10 Best Cheap Trucks For Towing and Hauling Heavy Loads

Dec 21, 2023

Need a pre-owned workhorse pickup under $20,000? Here are your best choices.

Over a century has passed since Americans invented pickup trucks. In the early 1900s, innovative farmers and tradesmen bought cab-and-chassis automobiles and installed customized beds and boxes over the rear wheels. The resulting vehicles were affordable and practical "horseless carriages" that people could use to haul goods and produce during the workweek, as well as to take the family to church and picnics on the weekends.

Today's pickup trucks are powerful and sophisticated machines that people use not just for work and transport, but also for competitive and recreational activities. Because of all the power, durability, comfort, and technology improvements that automakers have added, the modern pickup truck is no longer the affordable choice that once was. For instance, Toyota USA's most affordable sedan (Corolla) currently starts at $21,550, while the Japanese brand's most affordable pickup (Tacoma) has a base price of $27,750.

Many practical buyers haven't forgotten the pickup truck's primary role – as workhorses. They don't need all the latest bells and whistles; instead, they need reasonably-priced, reliable trucks that can tow and haul heavy loads. This is why many buyers go to pre-owned car dealerships and online platforms to look for the best deals on used pickup trucks for sale. If you're one such buyer, then this is the perfect read for you.

Based on cross-referenced vehicle prices, reviews, and maintenance data from J.D. Power, CarEdge, Consumer Reports (CR), and Kelley Blue Book (KBB), here are 10 pickup trucks for sale in the used car market, all ready to work hard, and all under $20,000.

The Tundra is the lone full-size pickup truck in Toyota USA's current lineup. For 2016, the Toyota Tundra received two engine options: a 4.6-liter i-FORCE V8 with 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque, and a 5.7-liter i-FORCE V8 that delivers 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of twist. Using the bigger V8, the 2016 Toyota Tundra can haul up to 2,050 lbs and tow a conventional trailer weighing 10,500 lbs. For 5th-wheel towing setups, the 2016 Tundra can pull up to 16,300 lbs with the proper equipment.

KBB's consumer review of the 2016 Toyota Tundra tallied up to a decent 4.5/5 score. Furthermore, The Toyota Tundra has the lowest upkeep ($674 per year for the first 10 years) among all full-size pickup trucks in the States. A true representative of Toyota's reputation for reliability, the Tundra only has an 18.51% chance that it will need a major repair within the first decade of operation. This is quite a great deal for only $19,800 to $33,225 in the used car market.

The Ford F-150 is the half-ton, full-size best-seller of the Blue Oval group's F-Series pickup trucks. A properly-equipped 2017 Ford F-150 boasts a 3,270-lb payload capacity with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine (395 hp, 400 lb-ft of torque) and a 13,200-lb conventional towing capacity with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 mill (375 hp, 470 lb-ft of twist).

J.D. Power gave the 2017 Ford F-150 an 84/100 quality and reliability score, so it's quite a steal if you consider that CR's used car prices for this F-150 model year start from a low $17,500 up to $43,925 (for the top Raptor trim). If you do get your hands on a used 2017 Ford F-150, just remember to give it some tender loving care - to the tune of $1,025 annually.

The F-250 is the 3/4-ton pickup truck that you need if you're a Ford fan, but you have more towing and payload requirements than the F-150 can deliver. A 6.2-liter Triton V8 engine (385 hp, 405 lb-ft of torque) comes standard, but you also have a 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbo-diesel V8 as an option for 440 hp and an amazing 860 lb-ft of torque. With this kind of grunt, the 2016 can haul 4,040 lbs and tow a 14,000-lb conventional trailer. With a 5th-wheel setup, the 2016 Ford F-250 can tow as much as 16,300 lbs.

The 2016 Ford F-250 received a "great" J.D. Power quality and reliability score of 81/100, and CR says that you can get one in the used car market for $19,600 to $41,150. Be aware, however, that Ford's 3/4-ton Super Duty pickup truck will cost you $1,493 in maintenance and repair every year for its first 10 years of operation.

The 1-ton Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup truck shares the same 6.2-liter gasoline V8 and 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V8 power plants as the Ford F-250. However, the F-350 has a sturdier construction and configuration, making it more capable of maximizing the output of Ford's Powerstroke engine. When properly equipped and configured (e.g. in dual-rear-wheel or DRW variants), the 2015 Ford F-350 can haul as much as 7,050 pounds of payload. Conventional towing capacity is up to 19,000 lbs, and the 5th-wheel tow rating is at 26,700 lbs.

KBB's consumer reviews gave the 2015 Ford F-350 a 4.3/5 overall score - not bad for a 1-tonner that gets subjected to the harshest of workloads. You can get a 2015 Ford F-350 from the used car market for as low as $18,650 and as high as $42,375, depending on the trim and condition. Just make sure, however, that you're ready for the average annual upkeep of $1,497 for the first ten years because there's a 44.27% chance that the Ford F-350 will need a major repair within that period.

Representing General Motors' mass-market brand, Chevrolet, in the half-ton pickup segment is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. For the 2018 model year, the Chevy Silverado 1500 offered two gasoline power plant options: a 5.3-liter V8 engine (355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque) and a 6.2-liter V8 block that roared with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of twist. Using the bigger gas engine, the 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 offered a 12,500-lb tow rating and a 2,250-lb. maximum payload capacity.

J.D. Power gave the 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 a "great" 84/100 score for quality and reliability, which is a very good entry on this Chevy truck's resume since it only starts at $17,825 in the used car market. Be mindful of the upkeep though, as this truck will need roughly $1,000 in repair and maintenance costs for the first decade of operation, in which time there is a 30% chance for a major repair job.

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The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD offers two potent power plants: a 6.0-liter Vortec L96 V8 (360 hp, 380 lb-ft) and the legendary 6.6-liter Duramax LML turbo-diesel V8 (397 hp, 765 lb-ft). When properly equipped, the 2014 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD can haul up to 4,212 lbs, tow a 13,000-lb conventional trailer, and pull a 17,500-lb 5th-wheel trailer.

For the 2014 model year, the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD achieved an 86/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power. If you don't mind paying $1,464 per year for the first decade's upkeep, KBB data shows that you can drive home a used 2014 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab for a fair market price range of $19,241 up to $23,390.

The same 6.0-liter gasoline V8 and 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 in the Silverado 2500 also provide power for the bulkier and sturdier 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD. This 1-ton Silverado can haul up to 7,220 lbs, pull an 18,000-lb conventional trailer, and tow a 23,100-lb fifth-wheel trailer.

KBB consumer ratings tallied up to a decent 4.5/5 score for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD, which currently sells for $19,946 up to $32,142 in the used car market. This Chevy truck will need $1,469 in repair and maintenance every year for the first 10 years of operation, and there's a 43.34% chance that it will need a major repair within that decade. Yes, it's quite a high upkeep, but it's still very reasonable compared to the maintenance costs of other truck models that didn't make this list. Yes, we're looking at you, Ram trucks.

RELATED: 10 American Pickup Trucks That'll Bankrupt You Through Repairs & Maintenance

The GMC Sierra 1500 is the more luxurious corporate cousin of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 shares the same 6.2L V8 engine (420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque) that powers the 2016 Silverado half-tonner. However, due to some differences in the body design and features, the Sierra offers slightly different towing (12,000 lbs) and payload (2,260 lbs) capacities compared to its Chevy truck counterpart.

Because it has more luxurious and tech-driven features inside the cabin than the Silverado does, the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 has more things that can break down unexpectedly - thus resulting in an "average" J.D. Power score of 75/100. It's still not a bad half-tonner, considering that its 10-year upkeep only amounts to $895 per year (over $100 cheaper than that of its Chevy cousin) and that there's only a 26.25% chance that the GMC Sierra will need a major repair during that period. The carrying value is also surprisingly affordable for a "luxury" truck, as you can get a used 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 today for as low as $18,325.

The GMC Sierra 2500 HD is a 3/4-ton anomaly of sorts - it's a luxury truck as well as a heavy-duty truck. Identity crisis aside, the 2013 GMC Sierra uses the same Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel and 6.0-liter Vortec V8 as the 2013 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. The Sierra 2500's maximum tow rating (17,800 lbs for 5th-wheel) and payload capacity (4,212 lbs) is also very similar to that of its Chevy truck alter-ego.

The 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 received a "great" 83/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power's consumer reviews, so it's a good motivation in case you decide to shell out a minimum of $17,550 for a used model. With an average annual repair and maintenance cost of $1,303 and a 37.94% chance of a major repair within 10 years, the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD is a fairly decent 3/4 tonner to buy.

RELATED: 10 Cheap Pickup Trucks That Are Easy To Maintain

Last on our list is the 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 HD, and as you may expect, it shares the same Duramax and Vortec engines as the earlier 2500 and 3500 models from the General Motors group. This 1-ton GMC truck can carry 7,215 lbs of payload, pull an 18,000-lb conventional trailer, and tow a 23,000-lb 5th-wheel trailer.

The 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 HD received a KBB consumer rating of 4.6/5 - a good sign in case you're willing to shell out $15,499 up to $35,000 for a pre-owned unit. The upkeep ($1,309 per year for the first decade) and 37.94% chance for a major repair aren't that much different from those of the Sierra 2500 HD.

Sources: J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports, Edmunds, CarEdge

Ron has worked in the strategy and marketing departments of a few automotive brands. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to analyze auto industry data to share with fellow enthusiasts.. or his pet dogs.