Most Reliable Trucks between $5k and $15K

Darknight · Feb 5, 2020

I'm looking to get into a newer truck than my current one and wanted some of the best reliable options out there on other trucks between $5k and $15k.

Midsize or Fullsize (1500) is what I'm looking for, not 2500/3500 unless there is some great options there I should look at.

What are your opinions on which trucks fall into this price range? And also what are some of the things that are known issues with the trucks you recommend to check out and make sure are fixed?

I may be willing to look into something as high as 20k if the truck is a MUCH BETTER option than anything in the 5k-15k range.

Thanks a bunch

Blk04L · Feb 5, 2020

Think a few more details would be key to get this ball rolling:

1. Current make model of your current truck and year
2. Plans for said truck? Work, towing, mall crawling etc.
2a. Need to tow? Bed space?
3. Interior space? Crew, supercab, regular cab?

Rare40th · Feb 5, 2020

Can't go wrong with a 1500 Silverado with a 4.8 or 5.3 in it

Crimson2v · Feb 5, 2020

First gen Tundra. I would go with an 05-06, they have the 5spd auto and the vvti engine with more power. I have had mine for almost 4 years it has 150k miles and I have had no issues knock on wood.

Booky · Feb 5, 2020

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7

BlckBox04 · Feb 5, 2020

definitely going to need to know what you're going to do with the truck

IronSnake · Feb 5, 2020

Crimson2v said:
First gen Tundra. I would go with an 05-06, they have the 5spd auto and the vvti engine with more power. I have had mine for almost 4 years it has 150k miles and I have had no issues knock on wood.

I have an 01'. Lifted TRD FGT. 270k miles on it and it purs like a kitten. Good space and good power for the size. Very durable trucks that are stupid easy to work on.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy one over 200k.

Darknight · Feb 5, 2020

My current truck is a 1999 GMC Sierra regular cab 1500.

The only thing I need the truck for is occasional hauling of some paint to a job basically.

It would likely be my only vehicle other than my wife's car. It would be what I daily drive.

This may be obvious but I want a vehicle that hopefully is one with the least likely chance of needing to be worked on...BUT if it does break down it being able to be worked on easily is a big plus.

It can be a regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab. I'm open to any.

I do not need a vehicle that is performance oriented. If it happens to be very reliable and good for mods I wouldn't turn it down though.

As of now, I don't tow anything or have any plans to. But if that was to ever change it would be to tow a small boat or small enclosed trailer (that would contain painting equipment).

2000GTSTANG · Feb 5, 2020

Probably a ranger or 2008+ f150. I’d avoid the early 3v 5.4s. 2008+ will give you the best chance of success. 2009+ and you get the 6 speed. I’m sure you can find a nice 2010 in your price range.

roadracer247 · Feb 5, 2020

Another vote for an older Tundra. Those trucks run forever.

Blk04L · Feb 5, 2020

Tundra (found a few 08+ with 70k miles on them under 15k near me), 08+ F150's.

roy_1031 · Feb 5, 2020

Darknight said:
My current truck is a 1999 GMC Sierra regular cab 1500.

The only thing I need the truck for is occasional hauling of some paint to a job basically.

It would likely be my only vehicle other than my wife's car. It would be what I daily drive.

This may be obvious but I want a vehicle that hopefully is one with the least likely chance of needing to be worked on...BUT if it does break down it being able to be worked on easily is a big plus.

It can be a regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab. I'm open to any.

I do not need a vehicle that is performance oriented. If it happens to be very reliable and good for mods I wouldn't turn it down though.

As of now, I don't tow anything or have any plans to. But if that was to ever change it would be to tow a small boat or small enclosed trailer (that would contain painting equipment).

Drop it and throw an eBay turbo on that truck and keep enjoying it. I think you’re already in the most reliable truck. Is it a V8 truck, how many miles are on it? Why do you want a different truck?

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Crimson2v · Feb 5, 2020

Blk04L said:
Tundra (found a few 08+ with 70k miles on them under 15k near me), 08+ F150's.

The only thing that bothers me on the newer 4.6 and 5.7’s is the cam towers leaking oil. It’s an expensive job to repair if you can’t do it yourself.

hotcobra03 · Feb 5, 2020

We have a 2010 tundra

Had 70k. Now just hitting 200k.

Alternator and fuel sending unit and window switch and water pump so far

4.6 gets about 17mpg

We just paid it off a few months ago

Darknight · Feb 5, 2020

roy_1031 said:
Drop it and throw an eBay turbo on that truck and keep enjoying it. I think you’re already in the most reliable truck. Is it a V8 truck, how many miles are on it? Why do you want a different truck?

Its a 6.0 lq9 with cam/heads/stall fbo N/A. Truck body has 220k-250k on it Motor and transmission have about 70k on them.

Problem is its getting to the point where all suspension components need to be replaced, heater core is dead, some blend/vent actuators aren't working right even after replacing them, electric door lock servos not always working well, one electric window not working so well (possibly fail soon), abs issues light and issues, brakes need to be replaced (probably new calipers also because it keeps warping rotors in shorter period of time than normal), headliner is starting to come loose, paint, tires and I'm sure other things I can't think of now.

Ive got too much wrong with me physically to be able to fix it myself anymore and I don't want to put more money into something that is already worth so little.

7998 · Feb 5, 2020

For that money Silverado or Sierra with a 5.3. It you can scratch together a little more 2011+ F150 with 5.0. Stay away from Nissan's. They are straight up junk.

Darknight · Feb 5, 2020

2000GTSTANG said:
Probably a ranger or 2008+ f150. I’d avoid the early 3v 5.4s. 2008+ will give you the best chance of success. 2009+ and you get the 6 speed. I’m sure you can find a nice 2010 in your price range.

What about going for the slightly newer f150 2012 range with a 5.0 or 3.5 ecoboost? How are they as far as reliability and real world mpg?

How do the f150s compare to a ranger or dodge ram of similar year?

ajaf1656 · Feb 5, 2020

7998 said:
For that money Silverado or Sierra with a 5.3. It you can scratch together a little more 2011+ F150 with 5.0. Stay away from Nissan's. They are straight up junk.

Are you talking about the Titan? I've heard early Titans had problems. My last Frontier was sitting at 185K miles when I sold it and never suffered from any major mechanical issues. A valve cover gasket and clutch slave cylinder were the only maintenance items I had to replace that weren't normal wear items.

GTSpartan · Feb 5, 2020

The GM gen 3 series V8 truck engines (4.8, 5.3, 6.0) (1999-~2007) will literally last forever, and any repairs done with a hammer and duct tape. The 4L autos are about as old-school reliable as you can get too.

Black Gold 380R · Feb 5, 2020

2000GTSTANG said:
2009+ and you get the 6 speed. I’m sure you can find a nice 2010 in your price range.

My wife had a 2010 F-150 Lariat Super crew cab with the V-8 in it. It was also Flex Fuel. It had 172K miles on it when we traded it for a 2014 F-150 Lariat Super crew cab with only 27K miles on it (we did this in 2016). The 2014 is not Flex Fuel, but it is the Ecoboost.

The only issue the 2010 gave us was the fuel pump went out. Other than that it ran great and towed my 2003 Cobra to San Diego and back for a Mustang show with ZERO problems and got decent gas mileage.

Most Reliable Trucks between $5k and $15K

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