Your Guide to Shopping for a Used F-150

When you’re shopping on a budget and need a great pickup that you know you can count on to get some serious work done, a pre-owned Ford F-150 is a terrific choice. As you start looking at different used Ford trucks for sale, however, you’ll find a lot of options out there, even if you’ve narrowed things down to the full-size, light-duty F-150. Shopping at a dealership you know you can trust makes things a lot easier since you work with friendly people who can help you explore an inventory of different models in terrific shape. Still, it helps to have a sense of what you’re looking for to help you navigate all of these options. So, let’s take a look at what you should know when shopping for a used Ford F-150 and how to make sure you get everything you need in your next pickup.

Get to Know Generations and Model Years

Although different folks can approach shopping for a used vehicle in their own way, we find the best place to start is with the generations and model years available. You don’t need to memorize every single detail of these different years, but getting to know them and understanding some key differences between them is quite important. This is even more vital with a vehicle like the F-150 since it’s been around since the 1970s, so there are a lot of them out there on the used market. Fortunately, you don’t need to look that far back (unless you’re a collector interested in a much older model), so you just need to focus on the last couple of generations and their model years.

The 13th generation of the Ford F-Series of trucks, including the F-150, ran from 2015 through 2020; these are the oldest ones you should consider when looking for a great used truck. This 13th-generation F-150 received a facelift and update for the 2018 model year, so ones from that year and later are particularly good choices. Ford kicked off the 14th generation for the F-150 with the 2021 model year, which is still the current generation, so this will get you many of the latest features and options when looking at used models. For the 2024 model year, Ford gave the F-150 a mid-cycle update and refresh with a revised interior and some excellent new features; you’ll see us mention these model years again as we go.

Consider Different Available Engines

Although there are a lot of different things to look at when shopping for a used truck, we’d argue that nothing is more important than its engine. When someone shops for a new model, they find trims with different engines available, letting them choose the kind of performance they prefer. You need to have this same thought in mind as you look at pre-owned pickups so that you can get the capabilities you need. Since available engines can change with generations and model years, this is part of why it’s so important to understand what’s available over time to get what you want.

Looking at the 2020 F-150, which wrapped up its 13th generation, there’s a 3.3L V6 with 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque as the standard engine, along with an available 3.5L EcoBoost turbocharged V6 with 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. You can also find a 3.0 Power Stroke turbo-diesel V6 on these trucks with 440 lb-ft of torque. Moving to the 2021 model year, which kicked off the 14th generation, however, means you can find a 3.5L EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine with 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque; these trucks can also have a hybrid engine with 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque, along with fantastic fuel efficiency.

You won’t find the turbo-diesel engine on models from 2022 and later, when Ford discontinued any diesel option for the F-150. The 2023 model introduced the Raptor R trim and its incredible 700-hp engine (although we’ll admit that’s definitely a niche option), while the 3.3L V6 was dropped as the starting engine following that same year. So if you go with a 2024 Ford F-150, you can find enhanced features inside and out for its mid-generation refresh, along with a 2.7L turbocharged engine with 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque as the new standard.

Narrow Down the Trim Levels That Work for You

Once you know the kind of power and performance you want from your truck, then you can use that to help you decide on which trim levels will work best to meet your needs. Keep in mind that the trim you find impacts a huge number of different features and options, so engines are just one part of that, but it can still guide what you’re looking for. It helps to start with knowing what trims are available and where they fall in the lineup, so you have a sense of what you’ve found at a glance. With the F-150, for example, the XL model is typically the starting trim, with an XLT and Lariat after that, then the King Ranch and Platinum at the top end.

Tremor and Raptor models focus on off-road capabilities, so those are the ones to look for if you want to hit the trail. What’s key, though, is that your trim choice also impacts the engines you’ll find. Looking at the 2021 F-150, for example, the XL model comes with the standard 3.3L engine, but has the other powertrains available. The impressive 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is standard for the Limited model, while the Platinum comes with a 5.0L V8 engine standard, but has the EcoBoost V6, turbo diesel, and hybrid available. This is why we suggested knowing what kind of performance you want first, since that can guide you toward or away from certain trim levels.

Focus On the Specs of Each Used F-150 You Find

Now, you can bring these different things together to guide what models you look at, but you still want to check the details of any particular used F-150 that catches your eye. We haven’t mentioned towing and payload yet, but here’s where you want to look for that—although it’s a good idea to know what’s possible with different engines each year. For example, looking at a 2021 F-150 with its standard 3.3L V6 engine, some models can handle 5,000 lbs of towing, while others can be equipped to haul more than 8,000 lbs behind them. That’s why it’s so important to do a bit of research ahead of time, so you know what can work best for you. If you’re interested in a 2021 F-250 and need to tow more than 10,000 lbs, for example, then you know you need something like the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and the right configuration. This is also why it’s vital that you shop at a dealership with people ready to help you find what you need.

Choose a Dealership That Puts Your Needs First

Here at Roanoke Ford, we work hard to provide an impressive selection of pre-owned F-150 models for you to choose from, and our salespeople put your needs first while helping you shop. Even if you know everything you want from your next truck, it can still be tricky to sort through all of the options available to you and keep track of all the details on them. With friendly people from the right dealership working for you, this all becomes a lot simpler, and you have someone who can help you keep things straight and make sure you get a truck that works for you. Just be sure to do a bit of research and have a sense of what truck will best meet your needs, and then you can relax and let us handle everything else as we find you the perfect pre-owned pickup.

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