Here Are Eight Popular Used Trucks You Should Look For

February 7th, 2025 by

A red 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 is on a dirt road in the mountains.

For many of us, nothing beats a great truck when we need a vehicle that we can count on every day to get us where we need to go and tackle anything life throws at us. While we love the feel of driving a new truck, we know that new vehicles aren’t right for everyone, which is why we work so hard to maintain a fantastic selection of models for you to choose from when you’re looking for used trucks for sale near Katy. We’re happy to answer all of your questions and help you find the perfect pickup, but we know that many of our customers prefer coming to us with a game plan already in mind. So, let’s take a look at eight of our favorite used trucks to consider while you’re shopping and get a sense of what each of them has to offer. We’re going to look at some specs for 2021 models simply for the sake of comparison, so keep that in mind.

The Chevy Colorado––Midsize Design with Great Features

As a Chevy dealership, it should come as no surprise that we’d start with a great Chevy truck, and the Colorado is the perfect choice. If you’re looking for a midsize pickup, then this is one to strongly consider when exploring different used trucks. The 2021 Chevy Colorado, for example, has several engines you can find, including a turbo-diesel with 369 lb-ft of torque that offers 7,700 lbs of towing. We’re big fans of the available 3.6L V6 engine with 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, which gives the 2021 Colorado 7,000 lbs of towing capacity.

A man stepping into the bed of a 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500.

The Chevy Silverado 1500––Full-Size Power and Capabilities

If you’re looking for something with more power, then the full-size Chevy Silverado 1500 is the perfect pick with plenty to offer. For more than 20 years, the Silverado series of trucks has been making an incredible name for itself by delivering robust power and excellent capabilities. You can find numerous engines on these models, including a powerful diesel engine or a 6.2L V8 that provides 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. A 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 can handle up to 13,300 lbs of towing capacity, making it one of the strongest and most capable pickups on the market.

The Ford Ranger––A Popular Midsize Option to Consider

Although we’re a Chevy dealer, we know a good vehicle when we see it, and there’s no denying that Ford knows how to make impressive trucks. The Ford Ranger is a great option to look for if you want a used midsize truck that is rewarding to drive around Katy each day. Much like the Colorado, the Ranger started off as a smaller compact pickup, but it grew into a midsize model in recent years. Looking at the 2021 Ford Ranger, you’ll only find one engine on it: a 2.3L I-4 with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That said, a 2021 model can handle up to 7,500 lbs of towing, giving you plenty of muscle to tackle what you need.

The Ford F-150––Big Power and Big Features

Speaking of trucks that we can’t deny the quality of, the Ford F-150 has been an incredibly popular pickup for more than 40 years and built a reputation that few other vehicles can touch. This makes a used F-150 the perfect choice if you want to have a wide range of options available to you since there are many of them out there.  Much like the Chevy Silverado 1500, the F-150 tends to have a variety of powertrains available, so you can find different V6 and V8 engines along with a turbo-diesel. Topping out at 14,000 lbs of towing when properly equipped, the 2021 F-150 is a great choice if you need a used truck that can help you get your job done.

A black 2022 Ram 1500 towing a UTV through a puddle.

The Ram 1500––A Legend in the Auto Industry

While most other options we’ll look at today include a couple of trucks from the same brand, the Ram 1500 is one of two that is the only option available from its manufacturer on our list. That said, this is still an excellent truck with a lot to offer: full-size design and robust capabilities for both towing and payload capacities. You can find the legendary HEMI V8 on used Ram 1500 models, giving it plenty of power, although turbo-diesel engines are also out there. When properly equipped, the 2021 Ram 1500 offers 12,750 lbs of towing capacity, which is impressive but lower than the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado 1500.

The Toyota Tacoma––Midsize Simplicity and Impressive Features

One of the things we like about Toyota pickups is how simple they can be to shop for. Only two engines are available for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, so you don’t have to worry about navigating three or more options (seven different engines can be found on 2021 F-150 models, by comparison). The Tacoma is a great choice if you want to be able to look at a used truck quickly and know what it offers. With up to 6,800 lbs of towing capacity, this truck can get some work done and treat you well as you drive around Katy.

The Toyota Tundra – Full-Size Capability Made Easy

While sorting through two engines is simple, only needing to keep track of a single powertrain is even easier. That’s what you’ll find with many Toyota Tundra models, which keeps things incredibly straightforward as you shop for a used pickup. The 2021 Tundra, for example, is only offered with a 5.7L V8 engine with 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque, which allows it to haul up to 10,200 lbs of weight behind it. You might notice that that’s less power and lower capabilities than some other full-size models, but it’s still enough for a wide range of drivers.

The Jeep Gladiator – An Off-Road Beast to Consider

For something quite different, the Jeep Gladiator is a compelling choice that offers a distinct design and engineering with an off-road focus. The Gladiator looks a lot like the body of a Jeep Wrangler with a truck bed attached to the rear of it, though it’s been fully designed and engineered as a pickup and not some kind of mash-up of vehicles. Still, this is a Jeep through-and-through, which means it comes with standard four-wheel drive and is built to let you leave Katy roads behind as you hit the trail. A standard V6 or diesel engine can be found on the 2021 Gladiator, with more than 7,600 lbs of maximum towing available when properly equipped. If you’re looking for a used midsize truck to take off-road, then this is a great one to check out.

We Have Excellent Used Trucks for Katy Drivers

As you can see, you have a lot of options available to you when shopping for your next pre-owned truck, and this isn’t even all that’s out there. We didn’t mention the GMC Canyon or Sierra 1500; these share a platform with the Chevy trucks, so if you like what Chevy offers but want some enhanced comfort features or refinement, then you should consider a used GMC pickup. Having so many terrific options available to you is great since it makes it easier to get what you need, but it can also be overwhelming and make it difficult to narrow things down. That’s why we’re here to help, with friendly people ready to work closely with you as you explore what’s out there and make sure you get the right truck with everything you’ve been looking for. The most important thing to us is that you drive away in a used pickup that has what you need and will treat you well for many years to come.