Tougher, Smarter

The 2017 Super Duty is Jam-Packed With Usable Tech.

- Edward A. Sanchez

The Ford F-Series is about to reach a milestone as the best-selling truck in the United States for 40 straight years, a nearly unprecedented winning streak. Ford does not publicly break out separate figures for the F-150 and Super Duty, but it is estimated the Super Duty accounts for between 30 and 40 percent of total F-Series sales. So when it came time to redesign the standard-bearer of the “Built Ford Tough” brand, Dearborn knew it had a lot riding on it. Based on our first impressions and an explanation of the new hardware, we think Ford is in it to win it with the 2017 Super Duty.

Like the F-150, the ’17 Super Duty features a nearly all-aluminum body, the only notable exception being the engine firewall. Ford claims as much as a 350-lb weight savings over the previous model. You may note that’s only half as much as the claimed 700-lb weight savings of the F-150. Although everyone likes getting better fuel economy, it’s not as much of a factor in the Super Duty, as its more-than-8,600-lb gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means it’s exempt from EPA fuel economy reporting. Secondly, Super Duty buyers care most about capability and durability. Ford notes as many as 90 percent of Super Duty buyers tow with their trucks. So part of the weight savings of the aluminum body was reinvested into beefier components to add capability.