The F250 is the truck for people who have serious work to do. It’s the rig you buy when a half ton truck just won’t cut it. The F250 is a ¾ ton truck available in many different configurations from a diesel crew cab four-wheel drive to a gasoline-powered single cab two-wheel drive.
HISTORY OF THE FORD F250 SUPER DUTY
Ford has been building the F-series pickup truck since 1948. It wasn’t until 1999, however, that the F250 adopted the current, Super Duty name.
First Generation (1999-2007)
The Super Duty was introduced in 1999 as a means of helping distinguish the heavy duty Ford trucks from the F150. A unique design both inside and out helped accomplish this goal. In fact, the only thing the Super Duty shared with the F150 was the optional 5.4L gasoline engine.
The first generation F250 Super Duty could be had in one of three cab configurations: regular cab, super cab and crew cab. A Regular bed as long as well a long bed was available, along with the option of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
A wide array of powertrain options were made available. Under the hood, a buyer could choose from a 5.4L 8-cylinder, 6.8L 10-cylinder, a 7.3L diesel 8-cylinder or a 6.0L 8-cylinder engine. Transmission options were either a four-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual. During the 2006 model year, the diesel engine option was cleaned up for reduced emissions.
Second Generation (2008-2010)
The second generation F250 Super Duty debuted in 2008. It featured a new 6.4L diesel engine to replace the problematic 6.0L. Ford also fitted the F250 with a reinforced chassis and refined suspension. Outside, the F250 got fresh sheet metal, while the inside got new higher grad cabin materials. New standard gadgets include an MP3 audio jack, available power telescoping/folding side mirrors and a drop-down tailgate.
Third Generation (2011-Present)
Model year 2011 marked the introduction of the current generation F250 Super Duty. The Exterior was updated to include a new, larger front fascia. Under the sheet metal, there’s a new 6.7L diesel along with a 6-speed automatic transmission. In 2012,”AppLink” smartphone integration functionality became available for the Ford Sync system. Finally, in 2015, the 6.7L diesel was refined for better fuel economy and reduced emissions.
If you want a truck that can tow or haul anything you throw at it, the F250 Super Duty is the rig for you. It’s one of the main reasons the Ford F-Series is the bestselling truck of all time.