Ford · 1998–present

Ford F-550

The Ford Super Duty (also known as the Ford F-Series Super Duty) is a series of heavy-duty pickup trucks produced by the Ford Motor Company since the 1999 model year. Slotted above the consumer-oriented Ford F-150, the Super Duty trucks are an expansion of the Ford F-Series range, from F-250 to the F-600. The F-250 through F-450 are offered as pickup trucks, while the F-350 through F-600 are offered as chassis cabs. Rather than adapting the lighter-duty F-150 truck for heavier use, Super Duty trucks have been designed as a dedicated variant of the Ford F-Series. The heavier-duty chassis components allow for heavier payloads and towing capabilities. With a GVWR over 8,500 lb (3,900 kg), Super Duty pickups are Class 2 and 3 trucks, while chassis-cab trucks are offered in Classes 3, 4, 5, and 6. The model line also offers Ford Power Stroke V8 diesel engines as an option. Ford also offers a medium-duty version of the F-Series (F-650 and F-750), which is sometimes branded as the Super Duty, but is another chassis variant. The Super Duty pickup truck also served as the basis for the Ford Excursion full-sized SUV. The Super Duty trucks and chassis-cabs are assembled at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, and at Ohio Assembly in Avon Lake, Ohio. Prior to 2016, medium-duty trucks were assembled in Mexico under the Blue Diamond Truck joint venture with Navistar International.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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Background

=== Previous use of name === In 1958, Ford introduced the Super Duty engine family as big-block V8 engines for trucks, offered in 401, 477, and 534 cubic-inch displacements. The 534 is one of the largest gasoline V8 engines ever produced by Ford. The Super Duty engines were some of the largest mass-produced gasoline V8 engines in the world (for highway vehicles). To showcase the engine launch, the "Big Job" conventional truck variants of the F-Series were rebranded as Super Duty, a name added to other Ford trucks as well. Alongside the Ford C-Series and H-Series cabovers, the N-Series conventional adopted the Super Duty name. Though its poor fuel economy proved uncompetitive against the increasing popularity of diesel engines, the durability of the Super Duty V8 kept the engine in production until 1981. In 1987, for the 1988 model year, Ford revitalized the name for a Class 4 truck badged as the "F-Super Duty". Manufactured solely as a chassis-cab vehicle, it was slotted between the F-350 and F-600 at the time, and was offered either with a 7.5L gasoline V8 or a 7.3L diesel V8. F-Series change. In response to the changing demographics of pickup truck buyers during the 1980s and 1990s, as part of the redesign of the F-Series for the 1997 model year, the model family began a split into two model families, introducing the 1997 Ford F-150 as the first of two distinct F-Series lines. While still functioning as a full-size pickup, the F-150 adopted car-like aerodynamics and convenience features to expand its appeal among consumers. To appeal towards commercial and fleet buyers and owners who tow, the F-250 and F-350 were developed as a separate, dedicated heavy-duty truck platform (in place of using one platform for all of its trucks). By expanding the model line into two sep

First generation (1999–2007)

Based on the 1997 Powerforce concept[1], beginning production in January 1998 for the 1999 model year (after a 1998 hiatus), the Ford F-Series Super Duty consisted of the F-250 pickup truck, F-350 pickup truck and chassis cab, and introduced the F-450 and F-550 chassis-cabs (see below). The Super Duty trucks were produced with three cab configurations—a two-door regular cab, 2+2 door SuperCab, and four-door crew cab. The SuperCab configuration of the Super Duty marked the introduction of two standard rear-hinged doors on the extended cab, a feature also adopted by the F-150 and Ranger/Mazda B-Series for 1999. The regular cab pickup was produced with an 8-foot bed; SuperCab and crew cabs were produced with a 6 3/4-foot bed, with an 8-foot bed optional. Chassis cab models came with more and different bed length and wheelbase options, but with the same cabs. Two-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive as an option; on F-350 pickup trucks, DRW models with four-wheel-drive became available for the first time. Unlike the F-150, while the SuperCab name was carried over, the Super Duty trucks did not even adopt SuperCrew at all (even after 2016; third generation). Styled by Andrew Jacobson (designer of the 1997 F-150) and Moray Callum, aside from taillamp lenses and the tailgate, the Super Duty shared no visible parts with the F-150, even the interior itself. But on the powertrain side, only the base-equipment 5.4-liter V8 and 4R100 transmission were shared. Also sharing the similar aerodynamic cab design of its smaller counterpart, the exteriors of the Super Duty trucks are much different forward of the windshield. While the front-end styling is an influence often compared to the second-generation Dodge Ram, the Super Duty also derives elements of styling from much lar

Second generation (2008–2010)

The second-generation Super Duty was originally going to debut for the 2007 model year, but quality issues pushed it back to the 2008 model year. It receives an all-new 6.4 L (390 cu in) Power Stroke diesel V8 with piezoelectric fuel injectors and sequential turbochargers to replace the 6.0L Power Stroke single-turbo diesel V8. The new engine produces 350 hp (261 kW) and 650 ft⋅lbf (881 N⋅m) of torque. The vehicle had its first official showing at the Texas State Fair in 2006. Ford started taking orders in January 2007. The first 2008 F-450 pickup sold to the public was delivered to Randy Whipple of Muskegon, Michigan, in February 2007. Located near the same dash area as the last generation (but slightly to the right and more directly below the radio), this generation of Super Duty models had the same Ford TowCommand trailer brake controller and four auxiliary upfitter switches as the last generation set-up. An optional concealed slide-out step and swing-up hand grab bar were added to the rear tailgate for easy access. Ford introduced its all-new optional "Rapid-Heat Supplemental Cab Heater", only available with the diesel engine and TorqShift automatic transmission. In the winter, it quickly raised the cab's temperature to a comfortable level until the engine was warm enough to handle the job. The interior of the Super Duty was completely redesigned, with a new instrument cluster (with an enhanced message center) with similar styling to that of the 11th generation F-150 (2004–2008), as well as a new steering wheel, center dash bezel, interior door panels, and seat trim. Sirius Satellite Radio, a 3.5 mm auxiliary audio input jack (for all models equipped with a CD player or CD changer), a new "premium" audio system with an external amplifier and subwoofer, and a GPS nav

Third generation (2011–2016)

The Super Duty line received a significant exterior upgrade that includes a new, bigger front fascia. Its engines were also upgraded to better compete with the new Silverado HD and Ram HD. Ford stated in the 2011 Chicago Auto Show that the 2011 trucks had the thickest gauge steel frame of any truck in its class; this was due to the frame being the same design that debuted in 1999. The 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty was awarded Truckin's "Topline Pulling Power" award for 2011. It also won Popular Mechanics' best workhorse of 2011, and the best "Gear of the Year" in the trucks category. The F-450 is able to tow 24,400 pounds (11,100 kg) and has a maximum payload of 4,920 pounds (2,230 kg). The F-350 has a maximum 21,600 pounds (9,800 kg) of towing capacity and 3,770–4,600 pounds (1,710–2,090 kg) of payload depending on configuration. Each engine is mated to a 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission. The Ford F-250, F-350, and F-450 all come with trim levels including the XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum. The third generation of the Ford Super Duty trucks were assembled at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant, with additional production in Venezuela. In Venezuela, the F-350 was offered as a commercial use small truck cutaway featuring a 6.2L V8 gas engine with a 5-speed manual TREMEC transmission TR-4050 with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. Since 2012 due to government regulations, the Venezuelan F-350 Super Duty is factory equipped to use both natural gas and gasoline. The F-250 Super Duty was also recently re-introduced in this market after ten years. It was being marketed using the same engine as the Venezuelan F-350, but only with a 6-speed automatic transmission, 4×2 or 4×4 wheel drive option in both single and double cab configurations. A fea

Fourth generation (2017–2022)

On September 24, 2015, Ford unveiled the 2017 Super Duty line at the 2015 State Fair of Texas. This marked the first all-new Super Duty line since its 1998 debut; the frame is made from 95% high-strength steel and the body (like the contemporary F-150) was made from 6000 series aluminum alloy, advertised as a high-strength military grade aluminum alloy. For the first time since 1996 with the ninth-generation F-Series, both the Super Duty and F-150 lines were constructed using the same cab to better compete with GM, Ram, and Nissan's HD trucks. In a major departure, the stand-alone front grille and stepped front fenders seen since 1999 were eliminated from the exterior. The two-bar grille introduced in 2011 was widened, integrating the headlights into its design. Despite now using the F-150 cabin, the SuperCrew name was still not used. In a switch to an aluminum-intensive body similar to the F-150, Ford created a potential 700 pounds (320 kg) of weight savings; in spite of the addition of heavier-duty frame and driveline components, the 2017 Super Duty weighed in at up to 350 pounds (160 kg) less than comparable 2016 models. Ford strengthened the frame and drivetrain with fortified drive shafts, axles, brakes, towing hardware, and 4WD transfer case. F-250 and F-350 pickups were built on a fully boxed frame; chassis-cab models were produced on a frame boxed up to the rear of the cab and of open-C-channel design rearward. For 2017 production, the Super Duty line shares its powertrain lineup with its 2016 predecessor: a 6.2L gasoline V8, 6.8L V10 (F-450 and above), with a 6.7L diesel V8 available in all versions. The 6.2L gasoline V8 engine remained at 385 horsepower (287 kW; 390 PS) but torque rises from 405 to 430 lb⋅ft (549 to 583 N⋅m). Additionally, the gasoline V8 prod

Fifth generation (2023–present)

The fifth-generation Super Duty was revealed in September 2022. Production started in early 2023. Just like its predecessor, this generation of Super Duty shares much of the cab and interior with the contemporary F-150. Two new engine options were introduced. The new 6.8L gasoline V8, which is essentially a short-stroked version of the 7.3L Godzilla, is standard and was initially only available on F-250 and F-350 pickup models with the base XL trim. A high-output version of the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel, producing up to 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque, is available on all pickup models and is included with the Limited trim. The 7.3L Godzilla is standard on higher trims of the F-250 and F-350 pickups, is available on the XL trim (but only with the STX package, which is not available with dual rear wheels), and is the only gasoline engine option for F-350 through F-600 chassis-cab models. All engines are paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is standard on XLT and higher trims on pickups as well as on the Lariat trim on chassis-cabs. For 2024, the 6.8L V8 gained flex-fuel capability, and was now available on F-250 and F-350 pickups with the XLT trim. For 2025, the 6.8L V8 was now available on F-250 and F-350 pickups with the Lariat trim. Lariat models were now exclusively available in Crew Cab and used a synthetic seating material dubbed "ActiveX" instead of leather. The F-250 and F-350 SuperCab pickups were now only available with the 8' bed, riding on a 164" wheelbase, and with single rear wheels. Just like in the 2024 F-150 refresh, the Sport Appearance Package was replaced with the Black Appearance Package, and the Limited trim was replaced with the Platinum Plus package. Additional updates for 2025 included the introduction of the Ford

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Ford Super Duty, (F-250/F-350/F-450/F-550/F-600)

Manufacturer

Ford Motor Company

Production

January 5, 1998 – present

Model years

1999–present

Class

Heavy-duty pickup truck/chassis cab

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive / four-wheel drive

Predecessor

Ford F-250/F-350/F-Super Duty (1953–1997)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5467745CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Super_DutyCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1376014260 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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