Heavy duty pickup trucks are essential for getting the job done in harshest of environments. Ford recently surveyed fleet managers and commercial truck customers from several industries to configure their “dream” 2017 Ford Super Duty. Here is how they would configure their 2017 Super Duty.
First up was the fleet manager for Black Hills Energy company, who is responsible for a fleet of 3,200 trucks with a company that provides energy to 1.2 million customers. This works requires a truck that can handle rugged off-road terrain and cold weather of South Dakota. 4×4 transfer case and fuel skid plates and an engine-block heater are great things to have.
The dream Super Duty for the Oil/Gas extraction industry was the 2017 F-250 Super Duty 4×4 SuperCab XL:
- 6.2-liter two-valve gas SOHC EFI flex-fuel V8
- TorqShift®-G six-speed SelectShift® automatic
- Single rear wheel
- 3.73 electronic locking axle ratio
- 6 ¾-foot bed
- 10,000/9,000-pound GVWR package
- Power equipment group
- XL value package
- Tailgate step
- Bed mat
- Remote start system
- Exterior backup alarm
- Platform running boards
- Electronic shift-on-the-fly
- 110-volt, 400-watt inverter outlet
- Ultimate Trailer Tow camera system
- Upfitter switches
- SYNC® 3
Next up is the Heavy Construction business. Construction projects will have various requirements, but hauling and towing heavy loads is at the top of the list. Pittsburgh’s Plum Contracting fleet manager chose an F-350 XL 4×4 crew cab single-rear-wheel with an 8-foot bed and the 6.7L Power Stroke V8 turbo-diesel.
2017 F-350 Super Duty 4×4 Crew Cab XL:
- 6.7-liter Power Stroke® turbo diesel V8
- Six-speed SelectShift automatic
- Single rear wheel
- 3.55 electronic locking axle ratio
- 8-foot bed
- 11,400-pound GVWR package
- Power equipment group
- Heavy front suspension package
- XL value package
- BoxLink
- …
How about Manufacturing? Berges Trenton Awning, based in Pleasantville, New Jersey, has a need for chassis cabs outfitted with 9-foot and 11-foot utility bodies. This fleet manager chose a Super Cab 4×2 dually chassis cab powered by the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel.
F-350 Super Duty Chassis Cab 4×2 SuperCab XL:
- 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel V8
- Six-speed SelectShift automatic
- Dual rear wheel
- 3.73 non-limited-slip axle
- XL value package
- Privacy glass
- Fixed-glass rear window
- Dual extra-heavy-duty 332-amp alternators
- Platform running boards
- Trailer brake controller
- Rapid-heat supplemental cab heater
- 110-volt, 400-watt outlet
XL-grade trucks are the core of the working HD truck fleets based on the information provided by Ford in this survey. Which HD truck do you drive to work and what does your job entail? Let us know in the comments below.
Here is a look at the 2017 HD truck competitors, for the 2017 Ford Super Duty launch event.
