2012 Ford F-250
The 2012 Ford F-250 pickup is the second year of the third-generation platform. Since it is still extremely fresh from its 2011 overhaul, the 2012 three-quarter ton Super Duty is minimally changed. The base engine is a 6.2L gas V8, producing 385 horsepower. For those that want the highest possible 17,500 pound conventional tow rating will need to upgrade to the 6.7L PowerStroke. This turbo diesel packs 400 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque. XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch make up the trim levels, with three cab choices and two bed lengths to choose from.
More Down Low Grunt
The ring and pinion gears play a big role in how the power from the engine is put to the ground.
- Lower gear: increase down low grunt
- Lower gear: improve off-road and rock crawling ability
- Higher gear: improve highway fuel economy
- Higher gear: increased top speed
The axle ratio, as determined by the ring and pinion gear, account for how many times the engine has to turn to complete one revolution of the wheel. A numerically higher gear ratio indicates the engine will spin more RPM for the same wheel speed, manipulating and leveraging the torque to a greater degree at a lower overall truck speed. Due to the increased torque manipulation, installing a lower gear ratio will greatly help with moving heady loads off the line or running a big tire and wheel combo. Conversely, top end speed will be affected and so will fuel economy to a slight degree. A higher gear does the opposite, reducing engine RPM for any given wheel speed and thereby giving an increased top speed and fuel economy before the engine hits the rev limiter. Generally speaking, for a F-250, gearing down for increased torque leverage is the way to go. A high gear may cause the engine to lug when under heavy load or attempting to crawl over obstacles when out on the trail.
Keep Temperatures in Check
When working hard, heat is generated, and it is heat that is detrimental to all mechanical devices. In the case of the 2012 F-250, ensuring the engine and transmission stay cooled is imperative for proper durability and longevity. Installing an oversized transmission cooler will ensure that the transmission fluid does not overheat when towing or hauling at max capacity. Tranmission coolers are generally universal in design, available in many different core sizes, which is a big factor in its cooling ability. A larger cooler will provide more cooling capability, as their is simply more surface area for the air to flow over and complete the heat exchange. Transmission coolers are often installed in front of the radiator or down near the fog lights, in order to maximize air flow through the core and achieve constant heat exchange. In terms of plumbing it into the automatic transmission on a 2012 F-250, most transmission coolers come with pre-fabricated lines and universal connection pieces that can mate with the factory lines.
One last piece of hard-working equipment to add to a hard-working 2012 F-250 is a good quality recovery/tow strap. Having one of these stored and ready to go in the back can be instrumental in getting yourself or a buddy out of a jam. When it comes to picking one, the most important metric to analyze is working load. Tow straps always carry two ratings, a total load and a working load, with the former usually being significantly higher than the latter. The total load is built as a margin to incorporate the working load and then a safety factor before the strap may snap. Thus, for a 6,000 lb F-250, make sure the working load is at least 6000 lbs and the total load one-and-half times or greater that amount.
