FTE Guest Editor Drives 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty Dually

The 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty impresses even the uninitiated.

Hi FTE, my name is Jake and I am the Editor for several of Ford-truck.com’s sister sites. I recently got to drive something that I figured would be of interest to this audience: a 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty. So I snagged the keys to FTE’s wordpress and now I’m here.

Let me be upfront: I am not really a truck kind of guy. My mainstay is with sports cars and track day specials. However, when Ford throws you the keys to a new ride, you take the opportunity. So it was that I got behind the wheel of the 2017 F-350 Super Duty. Did I mention it’s a dually? The truck I had was a fully-loaded Platinum with the 6.7L Powerstroke oil burner V8. Even I know that this is a special engine. It is impossible to deny 440 horsepower and a massive 925 lb-ft of thrust. Even when it’s carting around this 7,700lb leviathan it feels urgent. However, the transmission does occasionally seem a step off pace with what the engine is capable of. I surmised that it’s likely a mix of the transmission’s computer calibration and a slightly soft torque converter setup. Probably tuned so as not to break driveline components with 925 lb-ft of torque and a nearly 8,000lb curb weight sitting atop it all.

So the powertrain is a winner, what about the suspension?

Quite comfortable, actually. On the street, the truck is quite docile. Other trucks and large vehicles I have wheeled
felt quite stiffly suspended in comparison. Surprising when you consider the truck’s massive weight, the engine’s massive torque and the even larger expectations of what the truck can and will be used for.
As equipped, my test truck can haul 40,000lbs (GCVW). Ford was quite upfront about the tech specs of their vehicles, which was refreshing coming from certain other brands that shall remain nameless. This Super Duty is designed to work for it’s keep, and the massive spec sheet certainly indicates that Ford’s engineers are confident in it’s ability to do so.

Weekend warrior, or daily driver?

In a word: both. This truck has the full suite of Ford’s latest tech and gadgets that make daily driving a rather pleasant exercise. Heated and cooled seats are fantastic. Multiple exterior cameras make parking this beast a cinch. The fuel economy was a sore spot, but most of my driving was around town. In that arena, it’s hard for even the most efficient of diesels to compensate for hauling around almost 4 tons of mass. On the open road, cruising in sixth gear seemed to return reasonable figures as per the “instant MPG” screen. Expect 12-15MPG on the daily grind, depending on how much stop and go traffic you have to endure.
On the flip side, the astronomical torque, heavy duty chassis and towing aides make this truck an obvious accomplice for pulling your boat, my race car, or really anything in between. If a truck rookie like me can hop in, and wheel it no problem it’s a well-designed tool. The controls, for most part, are straight forward, and allow for a stress-free journey. Where ever you need to go, the Ford F-350 Super Duty will get you there.