The only people who have been waiting to see the capability specs of the 2017 Ford Super Duty more than Blue Oval fans are the engineers at competing truck companies, such as Chevrolet. Now we all know what some of those important numbers are.
The lighter aluminum-bodied Blue Oval workhorse will be available with either a 6.2-liter gas V8 that generates 385 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque or a 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 that cranks out 440 horsepower and a staggering 925 lb-ft of torque.
Other big numbers for the new Super Duty, including the F-450 SuperCrew 4×4, are:
32,500 pounds – max gooseneck tow rating
27,500 pounds – max fifth-wheel tow capacity
21,000 pounds – max conventional tow capability
18,000 pounds – max conventional tow rating for the F-250 with its available trailer tow package, and the single-rear wheel F-350
7,630 pounds – highest amount of payload the F-350 can carry
4,200 pounds – max payload the F-250 is able to haul
Ford said, “Maximum gross combined weight rating for truck and trailer now tops out at a class-leading 41,800 pounds. That is more than half the maximum weight of an 18-wheeler semi-tractor trailer combination on most federal highways.”
Currently, the Duramax-power 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD has 397 horsepower and 765 lb-ft of torque. With dual rear wheels, it can haul a maximum of 5,587 pounds, conventionally tow up to 20,000 pounds, and 5th-wheel-/gooseneck-pull as many as 23,200 pounds. Given the new intake on the 2017 GMC Sierra/Silverado HD twins, it looks as if GM’s big trucks will have heightened capabilities starting this fall. We’re looking forward to seeing exactly how high those go – and to Ford’s full list of Super Duty specs so we can directly compare the Silverado 2500HD/3500HD to the F-250/F-350 in multiple categories, including fuel economy.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
