Answers to Your Questions About the 2017 Ford Super Duty – Part 2 of 2

You Ford truck owners know that it’s not enough to do a job. You have to finish it. That’s what I’m doing right now. You had questions about the 2017 Ford Super Duty and I answered some of them, thanks to my friends up in Dearborn. The answers to the rest of them are below.

Q: “If the seats have a cooling feature, do the seat backs get cold or hot (a pervasive problem in the recent F150 interiors)?”

A: I drove a 2017 Super Duty with ventilated seats. It was hard to feel much of the cooling effect through my jeans and undershirt/shirt. I did not feel any heat.

Q: “Is the brake pedal more firm (more like an F-150) or does it continue to be mushy like the current Super Duty?”

A: I don’t recall any feeling of mushiness. Seemed pretty solid to me.

Q: “How is the ride quality compared to the ’15 gas/diesel, especially unladen? How much of a difference does adaptive steering really make? (I.e., is it worth paying for this option?)”

A: The 2017 F-250 FX4 I drove had a ride quality that was lightyears ahead of that of the last-generation F-250 FX4 I drove. I was shocked by how comfortable it was. I’ll wait until I drive a new Super Duty with the Adaptive Steering in it for a longer amount of time than I did during the press launch to render a verdict on its merits.

Q: “Anybody can find out the P/N of 5th wheel preparation package?”

A: Per one of the fine folks at Ford: “The 5th wheel prep package can be factory ordered via option code 53W (except for 4×2 vehicles). This package can be installed at the dealer as well on all pick-up models by ordering either HC3Z 5F057 A or HC3Z 5F057 B (which includes inner frame brackets). The Ford Parts Catalog has been set up so the dealer can input the customer VIN number to match to the correct kit.”

Q: “I thought the F150 cab was longer but narrower?”

A: I’ll just leave these here…

2017 F-150 Interior Dimensions

2017 Super Duty Interior Dimensions

“I’m also interested in the 2-lane road passing scenarios (acceleration 60mph – 80 or 90mph; I assume 90 is top speed).”

A: This is a Ford rep’s response: “As for ‘elasticity,’ these are not performance numbers that we provide given the multitude of conditions. Additionally, with our best-in-class torque and towing capability, know that the Super Duty has no problem delivering in this area.”

“I would love a completely objective comparison with the Duramax in ride and handling quality.”

A: I would give the ride quality edge to the new Super Duty. It’s been a long time since I was in a Duramax-powered HD GM truck, but I don’t remember it having remarkably better or worse handling than the 2017 Super Duty.

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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