Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
I love trucks. My affection started on my grandpa's ranch with a 1940s-era flatbed that I drove through the hayfield. I was too small to throw the bales on the back, so it made sense to have the 10-year-old kid drive.
In all the years since, my passion for trucks remained rooted in the work chores trucks allowed one to accomplish. From hauling rocks or firewood to pulling out stumps, my trucks get used for truck purposes.
So when I recently got the opportunity to test drive a 2024 Ford F-350 Super Duty, it was almost like Christmas morning. And I am not the only one who likes big, powerful trucks. J.D. Power selected the current F-350 as its Best Large Heavy Duty Pickup of 2024
The version I got to drive was the Lariat model with the Tremor Off Road Package, meaning it comes with extra ground clearance, 35-inch tires, a high-tech suspension, improved underbody protection and better handling in off-road conditions. It includes a rock-crawl mode and trail control mode.
I didn't get a chance to test the truck's rock-crawling ability, but I did get to use the four-wheel drive on a steep section of a rutted, gravel road and the Super Duty handled it effortlessly. One feature I particularly loved is the 360-degree camera. The section I climbed had a sharp turn at the top with some scattered boulders. The camera allowed me to plainly see the big rocks that were invisible from the windshield view.
Performance and capability
Most drivers never need a truck with 500 horsepower that can tow 40,000 pounds. But on the occasions when you do, it's not likely you can get by with something else. Perhaps you need to haul a trailer loaded with horses up a steep, switchback dirt road on a mountainside. Or maybe you're pulling a fifth wheel and a toy hauler. Or you might need to get a backhoe to a job site.
Writing for Kelly Blue Book, Matt Degen states, "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. … 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."
The moment you climb into a Super Duty and start it up, you can feel its brawniness and heft. Everything about it is solid.
Interior comfort
That old flatbed truck my grandpa owned had a bench front seat with a padded covering that was so thin you could feel the springs with your hand (and your backside). I can't say the F-350 offers the most comfortable ride I've experienced. That designation goes to the post-2021 F-150. But the 2024 F-350 Super Duty was the most comfortable of any heavy duty pickup I've driven.
The Super Duty can be equipped with Ford's Max Recline Seats. It is my wife's favorite feature on full-size Ford trucks. The seats are extra comfortable for driving, but where they really shine is if you want to lay the seat back for a nap.
The interior of the F-350 is spacious. The center console is generously wide and it comes with an option for Ford's center console work surface.
Safety and driving features
Changing lanes and backing up are more challenging when you are pulling a trailer. Ford makes it easier with available features like its 360-degree camera and Blind Spot Information System.
The Super Duty I test drove was fitted with a heads up display so important information like the speed limit and speed are displayed on the windshield in front of the drive. Plus you have the option of choosing the information you want to display and customizing where you want it to appear.
Ford offers several other options to make driving easier when pulling a trailer.
When you are trying to connect a trailer, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist allows you to push a button and have the truck maneuver itself into position to make the attachment. It's an especially handy feature when you are alone–no more jumping out to check how close the ball is to the hitch.
Similarly, the Pro Trailer Backup Assist simplifies the task of backing a trailer. Once set up, you simply turn a knob in the direction you want to go and the vehicle positions itself where you need to be.
Beyond the blind spot monitoring and warning, a Super Duty equipped with a 360-degree camera offers a turn signal camera view when towing. When you flip the turn signal the 12-inch touchscreen display switches to an image of the side of the truck and trailer of the lane you are moving into so you can see any potential obstacles before changing lanes.
Price, fuel economy and final thoughts
The cost of a 2024 Super Duty ranges from $46,975 to over $100,000 depending on the trim level and features you want. The sticker price on the model I tested – the 2024 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat trim and Tremor off-road package – was $92,855.
When it comes to fuel mileage on these big trucks, if it is something you are worried about, then you might not be able to afford it. Car and Driver reports, "Since the EPA doesn't test vehicles as heavy as the Super Duty and its gargantuan competitors, we judge them based on our own testing. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, the F-250 diesel we tested returned 20 mpg."
I put under 200 miles on my test vehicle in a mix of city and highway driving and it got about 13 miles per gallon.
While I loved driving the 2024 Ford F-350 Super Duty, it's really made for someone who does a lot of heavy towing or someone who needs its capacity for work. I do infrequent light towing and most of my work is behind a computer, so I really can't justify owning a Ford Super Duty. If I were back on my grandpa's ranch collecting hay bales or hauling a livestock trailer full of steers, however, this would definitely be my vehicle of choice.
