2008
Ford Super Duty Review
Two words can define the 2008
Super Duty relative to the previous iteration: refined and more. It
has more of the work ability you expect from a heavy-duty pickup,
yet it is more comfortable, rides better, delivers more in the
cost-benefit analysis, and is more environmentally friendly, a
lexicon not normally applied to big trucks. With realistic
expectations, any faults will seem minute when compared to the
ability to plow a big parking lot, carry a small car or tow a small
house.
The 2008 Super Duty is not an
all-new truck. Some body panels, engines and transmissions continue.
But many aspects more substantial than the front-end styling have
changed. It has a new interior in five different flavors from
hose-out to leather lux, a new diesel engine, more added features,
and should cost less based on equipment than the outgoing model.
And in a first for any major
pickup manufacturer Ford has added a medium-duty pickup, the F-450,
to the line. This model will be pricey by pickup standards, probably
over $60,000 loaded, but it offers load capacity and towing ability
never before found in a pickup, and is capable of carrying 5,000 pounds
of hay and towing an 18,500-pound horse trailer simultaneously.
Need a truck to work? The
Super Duty line can haul from one ton to three. It can tow from
three tons to more than twelve. It can carry three to six real-world
people with room to spare. And the door pockets, glovebox, and
console will hold more stuff than some sports cars' trunks. If you
don't need a truck to perform heavy duty work, stop reading here.
The 2008 Ford Super Duty
comes in myriad configurations, with four trim levels, four weight
divisions, and two box sizes (6.75
feet, 8 feet),
the majority available in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Almost every permutation is built. Exceptions: The King Ranch
version is offered only on Crew Cabs, the F-450 is long-bed Crew Cab
only, and the FX4 trim is not offered on 2WD, any F-450, or with a
regular cab.
A 5.4-liter V8 with 300
horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque is standard on all models up
to the F-350 Crew Cab DRW, which has the 362-hp, 457 lb-ft 6.8-liter
V10 standard. Both the V10 and 6.4-liter diesel (350 hp, 650 lb-ft)
are optional across the F-250/F-350 spectrum, but the diesel is the
only engine offered on F-450. A
six-speed manual is standard, a five-speed automatic available.
The base XL is commercial in
nature, with vinyl seats and flooring, black painted grille and
bumpers, plain trim, AM/FM stereo, and a weight-appropriate receiver
hitch. Options include mechanical upgrades (engine, limited-slip
differential, larger tires, traction control, camper package,
off-road package for 4WD, Tow Command, etc.), air conditioning,
auxiliary switches, reverse sensors, and a tailgate step.
XLT trim adds chrome trim and
wheels, 40/20/40 cloth front seat, carpet, AC, CD player, power
windows/locks/mirrors, tilt wheel and cruise control. Options
include aluminum wheels, captain's chairs w/power and heat,
Audiophile sound system, adjustable pedals, Sport trim package,
moonroof, and rear-seat DVD entertainment.
The FX4 off-road model adds
18-inch wheels and LT275/70R18 all-terrain tires, standard
limited-slip, skid plates, fog lamps, security system, overhead
console, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Options include 20-inch
wheels, navigation/Audiophile system, Sirius radio, and power
telescope/fold heated dual-element towing mirrors.
Lariat trim (n/a on regular
cabs) adds polished wheels, leather power seats, dual-zone climate
control, trip computer, redundant sound/climate controls on wheel,
woodgrain trim, illuminated visor mirrors, privacy glass and a
sliding rear window. Options include those offered on most Super
Duty models plus captain's chairs, universal door opener, and a
power sliding rear window.
The King Ranch package,
offered only on Lariat Crew Cabs, adds two-tone paint, driver memory
package, tow mirrors, unique forged alloy wheels, powered trailer
mirrors, badging, and Chaparral-leather for the steering wheel and
four captain's chairs and both center consoles.
Safety equipment includes
antilock brakes, dual front airbags, adjustable height outboard belt
anchors, child-seat LATCH anchors, and a passenger airbag
deactivation switch on regular and SuperCabs, all standard.
Already the biggest pickup in
town, the 2008 Ford Super Duty appears even more imposing because of
a larger grille, deeper bumper, and stacked lamps with the
headlights on the bottom. Dimensions are easily given in yards
rather than inches. The sheer vastness of the sheetmetal may
overwhelm your car wash guy. The color of the side vent gives away
if it is gasoline or diesel-powered.
Given its fender flares and
dark snout, the FX4 is the most aggressive trim style, though no
Super Duty would be mistaken for anything less than a full-size
pickup even with nothing scalable within sight. New towing mirrors
include signal repeaters that won't distract the driver; they
telescope and fold (manual or powered), and include two large
reflective elements for safe rear vision with the widest
street-legal trailers.
An optional tailgate step
pops a 16.7 x 4.5-inch step with a half-ton load rating out of the
tailgate and raises a grab handle rated at
300 pounds
to make the climb safer. It also includes an assist so the very
heavy tailgate feels less heavy. The handle makes bed access easier
but may need to be lowered again to slide a load in, and removing
the gate, as is often the case with some trailers, may become a
two-person chore.
With three-and-a-half feet of
headroom and just shy of six feet of shoulder room, the Ford Super
Duty cab is massive. Materials are job appropriate: no carpet mats
for commercial or trail duty, and appear well assembled. The King
Ranch version brings a little
Lincoln
to a pickup while the base model could be cleaned out with a bucket
of warm water. On upper-end models, the gear-cog-like chrome
surrounds for vents and gauges can create some unwelcome
reflections, and the number of textures and colors (we counted up to
eight) may be too much for design minimalists.
The interior has been
restyled for 2008. The dash is now segmented in three smaller parts
for a more manageable look. A new instrument pod provides engine and
road speed through larger dials with four smaller gauges lined up
between; diesel models include a boost gauge and automatics get
fluid temperature. The center stack houses a pair of large vents,
radio and navigation top center where easily viewed, climate
control, and most switchgear. The far side houses the passenger
airbag and a sizable glovebox; where so equipped, the center console
is similarly large and the huge door pockets could hold the contents
of a small tool chest and will soon require their own payload
rating.
The climb in is less than you
think because the door opening curls under to the floor and assist
handles are well-placed. Side steps are available. We noted a marked
reduction in wind/cab noise around the center pillar in the SuperCab,
and the better sealing means that big front door requires a solid
yank to close with all windows up. The new diesel is so quiet you
won't hear any of it at cruising speeds and road noise is reasonably
controlled since the nearest wheel is not right under your feet.
Seats are well-placed and
offer a superb view out, and in captain's chair versions offer
plenty of support and adjustability for the diesel's 600-plus-mile
range (unloaded), and the higher-line tilt wheel, memory system and
adjustable pedals allow great flexibility for his-and-hers
operations. Front bench seat riders may find the deep dash
compromises their knee and foot room, especially if the driver needs
the seat forward.
Adults can fit in the rear of
the SuperCab but if you intend to make a habit of carrying those
larger-than-average people for any significant length or time, go
for the Crew Cab.
Primary controls are all easy
to find and use, with few tiny buttons to complicate driving with
gloves. The reverse parking sensor, of course, can be defeated for
hooking up a trailer. The short shifter for the automatic is less
effort but more precise than before. The headlights can be turned
off for good neighborly night-time entries to campgrounds or
drive-ins.
The ventilation system is
capable of cooling or heating the cavernous volume and keeping
forward windows and mirrors clear, and seat heaters are very
effective; a supplemental cab heater is available for diesel models.
The navigation system is
fairly intuitive and will be familiar to Ford family drivers.
Ford's Tow Command integrated
trailer brake system is easy to set up and provides better, smoother
trailer braking control than any aftermarket controller. However, it
may not be compatible with all trailer disc-brake systems, and you
can not modify the wiring harness so your fifth-wheel pigtail (or
extension) must reach to the rear bumper.
There are two primary
improvements to the Super Duty's driving characteristics, in what
has always been a competitive vehicle: the diesel engine is all-new
and the rear springs' forward perch has been moved forward eight
inches. You may not care about spring location, but that eight
inches gives a much better ride for the same load, so you can drive
an empty dually without looking like a bobblehead doll.
While 20-inch wheels may look
better, they tend to degrade ride comfort so if your driving
involves marginal roads, or no roads at all, better to stick with
the standard size. Regardless of hype, no heavy-duty pickup rides
like a car, and the Super Duty is no different. The only instance in
which a competitor might hold an advantage is with GM full-size 4WD
steering precision or ride comfort, a tradeoff many happily accept
to get the Ford's solid front axle design often considered superior
in durability.
If you're not accustomed to
driving full-size pickups you may find yourself trapped in a strip
mall feeling unable to escape. Otherwise you'll find the Super Duty
has no obvious drawbacks in maneuverability for such a behemoth, and
the cut-down front windows, mirrors, and clear bodywork edges give
good indication of presence relative to surroundings. If you haven't
anything heavy to carry or tow, a Super Duty's capabilities will far
exceed your requirements.
The word handling isn't
ascribed to HD pickups as much as control is, and the Super Duty
feels comfortable even with heavy loads. Brakes don't stand out as
good or bad, and four-ton trucks never stop like cars, but the Tow
Command system can't be beaten; the Super Duty does not offer a
factory exhaust brake option like the Dodge Cummins, a feature
equally useful on long hauls.
The 6.4-liter diesel engine
is all-new for 2008, with just two parts shared with the previous
6-liter diesel. It is much quieter, cleaner (the exhaust may be
cleaner than the air going in, in some cities) and has likely given
up a few percentage points in fuel economy because of the added
output and heavier trucks. Apart from the speed with which it
barrels up hills and the probable 10 percent to 40 percent better
fuel mileage, it's not noticeably different than the gas engines.
Note that on F-450, unless you get an automatic and 4.30:1 axle
ratio, the diesel is de-rated to 325 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.
Also note that the five-speed automatic transmission falls one gear
short of GM and Dodge's six-speed automatics.
The standard 5.4-liter V8 is
the cost leader, and it's a good choice if you don't plan on towing
anything more than
5,000 pounds
over relatively rolling countryside. Those who might carry a full
load of tools or cement and tow a trailer but not drive a lot of
miles should consider the stronger V10. For maximum towing or
high-mileage service, the diesel can't be beat, and neither can its
price tag, around $6,900.
Changes between the F-250 and
F-350 SRW are essentially limited to the 350 capable of carrying
another 1,000 pounds.
The F-350 DRW goes another step further in payload and frequently
more important, much better trailer towing (or camper carrying)
stability. The max tow rating on some F-350 DRW is more than 18,000 pounds,
but remember those ratings are given with a nearly empty,
low-optioned truck.
For 2008, the Super Duty adds
an F-450 model, a truck that takes a medium-duty chassis cab and
adds a pickup box much like aftermarket firms have been doing for
years for affluent trailer pullers. An F-450 can carry as much as
6,120 pounds
(the weight of an F-250 regular cab) and tow as much as 24,500 pounds,
but still enjoy pickup perks like a usable bed, no stops at roadside
scales, and a factory warranty. Just make sure your driver's license
can handle that load, too.
You can spot an F-450 by the
10-lug, 19.5-inch wheels and huge rear differential. The tires alone
contribute to a firmer ride, and the added rolling and fixed mass
bring slight increases in acceleration time and stopping distance.
If you have a big trailer or a lead-like load this is the way to go,
if not, you really don't want an F-450.
The Ford Super Duty is the
largest mass-market pickup truck you can get, offered in the widest
array of configurations and powertrains, and equally able to meet
recreational or commercial needs. Ordered with an honest, thoughtful
appraisal of your needs and expectations in mind, it would be
difficult to do better.