The Ford Super Duty line of F-Series pickups is, in some ways, much like the acquainted light-duty F-150. However, in different important methods, they’re fully totally different. Besides being bigger, heavier and costlier, these “over 8,500-pound” class heavy-duty vans for private and business use take energy and energy to the following stage: a realm the place towing capacity is measured not by the thousand, however in tens-of-thousands of kilos, and the place four-digit diesel torque is feasible.2020 brings huge modifications to the Ford Super Duty, together with a brand new engine, a number of characteristic and know-how upgrades, a brand new Tremor off-road bundle and a dizzying variety of best-in-class claims.The {hardware}The 2020 Super Duty comes out swinging with a trio of potent V8 engine choices good for towing trailers, hauling heavy hundreds and — when you want it — hauling ass.

New for 2020 is an out there 7.3-liter gasoline V8 that cranks out 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. Ford says that that is essentially the most highly effective petrol burner they’ve ever shoved into the Super Duty’s engine bay and in addition the torquiest fuel V8 on this class. All of that torque makes its strategy to the street through a 10-speed TorqShift computerized gearbox. Available in 4×2 and 4×4 configurations, that is beefier {hardware} than the 10-speed in Ford’s smaller vans and SUVs, however the gear modifications and shift factors are simply as easy and clever.The earlier Super Duty’s 6.2-liter gasoline V8 additionally carries over into 2020 as normal gear, bringing a nonetheless very respectable 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque to the occasion for house owners who selected to not improve. The normal setup isn’t any slouch with a most payload capability of 7,850 kilos. Lower trim F-250 fashions match this base V8 with a six-speed transmission, however larger specs and F-350 fashions get the TorqShift 10-speed. 

The burliest of the out there 2020 Super Duty engines is the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel, which will get a wholesome improve to 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. That’s no typo — over one thousand pound-feet! Also mated to the 10-speed TorqShift transmission, that is the hauler of the trio, in a position tow as much as 37,000 kilos with a gooseneck, 32,500 kilos with a fifth-wheel and 24,200 kilos with a standard hitch — best-in-class for all three strategies, in keeping with Ford.

These are, after all, all most capabilities that depend upon the powertrain, axle ratio, chassis configuration and non-compulsory gear specced. These vans are supplied in a ridiculously broad vary of accessible mixtures. 
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The TremorIt is no shock that the F-Series Super Duty pickups are formidable towers and haulers, however I did not consider them as rock crawlers. That was earlier than I met the brand new Super Duty Tremor bundle. Ford’s reply to the Ram Power Wagon, the $3,975 Tremor choice for Crew Cab 4×4 fashions boosts the large pickup’s off-road functionality beginning the place the rubber meets the street (or lack thereof) with an enormous set of 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch matte end wheels. Ford says that these are the most important tires ever fitted to a inventory heavy-duty pickup. To make room for all of that rubber and additional increase clearance, Tremor fashions additionally characteristic a 2-inch raise courtesy of customized 1.7-inch diameter twin-tube dampers and new progressive-rate springs. Other modifications embrace a retuned rear stabilizer bar that permits for extra articulation over radically uneven terrain, a shortened entrance air dam that improves the method angle, and off-road operating boards tucked excessive in opposition to the physique for optimum breakover clearance.
I used to be capable of expertise the Super Duty Tremor’s 10.8 inches of floor clearance and 31.65-degree method and 24.51-degree departure angles on an off-road course beginning with a reasonably aggressive low-speed rock crawl. With assistance from the Tremor bundle’s devoted “Rock Crawl” drive mode — which optimizes low velocity torque with a 53:1 crawl ratio for gasoline fashions or 44:1 for diesel — and a few cautious left-foot braking, I used to be capable of inch and articulate the large truck over some pretty gnarly boulders with out ever bashing or scraping the underbody skid plates. Not everybody who tackled the course was so fortunate, it was a tough begin.Making my approach down the path, the Tremor scrambled up steep and free grime grades with assistance from its Dana limited-slip entrance differential, brake-based traction management, locking rear differential and, after all, gobs of torque. I fastidiously picked my approach down steep descents, making use of the Trail Control software program — a form of low-speed, off-road cruise management borrowed from the F-150 Raptor — to routinely preserve my tempo. The non-compulsory 360-degree digicam system got here in helpful when choosing my approach by tight squeezes and selecting my strains over obstacles and the additional clearance and articulation made cautious, however straightforward work of deep ditches and moguls. The Ford even (ahem) forded 33-inches of water — one other best-in-class — thanks partially to the Tremor’s prolonged axle vent tubes.Tremor fashions could be additional outfitted with the Tremor Winch by Warn, which boasts 12,000-pounds of tugging energy and wi-fi distant operation. Integrated neatly into the Super Duty’s entrance bumper, this manufacturing facility or dealer-installed choice provides $3,000 to the underside line and will likely be out there beginning mid-2020.The off-road prepared Tremor bundle is non-compulsory on XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum Crew Cab 4X4 styles of the F-250 and F-350 and mates properly with both the 7.3-liter fuel V8 or 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel.
Ford Motor Co.
The Super Duty Tremor proved surprisingly succesful off-road with out actually sacrificing a lot on-road efficiency. The taller experience and articulation-friendly suspension parts make the experience a bit softer round bends — there’s in all probability additionally an aerodynamic hit to gasoline economic system — however the pickup nonetheless feels fairly good at velocity and retains the beneficiant towing and hauling capabilities of non-Tremor fashions.The towingNext up, I examined the towing capacity with a range F-Series Super Duty fashions and trailers. I began with a 7.3-liter gasoline 4×4 hooked as much as a four-horse trailer (about 5,100 kilos empty) with gooseneck hitch. Well throughout the 19,100-pound trailer functionality of this spec, the Super Duty confidently pulled the load up a reasonably lengthy and steep uphill climb. Later, behind the wheel of a Power Stroke F-350, I pulled an 11,000-pound luxurious journey trailer up the identical grade — nonetheless solely a bit greater than a 3rd of that instance’s fifth-wheel functionality. Heading again downhill, I discovered that the “Towing” drive mode makes good use of diesel engine braking to assist management velocity on declines. OK, the towing portion of the day was a little bit of a cakewalk, however with with out the business drivers license crucial to drag something close to the Super Duty’s most functionality, how might it not be?Ford and different pickup producers prefer to remind us that 90-percent of professional quality truck house owners use their vans for towing. 
Ford Motor Co.
As a little bit of a towing novice, particularly on the subject of backing up, I used to be glad to check out just a few out there driver assist options geared toward making maneuvering a trailer much less demanding. Ford’s Trailer Reverse Guidance makes use of the Super Duty’s aspect and rear-view cameras to assist drivers precisely steer a trailer whereas backing up. The Pro Trailer Backup Assist tech goes a step additional; after calibrating in your trailer’s dimensions, it will probably deal with the reverse steering routinely whereas the driving force chooses their path with a small knob on the dashboard.The cabinHaving hauled and crawled the day away, it was time to go house for the night. Along the way in which, I loved the Super Duty’s spacious cabin and good dashboard tech.From the driving force’s seat, the F-250 and F-350 expertise is sort of similar to that of the acquainted Ford F-150, with the identical out there Ford Sync 3 tech peering again at you from an 8-inch touchscreen and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity supplementing the also-excellent non-compulsory OEM navigation software program. For 2020, FordCross 4G Connect Wi-Fi Modem {hardware} is now normal gear on all SuperDuty fashions, offering subscription-based hotspot web entry to as much as 10 units. The cabin can be plagued by USB and USB-C ports, 12-volt energy factors, a 110-volt AC outlet and an out there wi-fi cellphone charging pad to maintain these units juiced up.Upper trim ranges — XLT and above — achieve new normal driver assist options reminiscent of computerized emergency braking and pre-collision alert, in addition to lane protecting alert and blind spot monitoring with trailer protection. Keep working up the trim stage totem pole to unlock extra non-compulsory driver assist options like adaptive cruise management, adaptive steering and computerized excessive beams.Cabin tech is at all times nice, however I used to be equally impressed by easy, considerate bits of design like this intelligent fold-away underseat storage bin.
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As a lot as I like good tech, I particularly loved the bits of considerate element and good storage design. For instance, a sliding heart console panel permits passengers to regulate between how the house is cut up between cup holders and storage cubbies. I particularly loved enjoying with the collapsible storage bins beneath the rear seats — which fold up form of like a Honda Fit. Ford has clearly put as a lot thought into the F-Series’ inside cargo functionality because it has outdoors.The valueNot that it was notably missing earlier than, however Ford’s Super Duty F-Series pickups stepped it up for the 2020 mannequin yr, hitting the bottom operating with an inventory of best-in-class claims so long as my arm, backing up these claims with confidence inspiring efficiency.The 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty begins at $33,705 for essentially the most fundamental single-cab F-250 XL 4X2 I might configure; name it $35,300 out-the-door once you embrace the $1,595 vacation spot cost. There’s a reasonably broad value vary heading up from there, relying on trim stage, chassis, engine choices and packages. At this occasion alone, there have been practically 50 totally different configurations out there, starting from fairly geared up to the loaded, leather-based and suede-trimmed F-250 Limited 4X4 Power Stroke Crew Cab that stickers at $88,240 as-tested. Heck, it would not take a lot futzing round with Ford’s on-line configurator to clear the $95,000 mark. For most, nonetheless, I reckon the worth candy spot is the mid-tier F-250 Lariat Crew Cab, which begins at $50,525 together with vacation spot or round $60,000 properly geared up. That’s nonetheless a complete lot of cash, but additionally a complete lot of truck for the cash for many who want this stage of functionality.Editors’ observe: Travel prices associated to this story had been coated by the producer, which is frequent within the auto trade. The judgments and opinions of Roadshow’s workers are our personal and we don’t settle for paid editorial content material.