We recently took out a 2017 Ford Super Duty F350 for a test drive to get a feel for the new features Ford has been touting. Take a gander at the video for our impressions, and keep reading to get some more in-depth details on next year’s trucks.
Ford has an excellent reputation for making sure you have the right truck for the right job. So if you want a tough truck with great all-around potential, then you’ll probably benefit from the 2017 F250, F350, and F450 Super Duty pickups with the 6.7L Power Stroke V8 diesel engine. With 440 horsepower and 925 pound-feet of torque, the Power Stroke sports the best ratings in its class.
The 2017 Super Duty STX
With the power and torque of the Power Stroke, a high-strength steel frame helps to allow a conventional towing capacity of up to 21,000 pounds, a fifth wheel towing capacity of up to 27,500 pounds, and a gooseneck towing capacity of up to 32,500 pounds. These are the highest capacities among any heavy-duty pickup. Although heavy-duty pickup trucks aren’t officially rated for mileage, Ford claims that the 6.7L Super Duty lineup achieves unrivaled miles to the gallon among other pickups.
The following new features have been implemented on the Super Duty to make towing easier:
- Tow camera system providing bird’s-eye views of surroundings
- In-cab trailer tire pressure monitoring system
- Blind spot monitoring system extending down length of trailer
The Power Stroke models come in five different wheelbase/fuel capacity configurations:
- Regular Cab with short bed: 142-inch wheelbase with 29-gallon fuel tank
- Super Cab with short bed: 148-inch wheelbase with 29-gallon fuel tank
- Super Cab with long bed: 164-inch wheelbase with 34-gallon fuel tank
- Crew Cab with short bed: 160-inch wheelbase with 34-gallon fuel tank
- Crew Cab with long bed 176-inch wheelbase with 48-gallon fuel tank
Among all single-rear-wheel models, the Regular Cab and short-wheelbase models are 80 inches in width while the long-wheelbase Super Cab and Crew Cab models are 96 inches in width.
The interior of the F250 Lariat
We test drove an XLT Crew Cab with a long bed (the largest size), and even with that large of a vehicle, the power of the 6.7L really got this beast moving. With traction control on, the truck went from a dead stop to 60 mph in under eight seconds. Even the more basic XLT model is perfect for a long day on the road. Not only are the cloth seats comfortable, but the truck’s road noise insulation really adds to that. It is so effective that individuals can have normal, clear conversations almost as if they’re at a quiet house.
Stay tuned for our impressions of the 2017 Chevys and Rams. And drop us a line on Facebook to let us know what you want us to cover next!
Special thanks to Broadway Ford in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for letting us use one of their trucks!