Five Fantastic Used Diesel Trucks
Some people are just “diesel people.” There’s a particular breed of driver who believes fully in the power, capability, and dependability of a diesel engine. They can be found in trucks that are either spotless from being polished with pride, filthy from their latest tour of a messy job site, or even better yet, mudded up from a run through the trails on the weekend. At the same time, there are the people who believe the exact opposite of that is true: that gasoline-powered engines are the best way to power your pickup truck, regardless of whether it’s light, medium, or heavy-duty, or whether you’re hauling, towing, or conquering mud and snow.
This article is not intended for them. This article is for the “diesel people.” Whether you’re a die-hard diesel-forever fanatic, someone who appreciates what they get from a hardworking diesel engine, or a newcomer to the truck scene who has received multiple recommendations to “go diesel” and doesn’t quite know why, this is the article that makes you want to head out to Jay Hatfield Chevrolet, your local diesel truck dealership. We’re going to take a look at five great used diesel trucks and what makes them worthy of such a description.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
First it was a trim. Then it became one of the most recognizable and highest-selling pickup trucks in the world. The Chevy Silverado started life as one of the trim levels on the C30 pickup truck, but in 1999, became the full-time replacement for the retired model.
Diesel engines debuted in the Silverado lineup in 2000, kicking off the long and impressive Duramax/Silverado combination. The version sitting in the 2021 Silverado 1500 is a 3.0L Turbo-Diesel that provides 460 lb-ft of torque, good for towing loads up to 9,500 pounds. Best of all, those who choose rear-wheel drive can enjoy a fuel economy of around 31 miles per gallon on the highway. With a highly customizable, broad range of trims and packages, it’s easy to see why the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a diesel truck that hardcore drivers rely upon time and time again.
Ford Super Duty 250/350
The name means what it says: Super Duty. Introduced in 1999, the Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks, from 250 to 550, were brought onto the market to re-establish the rugged tradition of the “working man’s truck.” Drivers at the time praised the bare-bones “truck of trucks.”
Back then, the Super Duty trucks were endowed with a Titan V-10 gasoline engine or a 7.3L turbocharged Powerstroke V8 diesel engine. With 235 horsepower, 500 lb-ft of torque, and a liberal range of gears accessed through a 6-speed manual transmission, it was clear from the start that the Super Duty was the kind of truck that found hard work, fun. Today’s Super Duty trucks include a 6.7L Power Stroke diesel V8 that makes its ancestor look unevolved, with 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. While those early, burly Super Duty trucks have gained a few creature comforts over the years, the diesel F-250 and above prove that sometimes you really need a truck to do a truck’s job.
Jeep Gladiator
When the Jeep Gladiator was reintroduced to the world in 2020, the world had to be reminded that Jeep had a rich history of creating very capable and dependable pickup trucks. After all, some of the earliest Jeep trucks were commissioned by military groups around the world. But if the crowd cheered loudly at the return of the Gladiator, the announcement that the 260 horsepower EcoDiesel engine made famous by the Wrangler would be an option was met with a joyous ruckus.
While it tows slightly less than its gasoline brethren, due to air intake capabilities, 6,000-6,500 pounds isn’t a shabby amount to drag along for the long haul. Given its impeccable manners off-road, it contributes a great deal to out-of-the-way jobs and blowing off steam on the trails on the weekends. Even better, when the sun comes out, you can take the top and doors off of the Gladiator for some fresh air traveling. Depending on the trim selected, drivers have the option of a hardtop or soft top, each of which can be removed and neatly stowed in the cargo area for maximum cruising.
Ram 2500 HD
Any discussion surrounding diesel pickup trucks would be remiss without the mention of the Ram HD/Cummins partnership. Starting in 1989, Cummins has produced some of the most powerful diesel engines for Ram’s most powerful vehicles. In the beginning, the engines weren’t much to write home about, with the 200 horsepower threshold only crossed in 1996. However, much has changed since then, with a high output 1,000 lb-ft torque engine introduced as part of the 2019 Ram 3500 HD lineup. With the capacity to tow up to 35,100 pounds, this engine made headline news when it was first introduced.
Today’s Ram 2500 is powered by a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 that can tow up to 20,000 pounds, even though it produced a “mere” 850 lb-ft of torque. Clearly, Cummins and Ram have discovered some very mighty and special things over the course of their partnership, and fans of the collaboration are anxious to see what is ahead in the coming model years.
GMC Canyon
As a matter of speaking, Chevrolet and GMC share many of the same things, including the 2.8L Duramax 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel that powers the GMC Canyon. Though this engine also appears under the hood of the Chevy Colorado, the Canyon stands on its own as an excellent midsize diesel-powered truck. The diesel engine only joined the Canyon lineup in 2016, though the Canyon itself was introduced in 2004. Though this engine is a late arrival to the diesel pickup game, it has proven itself a worthy member of the club, with towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds, 181 horsepower, and 369 lb-ft of torque.
That may not seem like a lot when you stack it next to a Ram HD, but remember, this is a midsize pickup truck. It’s got other plans besides hanging out at the worksite, like cruising around town. With up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway, the fuel economy on this diesel makes driving an absolute pleasure. In fact, drivers have routinely named the GMC Canyon as one of the most versatile trucks on the market today.
There Are Plenty of Great Diesel Trucks
This is not, of course, an all-encompassing list of all the good and dependable used diesel trucks out there. In fact, there are many drivers who would swear to a diesel engine before they’d claim brand loyalty, an outrageous thought amongst drivers of pickup trucks. However, diesel engines have made their mark on the hardworking truck of America. While truck styles and capabilities are always evolving, manufacturers know that there are legions of drivers who are rooting for a diesel model. It’s hard to say exactly what it is that draws drivers to the rumble of a diesel engine, but it’s clearly something meaningful and unchanging. For hardworking drivers, there’s just something about a diesel engine that stands up to meet the daily challenges.