In Texas, it’s reported that seven out of 10 households have a pickup truck in the driveway or yard. And, of every 10 pickups, seven of them are Ford products.
That may be one of the reasons that the Ford F-150 has been the top selling truck for more than 30 years.
But what about the guys (or gals) who need a truck for more than running to The Home Depot? The answer. A three-quarter ton F-250 Super Duty.
Obviously, the F-250 is a bigger truck, but it’s more than that. This is a serious work truck for somebody who needs extra power for working on the farm or ranch or hauling a horse trailer, travel trailer or boat. The F-250 has a towing capacity of 12,500 and a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,500 pounds when fitted with the right combination of engine and axle.
And just because it’s a big, brawny brute, don’t think the interior is just for working people. Our test vehicle came with the King Ranch package that puts many luxury car interiors to shame. Rich, dark leather that looks it was lifted from a saddle shop, wood and chrome touches and enough extras to satisfy anyone comes with the $4,000 upgrade. If you’re not in the cowboy mood, there’s also a Harley-Davidson package if that’s your image.
The F-250 has been totally re-worked for 2008. A bigger, bolder grill, taller hood, stronger chassis and a more powerful 6.4-liter (up from 6.0 liter) PowerStroke diesel engine are the major changes. Even if you opt for the less opulent versions, the truck comes standard with higher grade interior materials, MP3 audio jack and a drop-down step on the tailgate for easier access.
In addition, the center stack controls have been re-arranged for easier use.
With the King Ranch and Harley packages, you get a lot of optional features included like the leather seating, power rear window, 20-inch wheels, adjustable gas and brake pedals and pre-wired controls for extra lights and brakes on trailers. A nice option is the power side mirrors that fold flat or extend outward for better visibility.
There are more than 40 different combinations you can build your truck around. There are three engine choices, three cab sizes and two bed lengths.
The PowerStroke diesel is the preferred engine. With twin turbos, torque and pulling power is unparalleled. And this isn’t your grandfather’s diesel. The Ford engine almost purrs, for a diesel.
Optional choices are a standard 5.4-liter gasoline V8 with 300 horsepower and a 6.8-liter V10 with 362 horsepower. The PowerStroke is a 6.4-liter V8 with 350 horsepower. A six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission is available with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Despite its size, the F-250 is a smooth riding and easy to handle truck. You do have to pick you parking spots carefully, however.
The Super Duty is not for everyone but is designed for those who need more pulling power. If that’s what you need, visit a Ford dealership. You don’t have to go to Texas either.

Ryan’s Ride –
I’ve never been a fan of diesel power because of the noise and fumes. But the F-250 we had didn’t have either problem. It had a diesel sound, but several decibels below older-style diesels. The King Ranch package is incredible. I grew up around horses and cattle and my old saddle was made of the same style leather.
Like the half-ton F-150, the interior is outstanding. The seats are comfortable and there’s enough storage space to satisfy any working man. The dash has an area for storing papers, receipts or whatever. The center console can hold a medium-sized laptop or 9x12 file folders. Two, chrome-rimmed cupholders are in the center console and two more pop out of the bottom of the center stack … probably to hold a dip cup.
My only complaint with the big Ford was at the fuel pump. One, diesel is expensive. Two, pumping diesel is a pain. I stood in a puddle of spilled fuel and then had to immediately wash my hands after handling the oily nozzle.
The F-250 is more truck than I need for my uses. But I wasn’t disappointed driving it for a week. It was easy to drive, rode smoothly on the highway or back roads and certainly had more than enough power.
I’ll grant you, more than $50,000 for a truck is a lot. But if you’ve a need for a big hauler, that may not be a deal stopper.

Marilyn’s Moment –
As you may know, I like trucks. And the F-250 Super Duty is some kind of truck. Boy, it is big. Despite the size, the F-250 was easy to drive and maneuver, even in parking spaces, although I did have to park with an exit strategy in mind.
The King Ranch interior is a thing of beauty. I loved the rich, dark leather. The rest of the two-tone interior with wood accents and chrome rings around the gauges and air vents added a real touch of class.
No need to worry about storage space. There are nooks and crannies everyone, in addition to the center storage area under the armrest.
The built-in running boards and grab handles make getting in much easier in either the front or rear seats.
The back seats fold flat for even more room to carry stuff inside when it might be raining.
Because I don’t work on a ranch or in construction, and we sold our boat, I don’t need a truck this big. But if I had the need, this would be an excellent choice.