Description

Ford gives you more ways to go big than anybody with the 2008 Ford Super Duty trucks.

TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 Ford Super Duty heavy-duty pickups to write this comprehensive review. Experts from TheCarConnection.com also drove various versions of the Ford Super Duty pickups, including the F-250, F-350, and F-450. These experiences enable the team to offer you a definitive opinion on this heavy-duty full-size pickup. This review also compares the 2008 Ford Super Duty models with other vehicles in its class to give you the best advice even when other reviews present conflicting opinions.

In our "mine is bigger than yours" culture, the 2008 Ford Super Duty pickups reign supreme. Case in point: The all-new Ford F-450 is almost 22 feet long with a beam just under 8 feet and a curb weight of more than four tons. Driving on the expressways, you'll be eye to eye with kids on school busses and long-haul truckers--hubba hubba, for sure.

If you're looking for a heavy-duty pickup, the 2008 Ford Super Duty needs to be on your list. These Fords were all redesigned for the 2008 model year (they were released in early 2007 as 2008 models) and are offered in F-250, F-350, and F-450 series. As the numbers get bigger, the capabilities do, too. There is not nearly enough room to hit on the details of the F-Series Super Duty in this review, so here's just a quick summary.

The 2008 Ford Super Duty trucks run the gamut from Spartan work truck to plush personal hauler. There are few complaints about the Ford Super Duty's interior's space, fit, and finish, but comfort will depend on which trim you opt for.

Car and Driver, testing a 2008 Ford Super Duty with the King Ranch package, concludes "comfort was a clear priority inside the new truck." The package, they note, "adds baseball-glove-like leather seats among other sensual luxuries." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com have similar views. Edmunds considers the seats "supportive." And USA Today reports, "Leather seats were quite comfortable, front and back. And the rear had generous leg and knee room." In their tests of the Ford Super Duty 2008, Consumer Guide points out that the "standard bench seat has enough space for three large adults, but is too hard and flat for long-haul comfort...Available twin bucket seats are more accommodating." They add, "SuperCabs have fine head room but very limited leg room, and the seatback is too upright to be comfortable. Crew Cabs offer vast head and leg room."

Over the years, as the Ford Super Duty has gotten bigger and bigger, it's also gotten taller. Now the Ford Super Duty 2008 is so tall that you can't easily just hop up on the bumper and climb into the bed. Helpfully, Ford offers a stepladder that folds into the tailgate--which ConsumerGuide calls "a worthwhile feature." USA Today adds, "Supers sit so high that you actually need a step to help mount and dismount. So figure on steps or boards of some kind."

Edmunds notes that in the 2008 Ford Super Duty "plenty of interior storage is available via a large center console and generous bi-level door pockets." USA Today reports that an optional fold-out steel platform under the backseats "provided a good surface for heavy or dirty items." ConsumerGuide points out that Ford Super Duty 2008 "regular cabs have an 8-ft-long cargo bed [and] SuperCabs and crew cabs have 6.75-ft or 8-ft beds."

Edmunds says the 2008 Ford Super Duty's fit and finish are "unimpressive in our XLT-trim truck...[though] rattle-free." ConsumerGuide notes, "Materials range from stark to fairly fancy depending on trim level and options." Fit and finish levels appear to increase with the most expensive trim. As Kelley Blue Book attests, "the King Ranch enhances over-the-road comfort with material, workmanship and appointment upgrades."

As far as noise goes, Car and Driver states, "The traditional clatter of [diesels] is muted." USA Today concurs, saying, "The diesel was smooth and quiet enough for daily use," but ConsumerGuide reports "wind noise rises sharply at highway speeds." That shouldn't be a surprise, considering the Ford Super Duty is about as aerodynamic as a brick.

The F 250 Super Duty Diesel 6.4 is a great truck. It has plenty of power for work and towing and the 4 X 4 offers other places to go beyond the regular road. It offers comfort, safety and a great package of features at a good price. The short bed and short wheel base makes it easy to turn in tight spots. The automatic 4 wheel drive is a nice feature for easy of use and the hubs can be locked in manually for sure traction