What does the "HD" mean?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
What does the "HD" mean?
I see some people refer to their 250's as HD. What does this mean? A free poke in the eye to the first person who says "heavy duty".
I ask because I'm pretty sure I have one. It's an '88 F-250 with a full floating rear axle and an 8600 lb GVWR.
I'm thinking the regular duty 250's came with the semi-floater and a lower GWVR rating, but I'd like to know what the other differences are. I bet tranny coolers were standard on the HD's, too. ??
Thanks!
I ask because I'm pretty sure I have one. It's an '88 F-250 with a full floating rear axle and an 8600 lb GVWR.
I'm thinking the regular duty 250's came with the semi-floater and a lower GWVR rating, but I'd like to know what the other differences are. I bet tranny coolers were standard on the HD's, too. ??
Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO USA
What does the "HD" mean?
The hd's had some optional equiment on them, and were dressed down luxury wise from the standard duties. Some things the hd's had were larger tranny coolers, radiators, and alternators. Also i believe they used beefier axels, maybe 31 splines(?) and different rear bumpers, less chrome, and different wheels/tires, making them look taller then ones you'll usually see.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
What does the "HD" mean?
Also, in a LD F250, you could get no bigger than a 351W, and the 302 was avalable, only in the HD's will you find a diesel or 460, and you won't find a 302 in a HD F250.
Evan
86 F250 HD XLT Lariat Explorer 4x4 ex. Extended Cab:
460/T19/BW 13450 3.55 geared Full Floater 10.25 and Dana 50 TTB
1982 F100 SWB
300 HD: NP 435/2.75 geared 9", was the driver, now a parts donor.
78 F150, 351M/C6, eventually to be repowered with a 400
Evan
86 F250 HD XLT Lariat Explorer 4x4 ex. Extended Cab:
460/T19/BW 13450 3.55 geared Full Floater 10.25 and Dana 50 TTB
1982 F100 SWB
300 HD: NP 435/2.75 geared 9", was the driver, now a parts donor.
78 F150, 351M/C6, eventually to be repowered with a 400
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
What does the "HD" mean?
The HD has a stronger front suspension (not sure about the rear) and it has a Dana 50 front TTB instead of a D44 front TTB. All supercabs had dana 50s and were HD i believe.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 3
From: Nebraska
What does the "HD" mean?
In addition, somewhere between 87 and 92, the LD became 4x2 only. The M5OD was used instead of the ZF.
--------------
[font color="green"]1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 4x4 302 M5OD 8' bed [/font]31x10.50's
[font color="green"]1986 F-150 4x4 300 I6 NP435 [/font]Warn hubs, DeeZee bed caps, '96 XLT bench seat, new paint job
--------------
[font color="green"]1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 4x4 302 M5OD 8' bed [/font]31x10.50's
[font color="green"]1986 F-150 4x4 300 I6 NP435 [/font]Warn hubs, DeeZee bed caps, '96 XLT bench seat, new paint job
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
What does the "HD" mean?
I'm not sure what Ford thought, but if it's got a D44 HD TTB front or a semi-float rear, I call it a LD.
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
What does the "HD" mean?
>In addition, somewhere between 87 and 92, the LD became 4x2
>only. The M5OD was used instead of the ZF.
>
1989.
Also light duty F-250's came only in regular cab 2wd form after 1989.
'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
Check my Gallery
>only. The M5OD was used instead of the ZF.
>
1989.
Also light duty F-250's came only in regular cab 2wd form after 1989.
'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
Check my Gallery
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
What does the "HD" mean?
200tq, the HD used dana 50s as i said, not 44s. They are a decent unit, pleanty for an F-250, my f-250 has the d50 HD and it's pretty beefy.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
