Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks are part of the Ford F-series lineup of heavy-duty trucks that are the most popular trucks on the market today. As we can tell you at Franklin’s Spring Creek Ford in Colquitt, GA, the Ford F-250 Super Duty truck spans across five generations and 26 model years. The F-250 Super Duty revolution started back in 1998 when Ford introduced its three-quarter-ton F-250 trucks built on a separate assembly line and even in a different Ford factory than the F-150. With a different body, a more spacious interior, bigger axles, stronger suspension and a more muscular frame, the Ford F-250 Super Duty became a consumer-friendly truck that could do full-strength commercial-grade work around Bainbridge and Blakely GA.
The rationale behind the two-platform approach
Ford’s two-platform strategy was developed to recognize the differences between commercial and personal markets in a way that could meet the needs of both categories. When the first Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks were launched, the gross combined weight rating was as high as 20,000 pounds with a maximum payload capacity of 4,930 pounds. The F-250 Super Duty truck was available with an amazing 44 different configurations for buyers in Camila and Damascus GA.
The first four generations of the Ford F-250 Super Duty
The Ford F-250 initially began production in 1997 and then the first generation, the PHN 131, was launched with three cab configurations and two bed lengths. That first generation continued for 10 years until 2007. The Ford F-250 Super Duty then entered the second generation for model years 2008 through 2010 and it now included a new 350-horsepower diesel engine.
By the year 2017, the Ford F-250 Super Duty had a considerably stronger frame and engines that were even more powerful. The 6.7-liter V8 diesel topped out at 475 horsepower by the end of the third generation’s production run in 2022. The fourth generation F-250 had a boxy new body and surpassed the 500-horsepower threshold for the diesel engine. Ford replaced the Boss engine with gas engines now designated as Godzilla V8s.
A closer look at the first generation
The Ford F-250 Super Duty was first introduced to the public in 1998 with a chassis that was four inches longer for the Regular Cab and Crew Cab models and three extra inches on SuperCab models. In addition, the upsized cab came with wider doors, bigger seats, more shoulder room and larger buttons on the radio. Even the glove compartment was bigger and the cargo area was designed to be slightly taller and longer.
The early introduction of four-wheel drive
That initial generation of the Ford F-250 Super Duty truck was the first time that Ford offered four-wheel drive versions of its dually trucks. This was a recognition by Ford that the true volume opportunities with work trucks depended on Ford's ability to compete in multiple niche markets. Four-wheel drive was added to the dual rear wheel trucks and gross vehicle weight ratings were increased along with adding a higher level of horsepower and torque.
The fifth generation of Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks
The fifth generation of the Ford F-250 was introduced for the 2023 model year with a 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbodiesel V8 that could produce anywhere from 475 horsepower up to 500 horsepower. Also part of the menu is a 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 at 430 horsepower with four-wheel drive and a new 6.8-liter version of the Godzilla V8 with 400 horsepower. For the fifth generation, a 10-speed automatic transmission comes standard across the lineup for Donalsonville GA truck buyers.
We can help you buy the right new Ford F-250 Super Duty truck
You can visit with one of the specialists in our finance center to get help lining up the right form of financing for a new Ford F-250 Super Duty. Get acquainted with the differences between financing vs. leasing and take advantage of our Georgia Farm Bureau Ford Rebate Program. When you find the Ford F-250 Super Duty truck that looks like your best working partner, we encourage you to contact us for a test drive at Franklin’s Spring Creek Ford in Colquitt, GA.