As the highway wound its way skyward, the Power Stroke’s deep well of torque enabled it to defeat gravitational forces with greater ease than the other truck/trailer combinations. Of course, what goes up must also come down—well in most cases.
With the 10,000-lb trailer now urging it on, the Super Duty remained in complete control as we flowed through the sinewy single-lane descent that brought us to the desert floor from whence we came. Should a trailer decide to take on a life of its own, Ford’s Trailer Sway Control (TSC) system and their AdvanceTrac Control program will activate to assist with reigning-in the wayward caboose.
Both TSC and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control are now standard on all Super Duty models.
New gas engine also features more power
Ford has a surprise for those non-diesel converts. They’ve developed a new gas engine that boosts the performance parameters of the non-diesel Super Duty line. The new V8 mill displaces 6.2-litres and features two spark plus per cylinder.
This powerplant is certified at 385 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 405 pound-feet of torque @ 4,500 rpm. Although I didn’t squeeze in the opportunity to tow with this engine, I road tested it in a Super Duty laden with 1,000-lb in the box.
With the weighted box, the truck drove effortlessly, with acceleration that was strong and linear. It also responded quite admirably when pushed into a corner a little too fast.
Secure handling characteristics
Nothing hairy happened as I entered a tight turn while carrying more speed than common sense would dictate. Despite the load, the big Ford simply leaned a bit but held the road with little protestation from its 20-inch rubber.
While on the topic of cornering, I found the Super Duty’s steering to be a little over-boosted, which led to a slight vagueness on the highway. Also, the lack of a left foot dead-pedal made bracing oneself while off-roading a little more challenging.
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| Both TSC and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control are now standard on all Super Duty models. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
With the 10,000-lb trailer now urging it on, the Super Duty remained in complete control as we flowed through the sinewy single-lane descent that brought us to the desert floor from whence we came. Should a trailer decide to take on a life of its own, Ford’s Trailer Sway Control (TSC) system and their AdvanceTrac Control program will activate to assist with reigning-in the wayward caboose.
Both TSC and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control are now standard on all Super Duty models.
New gas engine also features more power
Ford has a surprise for those non-diesel converts. They’ve developed a new gas engine that boosts the performance parameters of the non-diesel Super Duty line. The new V8 mill displaces 6.2-litres and features two spark plus per cylinder.
This powerplant is certified at 385 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 405 pound-feet of torque @ 4,500 rpm. Although I didn’t squeeze in the opportunity to tow with this engine, I road tested it in a Super Duty laden with 1,000-lb in the box.
With the weighted box, the truck drove effortlessly, with acceleration that was strong and linear. It also responded quite admirably when pushed into a corner a little too fast.
Secure handling characteristics
Nothing hairy happened as I entered a tight turn while carrying more speed than common sense would dictate. Despite the load, the big Ford simply leaned a bit but held the road with little protestation from its 20-inch rubber.
While on the topic of cornering, I found the Super Duty’s steering to be a little over-boosted, which led to a slight vagueness on the highway. Also, the lack of a left foot dead-pedal made bracing oneself while off-roading a little more challenging.
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| The new Super Dutys are stuffed with technology, such as Ford Work Solutions (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |