Pickup trucks are one of the most effective multipurpose vehicles found on American roads, primarily because they essentially combine the storage capability of a van with the cabin of a conventional car. The reinforced chassis and truck bed ensure that plenty of weight and cargo can be carried with ease, while the separate cockpit section can provide enough space to transport up to six people comfortably. This means that aside from being used as a trusty workhorse, a modern pickup truck can also function as an effective family bus, eradicating the need for both in some cases.Like many vehicles today though, getting a new one can be costly. A brand-new Ram 1500 will set you back over $40,000, and you don't get a hell of a lot to shout about for that price. That's why we reckon buying a used 2021 Ford F-150 could be the better bet, seeing as you get much more for your money. A Used High-End F-150 Can Be Picked Up For Less Than A New 1500 Ford Thanks to the beauty, or curse if you bought the vehicle brand-new, of depreciation, you can purchase a tidy 2021 Ford F-150 Limited pickup for less than a base-spec 2026 Ram 1500 Tradesman. If you fancy having a new Ram on your driveway, then you'll have to be prepared to part with $40,275, which is a fair chunk of money for the least well-equipped version of the machine. The crazy thing is that a five-year-old F-150 Limited 4WD, the range-topping version of Ford's full-size competitor, can be picked up for less than that. According to the CarBuzz Marketplace, the average value of the model currently sits at $45,285.While this is a little higher than that of the 1500 Tradesman, you can easily pick up higher mileage examples for drastically less than that. There are plenty of examples with less than 60,000 miles on the clock waiting to be snapped up for less than $35k, meaning they'll have plenty more miles left in them for at least $5k less than a new 1500 will set you back. If you don't mind a heavily used truck – one that has covered over 100,000 miles in just half a decade – you can find them for under $30,000. The F-150 Brings Plenty Of Extra Grunt For The Money Ford Now, while spending your hard-earned money on something that nobody else has left their mark on is a great feeling, there's nothing like getting way more for your cash. You can always give the truck a proper deep clean when you receive it, anyway. If that still doesn't convince you, then hold onto your hat. While the Ram 1500 Tradesman comes equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 – which dutifully kicks out 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque – the top-spec F-150 has it thoroughly beat.The Ford wades into battle with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost powerplant, which produces 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. The latter figure is particularly notable, seeing as this is nearly double that of the Ram 1500 Tradesman.Both use automatic transmissions, though the Ford has a couple of extra speeds to play with thanks to its 10-speed unit, as opposed to the Ram's eight-speed gearbox. A key difference between the two is that you can have the four-wheel drive version of the F-150 Limited, which provides extra traction versus the rear-wheel drive 1500.While also making the car safer in dodgy conditions, it can also provide extra purchase when trying to tow or move something heavy. Despite the F-150's extra power and 4WD system, it is actually a little lighter than the 1500 Tradesman.This means it can achieve an average MPG just a single click down on its newer rival, with 20 MPG playing 21 MPG. The F-150 Will Function As A Superior Workhorse FordAlongside being nearly as efficient as the much less powerful 1500, the F-150 Limited is the far better option if towing equipment is your jam, thanks to its powerful engine.Whereas the Ram can deal with 7,660 lbs of mass behind it, the beastly Ford can bring 11,200 lbs of weight with it, making it more versatile for this kind of work. Seeing as the F-150 Limited is more positioned as a luxury truck than a pure worker though, its standard 2,100-lb payload capacity clocks in a hefty 260 lbs adrift of the 1500.Shop around and find an example equipped with the optional Max Trailer Tow and Heavy Duty Payload packages though, which provide a beefed-up rear end to deal with more punishment, and the F-150 can deal with a vastly superior 2,640 lbs.The 1500 Tradesman fares pretty well when it comes to payload, but it can't get within a mile of the F-150 as far as outright towing and versatility is concerned, due to its relatively gutless powerplant and lack of 4WD. Be warned, the argument for the 1500 only gets further weaker from here. A New Ram 1500 Tradesman Is Fairly Bare Bones AutoTrader When your hard day of work has finally come to its conclusion, you'll likely want to cruise home in comfort. The issue with the Tradesman is that, even though it costs north of $40k, there isn't exactly a lot to be excited about within the confines of its cabin. You'll be treated to functional cloth seats, which have no heating function to speak of, while a basic audio system will welcome you. Furthermore, while it does at least get adaptive cruise control, the 1500 Tradesman only gets basic air conditioning, with no climate control setup to be found. And that's about your lot, as the 1500 Tradesman is about as utilitarian as you can get with a new car these days. A Used F-150 Limited Provides Much More Equipment Ford And then we come to the F-150 Limited. For less than you'll have to spend on a new 1500 Tradesman, you'll be made to feel like royalty. Headlining the additions are sumptuous cooled and heated leather seats, which can be adjusted using electricity rather than exerting your own energy. Handily, they also feature a massage function, which could come in extremely handy after a long day on the job. There's also multi-zone climate control, a premium audio system, and a sunroof to enjoy.Is it a bit colder outside than you first thought? Well, its heated leather steering wheel is here to save the day. Whereas the 1500 Tradesman feels like a true hardened workhorse, the F-150 Limited stands out as a machine that can get stuff done, but then cocoon you in a first-class luxury cabin once you've finished. Buying A New Truck Does Have Its Advantages StellantisWhile it seems the odds are stacked against the 1500 Tradesman when it comes to outright value, there is some good news if you decide this is the preferred path for you. After all, buying such a machine means that you can be sure it hasn't been ragged to within an inch of its life, even if the service history of a used truck shows that it has been taken care of for the most part.In addition, you'll have a three-year or 36,000-mile warranty to fall back on should anything go wrong, allowing you to relax for at least the first few years of service. There's also the choice of buying an extended warranty to further put your mind at rest.If these things hold greater weight for your personal preference, buying new definitely has its advantages. If these elements don't rank that highly on your priority list though, opting for a used option like the 2021 F-150 Limited is hard to beat. It provides plenty of extra pulling power and pace for the money, while also offering up a vastly better quality and well-stacked interior. It also looks better, thanks to its higher-end bodywork fixtures and alloy wheel design. Being able to pick up a tidy range-topping pickup with decent miles on the odometer, which is just five years old, seems like something too good to be true.On this occasion though, it simply functions as a bit of a cheat code. Forget about what your teachers told you; there's nothing wrong with a bit of cheating now and again.Sources: Ford, Ram.
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