If you need a heavy-duty pickup truck, Ford offers several versions of the F-250 Super Duty (as well as the F-350), along with a long list of options which include three different cab styles and three different length beds. The truck is available with three different types of engines: a 6.2-liter V8 engine, a 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 engine, or a 7.3-liter V8 torque engine.

The 2020 F-250 is a well-built truck that will be an asset to construction crews, farmers, and builders. But if you’re an old-school truck fan who wants to shift your own gears, you’re probably concerned with one thing: Can you still get an F-250 with a manual transmission?

The Ford F-250 Super Duty’s Powertrain

If you’re a fan of manual transmissions, you’re going to be disappointed to learn that the current crop of F-250 Super Duties does not include a manual transmission option. While manual transmissions are cost-effective and, in some cases, more durable than automatic transmissions, today’s drivers aren’t comfortable with them. Unless consumers start insisting on a manual transmission, it’s unlikely that Ford will install them in their trucks.

The 2020 model as three different powertrain options, each of which is paired with Ford’s newly developed 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission.

The great thing about Ford’s 10-speed TorqShift transmission is that it’s heavy-duty and high performing. The transmission has been a great new addition to both the Mustang and the F-150. The new transmission is designed to smoothly shift between gears while also providing the driver with the power needed to tow a heavy load over rough conditions. 

Greg Stout, Ford’s 2020 Ford Super Duty 10 Speed Transmission Systems supervisor was happy to explain how the transmission found in the 2020 F-250 Super Duties both compares to and differs from the 10-speed transmission the company has been installing the F-150 since 2014.

“It shares the exact same style and power flow– the very same number of clutches and the very same number of worldly equipment– but the parts are larger, beefier, stronger, simply to match the engine ability. This transmission actually has less than 10 percent components in common with the F-150 transmission. And also those are points that don’t carry any kind of torque since this transmission was created to specifically match the new [engines] This certainly has a great deal greater torque demands and consumer duty cycle demands than our F-150.”

Ford’s lead driveline system designer, Chris Brewer is pleased with what the new transmission adds to the F-250 Super Duty.  

“This transmission is engineered to take care of more misuse in regards to greater weight scores as well as tons. It manages two times as much input as well as twice as much load [compared to the F-150 transmission]” 

Though the 2020 F-250 Super Duty has three different powertrain options available, don’t be surprised when you find that most of the dealership are pushing the diesel powertrain. Studies indicate that more than 50% of the buyers interested in the F-250 prefer the diesel over the gas powertrains. 

What makes the F-250 Super Duty a great truck

While the F-250 isn’t as fancy as the F-150 and is definitely designed to be a work truck as opposed to something you use to zip around town or on long road trips, Ford didn’t hesitate to make sure the truck was equipped with all sorts of safety features. Including:

• Pedestrian detection
• Lane-keeping alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• 360-degree camera system

This truck is the perfect towing vehicle. Not only does the truck ride better when it’s hooked to a trailer, it is also equipped with an assortment of features that make hauling safer and easier. These features include:

• Hands-free Pro Trailer Backup Assist
• Blind spot monitoring for trailers

You can hook the 2020 F-250 to either a bumper pull trailer or a gooseneck. Consumer reviews indicate that all three styles of the F-250 Super Duty handle trailers with ease. The hauling ability, combined with the fact that Ford has managed to keep the price reasonable makes this an excellent choice for anyone who needs a big, powerful truck.

One last change coming in 2021

While 2020 was supposed to mark the end of Ford’s three-year transition towards creating a better heavy-duty work truck there is one more exciting option coming in 2021. That is the year Ford plans on releasing its first F-250 with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.