What's The Best Full-Size (Slightly Used ) Truck?

Issue #185

Today, we’re discussing what the best full-size truck (that you can buy used) is, plus we’re starting a new series about long-term testing.

I’ve recently purchased a new 2025 Mazda CX-5 AWD, left over from last year,, and we’ll be using it as a long-term testbed.

Or, you can continue to read by scrolling down.

Market News

• The 2026 Jeep Cherokee goes retro with a boxy design, but is it anything special? This review has the answer. 

• BMW M CEO says the end of the manual transmission is inevitable, and it’s coming soon. 

• Lamborghini kills off its first EV. Why? Apparently, EVs are an expensive hobby. 

• What will happen to cars after the Supreme Court overrode tariffs? This article looks at the possibilities. 

• Alfa Romeo had said it was going all-electric. Now, things have changed and it’s brigning back this V6 engine.

Safety and Recalls

• Nissan recalls 642,000 Rogue SUVs for critical issues. Here’s more. 

• Volvo recalls 40,000 SUVs because batteries can catch fire. Check out the affected models. 

• GM recalls 43,000 of its most popular SUVs because the transmission can lock up rear wheels.

Car Culture

• This Isuzu from the 1980s had fuel economy that would rival modern standards. 

• This Toyota 4Runner’s snorkel isn’t a snorkel. Wait, what?

• This Korean brand never made it in the US, but why? 

• The infamous Kennedy Lincoln limousine wasn’t retired. Instead, here’s why it was put back into service ASAP. 

• A $36-million Alfa Romeo was sold for $12 (you read that right, $12) and now it has disappeared. Here’s how this case has everyone on their toes.

Video Of The Week

This video comes from Sweden, where Hampus tries to start a Saab that has been sitting for 55 years. Will it start?

In The Know

What’s the best (slightly used) full-size truck on the market?

If you had to buy a full-size truck right now, which would you buy?

We’re “asking for a friend.”

The full-size truck market is one of the most competitive in the country, but it’s also one of the most expensive, with some versions scratching the six-figure mark.

Here at FWT, we have a 2023 Toyota Sequoia, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It comes with a bumper-to-bumper warranty until 2033.

The only problem is that we’ve been using it for work, and it’s not the best for loading and unloading cargo, much due to the battery location.

Plus, it’s always dirty, and regardless of the tires we choose, the ride is loud. Granted, trucks will not be quieter, but you don’t expect an SUV such as the Sequoia to be this noisy.  

So, we placed it on Facebook Marketplace. 6,000 clicks in two days. Dealers are going to war over it.

It’s time to find a replacement. It wouldn’t be new, and it must be full-size. We need to haul all our unfinished weekend projects.

The truck with the best resale value in 2026, according to iSeeCars, is the Toyota Tundra. It holds 78.6% of its value over five years. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but the second-place Ram 1500 can be a shocker.

The problem with the Tundra is that it doesn’t excel in towing or payload, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for.

Plus, we’d buy one used, and we don’t want to run into the problematic 3.4L V6 engines that plagued Tundras from 2022 to 2024.

Speaking of the second-place Ram 1500, we came across a fascinating phenomenon. The Ram 1500 is an excellent vehicle, but only according to reviews. Real-life owner experiences vary widely, as you can read here.

Granted, the Ram 1500 has one up on the Tundra with higher towing and payload capacities. However, it falls short of Ford and Chevy in this department.

The Silverado 1500 is another solid choice, with excellent 13,000 pounds of towing capacity and 2,260 pounds of payload. It’s one of the most popular trucks out there, selling close to 600,000 units in 2025.

The problem is that some Silverado 1500 years, such as 2022, are troublesome. The truck has a reputation for being less reliable than its competitors.

Interestingly, this truck has the opposite effect of the Ram 1500: automotive media doesn’t rate it highly, but as this Edmunds article highlights, owners love it.

Then, there’s Ford. The best-selling vehicle in America has this rank for a reason. People love them, even if Ford has had some serious reliability issues in 2025.

There are two options to consider in this hypothetical scenario. The Ford Raptor is a good choice because it has excellent resale value (you can read more here).

However, the Raptor isn’t necessarily the most practical truck out there. Loud, even from the start (excellent for waking your neighbors), and with noisy road handling, and a lower towing capacity than the competition, the Raptor isn’t the first one you think of when imagining a work truck.

Then, there’s the most popular vehicle in the US, the Ford F-150. The array of engines and  capabilities, such as class-leading towing, make it the most versatile. However, repairs can be on the costlier side, as this chart indicates. Plus, used models don’t have the highest reliability ratings.

As you can see, our decision isn’t as easy as we would’ve thought, but it goes to show how interesting the full-size market is. What are your thoughts?

Oh,yeah, then there’s the Nissan Titan.