Many enthusiasts will agree, there is no finer machine than a heavy-duty pickup truck. Many truck drivers acknowledge that a pickup truck is quintessentially the most utilized tool in their belt, and manufacturers build their trucks with this in mind. Chances are if you’ve been considering getting one for yourself, you may have done some research on today’s used trucks for sale. The used market is always full of vehicles that are still fully suitable for even the most intense workloads, but at lesser of the price compared to a newer one. And thanks to this bustling used market, finding a reliable and powerful truck at a much cheaper cost is a straightforward and easy process if you do your research properly.
Just because a pickup truck you may be considering is pre-owned, this in no way means that you won’t be getting the same power and durability as advertised. Purchasing your truck from a reputable dealership is the ideal method to ensure both value and reliability. Dealerships may even offer separate catalogs consisting of certified pre-owned vehicles that come with a generous warranty with extensive coverage. With that said, the options are seemingly endless when you are shopping for used trucks, but one choice is particularly interesting: the 2018 Ram 1500. And if you want to know all of the reasons this is true, keep reading!
A Quick Overview
The Ram 1500 is a very popular pickup truck and for good reasons too. These trucks are well known for being highly reliable, performant, and reasonably priced. Looking back a couple of years to the 2018 Ram 1500, the specs associated with this pickup hold up quite well, and anyone looking to perform some towing or require a vehicle for work should take notice. There were many different trims for the 2018 Ram 1500, eleven as a matter of fact, with the Tradesman serving as the base model and Limited as the highest-tier trim. In addition to the immense amount of trims, there are three different configurations regarding bed size and cabin arrangements, meaning you’ll likely find a variety of choices when shopping for a used one. Let’s get into those choices now.
Three Engines, More Possibilities
Of course, a truck is only as powerful as the engine it’s equipped with, and depending on the 2018 Ram 1500 that you purchase, you’ll find one of three possible engines. It’s worth noting that all three engines are paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine which serves as the base option for the 2018 Ram 1500 is a 3.6L V6 that can produce 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. Regarding fuel efficiency, this engine can get 16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway when fitted with AWD and 17 MPG in the city 25 MPG on the highway with 2WD. This engine is a great starting point for many, and even in the current year, this engine remains within the Ram 1500 lineup with its most recent appearance seen in the 2020 Ram 1500.
Should you be looking to step it up a notch, then finding a used 2018 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L V8 engine is the way to do it. Much like the aforementioned 3.6L V6, this engine is still in production today and recently appeared in the newest 2020 models. With this engine equipped, the Ram 1500 can produce 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, which is a stark 29% and 52% increase to horsepower and torque, respectively. When paired with 2WD, this engine holds fuel efficiency ratings of 15 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway while getting 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway with AWD. With a properly equipped 2018, Ram 1500 with this engine included holds a maximum towing capacity of just over 10,000 lbs.
Those looking for a diesel variant are in luck as your 2018 Ram 1500 may come with a turbocharged 3.0L V6 that produces 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, which is more torque than the previously mentioned more powerful 5.7L V8. What this engine succeeds at the most, however, is by achieving ample fuel efficiency ratings—having this engine equipped will grant you EPA-estimated ratings of 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway with AWD, and 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway with 2WD. Between the immense amount of torque and very respectable fuel-efficient capabilities, it’s no wonder why so many drivers prefer diesel engines over their gasoline counterparts.
With all of these engine options, though, drivers can find exactly what they are looking for, whether it be power or efficiency, or both!
Entertainment and Connectivity
In the modern era, vehicles are treated to a wide assortment of various tech-centric goodies, and vehicles are now more connected than ever before, including pickup trucks. Although infotainment centers are becoming increasingly popular, they have been around long enough to appear in plenty of used vehicles on the market today. The 2018 Ram 1500 offers an infotainment center, albeit not standard, and was reserved as an available upgrade. In fact, regarding the infotainment center in the 2018 Ram 1500, there are three different configurations.
The first includes no screen or dedicated software but does have six speakers in total plus a USB port for charging your wireless device. Should your 2018 Ram 1500 include a display for the infotainment center, it will be either a 5-inch without touch capabilities or an 8.4-inch configuration with a touch-capacitive screen. An extra USB port is present, so two devices may be charged at once, and onboard navigation is available through the infotainment center itself. For the best possible experience, it’s recommended to shop for a 2018 Ram 1500 that includes an infotainment center to take advantage of the added features.
Bluetooth is integrated into the infotainment center, so connecting your smartphone wirelessly is a seamless process. Depending on the configuration of your Ram 1500, it may include a premium audio system that consists of seven to ten high-quality speakers situated throughout the cabin. Taking cell phone connectivity even further is the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meaning, once you’ve connected your iPhone or compatible Android device, the infotainment center becomes fully synchronized with your smartphone and its applications. In all, you can find a completely tech-filled 2018 Ram 1500, and when you do, you may just fall in love.
Used Shopping is Smart Shopping
Shopping for a used truck is a fantastic way to get the best bang for your buck. Aside from all of the advantages associated with purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, there is an extreme sense of value that simply can’t be replicated on a brand new one. Even by purchasing a used pickup truck such as the 2018 Ram 1500, you’ll still be retaining quite a modern feature set with the same performance as the new 2020 models. Value is an important piece of the puzzle when shopping for a used vehicle and one of the most important reasons why a pre-owned vehicle retains its value is because the depreciation process has already taken place and is losing its value at a much slower pace compared to a newer truck.
Whatever your reasoning may be, by shopping for a used truck, you’ve already taken the right step towards saving money and what the 2018 Ram 1500 has taught us is that the number of similarities between a two-year-old truck and a new one can be greater than you expect and this mindset can ultimately be the key to smart shopping.
