10 Incredible Super Duty Facts Only Super Fans Know!
We collected ten of the most interesting and impressive Ford Super Duty facts. Did you already know all 10?
Intro
The Super Duty line of Ford trucks has been officially with us since 1999. However, the Super Duty name goes back much further than that. During that time this line of trucks has built quite a reputation. And even though all Ford fans know about the Super Duty, there are some facts about the truck line that you may not be aware of. So, we pulled ten of our favorite Super Duty facts to share with you. Now you can impress (or annoy) all of your friends and family with these fun Super Duty facts.
Image: Ford
Fact #10 – CDL May Be Required
State laws vary but in some states you need a commercial driver’s license if you operate a single vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. This rating is the empty truck weight, plus payload capacity, plus the weight of anything it is towing. With the capabilities of the modern Super Duty it is easy to exceed the 26,001 pound threshold. So, by law if you have your truck loaded up you may need a CDL to operate it.
Image: Ford
Fact #9 – F-250 Super Duty Holds Land Speed Record
In 2011 a Ford F-250 with only minor modifications by Hajek Motorsports set two land speed records. At 171.123 mph it set the B Production Diesel world record. And at 182 mph it set the B Production B20 Biodiesel world record. You probably didn’t expect a Super Duty to hold speed records but here you have it. The record setting run was documented in a video posted on the YOUCAR YouTube channel.
Image: YOUCAR YouTube Channel
Fact #8 – Super Duty Can Tow 20 Tons
All Super Duty trucks are tough and capable. But properly equipped a Ford F-450 can tow an astonishing 40,000 pounds. That is roughly three fully grown African elephants. Or about 12,800 bricks. Or a fully loaded tour bus. In other words, it is a LOT of weight. More than any other truck in its class. To reach this 20-ton limit you need a short wheelbase F-450 4x2 with a gooseneck trailer. And then you can move mountains.
Image: Ford
Fact #7 – Super Duty Dates Back to 1958
The Super Duty line of trucks we know today has been around since 1999. But the name Super Duty actually dates back to 1958. Ford referred to their heavy-duty engines back then as Super Duty engines. These were the big 6.6L, 7.8L and 8.8L work horses that were found under the hoods of heavy-duty trucks such as the 800 and 900 series. So, Ford has been using the Super Duty name for over 60 years and we don’t see them stopping any time soon.
Image: Ford
Fact #6 – F-450 Largest Non-Commercial Ford Truck
The Ford F-450 Super Duty is the largest non-commercial Ford truck in their lineup. Once you move up to the F-550 you have entered the world of commercial trucks. But for regular civilian use the F-450 should be enough for almost anyone. It is available with a 48-gallon fuel tank, an engine that makes 1,200 pound-feet of torque and can be over 22 feet long. The F-450 is a lot of truck.
Image: Ford
Fact #5 – Super Duty Once Shared SVT Raptor Engine
Remember the first-generation SVT Raptor with the 6.2L V8 making 411 horsepower? Of course, you do, it was a game-changing truck. That lovely V8 was a big part of the Raptor experience. And that same 6.2L Boss V8 engine was good for 385 horsepower under the hood of the Super Duty. It was an engine option in the Super Duty from model year 2011 through 2022.
Image: Ford
Fact #4 – Serves as Platform for Several Armored Vehicles
When you are looking to build the toughest vehicles in the world you want to start with the toughest platform in the world. And that would be the Ford Super Duty. Many companies build fully armored vehicles for operations in some of the roughest parts of the world. And in many cases, these rolling bunkers are built on top of a Super Duty platform. The vehicle pictured here is a US Specialty Vehicle's Rhino that was built on an F-450 and was listed for sale on Uncrate a number of years ago.
Image: Uncrate
Fact #3 – Super Duty Generates More Revenue than some Fortune 500 Companies
The Super Duty line is a major money maker for Ford Motor Company. But just how much of a money maker might surprise you. In generates more revenue than some entire Fortune 500 companies. In 2021 the Ford Super Duty line generated more revenue than Nordstorm, Marriott International, and Southwest Airlines. Given the demand and popularity of the newest generation of Super Duty trucks we expect these strong revenue numbers to continue.
Image: Ford
Fact #2 – Super Duty Most Likely Vehicle to Reach 250K Miles
Vehicle research firm iSeeCars.com recently completed a study to determine which vehicles were most likely to reach 250,000 miles. 23 vehicles were named as the most likely to reach that milestone. The number one vehicle in the list was the Ford F-350 Super Duty. The overall industry average of all vehicles showed that the chances of reaching 250K miles was 11.8 percent. As for the top 23 the Toyota Camry came in 23rd place with a 20.4 percent chance. The F-350 was rated at an astounding 49.1 percent chance of reaching 250K miles. That is 4.2 times the industry average.
Image: Ford
Fact #1 – Every Super Duty is Assembled in the USA
Every single Ford Super Duty truck is built right here in the United States. Each is assembled in either the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, or the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio. The plant in Kentucky has roughly 9,000 employees. There are nearly 2,000 employees in Ohio. It seems that every year fewer and fewer products are made in the U.S. so it is fantastic to see the toughest truck in the world being built in the greatest nation in the world.
Image: Ford