2021 Ford F250
The 2021 Ford F250 Super Duty line saw little to no change from the year prior. Six trim levels - XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum and Limited - comprise the lineup, and the powertrains combinations are carried over as well. The 6.2L 'Boss' V8, 385 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, continues as the base engine. Despite co-joint developtment of a new 10-speed automatic, a 6-speed automatic is still used as the base transmission for 6.2L F250s. Now one year into production, the larger 7.3L 'Godzilla' V8 can be optioned, and this monstrous pushrod motor puts out 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. For those that need the max tow and hauling capability out of their three-quarter ton rigs, the 6.7L 'Power Stroke' V8 diesel answers the bell with 475 horsepower and a whopping 1050 lb-ft of torque (generated at 1600 RPM!).
Messing with the Horns
An always fun and practical modification to make to a 2021 F250 truck is to add a bull bar onto the front. These large, protective front end pieces have a rugged look and offer a great platform for further front end modifications. Bull bars are designed to curve up from the bottom bumper fascia and rise to about halfway up the front grille (or just below), spanning the distance between where factory fog lights are installed. Made from structural steel tubing, their purpose is to add a layer of defense should the truck be involved in a minor front-end collision (mainly with small to midsize animals). Of course, the aftermarket has tweaked this base nature of the bull bar and has made them more versatile. Many bull bars either provide a mount for LED lighting, if not already incorporating a light bar or spot light directly into their structure. Futher, some bull bars offer a front skid plate that extends down and below, alongside a winch mount that sits at the base of the bar. For those that seek a chrome or polished look, a bull bar made from T309 stainless steel will be the most durable and weather resistant. If the off-road black painted look is to your preference, a bull bar made from mild steel will do fine as long as it sports a multi-layer epoxy powdercoat.
Mainstay Accessories
There are some items that every truck owner should keep on hand, or in the case of a 2021 F250, stowed under the back seat. These items comprise of various types of recovery gear, shackles, bungee straps and ratchet tie-downs. Having a combination of these things will ensure you're ready to take care of any cargo situation or help pull a buddy (or get yourself) from a ditch. The one main criteria to pay attention to for the likes of tow straps, ratchet straps and tie-downs is to understand working load versus weight limit. All these straps will have a weight limit that is higher than their working load, as this is a safety margin built in to prevent the strap from breaking. Generally, the working load is rated anywhere from 40-60% of the absolute load. You can imagine trying to pull out a buddy who's gotten well and truly stuck. The load on the strap is going to be significantly higher than just the weight of the vehicle. Thus, a good rule of thumb is to always double up the weight limit of the load you would need to move.
