THE AUTO PAGE
By
John Heilig
- MODEL: 2017 Ford F-250 SRW 4X4 Crew Cab
- ENGINE: 6.7-liter PowerStroke Diesel V8
- TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
- HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 440 hp @ 2,800 rpm/925 lb.-ft. @ 1,800 rpm
- WHEELBASE: 159.8 in.
- LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 250.0 x 105.9 x 78.3 in.
- TIRES: LT275/65R20
- CARGO CAPACITY: 52.1 cu. ft. behind first row (cargo box 64.5 cu. ft.: 81.9 x 66.9 x 21.1 in.)
- ECONOMY: 16.2 mpg test
- FUEL TANK: 34.0 gal.
- CURB WEIGHT: 6,851-7,264 lbs.
- TOWING CAPACITY: 15,000 lbs.
- COMPETITIVE CLASS: Dodge Ram SD, Chevrolet Suburban SD
- STICKER: $54,400 starting price, $66,450 est.
- BOTTOM LINE: The Ford F-250 is powerful and capable, yet it is hampered for general utility by its size.
We called it the BAT Mobile, for Big A** Truck Mobile. There’s no question that the Ford F-250 is, as Donald Trump would say, Yuge. It’s wheelbase alone is longer than a Fiat 500. With its outside rear view mirrors fully extended, it’s only two feet shorter than the Fiat is long.
All this size is important, of course, if you’re interested in carrying heavy loads. But for normal driving, it can be a bear for maneuverability. Nevertheless, we did figure ways to make it work. It has a wide turning circle radius that makes parking in parking lots a challenge.
“Why would anyone want something this size?” my wife asked. A quick look in the cargo bed shows that is set up for a fifth-wheel trailer. There’s a connection in the center of the bed, plus a brake light connection one the side of the bed. The bed is also sprayed with a tough bed spray for durability. Our tester was also equipped with a connector for a more conventional trailer towing package.
With a 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel V8 there is no lack of power. Horsepower is rated at 440 and torque at an enormous 925 lb.-ft. We used the torque to advantage on the highway for quick acceleration. We went from 55 mph to something illegal quickly. It certainly didn’t feel like a diesel.
Interior space is as impressive as the exterior. With a crew cab configuration, there is a large bench rear seat with great leg room. In addition, there is storage capacity gained by raising the rear seats.
In addition, I don’t believe this truck lacks for any options. First, it is dressed in King Ranch style, with nice leather accessories. Safety is of prime importance. For example, there is no excuse for pulling out in front of another vehicle. The exterior rear view mirrors are two-part, with a normal large flat mirror on the top and a wide convex mirror underneath it to give a wide view of what’s behind, and even down low in case there’s a Fiat 500 there. There is also a blind spot monitor light to alert you of upcoming vehicles. The BLIS is optimized for use with a trailer to include the length of a trailer up to 33 feet long. The BLIS uses sensors in the tail lamps to monitor areas that may not be visible to the driver. The mirrors power fold in when you’re parked to reduce some of the footprint.
Now all the driver has to do it look at the mirrors. Oh yes, these mirrors can also be extended about six inches if you’re towing a trailer and need the better view.
Now the F-250 is a truck, and it rides like a truck most of the time. Ride quality on better roads, however, is fairly decent. Unfortunately, road quality in Pennsylvania is poor generally, so we had to look for better roads.
Front seats are wide and comfortable. Between them is a wide, deep console/arm rest that can be used as a desk when necessary. Entry and egress is aided by grab handles on the A- and B-pillars and a running board. The running board could be a bit wider because getting up and down sometimes feels like climbing Everest.
Interior features include four cupholders for the front passengers and two more at the back of the console for the rear passengers.
Instrumentation is complete with four accessory gauges, including a fuel level gauge for the large, expansive tank. We set up the information panel to show trip information with an odometer, fuel economy and distance to empty. On the dash are 12-volt and 110-volt outlets. A cubby ahead of the four cupholders contains a pair of USB outlets.
Stylistically, the F-250 looks the part. It is a tough-looking truck. However, with the King Ranch options, it also dresses up nicely. There is a full-length sunroof that extends all the way to the rear seat.
Inside the high center mounted stop light is a camera to aid in hooking up gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers. There’s also bright lighting to aid in-bed visibility. There are at least eight tie-downs in the bed. The tailgate itself has an extension that pulls out and folds to form a step for bed access.
The all-new Ford F-250 is a very capable truck. It is ideal for towing in its F-250 configuration and even better in F-350 and F-450 configurations. The only negative is the size that makes general handling a bear, but we can ’t have everything, can we?
(c) 2017The Auto Page Syndicate
