There’s nothing subtle about this pickup line
There’s one reason Ford and Harley-Davidson joined forces four years ago to offer a pickup truck: money.
Ford wants to sell pickups and needed a way to excite the market. Harley had a marketable name, legions of fans and a willingness to sell the Harley badge. For the 2000 model year, Ford offered an F-150 truck, black with orange pinstriping, as the Harley-Davidson edition.
That model continued, but Ford’s redesign of the F-150 for 2004 presented an opportunity. The first new F-150 since 1997 didn’t need an artificial selling hook, but the carry-over F-250 Super Duty lineup did -- so enter the 2004 Ford F-250 Super Duty, Harley-Davidson edition.
It’s painted in Harley black and orange, and comes standard with a 6.8-liter V-10 gasoline engine. Most of the ’04 Harley trucks, however, have the 6.0- liter Power Stroke diesel V-8. Why? Because it costs more, and apparently Harley aficionados have a near-unlimited supply of money.
That is not to say this isn’t a nice truck, because it is, so long as you like to stand out. The interior is black leather (what else?), with plenty of luxury features. The 18-inch wheels are unique to this model and say “Harley-Davidson.” In fact, nearly everything says Harley-Davidson. It’s in at least 19 places, including the four rubber floor mats.
Our test truck was four-wheel-drive, though with the weight of this pickup and a turning circle better measured in acres than feet, we did not take it off road for long. The pickup is capable of working, but we wonder how many customers will have their Harley pickup hauling manure on the farm.
The test truck listed for $48,805, but we’ve seen some for more than $50,000. The Harley package adds $4,345, and if you check that as the only option on the Crew Cab F-250 Super Duty, the price comes to $41,480. Good luck finding one for that, though.
On the road, the Harley pickup is loud -- hey, like a Harley motorcycle! -- to the point where I was asked to turn off the engine while ordering over a McDonald’s loudspeaker. The 325-horsepower diesel uses direct injection, which makes for a noisy but very powerful engine. With the five-speed automatic transmission, it pulls like a tractor.
On the highway, the ride is firm, not punishing. On winding roads, though, slow down: The tires, even these 18-inchers, are overmatched by the bulk of this heavyweight. That bulk and the general audacity of the Harley colors make for a compelling presence at four-way stop signs, though: Most everyone but tractor-trailers defer. “Please, sir! You first! I insist! Just don’t run over my Hyundai!”
Even so, there’s a festive aura to the Harley pickup, and so many little kids grin at you that you’ll think you’re in your own Shriners parade, lacking only the fez.
