The Ford Super Duty has an excessive number of badges.

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      I grew up with posters of the Dodge Viper on my walls, but my true introduction to a car enthusiast community began with owning a Volkswagen. It was the hub of OEM+, where "clean" often meant relocating essential components to give the illusion that we could afford to hire someone else to fix them when they broke. Badging was typically removed as well.

      The prevailing notion in that community was that going without badges was a very European thing. The specifics were harder to define, but the common belief was that it originated from wealthy Europeans trying to mask their expensive car purchases as more ordinary models, thereby concealing their status as "haves" among the "have-nots." After absorbing that mentality, it all makes sense. Naturally, everyone is envious of your well-worn Mk II. It boasts sixteen valves!

      Sixteen! Have American engineers even encountered a valve?

      However, there was also an underlying sentiment that the "haves" were not just wealthy; they were born with an innate sense of taste. Anything they do is to be emulated, while anything they avoid is to be scorned.

      I’ll confess, it's hard to overlook how American trucks and SUVs often embrace a certain, shall we say, maximalist design. Americans generally believe more is better—the hottest of takes, right? But to be fair, this trend isn't universal among American vehicles. You don’t see me criticizing the Chevy Equinox, do you? The Silverado? That's a different matter.

      Now, let’s discuss the F-250 I tested in early May, as I have some photos to refer to. Officially, it was a 2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty Tremor King Ranch Long Bed Single Rear Wheel 4×4. Yes, a truck can indeed be both a Tremor and a King Ranch. Are you truly surprised? This vehicle can tow three times its curb weight and transport a hillbilly hot tub in the bed—likely at the same time. You really think they couldn’t include leather and off-road tires?

      After more than a decade of scrutinizing window stickers, I can now imagine every conversation between a new truck owner and their best friend going something like this:

      “Hey, Larry! I heard you got a truck!” “Yeah, Hank. I love it!” “What did you get?” “A Ford.” “Which one?” “The Super Duty.” “Which one?” “The F-250.” “Which one?” “The Tremor.” “Which one?” “The King Ranch.” “Which one?” “The Crew Cab.” “Which one?” “The Long Bed.” “Which one?” “The Single Rear Wheel.” “Which one?” “The 4×4.” *Slow whistle* “That’s a nice truck, Larry. My cousin had a Ford.”

      Trucks are certainly not the only culprits here. Remember the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition? It’s fine if you only recall about two-thirds of its name. While special edition Mopars might have names that could rival those of Spanish royalty, those lengthy titles often don’t come with a corresponding number of badges. Trucks, in contrast, appear to be evolving into rolling advertisements. To be clear, we’re not criticizing Ford for having its badges on a Ford truck. No, this isn’t just about quantity; it’s about the extensive variety.

      The name alone accounts for five separate badges: “Ford,” “F-250,” “Super Duty,” “King Ranch,” and “Tremor.” Yes, each carries its own logo (more than one for King Ranch). Since this truck featured the 7.3-liter gas V8, it lacks a Powerstroke badge, but we’re not finished. With the Super Duty equipped with a winch, we gain two extra badges.

      The first is the prominent, red “WARN” logo on the winch itself. And since Ford’s marketing team was in high spirits, the winch comes with a “Ford Performance” lanyard attached. That brings us to seven. And remember, that’s not just seven individual pieces of metal or stamps on the sheet metal; those figures are much larger. I’m referring to seven distinct brands—and one isn’t even Ford’s.

      This kind of capitalist maximalism is certainly a deliberate choice.

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