Upgrade For 7.3L Power Strokes
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Quality Before Quantity
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A Bolt-In Turbo Option For ’94 1/2 To ’99 7.3L Power Strokes
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/ford/1008dp_ford_power_stroke_turbo_upgrade/viewall.html

Classic Hot Rod Upgrade For Your 1989 To 2007 Dodge
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We Tackle A Brake Job, Pulley Failures, And An Upgraded Alternator
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How To Solve All Your 7.3L Power Stroke’s Fueling Issues
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The entire Ford Super Duty line was redesigned last year, so little is different for the 2012 F-250. Some models receive a 100-200-pound boost in towing capacity. (Note: Tow ratings on select F-350 and F-450 models were increased by up to 1,500 pounds.) Other notable upgrades or additions include gooseneck/fifth-wheel hitch availability for the 6.75-foot cargo box and new “AppLink” smartphone integration functionality for the Ford Sync system.

Introduction

Even though the F-250 Super Duty was redesigned in 2011, relentless pressure from its Detroit rivals prompted Ford to improve the diesel’s torque and towing capacity, specifications that are critical to most heavy-duty pickup buyers. These upgrades reflect a highly competitive truck market. While brand loyalty drives the majority of pickup sales, the rivalry is so close that for picky cross-shopping buyers, the deciding factor comes down to the details — a purchasing criteria in which Ford may have a slight edge over its challengers.

In some respects, the 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty is more versatile and appealing than its bigger brothers, the F-350 and F-450. The towing and payload numbers are lower, of course, but the lighter F-250 is a little more nimble and might return better fuel economy. The lower price point gives customers more flexibility in accessorizing and personalizing their trucks with factory options or aftermarket equipment to suit their needs.

Ford’s integration of high-end electronic features is another top selling point for the Super Duty. Besides available navigation, HD radio, satellite radio, the Sync electronics interface and AppLink features, there’s the unique LCD productivity display on the instrument panel that provides vital fuel economy, towing and off-road-driving information.

Overall, the F-250 Super Duty represents a total package befitting a widely defined market and customer. The big-rig character is personified by the massive but well-proportioned styling that includes an imposing chrome grille and football-sized Blue Oval badge. The truck’s gentler side offers comfortable seating and interior amenities to soothe the soul on long trips. For the hard worker or commercial owner, there’s a long list of available packages, options and features that fit their needs and possibly enhance productivity.

Bottom line: We think quite highly of the 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty and strongly recommend it.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty is offered in two- or four-wheel drive with the choice of three cab styles: two-door regular cab, four-door SuperCab and four-door crew cab. The SuperCab has rear-hinged, access-style rear doors, while the crew cab has four full-size conventional-opening doors. SuperCab and crew cab models can be mated to either a standard (6.8-foot) or long (8-foot) cargo bed, but the regular cab model is only available with the long bed.

Buyers have a choice among four trim levels: base XL, midlevel XLT, upscale Lariat and luxury King Ranch. The Lariat is available on SuperCab and crew cab models, while the King Ranch is offered only on the crew cab. The XL is the workhorse of the stable, with standard equipment that includes 17-inch steel wheels, a black grille and bumpers, manual-telescoping trailer tow mirrors, air-conditioning, vinyl floor coverings and upholstery, a 40/20/40-split front bench, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a two-speaker AM/FM radio.

The XLT adds a chrome grille and bumpers, heated outside mirrors, cast-aluminum wheels, cruise control, full power accessories, keyless entry, an integrated trailer brake controller, a carpeted floor, cloth upholstery, lockable storage with a power point under the rear seat and a four-speaker AM/FM sound system with CD player and auxiliary audio jack.

The Lariat trim boasts foglights, power telescoping mirrors, rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, a power-sliding rear window, dual-zone automatic climate control and leather upholstery. Also standard is a large trip computer screen, wood grain trim, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-adjustable pedals, leather seats, a middle front seat that converts into a center console, eight-way power-adjustable front seats (with power lumbar adjustment), the Ford Sync voice activation system and an eight-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

The range-topping King Ranch piles on power-folding and telescoping tow mirrors, two-tone paint, a body-colored grille with chrome insert, unique exterior and interior badging, remote start, upgraded Chapparal leather upholstery with matching floor mats and door trim, heated and ventilated seats, driver seat memory and a rearview camera.

Some features on the Lariat and King Ranch trims are available on the XL and XLT models. Other add-ons (depending on trim level) include 20-inch wheels, a stowable bed extender, a transmission power take-off (for powering accessories like snow plows), heavy-duty alternators, fifth-wheel/gooseneck mounting points (compatible with Reese hitch units), roof clearance lights, a spray-in bedliner, a sunroof, integrated accessory switches and a navigation system.

The available Ford Work Solutions package is offered on XL and XLT models and adds an in-dash computer that is customizable to suit commercial users and fleets. Also available is the FX4 Off-Road package (4×4 models only) that includes an electronic locking rear differential, all-terrain tires, hill descent control, skid plates and Rancho shock absorbers.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty comes standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 that produces 385 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of peak torque. The optional 6.7-liter turbodiesel V8 is rated at 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of peak torque. To meet the latest air emissions standards, the diesel engine uses an after-treatment system that requires replenishment of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) about every 7,500 miles. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Properly equipped, the F-250 Super Duty can tow up to 14,000 pounds with a conventional trailer setup. When configured for fifth-wheel towing, that figure jumps to 16,700 pounds. Maximum payload capacity tops out at 4,290 pounds when properly equipped.

Safety

The 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty comes standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability control, trailer sway control, hill start assist and side curtain airbags. An integrated trailer brake controller is standard on XLT and higher models, while the Lariat trim level adds rear parking sensors and power-adjustable pedals. A rearview camera is optional on the XLT and Lariat, and standard on the King Ranch model.

Interior Design and Special Features

Most of the 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty’s industrial-theme interior carries over from the previous generation. Compared to the Dodge Ram, the Ford Super Duty is beginning to look a little long in the tooth. Hard plastics dominate the interior on lower trim levels, but are on par or better than other trucks in this segment. Opting for the Lariat will add a decidedly upscale experience with rich leather and added amenities, and the King Ranch model is arguably the best executed theme truck on the market.

Storage and utility options abound in the Ford F-250. There’s a lockable bin under an available front center 40/20/40-split bench seat, which also folds to serve as an armrest. Another lockable bin that can easily accommodate longer items (like a hunting rifle) is located under the rear seats and also features a 12-volt power point to charge computers or cell phones. The available 40/console/40 seat can be configured to accommodate a laptop, hanging files and other office-style items. It also offers a 12-volt power point and 110-volt inverter for portable printers or other electronic accessories. The large multifunction display in the instrument cluster that’s standard on Lariat and King Ranch models allows the driver to customize settings and relays trip computer, fuel economy, towing and off-road information.

Driving Impressions

Compared to the competition, the 2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty line is noticeably quieter, with wind and road noise pleasantly silenced. Even the diesel’s customary clatter has been hushed to barely detectable levels. As with any heavy-duty pickup, the ride can be a bit jittery when unloaded, but the F-250 remains well-mannered over rough roads. The chief downside to the Ford’s dynamics is the steering, which feels numb and instills less confidence (especially when towing) than its competitors.

Towing is a big part of the Super Duty’s capabilities, and the 6.7-liter diesel will likely be the engine of choice. Even when lugging a 10,000-pound trailer up a steep grade, the diesel climbs with ease, and the six-speed automatic never labors, nor does it get caught hunting for the right gear. Drivers may selectively lock out unwanted higher gears to ensure optimal towing prowess, but the tow/haul mode does most of the work very well. Descending is also made simple thanks to the well-managed automatic transmission teaming up with the diesel’s exhaust brake. However, we found the throttle a little reluctant to respond to small inputs while towing.

The 2012 Ram 1500 ranks 1 out of 9 Full Size Pickup Trucks. This ranking is based on our analysis of 36 published reviews and test drives of the Ram 1500, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

Reviewers love the 2012 Ram 1500’s best-in-class ride, convenient cargo storage options and well-made interior, calling it one of the best full size pickups in the class.

Test drivers say the 2012 Ram 1500 drives like a car, which is unheard-of for a full-size pickup truck. Though it’s by no means nimble, it’s one of the smoothest-driving trucks around, thanks to its advanced suspension. Not only is its top-of-the-line Laramie Longhorn trim nearly as upscale as that of a luxury car, but even its lower trims’ interiors are well-made and comfortable. Reviewers also say that most of its engine options are more than capable for most tasks.

The Ram 1500 does such an impressive job combining an upscale interior, smooth handling and value that U.S. News Cars and TrueCar.com gave it this year’s 2012 Best Full Size Pickup Truck for the Money award. Though the Ram has some drawbacks, including an underpowered base engine and tight backseat, reviewers say that the Ram’s great interior finishes and smooth ride are probably worth the trade-offs.

Other Full-Size Pickups to Consider

The Ford F-150 can out-tow the Ram 1500 by nearly half a ton, and its V6 Ecoboost engine gets better fuel economy than any of the Ram’s engine options. Plus, it offers the Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer system, which can be optioned to include an invoice printer, a crew chief application and a tool tracker. If a fully-capable work truck is what you’re after, test drivers say the F-150 is your best choice.

Though the Ram 1500’s Laramie Longhorn trim is one of the most luxurious in its class, shoppers looking for a pickup with an upscale cabin should also check out the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. It comes with a Bose sound system, leather-trimmed, heated and cooled front bucket seats and a standard remote starter. It’s a bit more expensive than the Ram Laramie Longhorn, and it can’t tow as much, but it can also haul a few hundred pounds more than the Ram Laramie Longhorn can.

Details: Ram 1500

The 2012 Ram 1500 is available in 11 trim levels, with three engine options, three cab options and three bed options, as well as two- and four-wheel drive. For 2012, the Ram 1500 gains new paint colors, a Mossy Oak Edition model, and more available cab and bed configurations available on Express trims.

• There will be a new-generation Dodge Dakota midsize pickup; it’s a better-than-even chance it will not be based on a traditional body-on-frame architecture, though.
• Same goes for diesel power for the new Dakota — Chrysler’s CEO said the company is doubling down on diesels in the U.S., particularly for Jeep.
• Chrysler’s large cars will remain rear-wheel drive.

DETROIT — Now that Chrysler’s Dodge Dakota is officially out of production, Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show dealing out some talk about what a next-generation Dakota is likely to encompass. First, though, take it as a positive that Chrysler’s even talking about a next-gen Dakota at all, given the depths to which the midsize pickup segment has sunk in the past several years.

At the Detroit show on Monday, Marchionne said matter-of-factly in a session with reporters that there will be a new Dakota — and that it’s a “better than 50-percent chance” that it will be based on a carlike unibody structure rather than a traditional body-on-frame architecture. That’s either a good or bad thing, depending on your vector about what a midsize pickup needs to be able to do. If you think a unibody Dakota is a good idea, then it gets better: the Chrysler CEO also said chances are good a diesel engine will be offered for the new Dakota.

Get used to more diesels at Chrysler, he added, particularly for Jeep now that the company confirmed last week that a diesel-powered Grand Cherokee is coming. Marchionne said that once the development cash was spent for the diesel-engine Grand, it will be a cost-maximizing move to extend diesel power to other Jeeps, particularly the Wrangler, which already is sold in Europe almost exclusively with diesel power.

It’s not surprising Chrysler’s committed to a next-gen of the Dakota, given that chief rival General Motors confirmed last year it will return to the U.S. market with the Colorado midsize pickup in 2013, using an all-new, second-generation body-on-frame Colorado developed largely for Asia and Latin American markets — and that when launched in Thailand last fall, had only diesels as its engine options. The U.S.-spec Colorado will be built at GM’s assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri. This leaves Ford, which at the end of 2011 pulled down the curtain on production of the Ranger, as the last of Detroit’s Big Three automakers to remain uncommitted to a midsize pickup.

In other Chrysler developments:

• Marchionne said engineering is finished for the next-generation Jeep Liberty and although he wouldn’t reveal what the redesigned Liberty will be named, he was adamant he doesn’t want it to be called Liberty. He suggested a name with specific Jeep heritage — let’s say Cherokee — probably will be the choice for the vehicle that will go into production toward the end of this year.
• Chrysler (and Fiat) are committed to rear-wheel drive (yes!) for its large, E-segment cars such as the Chrysler 300. Rear-drive large cars for Chrysler and various Fiat brands such as Alfa and Maserati probably will be built in the same Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant.
• Speaking of Maserati and names Marchionne hates, he stressed today that the production version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee-based Maserati SUV will not carry the concept car’s moniker of Kubang, which he said he agreed with the rest of the world is a stupid name.
• The concept Chrysler 700C Chrysler unveiled at the Detroit auto show definitely is an indicator of Chrysler’s thinking regarding the future direction of minivans. Marchionne said minivans have been stigmatized as uncool, leading him to add, “I don’t like the smell of the (minivan) market today.” He said Chrysler is working to redefine the minivan to make it more hip and more desirable — and that a radical new-generation model line reflecting the new thinking could be ready as soon as the end of 2013.

Inside Line says: Chrysler’s making savvy, pragmatic product decisions these days. Maybe this Marchionne fella does know what he’s talking about.