Lifted trucks may seem like a niche hobby for truck enthusiasts, but they serve a very important purpose for a wide number of different functionalities. From off-road enthusiast activities to outdoor vacations and from work-site needs to racing and everything else in between, there’s a huge variety of reasons someone might need or want a lifted truck. Heck, maybe you just like lifted trucks because they look cool? In any case, when it comes to lifted trucks, some people like to buy new, while others are looking to get their hands on deals from a used lifted truck dealer.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the lifted trucks you can buy right now, with your own money, from a used dealer who has the trucks available not just for perusal but for purchase too. Not every truck is designed for every task, though, so here’s a rundown of different trucks you might want to consider for different activities. Obviously, the price will vary based on features, model year, trim, and where you buy it from, so those are also things you should keep in mind as well; however, these are some of the ones we would suggest checking out.
6: 2020 Ram 2500 Big Horn
“Affordable” might seem relative here, given that the 2500 series for any truck brand is going to be more expensive than the light-duty variants. However, sometimes you need a three-quarter-ton, heavy-duty pickup for heavy-duty purposes, and the 2020 Ram 2500 Big Horn is the perfect truck for the job. Used and lifted? You can get it for much cheaper than some of its nearest competitors, which can easily start moving up into the high-performance, luxury-sports car price range.
On its own, it can tow nearly 15,000 pounds and manage a payload rating that’s close to 4,000 pounds. So in terms of carrying out heavy-duty tasks, the Ram 2500 is perfect for the job. As a lifted three-quarter-ton truck, it also means you get the benefit of traversing in areas where other standard 2500 Rams dare not go, such as farmland bogged down in mud during the rainy seasons or having to plow through a foot or more of snow during the winter. Basically, if you need a heavy-duty truck that can handle heavy workloads and that can trudge through tough, unforgiving terrain, a lifted Ram 2500 Big Horn is the way to go. Plus, being a 2020 model year (or newer), you get the benefit of all the latest tech and a lot of the new safety features included as a standard.
5: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD
Keep in mind that lifted trucks are already going to be more expensive than standard trucks due to having undergone aftermarket suspension alterations unless the trim already included a lifted suspension. In fact, one way of cutting down costs is going with a trim with a built-in lift. Now some people might just opt for an off-road build and call it a day, which usually includes at least a 2-inch lift kit and off-road tires. And in some cases, this is where the Toyota Tacoma TRD comes into play.
If you go with a used Tacoma TRD Sport, Off-Road or Pro, you get the benefit of a lifted mid-size truck, lower cost than the MSRP, and in some cases, lower costs than a full-size lifted truck. Now on the upside, you have more standard maintenance and OEM parts to look forward to with a standard lifted midsize pickup like the Tacoma. You won’t have to rely on a lot of Jerry-rigging and out-of-the-way maintenance. The downside is that if you go with an off-road centric lifted midsize truck, you’re very limited in what you can use it for, as the 4×4 drivetrain limits towing, the smaller powertrain limits payload, and it’s not going to be as functional for any heavy-duty use.
4: 2015 Lifted F-250
As mentioned, heavy-duty variants of popular pickups are always more expensive than the light-duty iterations. However, the older the model year, the lower the price (assuming it isn’t a luxury trim). The benefit of a 2015 lifted F-250 Super Duty is that you get a truck that’s more than capable when it comes to towing and payload but much cheaper than other three-quarter-ton trucks on the market. Now the F-250 doesn’t have the towing capacity of the 2020 Ram 2500, but you can still manage well over 12,000 pounds worth of towing and up to 4,000 pounds worth of payload.
Having a lifted F-250 means that you can still trailer heavy loads through bogs, mud, hilly terrain, or work sites located off the beaten path. With the Power Stroke turbo-diesel, you can put a lot of that low-end torque to use to get through difficult weather or terrain conditions while carrying a lot of cargo. The added benefit of the 2015 model year of Ford’s Super Duty is that it also comes with the newer Ford Sync infotainment suite, so you get all the necessary safety features, and you get the added integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in case smartphone connectivity was an important feature for you to have when you grab something from a used lifted truck dealer.
3: 2014 Ram 1500 Sport
Beyond the midsize and heavy-duty variants of lifted trucks, the more popular lifted trucks, whether for work or for play, have always been the light-duty trucks. Some of the more popular lifted trucks have definitely been the top three most popular light-duty trucks, which include the F-150, Silverado, and Ram. In this case, the 2014 Ram 1500 Sport is a great entry-level option for those looking for a truck from a used lifted truck dealer. Why? Because availability-wise, you can find them more regularly than you can most lifted heavy-duty Ram variants, and price-wise, a 2014 model year is going to cost you significantly less than a lot of other newer trucks on the list.
The benefit of a used lifted 2014 Ram 1500 Sport is that it gets you all of the basics without losing any of the Ram’s core functionality. You get the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi, you get just under 10,000 pounds worth of towing capacity, and a payload of just over 1,700 pounds. So as far as utilitarianism is concerned, the Ram 1500 Sport is great for basic workloads and hauling. But the added benefit of being lifted means if you just want a cool, lifted full-size pickup, you get it. The downside is that being an older model means you’re giving up some of the newer infotainment accouterments and some of the standard safety and driving assists associated with today’s newer vehicles, but that’s the give and take when it comes to affordability.
2: 2018 F-150 XLT
The 2018 F-150 took on an all-new persona thanks to a redesign from Ford. The all-new look and stylistic changes give the F-150 from 2018 onward a very modern edge with bold new lines and a more futuristic front fascia. But you’re not concerned about exterior looks; you’re concerned about lifted capabilities, and getting your hands on a lifted 2018 F-150 XLT is a great way to get a newer model year truck but just old enough to take advantage of a nice price drop on used models. The XLT also ensures you get many features just above the base entry-level trim, which includes newer Ford SYNC and Ford Co-Pilot360 safety technologies.
But on the lifted truck front, you get a truck that’s fully featured, fully capable, modern, and––when buying used––much cheaper than the MSRP of a newer truck. Plus, buying used and lifted means the F-150 XLT is much more capable, especially in 4×4 format, where you take full advantage of larger wheels/tires and trudging through terrain you otherwise wouldn’t be able to in a standard truck. A used 2018 XLT that’s lifted may still run you more than some other trucks on the list, but you will get a ton of modern amenities with it, and the XLT trim is a widely popular format of the F-150, so finding a lifted one may not be as difficult as some other trucks on the list.
1: 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT
Maybe you want a few more of those infotainment/safety features that come with newer vehicles but still want something affordable? That perfect segue between feature-rich and cost-effective would land you somewhere on a dial that probably reads early third-generation Chevy Silverado 1500. As far as getting your hands on a dependable pickup from a used lifted truck dealer, the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT is an excellent way to go. It’s far cheaper than the MSRP of anything newer, but it comes with a lot of the newer-gen tech, for instance, an infotainment suite with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which is very popular for a lot of car or truck shoppers.
As far as being a lifted truck is concerned, the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT makes for a great option because it gives you good towing capacity, decent payload ceilings, and it’s a great-looking truck to boot. The boxy design of the third-gen Silverado also makes it look right at home with a lifted suspension, you get that nice gap in the wheel-well for plenty of suspension travel, and it’s excellent whether for enthusiast purposes or just having a cool looking lifted truck to drive. Given the wide availability of the 1500 LT trim, it makes for an easy pick for those who want a dependable and affordable lifted full-size pickup.
