The Ford F-150 is the world’s top selling vehicle. The Dearborn automaker is still selling such a pickup about every 20-30 seconds, depending on whom you ask. It stays so popular because it’s affordable, useful, adaptable and easy to drive.
However, if a buyer faces a bigger workload and a more serious utilitarian purpose, the F-150 can seem limited. For the big jobs, Ford produces he 2017 F-350 Super Duty pickup is such a vehicle. Greater than the F-150 in size and purpose, it’s not a practical consumer ride. But, it can be an essential addition to many job sites.
Its purposeful numbers speak for themselves. Starting with a curb weight of 5,909 to 6,989 lbs. (depending on trim), the F-350 Super Duty has a towing capacity of 12,000 to 13,100 lbs. It can carry a payload of 3,807 to 7,027 lbs., which would make the Ford’s overall weight 10,000 to 14,000 lbs. All of that bulk and labor is put into motion by the F-350’s 6.2 liter, eight cylinder engine and standard four wheel drive.
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While the truck’s overall length is obviously considerable (and the driver must consider that the moment he or she settles down inside the F-350’s attractive interior), the truck’s electronically assisted power steering and driver aid settings make the big Ford manageable at speed or in slower, tighter quarters. Anyone who can handle a stock consumer car, SUV, crossover or truck would be able to drive the F-350 Super Duty comfortably and competently without effort.
The most extraordinary aspect of the this F-350 is its price. This massive utility vehicle carries a starting MSRP of about $34,000 for the standard cab model. Now, that price climbs if a buyer looks to the Super Cab or Crew Cab model — both versions looking to carry more human cargo without diminishing the truck’s payload or towing capacities.
If a shopper chooses to load up any F-350 Super Duty with maxed out options and features, the pickup can sell for as much as $57,000. That would certainly make it a considerable expense for any individual buyer. But, if you consider that any pickup lover can take hold of a new F-350 – if a basic, stripped down version — for around $35,000.
That’s a considerable stack of truck for such a price, and that sum of money is within the reach of many consumers — especially if you consider that such a buyer could pay for more a less impressive or useful SUV or crossover.
No, the F-350 isn’t an average truck for an average buyer. It’s big, powerful machine for specific work. But, credit Ford for never pricing it outside the reach of the working people who need it the most.
