The 60-mile drive was over in no time and we arrived at the hotel, where we stayed the night before heading to a ranch in the morning. We awakened to chilly temperatures and muddy conditions-something the Ford PR group hadn't planned on. They quickly scrambled to procure dozens of rubber boots for us to wear. Due to the severe muddy conditions, the ranch was a complete mess.
Once on the ranch, I quickly made my way to the off-road segment for some fun. The course was a giant mud pit and just driving to the remote location took some skill. Mud covered the entire truck, and the tires were riding about halfway down in the dirty stuff. I put the truck in 4x4 Low and jumped on the pedal-I felt like an off-road racer in the Baja 1000.
Perhaps the most amazing feat of the day was the truck's ability to drive easily through the harsh conditions. It was also surprising that all vehicles were rolling on stock tires-not some fancy aftermarket off-road rubber. The off-road course was relatively easy for the F-250 Super Duty I was wheeling. Big hills with steep inclines were no problem. A mud pit with water up to the doors was child's play-so long as you kept your speed at 35 mph and above. Rock crawling was enjoyable with this workhorse. The course featured giant boulders, which I cruised over at a quick pace. The fast speeds tossed me around a bit in the seat, as the standard three-point harness isn't as effective as a racing-oriented five-point seatbelt setup.
The towing portion of Ford's First Drive program also showed off Super Duty's impressive abilities. A half a dozen F-450 trucks were hooked up to 24,000-pound, fifth wheel camper trailers. The sequential twin turbo system shined as off-throttle response and power was outstanding. The Super Duty comes with an internal trailer brake control system, a nice feature, considering a majority of the trucks sold are slated for trailer towing. The trailer-drive was only a few miles, but we did tow up and down the hill without any problems. Braking and acceleration were quite impressive, given the girth of the load out back.
Overall, we were impressed with the Super Duty's new look, comfort, and power. It is the same workhorse that Ford staked its reputation on and it continues to refine its market-leading product.
The F-450 is the top-of-the-line...
The F-450 is the top-of-the-line version that we tested. We drove both the XLT trim version as well as the big pimpin' King Ranch model. The towing capabilities of the Super Duty are awesome and the F-450 handled a 24,000-pound trailer with ease. Braking, acceleration, and overall handling with a large trailer out back were superb. It also has a class-leading payload maximum of 6,120-pounds.
The interior has been upgraded...
The interior has been upgraded with a new dashboard layout. It mimics the F-150 style interior, but with a few changes for the better. Ford offers many options, including an in-dash navigational system. The King Ranch is the top of the line interior package and is offered in all versions of the F-250, F-350, and F-450.
There are a variety of engines...
There are a variety of engines for the Super Duty trucks from the 5.4L V-8 Triton to the 6.8L V-10 Triton and the most popular engine combo, the Powerstroke diesel engine. The side vents on the trucks signify which engine is under the hood. Gasoline engines have black side vents while the diesel trucks have red ones.
The side mirrors have been...
The side mirrors have been updated with a new look and features. Ford offers the optional automatic power mirrors that will fold and telescope using a button on the dashboard.
Here is a cutaway view of...
Here is a cutaway view of the diesel particulate filter on the exhaust system of the diesel-powered '08 Super Duty. Aftermarket manufacturers will need to consult with Ford regarding the particulate filter and self-cleaning process that has been built into the stock exhaust system. Other aftermarket companies report that they have already begun working on hand-held tuners for the new Powerstroke engines. Horsepower and torque increases are expected to multiply greatly once they unlock the system and begin modifying the boost and fuel delivery.
Ford offers Super Duty in...
Ford offers Super Duty in many variations, but we only sampled the Powerstroke-equipped trucks. The Powerstroke is offered in F-250, F-350, and F-450 versions with various engine choices; interior packages from Spartan work insides to luxurious cabins; two-door, extended cab, four-door, various length beds, and optional dualie rear wheels for the outside. The Blue Oval can supply you with whatever variation you require, from low $20,000 up to top of the line $50,000-plus trucks.