2024 Ford F350

For truck buyers needing more capability than a half-ton truck like the Ford F-150 offers, there’s the next step up: heavy-duty. For Ford, these trucks are the Super Duty models, part of Ford’s best-selling F-Series line. The Ford F-250, Ford F-350 and more commercially focused F-450 are bigger, brawnier, and badder than the F-150, a stellar truck in its own right. These Ford Super Duty models significantly amplify abilities, not just over the F-150, but over rivals like the Chevrolet Silverado HD and Ram’s HD lineup. In this segment, bragging rights are as big as the trucks themselves, and after an all-new generation debuted last year, Ford can claim king-of-the-hill status. It boasts a towing capacity of up to 40,000 pounds. The 2024 Super Duty lineup offers various cabs, bed lengths, and choices between gasoline and diesel engines. These trucks are meant to work hard and play hard. They bring plenty of brains with their brawn, with innovations like embedded 5G connectivity (a first in trucks) and technology to make towing and hauling easier.

We’ve tested this entire generation of heavy-duty trucks, including the F-350 Lariat Crew Cab seen here in Stone Gray with the Black Appearance Package ($4,295). This truck had a base price of $64,790, but stickered at $90,950 with additional upgrades that included the impressive high-output Power Stroke diesel engine ($12,495) and Lariat Ultimate Package ($5,075).

After the fourth-generation truck debuted just last year, the Ford Super Duty returns for 2024 with no significant changes.

For comparison, the Ram HD starts at $46,740, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is priced from $43.4K, and the GMC Sierra HD begins at $44.4K.

Before buying a new Super Duty truck, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area paid for theirs. Ford’s Super Duty lineup tends to hold an edge in resale value over its heavy-duty competitors.

Whatever type of work you do, we can almost guarantee a Ford Super Duty will enable you to get it done. In our testing, we’ve found that even the least powerful engine is a willing partner. And by “least powerful,” we mean a 6.8-liter V8 putting out 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. If you want a more potent gasoline engine, there’s the 7.3-liter V8 that outputs 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. But if you have serious towing and hauling to do, you’ll likely want the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8. The standard version cranks out 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque, while the high-output variant increases that to 500 hp and a class-leading 1,200 lb-ft of torque. This is the engine that enables the 40,000-pound tow figure.

And that isn’t just hype. We’ve driven an appropriately equipped Super Duty with 40,000 pounds in tow. Up an incline, no less. And we still felt like it had muscle in reserve if needed. Descending that same road, we noticed some noise from engine braking and the cooling system, but that’s a small price to pay for a truck that can do this kind of work. Whatever engine you choose will be connected to a well-sorted 10-speed automatic transmission. In fact, we were surprised and impressed by how civil this truck can be around town. The powertrain, steering and braking are all so responsive and seamless. Imagine a semi-truck that drives like a Honda Accord, then dial it back toward reality.

Considering this is a full-size workhorse, we think Ford’s done an excellent job with the Super Duty’s steering and suspension. There’s no need for constant inputs of the former, and the latter does an excellent job absorbing bumps. Still, heavy-duty trucks aren’t the smoothest-riding vehicles on the market, so keep that in mind if deciding between an F-150 and an F-250, for instance. While Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system is not yet available for the Super Duty, the big truck’s highway driving assist systems did a fine job of shouldering a lot of the highway driving in our testing.

Fuel Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require automakers to provide mpg estimates for trucks this size. Still, these big, powerful machines are obviously among the thirstiest vehicles on the road. Keep your expectations in the low teens.

The 2024 Ford Super Duty can seat between three and six passengers, depending on the cab configuration. At its most basic, it’s a work truck with a cloth bench seat and vinyl flooring. At the other end, it could rival a luxury car with oodles of leather, heated and ventilated seats, and much more. For example, top-end models can be had with the Max Recline front seats, which can lower into a bed, which is excellent for taking a break after a hard day’s work. There’s also the option to have Ford’s center console Work Surface, which transforms the compartment between the two front seats into a laptop holder or workstation. Even base Super Duty models get an 8-inch touchscreen, while upper versions have a 12-inch display. A high-end Bang & Olufsen audio system is available. As with the Ford F-150, Crew Cab models have ample rear legroom at 43.6 inches. SuperCab models have about 10 inches less.

As with everything else, the Ford Super Duty supersizes everything familiar about the best-selling F-150. This is a big truck meant for big work. A range of cab sizes and bed lengths remain available. Regular Cab models have an 8-foot long bed, while SuperCab and Crew Cab variants can have the long bed or a shorter 6-and-3/4-foot bed. At its shortest, the Super Duty measures 231.8 inches. At its longest, 266.2 inches – over 22 feet, so choose your parking spot carefully and measure your garage before buying. As expected, the Super Duty’s exterior design can change with packages. The Tremor Off-Road package, for example, adds a raised suspension, under-body protection, and 35-inch all-terrain tires. Furthermore, Ford’s Pro Upfit Integration System allows Super Duty trucks to be fitted with specialized equipment like a snow plow or crane, which can be controlled using the cabin’s touchscreen. Dual rear wheels can be optioned on F-350 models and are standard on the F-450.

5G connectivity
The 2024 Super Duty’s tech upgrades enable faster navigation, Wi-Fi (optional for up to 10 devices), and over-the-air software updates — even while the truck is on the road.

Tailgate Down rearview camera and rear parking sensors
It’s now easier to reverse toward a gooseneck/fifth-wheel trailer or up to a docking bay, thanks to this optional camera and sensor system that functions regardless of whether the tailgate is up or down. This option is a first for the class.

Pro Power Onboard
This optional 2-kilowatt electrical system with domestic outlets allows the Super Duty to power a lighting system, tools, or a tailgate party.

Trailer Navigation
When this optional system plots a route, it takes the size and weight of the trailer into account to avoid low bridges and tight turns if necessary.

Onboard scales
Using either a smartphone app or the intelligent taillights, this option will let drivers know if their potential cargo is within acceptable weight limits.

Trailer theft alert
This feature will alert you via the FordPass app if someone tries to disconnect the trailer when the truck is locked.

All Ford Super Duty trucks use V8 engines. The base engine is a 6.8-liter gasoline V8 making 405 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque. The alternative is a 7.3-liter unit developing 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. Both are fine with regular gas. Each of the two turbocharged diesel engines has a 6.7-liter displacement. The regular version develops 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. The High Output version makes 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. All are connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the default setup, with 4-wheel drive available.

Towing and Payload Capacities

Towing abilities span from 13,600 pounds (F-250 Crew Cab 4×4 with 6.8-liter V8) to a class-leading 40,000 pounds (F-450 Regular cab with High Output turbodiesel and gooseneck adapter). The heaviest payload is a similarly unsurpassed 8,000 pounds (achieved with an F-350 XL with rear-wheel drive, dual rear wheels, Regular cab, and the Heavy Duty Payload package).

3-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

The new-vehicle warranty on a 2024 Super Duty is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This warranty stretches to 100,000 miles for diesel engines over the same period. These terms are typical for the HD truck class.

Safety Equipment

Trucks in this class aren’t usually subjected to the same crash tests as more mainstream vehicles. Yet safety is still addressed to a high degree in the Super Duty. On base models, we suggest spending the $730 to add the Driver Assist package, which adds forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams. Other active safety and driver assistance features available for the Super Duty lineup include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, a 360-degree camera system, and a blind-spot monitoring system that can work along the whole length of any trailer that might be connected.