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Why Ford’s new F-Series Super Duty is a segment buster

Ford’s all-new 2017 Super Duty not only beats but crushes segment benchmarks

Clare Dear
Published: August 9, 2016, 9:05 AM
Updated: August 22, 2016, 7:39 PM

Segment Buster

Ford’s all-new 2017 Super Duty not only beats but crushes segment benchmarks.  ▲

All-new 2017 F-Series Super Duty

Text and photos by Clare Dear.  While its light-duty pickups have evolved through several generations ocer the same time period, Ford hasn’t done a complete makeover of its F-Series Super Duty pickups in nearly two decades. Yet the aging package has continued to dominate the heavy-duty truck segment. Even with the competition upping its game, Ford’s truck sales are running at a pace that should produce record results again tis year. If that’s not enough to cause concern for Ram and GM truck bosses, the Blue-Oval gang is now raising the bar even higher. An all-new Super Duty is about to bust open the segment’s door with a truck that’s tougher and more capable than any heavy-duty rig ever offered. From the ground up, the 2017 F-Series Super Duty has been completely redone, resulting in a truck that can haul a greater payload, has the highest towing capacity in the segment and offers 17 class-exclusive features. ▲

New but familiar look

The exterior design of the new Super Duty will have a familiar look to Ford truck lovers. The lineup now shares its shape with its lighter-duty sibling, the F-150. Features that set the Super Duty apart in the past, such as the domed hood and more upright windshield, are gone, replaced by a more aero-efficient shape. ▲

Three cab configurations

Cab configurations are the standard two-door, a SuperCab with no B-pillar, unlike GM models, and a rear door that swings open a full 170 degrees, and the full four-door Crew Cab. ▲

More room inside

Features that have endeared the F-150 to Ford truck fans, such as the standard flat load floor in SuperCab and Crew Cab models, as well as stylish décor, comfortable seating and plenty of storage space, are carried over to the Super Duty line. All three cab models are longer, providing more space and legroom – the SuperCab has stretched out 15 centimetres, while the Crew Cab is now7.6 cm longer. ▲

Comfort…

Users will notice the controls and buttons are larger, making them easy to adjust even while wearing gloves. The centre console is huge, providing plenty of storage space for all the items a mobile office requires, such as laptops and hanging file folders. On Super Duty models, the panel of auxiliary switches has been moved to an overhead location. Two of the six switches are now wired to handle up to 40 amps and can be configured to function on either the battery or ignition switch. (The other four switches are rated for 25 amps and are linked to the ignition circuit.) ▲

… Convenience and Connectivity

Of course, all the convenience and connectivity features one would expect are available, including Ford’s new SYNC 3 connectivity system, ambient interior lighting, automatic climate control, pushbutton start and intelligent keyless entry. Crew Cab models can even be fitted with a twin-panel moonroof. An available power inverter provides up to 400 total watts of 110-volt power to an in-dash outlet – enough juice to keep cordless tool batteries and laptops charged on the go. (A second power outlet is included for the rear seat if the truck is fitted with a console on SuperCab and Crew Cab models.) ▲

Secure rear-seat storage

For those opting for a Crew Cab model, a new lockable rear seat storage bin is available. This novel design collapses flat on the floor, but can be easily popped up into its bin configuration. The rear seat cushion can then be lowered over it and locked, providing a secure storage space for valuables. ▲

Tough from the frame up

The foundation for the tough new Super Duty lineup is this upgraded frame, which is 34 kg heavier. The main rails are now fully boxed with up to 10 closed-section cross-members that are through-welded to the main rails to increase torsional stiffness. The centre sections of the main rails are now 3.8 centimetres deeper and 95%of the main rail structure is comprised of high-strength steel, which is six times more than the current Super Duty frame. Overall, the frame structure, which is covered in black e-coat paint, is 24 times stiffer than that of the previous generation. ▲

Multii-functional tow hitches

Ford has developed a unique conventional hitch setup. The structure is integrated into the main frame rails, serving as the frame’s tenth and final cross-member. The structure is noticeably more robust than the factory hitches used by GM and Ram; in fact it is so strong it’s capable of hauling up to 21,000 lb (9,525 kg) without the support of a weight-distributing system. Using an F-350 Crew Cab, I towed a car hauler loaded with more than 10,000 lb (4535 kg) and had no issues, except for a slight hint of bounce over some bumpy road surfaces. The new hitch is offered in two sizes: 2.5-inch and 3.0-inch. Both receivers have a unique feature – they are designed to readily accept smaller drawbars. Using a patented sleeve arrangement, the 3.0 receiver can also accept 2.5- and 2.0-inch drawbars, while the same insert system allows the new 2.5-inch receiver to accommodate a 2.0-inch drawbar. The locking pin is also designed to accept a sleeve, making it suitable for all three types of drawbars. It’s a simple solution that meets the weight-carrying capabilities of the hitches – and one that trailer towing owners will ▲

Best-in-class towing

A mounting platform for a gooseneck trailer connection is now an integral part of the Super Duty frame. For fifth-wheel trailer owners, a factory-fitted fifth-wheel receiver can be ordered to replace the gooseneck connection. The Super Duty’s towing capacity has increased to best-in-class 32,500 lb (14,740 kg) for gooseneck trailers hauled with the F-450 and 32,000 lb (14,510 kg) for suitably equipped F-350s with dual rear wheels. The maximum rating for fifth-wheel towing is 27,500 lb (12,470 kg), exceeding the highest rating of the competition by 2,500 lb (1130 kg).  ▲

Three engine choices

Three engines are offered in the Super Duty lineup, all paired with six-speed automatic transmissions, although whispers suggest a new 10-speed automatic, jointly developed with General Motors, isn’t too far down the road. The base engine is a 6.2-litre gasoline V-8 that’s E85 Flex Fuel capable and can also be ordered with a natural gas/propane prep package from the factory. It delivers 385 horsepower and the torque output has been boosted to 430 lb-ft, the best in its class. A second gasoline-fuelled engine is also available – a 6.8-litre V-10 that’s rated at 450 horsepower and a stout 550 lb-ft of torque. The real workhorse under the hood, however, is the optional second-generation Power Stroke diesel V-8. This 32-valve, 6.7-litre monster churns out 440 horsepower and a staggering torque output of 925 lb-ft, available at just 1,800 revs. Ford engineers have been able to generate this best-in-class performance by upgrading the fuel injectors and fuel pump and fitted the larger turbocharger with a unique exhaust downpipe that’s shaped like a cobra’s head. This design reduces exhaust gas restrictions coming out of the turbo, improving performance. Hauling a 30-foot trailer with more than 10,000 lb (4535 kg) aboard didn’t faze the 6.7-litre diesel I tested one bit. It accelerated from a standstill as though there was nothing hitched to its tail and effortlessly maintained cruising speed up steep grades.    ▲

Upgraded underpinnings

Underpinnings for the Super Duty have been upgraded to handle its increased payload and towing capabilities. The rear axles have been beefed up with more robust housings and increased ring gear diameters, while the driveshaft, universal joints and transfer case have also been strengthened to cope with the enormous torque output being generated by the new engine lineup. Larger brake rotors and calipers have been added to increase stopping power, while ratios in the hydraulic power steering system have been upgraded. While the traditional suspension systems have been retained (twin I-beams up front on two-wheel drive models and a mono-beam on 4X4 trucks), the control arms and springs, front and rear, have been upgraded to handle the increased weight-carrying capabilities. The shock absorbers on all four corners have been retuned and fitted with larger lower bushings, while the front anti-roll bars and collars are now larger. ▲

Adaptive steering

One feature that caused considerable buzz at the recent media preview in Denver was Ford’s new adaptive steering system. Rather than varying the effort needed to turn the wheel in a fixed ratio system, as some competitors offer, this available Ford system actually varies the ratio of the hydraulic power steering system, adjusting the steering input required by the driver to turn the front wheels depending on the truck’s speed. A computer-controlled electric motor fitted into the steering wheel assembly adjusts the ratio – at slow speeds the amount of input needed to change direction is reduced for easier maneuvering, while at highway speeds the sensitivity is reduced, minimizing the amount of steering input required from the driver. In a comparison demonstration, the amount of steering input required to turn from lock to lock was reduced by a full revolution of the steering wheel. Results in real-world driving backed up the demo – I could make a U-turn with a stretched out F-350 Crew Cab with just a few flicks of the steering wheel, while corrections at highway speeds required minimal movement. It made driving this big rig a breeze and trailer hauling effortless and stress-free. ▲

Aluminum pickup box

The shift to high-strength aluminum cabs and pickup boxes, launched in the F-150 lineup, has now been expanded to Super Duty pickups as well. In fact, the 2017 Super Duty trucks share the same cab with their lighter duty siblings. The boxes, however are more robust, with thicker-gauge panels that are riveted and bonded together for greater structural strength. The weight savings are obvious when you compare the Super Duty’s box with those of competitive models – a standard steel Ram pickup box tips the scales at 63.3 kg; that from a Chevy is 65.0 kg; while the Ford box is just 39.8 kg. Overall, the 2017 Super Duty is up to 158.8 kg trimmer than the previous generation.  ▲

Seven cameras

Towing is a big deal for the majority of Super Duty owners and Ford has developed several features available on the 2017 models to help make hauling easier and safer. For example, a package of seven high-resolution cameras is available that provides not only a 360-degree view around the perimeter of the truck, but also extends the view behind the trailer as well. ▲

Wide-angle view

One camera mounted in the blue oval badge on the grille provides a wide view up front, including a 180-degree look past obstacles that may otherwise obstruct the driver’s view when moving forward from blind driveways, for example. Images from two cameras mounted under the exterior side mirrors, plus one more in the tailgate, are stitched together with the front view and displayed on the 8.0-inch main touchscreen in the instrument panel. ▲

Bed-view camera

Another camera is mounted in the brake light atop the cab and looks down into the cargo bed. Its image includes a guideline that enables the driver to back up and connect a trailer with the bed-mounted gooseneck ball or fifth-wheel receiver. In case the driver has forgotten to drop the tailgate before starting the hook-up maneuver, there’s a remote release button on the instrument panel. ▲

Behind-the-trailer view

Finally, a kit (with mounting bracket and connecting cable) is provided to mount a camera on the rear of the trailer, enabling the driver is “see” behind the trailer. The benefits are obvious. Additional technologies for towing include a tire pressure monitoring system that checks the trailer tires; a maintenance guide that monitors the number of hours a trailer has been used, so the owner can address potential issues such as repacking bearings before they become a problem; and a trailer reverse guidance system that uses the side-view cameras to provide straight-line guidance and jackknife warning. (It does not function like the pro trailer backup system available on the F-150 because the Super Duty steering system is hydraulic, rather than the electric assist on the lighter duty model.)    ▲

LED lighting

Available LED lighting has been applied throughout the new Super Duty, including lights in the cargo bed that make searching for items there at night or under a tonneau cover a breeze. There’s also an LED light built into the tailgate to help when hooking onto a trailer in the dark, as well as LED side-mirror spotlights and LED security approach or “puddle” lights that illuminate the ground beside the front doors. LED headlamps and taillights are also available. ▲

Blind spot warning and more

Several driver-assist technologies are now offered on the 2017 Super Duty, including a blind spot warning system that not only monitors alongside the truck, but also along the trailer. A lane departure warning system alerts the driver when the truck drifts from its lane by vibrating the steering wheel and displaying a visual signal. An adaptive cruise control system uses the truck’s powertrain and brake controls to hold the selected speed, but also engages the integrated trailer brake controller if a trailer is attached. If the truck is equipped with the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel engine, the system also engages the V-8’s engine brake to maintain the appropriate speed. ▲

No road? No problem!

The new Super Duty is fully capable of rugged off-road use when appropriately equipped for such challenges. In four-wheel drive mode, it readily took on all types of obstacles during an off-road test drive, from washed out bridges and jagged rocks to a sloppy mud pit. ▲

Broad range of models and pricing

Pricing for the 2017 Ford Super Duty starts at $39,849 for the base F-250. The base F-350 starts at $41,849 and the F-450 has a starting price of $65,599. Trim levels include the base XL, XLT, upscale Lariat and two premium luxury models: the King Ranch and Platinum. Production shifts into high gear at the Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant this month, with the trucks scheduled to start arriving at dealers later in September. ▲
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