Five-Point Inspection: 2012 Ford F-250 Lariat

This week’s Five-Point Inspection features some big power from Ford in the form of the 2012 F-250 Lariat.

It comes standard with a 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine that makes 316 hp and 396 lb-ft of torque, while for $7,960, buyers can opt for the 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel that puts out 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. That gives the Ford Heavy Duty a tow rating of 17,500 pounds with a conventional bumper hitch, and 24,500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch.

The F-250 at its base level can be had for $29,830, but if you deck it out with luxury interior items and that big diesel engine, the price tag can reach all the way up to well over $60,000.

Read through to see our five main likes and dislikes of the Ford F-250 Lariat.

With a 6.7-liter Powerstroke diesel making 400 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque, owners are certain to put that power to use towing, making a trailer brake controller an important addition that can be had right from the factory. An impressive safety tool, it can react to an emergency braking situation or fishtailing in the trailer – as I experienced first hand.

While cruising at 60 mph on the highway pulling a 14,000-lb trailer, I was forced to make a sudden jerk of the wheel to avoid a sleepy driver wandering into my lane. Instantly the trailer began to fishtail side-to-side, but within seconds the brake controller detected the sway, and grabbed the trailer brakes to bring it back in line.

As any experienced tower knows, you aren’t always in the best situation to hitch a trailer when it needs to happen; sometimes you are in a muddy field, snow filled parking lot or worse. The attachments for the trailer brakes and lights are positioned below the rear bumper, in a very vulnerable spot on the Ford Heavy Duty.

Integrating these hook-ups into the bumper is a common feature with other brands, and seems like an easy thing that Ford could do to keep its customers from having to worry about getting their trailer hook-ups muddy, wet, or torn off. Also, it would be nice not to have to bend over so far.

Trivial, perhaps, but worth pointing out. The mirrors on the F-250 are power operated, so they can slide in and out depending on your towing purposes using a switch located in the cab. While the feature does work well, it seems over-engineered. Other manufacturers use a simple, manual setup for mirror control, which isn’t as likely to break and cost a premium to repair. Trucks should be convenient, but most of all they should work. This is just one more unnecessary feature than can malfunction.

Although its praises have already been sung time and time again, I have to join the bandwagon; the tailgate-integrated step-up into the bed is excellent. While splitting and stacking firewood, the step proved invaluable, especially for shorter people.

The design is intelligent and easy to use, with a very small chance for it to break. The folding handle can get in the way if you are looking to install an aftermarket bed lining, but considering the quality of the Ford factory bed liner, that’s unlikely.

With advancements in the recent pickup truck market, it seems the Lincoln Mark LT was actually ahead of its time. Luxury interior appointments were never thought of as truck-necessary equipment, but Ford has done a great job mixing lux-interior with work-ready features.

The thick rubber floor mats are easy to clean, while the dashboard, door, and center console storage areas are enough for a laptop, cell phone and tools to all have separate spots. The heated and cooled leather seats are soft and make long road trips comfortable. Combined with the touch screen infotainment system and real knobs and buttons for gloved hands, the interior of the F-250 can let you forget you are in a truck.