2008 Ford F-250

Vehicle Overview
For 2008, Ford’s Super Duty trucks — including the F-250, F-350 and new F-450 — received an exterior and interior styling overhaul as well as a new diesel engine: a twin-turbocharged V-8 diesel. The F-250’s competitors are the Dodge Ram 2500, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and the GMC Sierra 2500, which also have diesel and gasoline engines.

The F-250 Super Duty pickup comes in XL, XLT, Lariat and new FX4 trim levels and is available with two- and four-wheel drive with three engine options: one diesel and two gasoline. The F-250 is rated to tow 12,500 pounds when properly equipped.

A new FX4 package adds skid plates, body-colored bumpers and a billet-style grille on top of the XLT trim; it’s only available on four-wheel-drive versions. A King Ranch Chrome Package is available for XLT and Lariat SuperCab and Crew Cab trucks and includes interior and exterior chrome trimmings, including the exhaust tip, tow hooks and step bars.

Forged polished-aluminum 20-inch wheels are available on Crew Cab 4×4 Lariat trims.

Exterior
Styling differences between Ford’s light-duty F-150 and the Super Duty models, including the F-250, are most evident up front, where a massive new grille and blocky front features dominate the Super Duty’s nose. Super Duty pickups come in three forms: regular cab; four-door SuperCab with two conventional front doors and two smaller, rear-opening back doors; and four-door Crew Cab with four conventional front-hinged doors.

Wheelbases range from 137 inches on regular cab models to 172.4 inches on the long-bed Crew Cab. Regular cab pickups have an 8-foot cargo bed and measure 227 inches long overall, while SuperCab models are equipped with either a 6.75- or 8-foot bed and have an overall length of 231.8 or 248 inches. Either bed can be installed on the four-door Crew Cab, which measures 245.6 or 261.8 inches long.

An optional step extends from the tailgate and can support up to 350 pounds to access the bed.

Front tow hooks are standard. A chrome front bumper and bright grille go on XLT models, while the Lariat adds cab steps, fog lamps and a sliding rear window.

Interior
A new interior in the Super Duty features Ford’s “tough luxury” design, which is also used on the F-150 and claims a quieter interior and rugged performance. Regular cab models seat either two or three occupants. A folding three-place rear bench seat goes into SuperCab and Crew Cab models. Air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel and a CD player are standard in XLT models. Lariat trucks include power front seats with leather surfaces.

Under the Hood
Three engines are available in the F-250 Super Duty, including a new diesel engine. The 6.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 diesel replaces the 6.0-liter single-turbo diesel and produces 350 horsepower and 650 pounds-feet of torque; the 6.4-liter engine is compliant with new, stricter diesel emission regulations for 2008. Gasoline engines include the 5.4-liter Triton V-8, rated at 300 hp and 365 pounds-feet of torque, and the 6.8-liter V-10, which generates 362 hp and 457 pounds-feet of torque.

Safety
Dual front airbags and antilock brakes are standard. Side-impact airbags are not available.