The Top Seven Pickup Truck Models for Raleigh

White 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT parked in a forest from a dealer with trucks for sale in Raleigh.

A good truck makes or breaks your life on the road in the ever-growing capital of North Carolina. You need a reliable truck, a stylish truck, and a utility-rich truck. You also need the right kind of features that specifically speak to you, and that means working with a dealership like ours that has a wide variety of trucks for sale in Raleigh that accommodate exactly what you're looking for. To help you narrow down your search and give you a few ideas about how to go about finding the right truck at the right price, here are some of the top pickup trucks and the best trims available for residents of the City of Oaks.

#1 - Chevy Silverado 1500 LT: For Work and Fun

Competitive towing and hauling capabilities make the Silverado 1500 LT a perfect combination of being a worthwhile work truck and family vehicle. Available in multiple cab and bed configurations, the Silverado 1500 LT comes packed with lots of useful standard equipment, with 2025 models being packaged with a 10-way power driver seat, a 13.4-inch touchscreen, and the full Chevy Safety Assist suite. This gives you a mix of utility and comfort-rich features all tucked into one package; if you're shopping for a modern truck, a Silverado 1500 LT provides you with plenty of utility at an approachable price, making it excellent for drivers who want a truck to handle the day-in and day-out workloads, while also being large enough to seat a small family. Plus, it's stylish enough to accommodate nights out on the town, whether you're going to see a movie or visiting the many restaurants throughout Raleigh.

#2 - Ram 2500 Big Horn: A Dependable Workhorse 

You can haul two tons of cargo or trailer nearly 20,000 lbs with the 2025 Ram 2500 Big Horn. A step up from the Tradesman, the Big Horn focuses on comfort and convenience alongside its overt utility, enabling you to tow and haul for work with confidence, perfect for logistics and local contract work. If you're willing to spend the extra for the Big Horn, it's well worth it. If you have to spend a lot of time moving cargo along I-40 or want something dependable for hauling large trailers around Raleigh, the Big Horn is designed to get the job done comfortably. The great-looking design, advanced tech features, and seating for up to six people make the Ram 2500 capable as a work truck and a daily driver for the family.

#3 - Toyota Tacoma TRD PreRunner: Young at Heart

Many of the trucks on this list might seem like they're focused on families and large workloads, which makes sense given Raleigh's rapid expansion. However, there are plenty of colleges around the area as well, and many younger drivers who are looking for an adventure-ready truck for work, school, and recreation. The perfect solution is the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD PreRunner, which gets you real off-road performance at an affordable price. Whether you buy or lease a new Tacoma TRD PreRunner, it's a lot more approachable than some of the other options out there without being a budget model. The two-door pickup truck features the i-FORCE turbocharged engine in rear-wheel drive. It has a modern interior design with bold cabin accents, a robust infotainment suite with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and moderate towing and payload capacity for hitching a cargo trailer or hauling some furniture around during a big move.

White 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 HD AT4 driving through a forest.

#4 - GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pro: A Heavy-Duty Professional 

If you're serious about building out your bustling business in Raleigh or need a three-quarter-ton pickup for commercial trucking, the 2025 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pro is the way to go. It's a lot more affordable than some light-duty pickup trucks, even though it's a heavy-duty model. You have the signature bold design of the GMC Sierra, as well as all of the complimentary features that make it stand out. There is the iconic fascia with the GMC logo, the bold stance with available four-wheel drive capabilities, and an interior with a robust suite of comfort and convenience features, such as the GMC Infotainment System, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and the Pro Safety package. With added remote accessibility, an LED lighting array, and the available MultiPro Tailgate, you have an extremely versatile and feature-rich work truck that any professional-grade trucker would love to have in their fleet.

#5 - Jeep Gladiator Nighthawk: A Midsize Adventurer

On the complete opposite end of the work trucks and heavy-duty offerings is Jeep's midsize pickup truck, the Gladiator—more specifically, the Nighthawk. New for the 2025 model year, the Gladiator Nighthawk offers an aggressive look for those who want a rugged and visually distinct truck to drive, including plenty of utility for daily driving and off-roading. You have black 20-inch wheels tucked into all-terrain tires, dark accents, and seating for up to five people. You have the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with wireless connectivity for your smart devices and a full safety suite. The moderate towing and hauling capabilities make the Gladiator useful for work and recreation alike. Better yet, the off-road tuning and standard 4x4 make it convenient for weekend warriors who love pushing the limits in the mountains to the east of Wake County. This makes the Gladiator Nighthawk excellent for solo drivers, small families, college students, young professionals, and experienced off-roaders alike.

#6 - Chevy Colorado LT: All-Around Midsize Greatness

Much like its larger full-size sibling, the 2025 Chevy Colorado LT is packed full of options. The midsize Colorado is available as a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive truck, so it's good for all different kinds of tasks throughout Raleigh, whether you're looking for a good family truck for visiting the parks and forests or a daily driver for running errands and attending school. However, you may want to look at the Trail Boss or Z71 trims if you plan on doing some serious off-roading. The five-foot bed provides you with ample room for project materials, equipment, tools, and even supplies, perfect for drivers who are working at the many institutes around the Research Triangle. Inside, the Colorado LT has a power driver seat, dual-zone climate control, and large digital displays to keep you comfortable, entertained, and informed.

White 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro parked in a wheat field.

#7 - Toyota Tundra SR5: Modern, Stylish, and Reliable

The third-generation Toyota Tundra has been making waves with its exciting line-up of high-performance powertrains. The full-size pickup from Toyota is available in a diverse range of trim options, but the SR5 offers you just enough features and content without breaking the bank. Proficient at towing up to 12,000 lbs and able to haul close to a ton of cargo, the 2025 Tundra SR5 is a capable, rugged, and stylishly impressive pickup truck. Available in a double cab or crew cab format, the Tundra SR5 comes equipped with everything you need for work, play, recreation, and commuting. These features include a tow hitch and integrated trailer brake controller, the full Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite of driver aids and assists, as well as available SoftTex upholstery to give the seats a comfortable feel. With the robust infotainment suite, a great look, and a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission, you can comfortably transport your family quickly and easily to your desired destination, whether that's a nature preserve, a theme park, or the many museums scattered throughout the city.