The Sacramento Bee's view

You have to wonder where the limit is in the truck wars being waged on American soil, especially when it comes to heavy duty pickups.

At the current rate of envelope pushing, it’s my guess that, within a few years, we’ll all need a stepladder to climb into the cab of a heavy duty truck. The typical four-wheel monster will have a cargo bed with the dimensions of a football field, and it will be capable of towing the space shuttle.

Think I’m kidding?

Consider the recently tested 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty SuperCab Lariat 4X4.

It’s a 6,385-pound, 231.8-inches-long colossus that’s 6 feet, 8-inches tall and wide, with a 30.5-gallon fuel tank.

The tester didn’t have the standard 5.4-liter V-8 but was equipped with a 6.8-liter, 30-valve V-10 with 362 horsepower and a road-ripping 457 foot-pounds of torque coming in as early as 3,250 revolutions per minute. That package can tow six tons with ease.

And keep in mind that the F-250 is a baby in the updated Ford Super Duty lineup. The tested pickup was small compared with its own F-250 siblings, with a 142-inch wheelbase instead of 158 inches.

Don’t even get me started on Ford’s F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty pickups, which are the approximate size of a ranch house.

OK, I get it. The mantra among the truck war troops is “bigger, stronger, faster.”

The F-250 and its ilk are designed to do the kind of work you see in those over-the-top TV commercials for pickups, where workers drop anvils into the cargo bed from atop a five-story building and haul off a load of hay bales stacked 80 feet high in the back.

Yeah, the tested F-250 Super Duty can do that kind of duty. No problem.

The V-10 on the tester dug in like a champ, and I loaded bags of soil into the back of the bed until my arms could lift no more … and I still had enough room for a Volkswagen New Beetle.

Easily the most surprising thing about the tester was how civilized its manners were on the highway. It was remarkably rock-solid and smooth in the 55 to 70 miles-per-hour range. Even passengers commented on how silky and quiet it was on the local interstates. Steering was easy, yet firm — a secure feel in all conditions.

Ford truck designers have added two extremely cool and convenient features on the 2008 Super Duty trucks — a stowable tailgate step and grab handle.

The 16.7-by-4.5-inch tailgate step is fully integrated into the tailgate and is easily pulled out and down, creating an easy step up into the cargo bed. That step is made easier by unfolding the grab handle folded into the tailgate wall.

These devices make the chore of loading the cargo bed much easier. Just be careful stepping down, especially if you are carrying a heavy weight. It’s still a bit of a jump off the tailgate step, and if you’re not careful, you could crack your ankle upon landing.

The tested F-250 had an extremely refined interior. And it was cavernous front and back. The exterior look is imposing, with a front-grille so gigantic and chrome-loaded that it appears capable of carving its way through granite.

With scores of configurations available in the 2008 Super Duty line, you can dress up the trucks pretty much any way your budget allows. Just keep your calculator handy.

The tested pickup had a starting price of $34,755, but a blizzard of opulent options sent the bottom line on the sticker to nearly $45,000. Well-worth-it options included adjustable gas/brake pedals, a sensor to aid the driver in reverse maneuvers and a stowable bed extender.

Fuel cost? Oh, boy. The tester’s massive size makes it exempt from federal fuel economy estimates, but I was getting around 14 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving … and that might have been a bit generous.

So, there you have it: The F-250 is your classic work-truck brute that’s still small and civilized enough to take out for a night on the town. Just make sure you find a big space to park it on that night out.

And keep that stepladder in the garage … for now.

Ford F-250 Super Duty at a glance

Make/model: 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty SuperCab Lariat 4X4 Vehicle type: Up to six-passenger, four-door, four-wheel-drive, heavy duty pickup truck Base price: $34,755 (as tested, $44,470) Engine: 6.8-liter V-10 with 362 horsepower at 4,750 revolutions per minute and 457 foot-pounds of torque at 3,250 rpm EPA fuel economy: No federal estimate due to size/weight classification Transmission: Five-speed automatic with overdrive and special features Steering: Power-assisted, recirculating ball-type Brakes: Power-assisted, four-wheel discs with anti-lock and other braking-enhancement features Suspension: Independent, twin I-beam on front; live axle with leaf springs on rear (stabilizer bars front and rear) Fuel tank: 30.5 gallons Passenger volume: 125 cubic feet (estimated) Cargo bed dimensions: 81.8 inches long, 50.9 inches wide and 20.1 inches high Curb weight: 6,385 pounds Height: 79.4 inches Length: 231.8 inches Wheelbase: 141.8 inches Width: 79.9 inches Track: 68.7 inches on front; 68 inches on rear Ground clearance: 7 inches Towing capacity: 13,000 pounds (estimated) Tires: LT275/65R20E all-terrain radials Final assembly point: Louisville, Ky.