FORD SUPER DUTY F350

Finding the right truck can be a bit of a chore. Be it the specs, the build, or even what it’s needed for, truck drivers and business owners need to put a lot of thought into what they’re getting. One of the top contenders is Ford trucks, and for heavy lifting, shoppers look to the 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350. As the slogan says, they’re “Built Tough.” For a truck that can carry six passengers and still tow quite the load, it’s also fairly priced.

ENGINE TYPES

To power a super duty truck, the engine needs to be large and powerful. For the 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350, the standard engine is strong all on its own. It’s a 6.2-liter SOHC Flex Fuel V8 engine, generating 385-horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Built with a sequential electronic fuel injection (SEFI) system, multiple fuel injectors spray fuel at the same time as each cylinder’s intake valve opens. The advantage of this is that the entire system has a fast response time to the driver, lending to better control. It can also improve performance and fuel economy.

The available engine option is a 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel engine. It’s a little stronger in terms of horsepower, and a lot stronger in terms of torque, more than twice as strong. This diesel engine packs a punch at 440 horsepower and 925 lb-ft of torque. It’s built with common rail direct fuel injection, a direct fuel injection system for both gas and diesel engines; a little odd that Ford only put it on the diesel engine, since direct injection has been starting to take over fuel injection systems in recent years. Both engines are paired to a TorqShift Heavy-Duty 6-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission.

TOWING CAPACITY

When it comes to towing capacity, it comes down to the truck’s engine, cab, and drivetrain. The Super Duty F-350 is available as a crew cab or a super cab, but not a regular cab, and with a 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain. There is also the option of a single rear wheel (SRW) rear axle or dual rear wheel (DRW) rear axle.

With SRW, the F-350 Super Duty can tow from 15,000-18,000 pounds, and with a 5th wheel hitch towing capacity increases to 20,600-21,500 pounds. With a DRW, the F350 Super Duty can tow a maximum of 21,000 pounds and towing capacity increases to 27,300-27,500 pounds with a fifth wheel hitch.

EXTERIOR FEATURES

In the 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350, there are many options to improve the driving and work experience. In some sense, the optional features outweigh the standard options, lending to a large amount of personalization. Cab steps are an optional add-on for all trims, and depending on the model they may be 5- or 6-inch steps and may be illuminated. Halogen quad-dual headlamps are a lineup standard, as are lights in the pickup box and cargo area. LED Box lighting is standard on upper-level trims, and it is optional on some other trims. There is also Ford’s BoxLink cargo management system that comes standard on some trims and optional on others.

The windows are made of solar tinted glass to keep the cabin from heating up, and a moonroof (sunroof) is available on select trims. Many more options for protection and enhancing the truck bed are scattered throughout the lineup. These include a cable lock system by Master Lock, a roll-up tonneau cover, splash guards, a bed mat, LED warning strobes, a trailer camera, skid plates, and more.

INTERIOR FEATURES

The interior of the 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350 is a little less varied, starting off with the seat trimming. In the lower-level trims, seats are covered in vinyl and cloth as an option. As customers move into the upper-level trims, seats are covered in leather. Some early trims have a 40/20/40 split bench whilst the later trims have a 40/console/40 set-up. The rear bench seat is a 60/40 flip-up or fold-down depending on whether the cab is a SuperCab or Crew Cab.

For comfort and convenience, air conditioning is automatically controlled in the upper-level trims; a rapid-heat supplemental cab heater is optional on trucks fitted with the diesel engine. Depending on the trim, drivers may find a 2.3-inch instrument cluster, a 4.2-inch LCD cluster, or an 8-inch instrument panel. Instrumentation specs include an odometer, trip computer, fuel economy, etc.

ENTERTAINMENT

When it comes to entertainment, the quality of the sound system and number of speakers changes with the trim. On some trims, the system is the typical AM/FM stereo with a 6-speaker system. In upper-level trims, drivers will find a Sony or Premium Sony sound system with an HD radio, 10 speakers, and a subwoofer. Sirius XM is an option on some trims and standard on others. Today, having wireless connectivity or voice-activated systems is important for keeping eyes off of smartphones and on the road. Depending on the trim, the Ford Super Duty F-350 may have a variation of Ford’s voice-activated SYNC system, like SYNC 3 or SYNC Basic.

SAFETY FEATURES, PRICING, AND WARRANTY

All 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350 trims have great safety features. These include front and passenger airbags, Safety Canopy System with roll-fold side-curtain airbags, child seat tethers, and the SOS Post Crash Alert System. For security, SecuriLock Anti-Theft ignition is also standard, as is the Ford MyKey, which is perfect for teaching teen drivers responsible driving habits. Remote Keyless entry and a perimeter anti-theft alarm are standard on upper-level trims and optional on other trims.

The starting MSRP is $32,535. Ford trucks now come with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty that has the following types of coverage: a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile safety restraint system warranty, a 5-year/unlimited corrosion (perforation only) warranty, and 5-year/100,000 powerstroke diesel engine. All-in-all, if anything were to break down within the first three years, the driver is covered.*

In need of a heavy-duty truck? University Mitsubishi has a variety of used trucks and we have a few different Ford Super Duty F-350 trucks. You can come by and test drive one today or view our Ford truck inventory online here.

*See Warranty Guide for Restrictions and Detailed Coverage