The Ford F-series has been a part of the American landscape since 1948. That is 71 years of operating as the people’s workhorse. With millions of Ford trucks sold since first released, these American icons have literally moved America. In the modern era, Ford trucks are still the top-selling vehicle in the US. A new Ford F-150 rolls off the assembly line every 30 seconds, so what happens to all of those lease turn-ins and trade-ins? Used Ford trucks have become the best value for getting America’s favorite pick-up at a great price. Let’s dive into some of the options available on the market today.
Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 is the most well known and best selling Ford truck, making it one of the most abundant vehicles on the used market. In 2018, over 909,330 trucks were sold, making them the highest selling vehicle. The F-150 is the driving force of the F-series trucks and sells like hot cakes fresh off the grill. What this means for you, looking for great used Ford trucks, is that these are abundant on the market and therefore quite affordable.
Trucks tend to not depreciate as much as other vehicles, holding their values very well on the used market. This is both good and bad news for the used truck customer, as you are looking for the best price, but also have to keep in mind your own depreciation of you recently purchased vehicle. Even though trucks tend to not lose their value as quickly as cars do, the pure volume of great F-150’s on the market at any given time is significant competition to help keep prices down. This low depreciation will work in your favor as well when it’s time to sell your F-150.
The F-150 is Ford’s full-size pickup within their light-duty truck line-up. It comes standard in rear-wheel drive with four-wheel drive available. It also comes in several different cab and bed configurations, making it possible to have several variations of the two set-ups. The cabs come available in Regular Cab (two-door), Super Cab (two-door with rear folding doors), and Super Crew (four-door). The beds come available in 5 ½”, 6 ½”, and 8” variants. The Regular Cab and Super Cab are not available with the 5 ½” bed and the Super Crew is not available with the 8” bed.
Several engine options have been available for the F-150 in recent years. In order of least to highest in terms of horsepower, the F-150 came with a 3.7L V6, 2.7l Ecoboost V6, 5.0L V8, 3.5L Ecoboost V6, and a 6.4L V8. This wide range of engine options, all available within the last five years of the truck going on sale, have made it possible to have the perfect amount of power and fuel efficiency for whatever you plan to use your pre-owned F-150 for.
Ford Super Duty
The Ford Super Duty is the medium to heavy-duty truck in the Ford line-up. These trucks come available as F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550. As expected, the higher the number, the tougher the truck. The F-250 is the all-rounder of the pack. It can haul anything that’s thrown at it but can also make the daily school run to drop the kids off. One of the most versatile and well-rounded vehicles on the market to date, the F-250 is the perfect used Ford truck for those of us that need to haul something a little bigger than just the grocery bags.
The F-350 is the workhorse of the bunch. Available with the same body and engines as the F-250, it truly is the bigger brother of the pair. The “one-ton” pick-ups have upgraded drivetrain, axles, suspension, and are available in a dually configuration with four rear wheels. The F-350 is capable of towing up to 32,000 pounds, far more than its little brothers. The F-350 is where you need to be if you are looking for used Ford trucks that can pull a house off its foundation.
The F-450 and beyond are typically for contract workers and people that are using their trucks as a part of their business rather than their daily driver. These trucks are true haulers and are approaching Semi-truck towing capacity levels. This platform is used as pick-ups, box trucks, and even school buses and are meant for primarily commercial purposes.
The Ford truck line-up has the perfect vehicle for any need. The wide line-up makes it possible to pick and choose through what you are looking for and makes it easy to find the perfect used Ford truck for any purpose. From daily drivers to car-haulers, Ford makes the right truck for any customer, and with it being the best-sold vehicle in America, there are plenty of solid used trucks waiting for you to snatch up right now!
Where to Buy?
There are plenty of ways to purchase used Ford trucks. With the abundance of trucks on the market, just about every aspect of the market is covered. But where is the best place to buy a Ford truck and why?
Private Seller or Dealer?
With the abundance of pre-owned Ford trucks on the used market, where is the best place to pick-up your next pickup? The argument of private versus dealer is as old as the automobile itself. Both options have their pros and cons, however, it ultimately comes down to getting the best possible deal.
Private sellers typically are going to have a slightly lower overall price. Without the added-on dealer fees, docking fees, and any other special fee the dealer feels necessary, the price typically ends up being much lower. There is also the chance of catching a great deal or someone selling below market value to move a truck faster. Skipping the dealer inspections and dealer costs to acquire and sell a car also saves you in the long run. On the other side of the spectrum, there is much more risk purchasing a used truck from a private seller. The dealer has a reputation to uphold and has to make sure each vehicle they sell is representative of their dealerships values. There is typically also an inspection that dealers perform, making sure the cars they sell are safe and mechanically sound. When it comes down to it, the private market is more than likely going to give a better price, but you will have to be much more diligent in your searching.
On the flip side, dealers are going to offer you a safer buying experience, particularly with newer used Fords. The dealer will most likely perform an inspection before placing a vehicle on sale. If purchasing through a Ford dealer, the opportunity to purchase a Certified Pre-Owned Ford truck with an extended warranty may be possible. The ability to purchase additional warranties, wheel and tire protection, under-coating, you-name-it will be available as well, if additional vehicle protection is something you look for. However, the out-the-door price at a dealer will typically be more. While there’s no guarantee, there is much less risk buying from a dealer, but you end up paying for it in the long run. That piece of mind will cost you. Additionally, there are a lot of logistics that go into a dealer selling a pre-owned vehicle. Every person at that dealer is paid through your purchase, that’s a lot of paychecks that need to be accounted for. Each purchasing route has its benefits and downfalls, however, in the modern era, there may be new methods that are a combination of the best of both worlds.
What About the Online Dealers?
Online dealers are a new addition to the used vehicle market and are an exceedingly viable alternative to traditional dealerships and private sellers. There are several online dealership options available today. These online dealers are a smart alternative to traditional brick and mortar locations and usually have far less cost per vehicle, which means they can pass the savings onto the customer. Buying used Ford trucks through an online dealer gives you the peace of mind of a traditional dealer, with the savings of a private seller. The majority of online dealers have very stringent standards for their vehicles and many won’t sell vehicles with over a certain mileage or with any accidents, so ultimately the consumer will win on this deal. If you’re worried about not being able to take a test drive some online dealer alternatives even offer a warranty period so be sure to look for those.
For challenged credit customers this is another fantastic way to get into a reliable, and trustworthy used truck. The online dealers are able to offer lower rates with more reasonable approval standards due to the nature of their operation. They have more available outlets to archive the loan and online-based banks willing to offer great rates to customers that have the income but may be afflicted by a sticky-situation such as bad credit.
Where to Go?
Used Ford trucks are ranked highly U.S. News, Car and Driver, and Consumer Reports and so it is up to the customer if they want the savings of buying thtough a private seller or would prefer the peace of mind of buying through a dealer or online resource. Regardless of where you choose to buy your used truck from be sure to do your research and you’re sure to find a good deal.
