One of the great things about the used vehicle market is that there’s a vast range of options out there, from simple sedans to crazy trucks kitted out with all kinds of aftermarket goodies. Someone looking at used trucks for sale can find a ton of great pickups for getting around town each day or tackling some work, but they’ll also find some more interesting options. Today, we’re checking out the latter; those trucks that break the mold and go far beyond the typical offerings that we might find at dealerships, especially when compared to new vehicles. Let’s check out eight of the most unique and fascinating pickup trucks you can find on the used market!
Truck #1 – Ford F-150 Raptor R
Kicking things off, we’ve got one of the most powerful and over-the-top trucks ever produced. While there are plenty of wild aftermarket trucks out there (we’ll get to a couple later), the Raptor R came straight from Ford’s factory with a monstrous 720 hp supercharged engine for serious performance on and off the road. The base Raptor is impressive enough, but Ford pushed the envelope with the Raptor R, combining the rugged off-road-focused chassis of the F-150 Raptor with an engine that came straight from the Mustang Shelby GT500, one of the most impressive pony cars ever built. Add in the massive 37-inch tires it came with, plus Fox Dual Live Valve shocks and special tuning by Ford Performance, and you’ve got a remarkable pickup that can take to the trail like a muscle car takes to the track.
Truck #2 – Ram 1500 TRX
I should mention that Ford didn’t roll out the Raptor R in a vacuum; its development was partially inspired by the Ram 1500 TRX and its impressive off-road performance. First released for the 2021 model year, the TRX delivers performance and features equal to the Raptor R, boasting a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine with a massive 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Tuned for incredible acceleration and power, this engine makes the Ram 1500 TRX a force to be reckoned with when it comes to 0-to-60 mph time and running the quarter-mile. Ram only offered this truck for a few years until 2024, when it was discontinued. Still, word is that it’ll make a return for the 2026 or 2027 model year, so hopefully we’ll be enjoying the TRX for a long time.
Truck #3 – Chevy Avalanche
Few vehicles are higher on my personal list of “why’d they discontinue that!?” than the Chevy Avalanche. Released for the 2001 model year, the Avalanche was a full-size truck with styling and design that included SUV features and elements, creating a vehicle that felt like someone had mashed up the Chevy Silverado and Suburban. It was around for just over a decade before being discontinued and, much to my chagrin, took with it a distinct design and excellent style that you don’t see much of. Its sales hovered near or under 20,000 each year for its last five years, so I understand why it was cancelled, but still, we deserve these kinds of strange and interesting trucks.
Truck #4 – Jeep Gladiator
This is a two-for-one entry because I’m talking about both models you’ll find with the Jeep Gladiator name. The original Gladiator was a full-size truck first released in the 1960s and has been available for more than 20 years, based on the Wagoneer platform from that same era. It was a stylish and impressive pickup that earned a lot of fans during its time, with plenty of options across a couple of generations, making it popular for daily driving and heading off-road. The Gladiator returned for the 2020 model year as a midsize pickup that looks like someone grabbed the back of a Jeep Wrangler and stretched it out to make a truck. Since that’s what many people wanted in a Jeep pickup, this makes sense, and the result is something truly distinct and unique.
Truck #5 – Subaru Baja
Alongside the Chevy Avalanche I mentioned earlier, the Subaru Baja has a similar design that feels like a blend of truck and SUV (with just a dash of sedan), resulting in something stylish and capable. This compact truck was only around for a few years, from 2003 to 2006, so it’s not one you’ll find a ton of when looking at used models out there. Still, its distinct styling and looks can’t be denied, along with impressive power and performance that’s perfect for a wide range of drivers. Special mention is deserved for Subaru’s earlier effort, the BRAT, which was briefly available at the end of the 1970s, with a similar design that feels like somewhere between a truck, SUV, and large sedan.
Truck #6 – Volkswagen Rabbit
Alongside the Subaru BRAT, one of my favorite old trucks is the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup, a small truck championed by the folks at Volkswagen of America. With its boxy shape, harsh angles, and compact design, this thing would never set the automotive world on fire, but it’s incredibly fun and a remarkable artifact of its era. For anyone who grew up in the 1980s and ‘90s, this was something you’d see every now and again, usually causing a double-take because it was so different from every other truck on the road. We can only hope to see these kinds of unique trucks again one day.
Truck #7 – Ford F-150 Rocky Ridge
The first of two impressive aftermarket options, Rocky Ridge offers several different trucks they work on, so this is just one of several examples. The F-150 Rocky Ridge features a six-inch lift, 20-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch all-terrain tires, and much more. This custom treatment includes a special Rocky Ridge gauge cluster, custom-stitched headrests inside, and a grille replacement with painted accents. They use FOX Adventure Series shocks for the premium suspension overhaul and other impressive aftermarket parts to put together a truck quite unlike what you’ll find coming from Ford’s factories. This kind of pickup isn’t for everyone, but it’s always nice to see people who’re passionate about working on vehicles.
Truck #8 – Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Black Widow
Speaking of something that’s not for everyone, we’ve got another aftermarket option here that truly goes above and beyond. The Chevy Silverado 2500 HD is already a niche option with its bold performance and impressive capabilities, but once the folks at Black Widow Trucks got their hands on it, they made a model that truly shines. The Silverado 2500 HD Black Widow features a five-inch suspension lift with 20-inch Black Widow wheels, 35-inch tires, and unique Black Widow badging on the exterior. They can add power running boards, tint the windows, install red LED interior lighting, and provide much more to create a truck that’s quite stylish and capable. I wouldn’t roll up to a jobsite in this thing, but it’s a fun choice for heading off-road.
Used Trucks Can Be a Lot of Fun
If you take one thing from this exploration of what’s out there, it should be that used trucks can include a wide range of options beyond what you might expect. Sure, you’d expect to find plenty of options, like Silverado 1500s in all sorts of trims, many different Ford F-150 models, and all sorts of other trucks, but alongside those are a remarkable selection of unique and interesting trucks that include discontinued models, aftermarket beasts with features beyond what’s available from factory-new models, and much more. Even if you’re not shopping for a new truck, just looking at and exploring these different vehicles can be a lot of fun, especially since you never know when you’ll find a treasure hidden on the market.
