Should You Buy a Used F-150 or a Used Silverado 1500?

You might be looking for a used pickup truck and asking yourself, “what is the best used pickup”? Should you buy a used Ford F-150 or a used Chevy Silverado 1500? Well, it’s a question that a lot of potential pickup owners ask, as well as those who may be looking to switch things up away from the current pickup they own. The answer is a lot simpler than you might be pondering, and to cut the case short, the F-150 is the better pick, and your used F-150 dealer is the only place you need to go to buy your next truck.

It might seem presumptuous in some ways to think that most people will want a used Ford F-150, but we genuinely think that the F-150 is the best deal all around. Once you take a look at the options and capabilities of these two trucks for yourself, it’s going to be hard to deny the capabilities of the F-150. So let’s take a look and see what exactly makes the F-150 so much better than the Silverado 1500.

A Matter of Power

At the heart of every petrol-based vehicle is a lantern that burns bright in the form of a combustible engine powered by the black gold of the Earth and ignited by the compression of the very air that we breathe. These motorized beasts propel the steel chariots forward at our behest. In simple terms, we have fuel-based engines that move when we step on the gas, and some do it better than others.

In the case of the F-150 and Silverado 1500, there’s a definitive gap in the power structure of both vehicles. If you’re planning on buying used, then keep in mind that different generations offer different powertrains and capabilities. So if you need specific levels of power, make sure you know the specs of the particular truck you are looking at.

An excellent example of this is the 2019 Silverado 1500 and the 2019 F-150, both of which come in a number of powertrain configurations. The base 2019 Silverado 1500 comes with a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers 310 horsepower at 348 lb-ft of torque. This is in stark contrast to the F-150’s 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

The disparity increases the further up the powertrain line you go. For instance, the 2019 Silverado 1500’s topmost powertrain is a massive 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the 2019 F-150 tops out with a high-output twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that delivers 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. When it boils down to a matter of power, the F-150 just gives you more.

When You Need More Towing Capacity

When you need more towing capacity, the competition puts up a tough fight, but they just can’t deliver like the F-150. The same applies to if you’re buying used. While newer F-150 pickup trucks have insane amounts of towing and trailering capacities, the older models are no slouch. They still deliver some of the best tow ratings you could ask for out of a light-duty pickup.

For instance, the 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 has a max tow rating of 12,000 pounds when properly equipped. The 2015 Ford F-150, on the other hand, has a max tow rating of 12,200 pounds when properly equipped. Not only that, but the pickup can also haul a max of 3,300 pounds in the bed. That’s incredible power for a used model, and the capability only goes up as models get newer. Just remember to check the capacities of the truck you are looking at because not every model, even with the same engines, has the same capability.

If one of the main reasons you’re looking for a light-duty pickup is to handle towing and trailering, the F-150 manages to accomplish the task just ahead of the Silverado 1500 in every regard. So if you want to tow a camper, move across-state, or need a work companion that can get the job done, a used F-150 is for you. Adding insult to injury is the fact that you can get your hands on a used F-150 for the same price as a used Silverado 1500. Both pickups are usually available in equivalent trim lines and with the same amount of mileage for the same price.

Trim Selection and Variety

There is one area where the Silverado 1500 gives the Ford F-150 a run for its money: trims. When it comes to trim selections, there are some impressive options from both pickup trucks, especially from the newer generations. Most offer different levels of comfort or luxury, with built-in packages that add extra infotainment features such as wireless charging or larger displays or additional safety features such as alert and warning systems.

Both the F-150 and Silverado 1500 also provide something extra for off-road enthusiasts in the form of the Ford’s Raptor trim and the Silverado’s Z71 trim. Both convert the vehicles into off-road ready trucks, primed to tackle the steepest inclines and the roughest hills. If you are an adventure seeker, an off-road truck is a must-have.

There are even luxury trims for both vehicles, too. Whether you’re going with a used truck from the newer generation (such as the F-150’s King Ranch trim or the Silverado 1500’s High Country trim) or something from an older generation (like the F-150’s Harley Davidson Special Edition trim or the Silverado 1500’s Texas Edition), there’s a little something special available from both pickup brands. Plus, one of the perks of buying a used model is that you get all of these luxury features at a much lower price point.

However, despite the vast number of options for the Silverado 1500, the price and feature set of the F-150 still win out in the end. If you’re buying used, there are going to be more special edition variations of the F-150 available over the Silverado, so you’re going to have more choice in trim selection and pricing based on mileage. When you couple the trim variety with the power and towing capabilities, it just makes the Ford F-150 look a lot more appealing in the grand scheme of things. Even if you just wanted a base trim with adequate power and great trailering features, you can still get that from a used F-150, and it would still come out on top above any equivalent trim or model year version of the Silverado 1500.

Get Your F-150 From DePaula Ford Today

Now that you have an idea of what to expect from the F-150 compared to the Silverado 1500, it’s easy to see why the F-150 is the better option. So, now that you have that decision out of the way, it’s time to visit us and shop for your next used Ford F-150. When you want a quality, used, or certified pre-owned F-150, then you need to visit DePaula Ford.

If you are on the fence about buying a used truck because you don’t know if you can trust the quality, then buy a certified pre-owned model. When you buy certified pre-owned, you’re guaranteed a vehicle that operates according to an expected standard of excellence. These vehicles are specially tested and rigorously inspected to ensure that they meet a quality of the highest order and usually come backed by a warranty if anything goes wrong, so you can put your mind at ease.

At DePaula Ford, we also provide financing for those who need an auto loan, as well as other special incentives and deals to help reduce the costs or accommodate payments to fit your finances. Plus, once you have your truck, you can keep it in top shape by bringing it to our service center for inspections, maintenance, and repairs. Visit us today to test-drive some of our used Ford F-150 models and see for yourself why Ford is the best.