DENVER, CO. The traffic light turned green as Ford’s 2017 F-450 Super Duty approached an 8% downhill grade on one of Colorado’s canyon roads. The truck, which was towing a 29,900 trailer filled with paving stone and cinder blocks, began to pick up speed until the driver lifted his foot off the gas and gently tapped the brakes. The truck came to a smooth, quiet stop, and Ford powertrain engineer Scott Paddy credited the truck’s new brake enhancements.
Besides reworking its braking system – front/rear four-wheel vented-disc ABS, assist type Hydroboost, and roll stability control – Ford made quite a bit more changes to its Super Duty to enhance the towing and hauling experience for commercial fleets.
According to the F-450 Super Duty specs, the truck could tow up to 30,000 lbs. with the Gooseneck trailer. It’s got a 6.7L diesel engine with a 48-gal. tank and increased torque of 925 from 860. The F-450 is a Class 3, 14,000 lb. vehicle.
The new trucks also feature a 360-degree camera that gives a bird’s eye view of what it looks like around the truck. In addition, the truck contains side-view mirror cameras, a center high-mounted stop light camera that provides a view of the cargo bed and aids fifth wheel/gooseneck trailer connections, a tailgate camera, and trailer camera.
“You can not only haul the load, but you can safely get it to where it’s going,” Paddy explained.
Other options include:
- 4.30 electronic locking axle
- Rapid heat supplemental system
- Engine block heater
- 50 state emissions
- Fifth wheel hitch prep package
- Rear inflatable seat belts
- Upfitter switches
- Dual extra heavy-duty alternator
- Adaptive cruise control with collision warning
- Lane-keeping alert
- Trailer tow camera
