For years truck fleet customers could slide into a cheap new pickup by ordering the base model. These strippers came with rubber mats instead of carpeting, roll-up windows, no radio, a flat vinyl bench seat, and no upholstery on the doors. No trim was found on the bodies, and hubcaps were the dog-dish variety. Straight-6 engines and three-on-the-tree manual transmissions further reduced cost. Most were fleet white, though you could order beige, gas chamber green, and pale yellow.

The reality was more trucks were built this way than with the fancy options. Today, just the opposite is true. It’s a rare sight to see a stripped pickup truck. Some manufacturers hardly build them whether for fleets or not. 

Below you’ll find the top 10 cheapest new pickups you can buy. You’ll see a common thread throughout. Black grilles and bumpers, no trim, and steel wheels are standard fare here. 

2019 Nissan Titan-$31,985

Only the 5.6-liter V8 is offered. Nissan killed the diesel in 2018. The regular cab won’t be available in 2020, so expect the base 2020 Titans to be more expensive because Nissan charged premium prices for the crew cabs in 2019.

2019 Honda Ridgeline-$31,035

Though the Ridgeline is smaller and also based on a unibody platform as opposed to body-on-frame, it should be closer to the top of this list. The reason it’s not is that even in a base version it comes fairly well appointed. Stripped versions aren’t really that stripped.

2019 Chevy Silverado 1500-$29,895

With its blacked-out grille and lack of all trim this “Work Truck” version fits the image of a stripper pickup. The base engine in the Silverado is the 4.3-liter V6. Note that the sister division GMC does not offer a single cab.

2019 Ford F-150-$29,750

In its most basic form, you have to order a single cab with the 3.3-liter V6 engine. The “XL” is the stripped trim model. We don’t know how many leave Ford’s assembly lines like this but it’s probably a lot. The F-150 is still the most popular vehicle in America.

2019 Ram 1500 Classic-$28,890

This is the previous version of the Ram pickup yet it is still sold next to the all-new Ram 1500 as an economy model. In its most economical form, it comes in a regular cab with the Tradesman trim and spray-in bed liner delete. If you need a cheap, new full-size truck this is the cheapest one on our list.

2019 Ford Ranger-$25,255

The markedly lower price comes with the midsize pickups, which starts with the Ranger. To really get the cheapest price you would delete the rear jump-seats which shaves an additional $240 from the bottom line.

2019 Toyota Tacoma-$25,080

The “Utility Package” gets you the cheapest Tacoma available. This reduces the price by $1,715 but you won’t get rear seats or a sliding rear window. You also don’t get any bright trim and only black bumpers on the exterior. 

2019 GMC Canyon-$23,395

The base engine for the base GMC is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Combined with the SL trim this comes in as the cheapest GMC Canyon pickup. At this price, you won’t get rear seats or carpeting there, either.

2019 Chevy Colorado-$22,295

Virtually identical to the above Canyon, the price is only off by $100. All Canyons and Colorados come with automatic transmissions and touchscreen infotainment systems. The same base 2.5-liter engine powers the base Colorado.

2019 Nissan Frontier-$20,035

This is partially an old school approach as Nissan offers the base four-banger with a five-speed manual transmission in the Frontier. It even comes with roll-up windows. From a marketing standpoint, we would have shaved an extra $40 off the list and then it could be advertised for “under $20,000.” Still, it’s the cheapest pickup you can purchase in the US today.