10 of the Longest-Lasting Trucks

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro multiple ・ Photo by Toyota

Durability depends on a number of variables, some of which are out of the hands of manufacturers. Maintenance and use are controlled by owners and are probably the biggest factors in how long a truck will last. A well-cared-for pickup might last for decades and hundreds of thousands of miles — we’ve all seen farm trucks from the 1950s that are still in daily use with no issues. A truck that’s abused and neglected can fail at any time — just ask the parent of any teenaged driver.

But there are design and engineering differences between new light-duty pickup trucks that promise exceptional durability, as predicted by studies of initial quality and reliability. With those caveats in mind, we’ve examined the available data and manufacturer’s claims to come up with this list of 10 of the longest-lasting trucks, presented here in alphabetical order by brand.

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

First introduced as a 2004 model, the Chevrolet Colorado entered its second generation in 2015 as a mid-size light-duty pickup truck. For 2018, the Colorado is offered with an extended cab with a 6-foot-2-inch bed, a crew cab with a 5-foot-2-inch bed, and a crew cab with a 6-foot-2-inch bed. The Colorado is built with a fully boxed perimeter frame, an independent coil-over front suspension with aluminum knuckles for lower mass and additional strength, and a solid axle rear with two-stage multi-leaf springs and twin-tube shocks.

The Colorado’s hood is made from aluminum for weight savings and strength. A spray-in bedliner is available from the factory, a great way to assure durability in that area. Colorado can be ordered with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a 3.6-liter gasoline V6, or a 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, which might be the most long-lasting choice.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Chevrolet Silverado

In recognition of Chevy Trucks’ 100th anniversary, the brand has created the Chevrolet Truck Legends program for owners of high-mileage examples to show off their trucks’ longevity. Seven Silverado trucks have been recognized with over 1 million miles on the clock, with 912 examples registered with over 250,000 miles. That holds promise for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, which is built on a fully boxed perimeter frame.

Regular cab models are offered with a 6-foot-6-inch or an 8-foot box. Double cab models come with a 6-foot-6-inch box, while crew cabs are available with a 5-foot-8-inch box or a 6-foot-6-inch box, all available with a rust-preventing spray-in bedliner. An available NHT max trailering package delivers a 12,500-lb maximum trailering rating in crew cab models, best among full-size light-duty pickups. Three gasoline engines are available (4.3-liter V6, 5.3-liter V8, and 6.2-liter V8), with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Ford F-150

The Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in America for over 35 years, and it's still going strong, partly based on its reputation for durability. The 2018 F-150 has several key features that promise to keep it on the road for a long time. Most notably, the F-150 has an all-aluminum-alloy body, unlike its competitors. Aluminum is lighter than steel and doesn’t rust — so it should last longer, barring damage or abuse.

Additionally, all F-150 models get standard automatic start-stop this year, reducing the amount of time that they’ll be running at idle. That should lengthen engine life, as well as saving fuel. The 5.0-liter V8 engine can be set up to run on CNG/propane gas, which is a cleaner-burning fuel shown to reduce engine wear over the long term. A spray-in bedliner is available on all models. Steel front bumpers are frame-mounted, and rear bumpers are steel, too.

Photo by Ford

2018 GMC Canyon

Like its General Motors cousin the Chevrolet Colorado, the 2018 GMC Canyon is a mid-sized light-duty pickup truck that is built to last. A fully boxed perimeter frame gives extra strength and rigidity. An off-road inspired All Terrain package is available, including Z71 suspension, automatic locking rear differential, standard transfer case skid plates, and other heavy-duty components that should last a good long time.

Like the Colorado, the Canyon can be ordered with a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine that not only promises a long service life but also delivers up to 30 mpg on the highway — the best in its mid-size pickup segment. The Canyon has been around since the 2004 model and is currently in its second generation of production (since 2015).

Photo by General Motors

2018 GMC Sierra

If you’re planning to live with your truck for a long time, and you are looking for luxury, the 2018 GMC Sierra is worth considering. The Sierra can be ordered in GMC's Denali trim, the brand's highest level of luxury appointment. The Sierra Denali also comes with a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 gasoline engine, which lays claim to the highest V8 horsepower in its class: 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

Long-lasting LED tail lamps should keep working for the life of the vehicle, and the leather-appointed front bucket seats should outlast any cloth seats if treated with a little bit of care and attention. Pride of ownership promotes regular maintenance and preventative repair, so it follows that a fancy truck like Sierra Denali will receive regular cleaning, fluid changes, and scheduled maintenance as a valued member of the family — all of which will help it to last longer.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Nissan Frontier

Not only is the Nissan Frontier one of the longest-lasting trucks, but it is also the longest-lasting design currently on the market. The Frontier’s second generation debuted as a 2005 model — a lifetime ago, in automotive terms. There’s a third-gen version available outside the U.S., but not here yet. Manufactured in Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant, the Frontier is constructed around a full-length boxed ladder frame, and sneaks into the mid-size truck segment.

It comes in King Cab or Crew Cab configuration, with standard (59.5-inch) or long (73.3-inch) bed options, a 4.0-liter V6 engine (261 hp/281 lb-ft of torque), six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmissions, and rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. When a truck like the Frontier remains in production for so long, it also drags a wake of OEM and aftermarket replacement parts that make it possible to log many miles without spending tons of money on repairs.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Nissan Titan

Though it lags behind other full-size pickup trucks in sales, the 2018 Nissan Titan has many features that promise a long service life — and it’s a very desirable truck to boot. The Titan can be ordered in Single Cab, King Cab, and Crew Cab configurations, connected up to three bed lengths: 8 feet (Single Cab); 6 feet 7 inches (King Cab); and 5 feet 7 inches (Crew Cab), each available with optional spray-in bedliner from the factory.

Each Titan gets a 5.6-liter gasoline Endurance V8 engine — longevity is right there in its name — connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. LED low beam/halogen high beam headlights are standard on upper trim levels, great for longevity as LED headlights can last for the life of a truck, and low beams get much more use than high beams.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Ram 1500

Ram boasts that its trucks are “Proven to Last,” and the 2018 RAM 1500 full-size pickup benefits from quality, reliability, and durability features to help back up that claim. The Ram’s boxes are constructed from stamped steel, a material that is heavier than aluminum (used in the F-150), but also proven and less expensive. Extensive use of high-strength steel stiffens the Ram’s fully boxed frame.

The RAM 1500 is available with a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with the option of a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is available on all trim levels. Regular Cab models can be fitted with a 6-foot-4-inch box or an 8-foot box; Quad Cab models come with a 6-foot-4-inch box; and Crew Cab models come with either a 5-foot-7-inch or a 6-foot-4-inch box.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Toyota Tacoma

It may be anecdotal, but the Toyota Tacoma has a reputation as a truck that cannot be killed. After enduring the use (and abuse) of their first owners in the United States, high-mileage examples are often sold to buyers in Central America, where they are routinely pushed beyond 200,000 and 300,000 miles.

Part of that has to do with the Tacoma’s global availability, which makes getting parts and making repairs easier. The Tacoma’s mid-size dimensions also make it a better candidate for narrow roads than a full-size truck. Adding TRD (Toyota Racing Design) parts and accessories to your new 2018 Tacoma can make it even tougher, with skid plates, beefier suspension components, and other enhancements are designed to take a pounding off-road.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Toyota Tundra

Even though the Toyota Tacoma is a force in the mid-size pickup market, the Tundra, Toyota’s full-size pickup offering, has struggled to make the same impact in its own class. And that’s a shame, because the 2018 Tundra promises to be one of the longest-lasting light-duty pickup trucks. Toyota’s reputation for durability is renowned, especially when it comes to engines.

The Tundra gets the same 4.6-liter V8 or 5.7-liter V8 engine that has been fitted into Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and 4Runner vehicles over the years — with great success, and a legacy of durability. Toyota states that over 90 percent of all Toyota Tundras sold over the last 10 years are still on the road today, a testament to durability if there ever was one. The Tundra is built in San Antonio, Texas, and engineered in Michigan — where road and weather conditions are among the harshest in the U.S.

Photo by Toyota