2011 Ford F-250/350 Super Duty - First Drive

Also a new option for 2011 is Live Drive PTO, a power take-off feature for diesel-equipped Super-Dutys. The PTO uses an output gear that runs off the crankshaft to power auxiliary devices such as a dump bed, or a snow plow, or (what a concept!) a winch. The awesome thing about a PTO function is that it'll power your ancillaries for as long as the engine is running-no need to worry about draining the electrical system. If you hydrolock the engine-well heck, nothing's perfect, but we're delighted to see this time-tested example of old-school 4x4 tech returning to OE production models. For a vehicle as work-oriented as the Super Duty, it makes perfect sense.

Also a new option for 2011 is Live Drive PTO, a power take-off feature for diesel-equipped

But that's only the beginning. Ford knows that a big chunk of SD buyers intend to subject their trucks to some serious work, so they've rolled out the newest model with plenty of job-related factory options. Want a diamond-plate toolbox for your truck bed? Ford's got one ready to install at the dealership. Want a gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitch installed? Ford can prep your truck at the factory with an additional frame-mounted crossmember, seven-pin connector, and five laser-cut holes in the bed for attachment points for a fifth-wheel hitch, and a 25/16-inch gooseneck ball is available as a ready-to-install option. Both hitches are rated to pull 25,000 pounds of gross trailer weight. This option will only set you back about $400, and if we were buying one, it would be one of the first things we'd check off at the dealership.

The Super Duty's new-for-2011 "Productivity Screen" is a scroll-up, scroll-down information center that monitors all type of data, both in and out of the truck. Fuel consumption and mpg, engine oil and transmission temperatures, engine idle hours, off-road sidehill angles, brake-controller settings, and even trailer mileage are only some of the vitals that are available at the touch of a button on the steering wheel. Owners can also compose and save their own "checklists" (e.g., for different trailers) using Ford-supplied templates.

The Super Duty's new-for-2011 "Productivity Screen" is a scroll-up, scroll-down informatio

Ford also offers a "Work Solutions" option that can turn your Super Duty's Nav system into an onboard workstation, with high-speed wireless Internet access and printer compatibility. There's a programmable "Tool Link" tracking system that uses radio-frequency identification to tell you whether you've accidentally left behind any tools at the jobsite, or any other gear you wish to catalog. There's a "Crew Chief" option, which employs onboard telematics to relay information regarding location, mileage, maintenance requirements, and other needed data to a fleet manager or other remote location. Back in the bed, you can get a MasterLock cable lock to help you secure valuable gear such as compressors or generators. Oh, and did we mention that you can order the six-speed with a power take-off (PTO) option, too?

We still vividly recall the bladder-busting ride quality of previous-generation Super Dutys, so we're happy to report that the 2011 model is light-years more forgiving when driven over rough stretches of pavement and highway expansion joints. For 2011, the truck's rear spring rates were recalibrated and shock valving re-tuned in order to maximize towing and payload capabilities. They must have also softened the front coil rates, too, for while the truck's a bit more wallowy in corners now, it also delivers a much softer and smoother overall ride when unladen. The power steering gear is all-new, too, and while steering feel seemed a tad feathery to us initially, we were appreciative of the extra assist later on, with a few tons of towed load to haul around.

We still vividly recall the bladder-busting ride quality of previous-generation Super Duty

Suffice to say that Ford hasn't rested on its laurels, and only three years after significantly redesigning the Super-Duty for 2008, they've upped the ante with an all-new version that's more sophisticated and refined than any other HD pickup truck that's come before it. It's available in regular-cab, Super Cab or Crew Cab configurations, in five different wheelbases, and with tow ratings ranging up to 20,300 pounds. Pricing wasn't available at press time, but we'd guess you can expect to spend anywhere from the mid-$40s to the mid-$50s for a nicely appointed F-250 4x4. Even at a rarified price point, it's an amazing amount of truck for the buck, and we can hardly wait to get behind the wheel of one again at our 2011 Pickup Truck of the Year test, coming up a few months from now.

What's Hot:
Fuel-efficient powertrain, 735 lb-ft (!), rear locking diff, 20,300-lb max towing, can be factory-prepped for a fifth wheel/gooseneck, PTO an available option.

What's Not:
Barrage of electronics could pose steep learning curve to new buyers, 3.73:1 gears only available on dually version, all that technological wizardry won't come cheap.

Our Take:
Long the HD segment leader, Ford again ups the ante and sets the standard for other HD trucks to emulate.

During our day-long testdrive, we hitched up an F-250 Super Duty to a loaded twin-axle trailer (combined weight: 10,000 pounds) for a leisurely towing exercise through some twisty two-lanes around the Bradshaw Mountains of Arizona. The Super Duty didn't seem to notice the extra weight at all, and its slightly-overboosted-with-no-load steering delivered a pleasantly on-center feel in corners under the modest load. A bit later in the day, the Ford engineering folks gave us the chance to hook up to an 85,000-pound wheel loader at a nearby gravel quarry to test the Super Duty beyond its intended limits. Lamely attempting a hole-shot throttle-punch maneuver, we didn't get very far before our tester's rearend and springs began chattering, then barking, in protest. Take it slow and steady off idle, though, and you can literally move mountains with this truck.

During our day-long testdrive, we hitched up an F-250 Super Duty to a loaded twin-axle tra

Quick Specs
Vehicle/model: 2011 Ford Super Duty
Base price: N/A
Engine tested: 6.7L Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8
Max hp & torque (lb-ft) @ rpm: 390 @ 2,800/735 @ 1,600
Transmission: 6R140 6-spd automatic double-OD
Transfer case: NVG271 part-time 2-spd.
Low-range ratio: 2.72:1
Frame type: Steel ladder
Suspension, f/r: 35-spline Dana 60, coil springs, stabilizer bar/Sterling 10.5-in, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Max crawl ratio: 35.74:1 (w/ 3.31:1 gears)
Steering: Power assist, recirculating ball
Brakes, f/r: 13.66-in vented discs/13.39-in solid discs
Wheels (tested): 18x8 steel
Tires (tested): 265/70R18 OWL
Wheelbase (in.): 137.0-172.4
Length (in): 227.6-263.0
Height (in): 80.8
Base curb weight (lb): 6,460 (F-250 4x4 SRW)
Max approach/departure angles (deg.): 23.6/21.0
Minimum ground clearance (in): 7.5GVWR (lb): 9,400-13,000
Max payload (lb): 2,540-5,060
Max towing capacity (lb): 15,700-20,300
Observed mileage, city/hwy/trail (mpg): 22.1
Fuel capacity (gal): 37.5