Best 4x2 Trucks Under $15,000

These often overlooked trucks are capable, everyday vehicles that offer a lot of value. Here’s our list for the best 4×2 trucks under $15k.

4×2 Trucks: A Practical Choice

For a lot of people, a truck isn’t a “truck” unless it is set up to go off-road, climb hills, and ford rivers. This isn’t necessarily true. Sometimes you need a pickup for more practical uses such as daily driving, work, and towing.

If that is your case, you will already appreciate the simplicity of a 4×2 pickup. Not only are they more affordable than their 4×4 counterparts, but they are also practical for everyday use.

Fortunately, there have been a lot of RWD (4×2) trucks on the market over the years. They are plentiful on the used market because people often overlook them while shopping for a 4×4 model. This can mean savings for those drivers who want an affordable truck without the need for 4WD capability.

Let’s take a look at the best used trucks under $15,000.

Ford Ranger

Where would the pickup world be without the Ford Ranger? After all, they have been on the market consistently since 1983 (except for a break between 2012 and 2019). It is no surprise that they are found on the used market in abundance given their popularity.

Perhaps the true beauty of a Ford Ranger lies in its simplicity. Past models forego the fancy interior appointments and leave drivers with a capable pickup that is great for hauling away 1,600 – 2,100 lbs. When it comes to towing capacity, the 2.3L inline four-cylinder engine can get away with 1,320 lbs. If you happen to find one with Ford’s V6, that jumps to 5,860 lbs.

Chances are, you aren’t looking to tow a huge trailer with a 4×2 Ford Ranger anyway, but they’re on carsforsale.com for under $15k with modest mileage. A 4×2 Ford Ranger with the 2.3L can be had for even less with under 100,000 miles on it. This makes for a great work truck in a compact package.

Fun fact: the first truck that I ever rode in was a Ford Ranger. They hold a special place in my heart.

Toyota Tacoma

Toyota trucks are known for their reliability and their high resale value. However, trucks like the Toyota Tacoma have been extremely popular and the used market is plentiful. The best part is that many of them are below $15,000 with mileage below 100,000 miles!

A Toyota Tacoma with a 2.7L inline four-cylinder engine can tow up to 3,500 lbs. Tacoma models with the 4.0L V6 can tow up to 6,500 lbs. Both engines can be found in regular cab, extended cab, and double cab configurations as well.

Dodge Dakota

The Dodge Dakota was once well-known for its industry-leading towing capacity. This is great if you’re in the market for a used truck that can tow more than the competition. You’ll also save some major money when you look at all of the varieties that are currently on the used market for less than $15,000.

You’ll find the 3.7L V6 engine in abundance on carsforsale.com. This engine has a towing capacity of 3,950 lbs. A Toyota Tacoma with a 4.7L V8 can tow up to 7,250 lbs. Many are also available with the stylish Bighorn package and are available in crew cab and extended cab configurations.

If you’re looking for your next towing truck, make sure that the Dodge Dakota is at the top of your list.

Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier is another winner when it comes to towing capacity. You’ll likely find either a 2.5L inline four-cylinder engine or a 4.0L V6 engine under the hood of these popular 4×2 trucks. Either way, you’ll enjoy the power that these trucks provide – especially when you’re hauling or towing.

The Nissan Frontier is capable of towing 3,500 to 6,500 lbs. depending on which engine you go with. That’s a lot for a mid-sized truck. Drivers will also appreciate the King Cab or Crew Cab configurations. They’re great for hauling weather-sensitive items inside the cab.

The market is full of Nissan Frontiers, so consider them when looking for your next sub-$15k truck.

Toyota Tundra

Toyota’s second truck on our list is the Toyota Tundra. It’s a step up from the Tacoma in terms of power and size, but it can still be found for under $15,000 on the used market. While you might have to settle for higher mileage, keep in mind that Toyota trucks have remarkable reliability.

You’ll find 4.0L V6 engines as well as 4.7L V8s in plentiful supply on carsforsale.com. Along with a higher-mileage 5.7L V8, these trucks can tow 4,800 to 10,800 lbs.! This is your best bet when it comes to towing. Believe it or not, the 5.7L V8 versions are available for less than $15k but will typically have higher mileage.

These trucks beg you to tow something, so consider one if you’re looking to pull some serious weight.

Chevrolet Colorado

Practical and capable, the Chevrolet Colorado can be found everywhere on the used market. These popular 4×2 pickups can often be compared to the Ford Ranger in terms of simplicity. The work trucks with Chevy’s 2.9L inline four-cylinder are really a good example of this simplicity.

While they don’t have a brawny towing capacity like some of their competitors, they are more than capable of towing 1,300 to 5,500 lbs. depending on the engine. You’re not likely to find many with the 5,500 lbs. towing capability of the V8 engine under $15k unless they are higher in mileage.

While they don’t hold a candle to some of the other trucks on the list, the Chevrolet Colorado is certainly worthy of a mention.

Ford F-150

If you’re in the market for a truck with serious towing capacity, the Ford F-150 should be on your list of considerations. The Ford F-150 can be found on the used market for under $15k thanks to its amazing popularity.

And for good reason.

You can go with a 3.7L V6 engine, a 5.0L V8, or a 5.4L V8. Either way, you’re a winner. The Ford F-150 can tow 5,500 to 9,400 lbs. with the 5.4L V8 being the powerhouse of the lineup. Compared to the competition, they offer some of the highest towing capacities available.

They don’t lack in looks either. If you want an interior that is made a little better than that of a Ford Ranger, consider the Ford F-150.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Our list would not be complete without the beloved Chevrolet Silverado 1500. These are tried and true work trucks that come at incredible value. Not only can you pick one of these up for under $15k with under 100,000 miles, but you can also get a slightly newer model compared to some of the others on the list.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can tow up to 4,400 lbs. with the 4.3L V6 engine and up to 7,000 lbs. with the 5.3L V8 under the hood. That is more than enough for most towing jobs that you’ll have. Like the Ford F-150, this is a great truck if you’re wanting something a little bigger than the Colorado.

Since they are a staple in the lives of many pickup truck enthusiasts, they can be found in great supply on the used market. Check them all out here on carsforsale.com!

Final Thoughts

While some may think a “real truck” is limited to only 4WD or AWD models, they’re wrong. There is plenty of power to be had in a used 4×2. The only question is: which one are you going to buy?

Let us know what you think of our list of the best 4×2 pickup trucks for under $15,000! And as always, happy driving from all of us here at carsforsale.com!