Ford F-250 Overview and History

It won’t be fair to neglect Ford’s light-duty trucks, especially its F-series while discussing the trucks leading the automobile industry. Ford has been producing F-series trucks since 1948. Besides the F-150 introduced in 1975, Ford also came up with the super duty series introduced in 1999. The famous Ford F-250 trucks come under the category of super duty series. The other super-duty trucks by Ford include F-450 pickups, F-550 chassis cabs, F-600, F-650, and F-750 commercial trucks.

The famous Ford F-150 pickup truck is still under production and in its 14th generation. The Ford F-series is considered a full-size pickup truck class with a front engine and 4-wheel drive. It has sold various forms of trucks, including medium-duty trucks, conventional heavy-duty trucks, chassis cab trucks, and panel vans.

Ford F-series has been leading the automobile market since 1977, the highest-selling vehicle since 1981.

However, the history of the Ford F-250, the most popular super-duty truck of the Ford F-series, is a little complicated. This article will break down the history of the Ford F-250 and its counterparts.

The initial years:

Ford started producing its F-series trucks in 1948, taking a new direction in 1977. But, the company didn’t stop making F-150. The new F-150 targeted a different audience with different car designs, comforts, and aerodynamics. In the upcoming years, more splendor added to the Ford F-series trucks.

Ford F-series in 1996:

In 1996, Ford F-series was one big happy family of F-100 and F-150 that included different engine options. For example, 4.9-liter V6, 5.8, and 5.0-liter V8, and big 7.5-liter V8 engine. People could also avail themselves of the option of a turbodiesel engine with a 7.3 inter-power stroke V8 energy source.

Heavier payload models like the Ford F-250 and above were added to the 1996 models. They had the same gasoline engine option as F-150. The F-250 1996 model was HD with varied features compared to the standard F-250. It included a transmission cooler, heavy springs and shocks, and a heavier rear axle. The torque value of the F-250 HD was higher but still below the F-350. It could be bought in the regular cab and long bed combo, extended cab, and short bed combo, and Crew Cab with short bed model. The first model was the most popular; the other two were discontinued in 1997.

The Two F-250:

1997 was the year of the release of the standard Ford F-250. The F-150 kicked off its 10th generation in the same year, while the F-250 and other heavy-duty trucks started proper truck styling. The heavy-duty trucks F50 and F-350 were like their predecessors. Nonetheless, F-250 is designated as either an old F-250 or a new F-250.

The old F-series body style continued with F-250 HD, F-350, and F super-duty trucks. 1997 Ford F-250 HD and higher models came with the same engine and transmission options as in their 1996 models. However, the 1998 model had F-250 HD on the old platform. Ford F-250 Owner’s Manual is the booklet you want to fully understand the operations and maintenance of the F-250

The new light-duty 1997 Ford F-250 trucks were similar to the new F-150 trucks. It differed with a 7-lug configuration on its wheels. It could carry heavier loads because of its heavy-duty rear axle and rear suspension. The heavy-duty suspension didn’t come with the 1999 model, but it returned in the 2000-2003 F-150 as a separate package.

The progress of super-duty Ford trucks:

The first generation of heavy F-250 trucks came out in 1998 as the 1999 model. This year’s other super-duty trucks included F-350 pickups, F-350 chassis cabs, F450, and F550 chassis cabs. The new Super Duty series marked the end of rounded F-150-based F-250 trucks.

The Super Duty lineup trucks don’t share any design features with F-150 except the taillights and tailgate. It came in different configurations, a standard cab with two doors, 4 door Crew Cab, or a super cab with two small rear-hinged doors.

The standard cab had an 8-foot-long bed; however, other configurations came with a long bed in an additional package. There were various engine options, including the Triton 5.4-liter V8, the Triton V10, and the 7.3-liter PowerStroke V8 engine.

The transmission was a five-speed manual on Triton engines and a six-speed manual for the Powerstroke engines. There is an optional four-speed automatic transmission for diesel or gas engines. There were various suspension options in different configurations; nonetheless, all of them somehow offered a smooth ride.

Although Ford F-150 was popular, the Super Duty trucks changed the game in favor of the Ford F-series. It is so reliable that these trucks from 1997 are still on the road.