@JAGSarge will give you a proper introduction but just a word of warning- watch out for @EvlNvrDys lol (i mean that in a good way) if you see a post end with "/s" that means the poster was prolly being sarcastic.
7 spd is a manual; 10 spd is auto. after reading your criteria, i would get a badlands with squatch(?)which is it @BroncBro??) either 7spd(you can only get 7spd with the 2.3 for a reason only know to ford) or a 10spd if he is getting older/doesn't want to drive a manual