Ford F250 4WD 7.2-Liter Diesel

by Jeff Dean

In 1995 I started looking for a four-wheeler capable of pulling across America an enclosed motorcycle trailer with two touring bikes inside it. Adding up the trailer weight, I realized I needed a good-size engine to do the trick. On the other hand, I wanted the smallest possible vehicle. I started out with Dodge's Dakotas, because they came with a V-8 engine. The Dakota had limitations, however. In pulling a trailer as heavy as mine it got terrible mileage and really struggled going up serious hills.

In 2001 I decided it was time to move up to some serious pulling power. After talking with motorcycling friends, I decided on a Ford 250 model (photo above) with a 7.2-liter diesel engine, which kicks out only 250 HP but produces an impressive 525 ft.-lbs. of torque. A Harley-riding friend told stories of good mileage with such a truck pulling a trailer even large than mine loaded with full-dressers. The diesel, I learned, was the key to pulling large trailers with relative economy. Moreover, I was told it laughed at hills, not even downshifting out of overdrive.
I bought a 4-wheel-drive model because it provides all the capabilities I wanted for off-road trucking in Arizona and it could also pull a heavy trailer on long trips with car-like comfort for the occupants of the truck.
The big Ford does everything I hoped it would. It goes up large hills at freeway speeds while turning only 2,000 RPMs. And I experienced a mileage improvement of over 30% compared to the over-worked, gas-engined Dakota. It took a few years, but I finally bought a truck that could really do the job I needed. And the seats are even leather!