In the world of pickup trucks, there seems to be a lot of similarities to Goldilocks. The Big Three companies coincidentally have three main production models in their truck lineups. Usually it’s some version of 1-2-3. Chevy and Ram both have their respective 1500, 2500 and 3500 models for both companies. Ford utilizes their F-Series. The Ford F-350 is the big boy of the bunch, basically a borderline commercial-level powerhouse that, in truth, is a big too big for most consumers’ needs. Then there is the F-150 that is the baby of the bunch, and traditionally gets all the praise and accolades. The F-150 is the media darling and easily the Kardashian of the group – gobbling up the attention but ultimately not having quite enough gumption for those who have some serious hauling to do, and don’t want to just look the part. Which leads us to the 2022 Ford Super Duty F-250.
Let’s be clear, the Ford Super Duty F-250 is a work truck through and through. Sure, it offers up some creature comforts to keep up with its competitors, but when it gets down to brass tacks, The F-250 is a beast. Beginning with a standard issue gas-powered 6.2-liter single-overhead cam 2-valve Flex Fuel V8 that makes a legit 385-horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. That power is routed through an also-standard-issue TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission. If that base power isn’t quite enough, you can opt to upgrade … significantly … to either another gasoline powered V8 behemoth, weighing in at a massive 7.3-liters and doling out a huge 430-horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. Or if that still isn’t enough oomph for you, then change fuel types to a diesel and sign up for the 6.7-liter Power Stroke TurboDiesel V8 that pumps out a ginormous 475-horsepower and seismic 1,050 pound-feet of torque. Both of those mega-motors come with a 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission replete with five different drive modes: Normal, Slippery, Tow/Haul and Deep Sand/Snow. Any of those setups can be had with two- or four-wheel drive with big 20-inch polished aluminum wheels await shod in LT275/65R rubber to put all that power to the pavement, or sand, or snow or dirt. You can also outfit your truck in Regular, Super, or Crew Cab configurations with either a 6.75 foot box or a traditional 8-footer, though the regular cab only comes with the bigger option.
Due to the fact that there are so many different options, the payload and towing capacities can vary pretty significantly. But, we’ll save you the Google search and tell you that at best, the F-250 can carry a payload of up to 7,850-pounds and tow up to a whopping 24,200 pounds from a regular ball trailer hitch. Opt for the fifth wheel and gooseneck hitch and that towing capacity jumps to a ridiculous 37,000 pounds.
The base model comes with a basic display screen for infotainment purposes, but there is an optional 8.0-inch touchscreen system that utilizes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and has a Wifi hotspot for crews and work (and probably some mindless social media). There is also another upgrade for the top trim levels that include a big 12.0-inch touchscreen that uses Ford’s Sync 4 and sports up to two 110-volt power outlets for all sorts of fun accessories.
The Ford Super Duty F-250 sports safety features like most modern cars and trucks. There is a useful blind-spot monitoring system that utilizes several cameras and even works when there is a trailer-in-tow. Automatic high-beams, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist all work in tandem to help keep you safe towing your horses, or boat, or F-150 across the interstate.
Official pricing is not out as of yet, but we expect the base Ford Super Duty F-250 to come in right around $38,000 and then climb as high as the upper 80’s for a fully optioned out model. But whichever trim you choose, the F-250 is not too big and not too small. In fact it is just the right balance of size and strength to get all sorts of projects done.
