It’s no secret that prices have been going up for the past few years, especially for used vehicles, including pickup trucks. Finding any used pickup truck for less than $5,000 is more difficult than it used to be, let alone a good used pickup truck, so be prepared to expand your search radius beyond your usual range. That’s also why you won’t find many full-size trucks on this list – to get below $5,000, you’d have to go back to the 1990s, and it’s difficult to make recommendations about surviving 30-plus-year-old trucks — there are just too many variables at play.
Shoppers should also expect to see odometer readings near 200,000 miles for trucks in this price range, so it’s important to find an example that has been well cared for over the years. All of that said, there are still some tremendous bargains on used pickups, and we’ve done the legwork to prove it.
Here are five of the best used trucks you’ll find on a $5,000 budget.
1. 2001 Dodge Ram 1500
Our only full-size truck on the list, the 2001 Dodge Ram 1,500, is about as unapologetically full-size as it gets. Able to tow nearly 8,000 pounds, the Ram 1500 is the most capable option on this list, despite being more than two decades old. When equipped with the optional 4-wheel-drive (4WD) system, the Ram 1500 is also an excellent off-roader.
See 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 models for sale
2. 2003 Dodge Dakota
The third-generation Dodge Dakota was available with a 235-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 engine and could tow more than 6,000 pounds when properly configured. It sits between the full-size Ram 1500, Silverado, and Ford F-150 and the compact Ford Ranger and GMC Sonoma, so those looking for a capable medium-sized truck should consider the Dakota.
See 2003 Dodge Dakota models for sale
3. 2002 Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is nearly as legendary as the F-150, and its compact size and relative efficiency make it a smart choice for commuters who need the utility of a pickup but without the mega-machine capability of a full-size truck. Right-sized and capable with a vast range of aftermarket accessories, the Ranger can also be a great off-roader.
See 2002 Ford Ranger models for sale
4. 2003 GMC Sonoma
Built on a platform shared with the Chevrolet S-10, the GMC Sonoma battled the Ranger in the compact segment, even offering a high-performance variant called the Syclone at one point. The 2003 Sonoma was available with a 4-cylinder or V6 engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4-wheel drive, and a range of bed and cab configurations.
See 2003 GMC Sonoma models for sale
5. 2001 Nissan Frontier
If you’re looking for a hard-working V6 compact pickup, the 2001 Nissan Frontier is a great choice, with up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, up to 1,200 pounds of payload, and choices of extended or crew cab layouts. Look for 4-wheel-drive models for off-road fun, or consider a 4-cylinder with 2-wheel drive (2WD) to get up to 21 mpg combined.
See 2001 Nissan Frontier models for sale
5 Best Used Trucks on a $5,000 Budget
- 2001 Dodge Ram 1500
- 2003 Dodge Dakota
- 2002 Ford Ranger
- 2003 GMC Sonoma
- 2001 Nissan Frontier
