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Ford has officially revealed specs for the 2017 model year Super Duty, and the lineup’s towing and hauling capabilities have been significantly ramped up. For example, the F-450 now features a maximum gooseneck towing capacity of 32,500 pounds, and its fifth-wheel and conventional towing ratings have been boosted to 27,500 lbs. and 21,000 lbs. respectively. In addition, the truck boasts a maximum payload weight of 7,630 lbs., which makes the Super Duty the undisputed hauling king.
Just how did Ford accomplish this? There are a variety of factors at play, but let’s start with the simple stuff — the body and frame. Just like the F-150, the Super Duty lineup wears a military-grade aluminum alloy body that cuts weight by up to 350 lbs. This allowed the brand to bolster the fully-boxed frame, which features 95 percent high-strength steel and is 24 times stiffer than its predecessor.
The engines have been significantly beefed up as well. The 6.7-liter V8 that comes standard on all Super Duty diesel trucks now makes 440 horsepower and an outstanding 925 pound-feet of torque, which may well be enough power to move a house. The 6.8-liter gasoline V8 also offers 385 hp and a best-in-class torque rating of 430 lb-ft.
It’s the Super Duty’s tech, however, that really brings it all together. The truck equips adaptive cruise control for effortless freeway towing, and its collision-warning system is optimized for big payloads with trailer-brake advisories. It also offers a variety of camera systems that provide views into the cargo box, behind the trailer, and all around the vehicle with 360-degree support.
Pricing info for the 2017 Super Duty range will be published near the truck’s on-sale date toward the end of the year.
