I'd say that any newer truck with less than 50K miles would be worth considering. After that, you have the potential for issues, so the price should consider a potential failure.

The last time I looked, the major part of the value is decreased on a new one in first 3 years. You can look up values to see what it looks like now. However, to compare to MSRP since most trucks can be had for less than MSRP and with incentives could be cheaper to own than a 1 year old truck. If you bought a 3 year old truck and added an extended warranty, you would be close to a new one in reliability with the added protection if something went wrong.

I agree on the 3 year old scenario. I have worked in the automotive industry for almost 40 years and aside from company cars ( which I do not drive anymore due to crazy taxes ) I have always purchased 3 year old vehicles as they are plentiful, and you have a large number to choose from. Let someone else take the depreciation hit of over 50%, and keep driving it till it drops, I had over 350,000 miles on my Suburban with just routine maintenance. Preventative work is the key to vehicle longevity, on older vehicles there is too much of a risk that the vehicle has been poorly maintained and is just a wallet bomb waiting to happen.

Great question, hard to answer. I think the vehicle has to have enough years and/or miles to get the price down, then I guess the condition would be crucial. In other words, a vehicle 3 years old with 40,000 miles might be a better deal than 1 just a few months old with 2000 miles. But it also depends on how great of a deal you can get.

I like the just under 3 year mark as well. From personal experience, I bought my 2004 2500 Lt cc 4x4 with 34,000 miles at the end of 2006 (still under factory warranty) for the same price as my friend paid for his brand new 2004 2wd 1500 LS model.if you chose, you can buy a factory extended warranty if your truck is still under the original warranty.

Just as a general rule the 3 year mark is a good filter. I make up my mind what will best suit my needs and make me happy, then I hunt hunt hunt until I find a smoking deal.

I guess it depends on the truck, the times, and where you live in the country.

In 2010 when I was shopping for a half ton, 4 to 6 year old F-150's with more than 50,000 miles were selling (at least asking any way) $20-22,000.

New truck incentives were such that I got a new one for not much more. Used trucks seem to hold their value in the NW.

Great question. I bought mine when it was around 5 years old (gasser), was a used work truck that was in good shape (unusual), higher mileage but I knew that I would not be adding on the mileage very much. For what it cost me I was able to have a number of upgrades done and it was ready to go, over the years I have done more upgrades and preventative maintenance and I know that I am way ahead than if I would have bought new.

There can be some REALLY good deals in the 3 - 5 year models as some people have traded in for a new vehicle and all that was wrong with the old one was it was not smelling new any more. Some times life changes and someone has changed jobs and now does not need the 3/4 ton, other times a kid or marriage comes along and out goes the truck.

My brother bought a $80,000 plus truck with all the toys from a young oil worker that realized that the payments that he had on the lease were nuts. The guy took a huge loss (over $40,000 counting what he had paid in down payment, payments, after market upgrades and the buyout penalty) just to get out of the lease, my brother bought a top of the line truck with all the toys and only a couple of years old for less than half price.

Don't rush and keep your eyes open.