Best Used Trucks to Buy: Prices, MPG and Towing Checks

Below are dated KBB price references, EPA ratings for specific versions and a towing/payload checklist. Use them to shortlist real vehicles, then confirm the VIN, factory equipment, door labels and complete written price before committing.

How to use this used-truck shortlist

This is a research comparison of three 2018 gasoline pickups, not an exhaustive ranking, a CarTruvo road test or a reliability certification. We have not load-tested these trucks. A model name or trim badge alone cannot establish towing capacity, payload, condition or remaining life.

Prices were checked November 5, 2026. The Ford and Honda KBB references are national Fair Purchase Price estimates based on Good condition and typical mileage, valid through that date. The Tacoma source returned a localized figure for ZIP 50301, Des Moines, Iowa, with values valid through November 5. Its condition table does not establish the mileage and options behind the displayed purchase estimate. Keep that local reference separate from the national figures.

These are dealer-purchase references rather than live seller offers, private-party appraisals or out-the-door quotes. Exact mileage, engine, drivetrain, equipment, location and condition affect value. The EPA versions below are identified separately; a trim price does not appraise every engine or drivetrain offered in that style.

2018 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT: compare the full-size configuration carefully

KBB’s SuperCrew values table showed $21,100 for the XLT Pickup 4D with the 5 1/2-foot bed. The page also contains other cab-style tables. This reference is specifically SuperCrew, not SuperCab or Regular Cab.

For the 2.7-liter turbo V6, rear-wheel-drive F-150 with a ten-speed automatic, the EPA record reports 20 city, 26 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other engines, 4WD and separately listed higher-GVWR versions need their own EPA records. These figures are comparison ratings, not predictions for towing a trailer.

Before buying for towing, obtain the engine, cab, wheelbase, axle ratio and factory tow-package details. Match them to Ford’s 2018 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, including its equipment requirements and footnotes. Ford specifies a Trailer Tow Package or Max Trailer Tow Package for trailers over 5,000 pounds; that requirement does not mean every equipped truck can tow the same weight. A receiver hitch or wiring socket alone does not prove the required factory configuration.

On the test drive and inspection, pay attention to delayed engagement and harsh shifts. Ford bulletin 23-2123, dated April 13, 2023, documented these symptoms on some 2017–2020 F-150s with the 10R80 transmission. Ask a Ford-qualified shop to check current service information, diagnose any symptoms and review repair records. A bulletin is not a diagnosis of every truck or a promise of free repairs.

2018 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab SR5: verify the engine and bed first

The KBB page for the SR5 Pickup 4D with a six-foot bed displayed a Fair Purchase Price of $23,970 for ZIP 50301. This is the localized reference described above. Obtain a fresh valuation and seller quote for the actual truck and your location before comparing it with national estimates.

For the 3.5-liter V6 Tacoma 4WD with a six-speed automatic, the EPA record lists 18 city, 22 highway and 20 combined mpg. Do not apply it to a four-cylinder, manual-transmission or 2WD truck, or a separately listed EPA configuration.

Toyota’s 2018 Tacoma brochure identifies the V6 Tow Package and separates capacity figures by cab, engine, transmission, drive and bed configuration. Confirm the actual equipment and correct table column with Toyota. Its highest advertised capacity is not a rating for every SR5.

Measure the cargo you need to carry and try the rear seating while parked. Ask the inspector to examine the frame and mounting areas, evidence of underbody impact, corrosion, prior repairs and modifications. A clean-looking bed or a fresh undercoating is not a structural inspection result.

2018 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E: compare everyday cargo and accessory needs

KBB’s Ridgeline table showed $20,600 for the RTL-E Pickup 4D 5 ft. Honda’s U.S. specifications identify RTL-E as AWD, with five seats and an in-bed storage compartment. Try your actual cargo and check the storage lid, tailgate, seals and drainage during the visit.

The EPA record for the 3.5-liter V6 AWD Ridgeline with a six-speed automatic reports 18 city, 25 highway and 21 combined mpg. The FWD model has a different rating.

Honda’s specifications list 1,499 pounds of total payload for RTL-E and a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity for AWD models, with accessory towing equipment required. These are published reference figures, not approval for your planned load. Check the actual truck’s loading label, installed accessories and the 2018 Honda Owner’s Guide. Its towing table adjusts allowable trailer weight for occupants and states weight assumptions; heavier passengers or extra cargo require further checks. The guide also gives elevation-related limits. Have Honda confirm the correct equipment and limits for your combination.

Towing capacity and payload are different checks

Payload covers what the truck carries. The 2018 F-150 owner’s manual explains that occupants, cargo, added equipment and trailer tongue weight use that allowance. It directs owners to the Tire and Loading Information label for the truck’s as-built maximum payload and to account for equipment added afterward.

A trailer’s full weight is a separate check. Its downward load on the hitch also uses payload. Passing a trailer-weight limit does not establish that the truck is within payload, axle, tire, hitch or combined-weight limits.

Use this process before choosing a truck for a particular trailer:

• Get readable photos of the actual Tire and Loading Information label, certification label and hitch/receiver ratings. Record payload, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and front/rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWR). Ask the manufacturer’s dealer to resolve missing or unreadable information.
• Obtain the VIN/build equipment, exact engine, transmission, cab, bed, wheelbase, drive, axle ratio and required towing/cooling/braking equipment. Use the matching model-year manual and towing guide, including all applicable footnotes.
• Establish the trailer’s loaded weight and tongue weight with its normal cargo, water, propane and equipment. Dry or empty advertised weight leaves out travel loads. Follow both vehicle and trailer instructions for loading and tongue weight.
• Count the driver, passengers, bed/cab cargo, hitch equipment and added accessories against payload. Avoid double-counting equipment already included in the as-built weight; ask a qualified towing shop when the configuration is unclear.
• Check the fully loaded truck, each axle, trailer, hitch components and combined rig against every applicable limit. Use actual scale weights and professional help to verify the combination before travel. A subtraction on a worksheet cannot certify towing safety.

Also confirm trailer-brake, controller, hitch setup and legal requirements for the actual combination and states of travel. This buying checklist does not replace those instructions. Aftermarket suspension, larger tires or a seller’s “tow package” description do not by themselves establish a higher manufacturer rating.

A payload example that can change the buying decision

Hypothetical example, using invented weights: a truck label allows 1,500 pounds of occupants and cargo. Subtract 500 pounds of people, 200 of bed cargo, 100 of added accessories and 50 of hitch equipment not already included in the as-built allowance. That leaves 650 pounds for trailer tongue load and any other remaining load.

If the fully loaded trailer imposes 700 pounds of tongue load, this example is 50 pounds over the payload allowance even if its total trailer weight is below a published towing maximum. Reconsider the truck or load plan. The calculation checks only one limit; axle loads, tires, receiver, GVWR, gross combined weight rating (GCWR), trailer limits and the manufacturer’s other requirements still need verification. These numbers are not ratings for any model above or a recommended loading target.

What to inspect before buying a used pickup

Arrange an independent inspection before committing, preferably with a shop familiar with that engine, transmission and towing equipment. Request written findings and repair estimates, and ask which checks are excluded. Our pre-purchase inspection cost guide helps compare inspection scopes.

• Examine frame/unibody structure, cab and bed mounts, suspension attachment points, brake/fuel lines and corrosion or collision-repair evidence. Ask for a lift inspection rather than relying on exterior photos.
• Review engine cooling, leaks, transmission engagement and shifting, driveline operation, brakes, tire condition/load specifications and maintenance records. Have the inspector assess signs of heavy use and any symptoms.
• Check receiver mounting, wiring, trailer-brake equipment and modifications. Ask whether plow, camper, lift, tune or wheel/tire changes affect the intended use and what documentation is available.
• Check the VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup and ask the manufacturer’s dealer for current VIN-specific recall status, completed repairs and driving instructions. A history report or recall lookup is separate from a mechanical inspection.

Request an itemized purchase quote, fees, tax, title/registration and optional products, then add immediate repair costs and obtain an insurance quote. Compare loan APR, term, amount financed and total payments separately. A low asking price cannot compensate for a failed load requirement or an unresolved structural concern.

Copy this message to a truck seller

Hi, I’m comparing used trucks for [daily use/cargo/trailer]. Please send the VIN, mileage, engine, transmission, drivetrain, cab/bed configuration, factory tow-package or build information, and clear photos of the loading, certification and receiver labels. Could you include maintenance and repair records, known leaks or shifting problems, rust/collision history, modifications and prior towing, plow or camper use? I’d like an independent inspection before committing and manufacturer confirmation of the load limits for my intended use. If you’re a dealer, please send an itemized out-the-door quote for my registration ZIP and identify optional products separately. Are those checks possible before I travel?

Download the used-truck comparison sheet

Download the truck comparison and load-check worksheet. Complete one copy per actual truck, attach label photos, and mark unknown equipment or weights as unresolved. It helps organize questions; it does not calculate or certify a safe tow rating.

If your main need is passenger space, compare our used three-row SUV guide. For a smaller purchase budget without a pickup requirement, see used SUVs under $15,000. When you are ready, browse vehicles on CarTruvo. Listings change; this research shortlist does not promise that these trucks are currently available.