As Ford’s F-150 pickup has been the best-selling half-ton truck for numerous years, their F-250 Super Duty three-quarter ton is also a popular seller and the more serious workhorse.
If you have a construction business, need towing and payload capacities greater than what the F-150 provides, or will also use the truck for snowplowing, the F-250 can handle all those jobs, and then some. And to top it off, the F-250 SD can still provide civilized daily transportation.
F-250 is offered in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Limited trim levels and in Regular Cab, Super Cab and 4-door Crew Cab, the latter of which was tested.
And within those choices, F-250 can be powered by a choice of three engines: Available is a 6.2L V8 with 385-hp and 430 lb/ft of torque; a new 7.3L V8 with 430-hp and 475 lb/ft of torque (tested); and a 6.7L, turbocharged diesel V8 with 450-hp and a whopping 1,050 lb/ft of torque that can pull a mobile home off its foundation.
Our test truck’s 7.3-liter V8 is a power house of grunt. Coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the F-250 is tow rated for up to 15,000 pounds and 18,600 with a fifth wheel.
And if you do have towing needs, the Super Duty gets Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist that makes backing a trailer into tight spaces a lot easier. With hands-off the steering wheel, a dash mounted rotary knob steers the trailer using the reverse camera system. And with Ford’s Reverse Guidance System, it shows trailer angle and direction and provides steering directions to direct a trailer backward. The systems are designed to work with all trailers be it conventional, fifth-wheel or gooseneck design.
Super Duty’s interior offers luxury car accommodations. It had heated/cooled leather front seats that are comfy and heavily padded to soften any nasty off-road terrain. Add to that an 8-inch touchscreen that serves Ford Connect and embedded 4G LTE Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, audio, apps, 7 camera systems with 360-degree and trailer hitch views, Trav-Link with weather app, climate selections, and you have comfort and technology that wasn’t offered a mere three years ago on a Super Duty pickup.
Another neat feature is a tire-pressure monitor that can also check trailer tire pressures.
There’s a wireless phone charger at the base of the vertical stack and a huge console tray plus 11.5-inch deep console box that can accommodate a compact laptop or iPad. Even the headliner is done in suede for a classy look that adds to sound deadening. We especially liked the power adjustable pedals that are helpful for short statured drivers.
The dash held the 4WD controls of 2H, 4H and 4L, and when pulling out the rotary gear selection dial, it engages the rear differential lock for when added traction is needed.
Step-in into the cabin is an easy 15.5 inches onto 6-inch wide running boards, or 27 inches to the cabin itself. The 60/40 heated back seats offer very spacious leg and headroom for three adults. The seat bottoms fold up against the bulkhead and beneath them is a full-length, 8-inch deep, flip-up equipment bin. Under the passenger side rear seat is a power inverter to power AC devices and tools.
F-250’s tailgate step with remote release, is one of the best as a step pulls out of the top of the tailgate and an assist handle also pulls out and locks upright for easy ingress/egress into the bed.
The Tremor version of the Platinum model we tested came with robust 35-inch wide Goodyear Wrangler LT-285/75R18 tires. Paired with a ground clearance of 8.7 inches and a 17.4-degree approach angle, 19.6 departure and 19.3 breakover angle plus skid plates, the Tremor version is off-road capable for treks into the outback, muddy construction sites and deep snow.
Driving wise, yes, the Crew Cab’s 250-inch overall length is long but manageable even in city driving. And the F-250 just hugs the road with its 6,568-pound curb weight. As said, the heavy-duty truck is a daily driver and when loaded rides even smoother. It’s also quiet riding as Ford adorned it with extra sound deadening material.
Now all this power and capability comes at a heavy-duty price. With a long list of standard features like lane keeping assist, Adaptive Steering, tilt telescoping heated steering wheel, 10,000 GVWR package, adjustable pedals, locking rear, adaptive cruise and many more, the Tremor carried a base price of $66,225. But the options add up and included Rapid Red paint ($395); the 7.3L V8 engine ($2,045); all weather floor mats ($135); Tremor Off-Road package that includes the A/T tires and skid plates ($3,975); power moonroof ($1,495); Fifth-wheel prep package with the bed factory drilled ($500); roof clearance lights ($95); front/rear wheel liners ($325); sprayed-in bedliner ($595); and delivery ($1,695) took the bottom line to $77,480. If you own a business wherein this price can be amortized for taxes, the bite isn’t as bad.
As the government’s 5-star safety rating was only evaluated for driver/passenger frontal crash, the F-250 scored a full five stars.
The F-250 also comes with a 3 year/36K bumper-bumper warranty, a 5/60K powertrain and 5/60K roadside assistance.
