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The Ford F-Series Super Duty line is a totally different animal compared to the F-150 so we’re going through the years to learn more
A Look Back at All Ford Super Duty Generations
In the late 1990s, Ford was successfully selling its heavy duty version of the F-150 but there was a problem. Competition from Chevrolet and Ford was making it harder to build a product that could meet the needs of commercial customers on the F-150 platform. To solve the problem, Ford decided that its heavy-duty series would get an entirely new lease on life. No longer tied directly to the F-150, the new Super Duty line would use a tougher set of components. It would be bigger too. And it would offer commercial-grade strength and capability on a level that Ford never had before.
1st Gen (99-07)
2006 Ford F-350 – netcarshow.com | Shop Ford F-350 Super Duty on Carsforsale.com
- While Ford had used the term ‘Super Duty’ in the past to refer to different products, it was cemented in the lexicon as the name for all heavy-duty trucks when it was introduced on March 5th, 1998.
- Production of the first F-250 and F-350 Super Dutys began in 1998 and offered three different cab variants.
- Buyers could choose from a standard cab, a SuperCab, or a full four-door crew cab. 8 and 6 ¾-foot beds were both available.
- Three engines including a 5.4-liter V8, a 6.8-liter V10, and a 7.3-liter PowerStroke diesel were initially available. In 2003, Ford replaced the 7.3-liter PowerStroke diesel with the 6.0-liter PowerStroke V8 diesel engine.
- Every aspect of the truck was larger than the normal F-150 including the frame, the interior, and the storage spaces.
- Large mirrors accompanied the truck too and much of its styling was drawn from commercial Ford vehicles of the time.
- The small droop in the front of the side windows is a direct reference to those commercial vehicles which used the additional window space for better visibility.
- In 2002, Ford updated the Super Duty series with both a new gauge cluster and updated drivetrains.
- Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions received a special gauge to keep track of transmission fluid temperatures and diesel owners got an air filter service indicator.
- For the next few years Ford continued to make small improvements to the platform with better materials and in 2006, new 20-inch wheels.
- In its final year of the generation, Ford added a 4.10 rear axle to trucks with the V8 and added a Lariat Outlaw package with black and red trim.
2nd Gen (08-10)
- Under the body of the 2008 Super Duty, Ford strengthened the chassis, the powertrain, and the suspension.
- That suspension was also better at handling poor road conditions which made the cabin more comfortable and less jarring.
- An updated 6.4-liter diesel became available with 350-horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
- Ford also updated the interior with more luxurious features and even a standard MP3 audio jack.
- The next year, Ford added its Sync voice control system. An optional in-dash infotainment system was also available for the first time.
- At the same time, Ford wasn’t matching the power output of other trucks with its base V8 and it still didn’t have a telescoping steering wheel.
- By 2010, Sync became a standard feature on all but the XL trim and an automatic transmission was standard on the top two trims.
- Despite those improvements, Ford had been working on another all-new generation that would debut for the 2011 model year.
3rd Gen (11-16)
- A huge styling update was the most obvious change for the 2011 Super Duty but that wasn’t where the fun stopped.
- Ford introduced new engines across the lineup including a new 6.2-liter V8 and a 6.7-liter diesel.
- When first introduced, the diesel engine made 390-horsepower and 735 pound-feet of torque.
- Just a few months later, Chevrolet introduced a new heavy duty truck with 397-horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque.
- Ford responded by immediately updating their own diesel to develop 400-horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque.
- Maximum towing capacity for the F-250 was 16,500 pounds when the truck was configured for fifth-wheel hauling.
- The F-350 was even more capable with a maximum towing capacity of 21,600-pounds.
- Ford also added a 4.2-inch LCD screen in the gauge cluster and lockable storage under the rear seats.
- In 2013, some major updates took place including the introduction of the super-luxurious Platinum trim.
- Ford also added larger brakes and an 8-inch infotainment system with its proprietary MyFord Touch technology.
- The Super Duty series went largely unchanged until an all-new update arrived in 2017.
4th Gen (17-Present)
- In the same way that the first generation of Super Duty trucks changed the market, the fourth-generation was equally groundbreaking.
- Just as in previous generations, Ford strengthened the chassis and the drivetrain across the entire Super Duty lineup.
- That process added quite a bit of weight so Ford used aluminum components for the body panels and the pickup box.
- A slew of improved technology is now a part of the Super Duty series too including LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and 360-degree camera system.
- The new base V8 makes 385-horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. That might sound like a lot but it pales in comparison to the diesel.
- That updated 6.7-liter PowerStroke makes 440-horsepower and an almost unbelievable 925 pound-feet of torque.
- In 2019, Ford added a Bang & Olufsen sound system to replace an outgoing Sony version.
- For 2020, a new 7.3-liter V8 with 430-horsepower is introduced as an upgrade over the base 6.2-liter V8.
- That 7.3-liter unit is mated to an all-new 10-speed transmission.
2022 Ford Super Duty Limited – media.ford.com | Shop Ford F-250 Super Duty on Carsforsale.com
- The diesel also gets an update with more power raising its torque figure to 1,050 foot-pounds.
- A new Tremor package is also added to the Super Duty lineup with more off-road equipment.
- For the 2022 model year, Ford has introduced Sync4 with a 12-inch infotainment system.
- The King Ranch and the Platinum trims now both get 4WD as standard equipment.
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