Our second competitor in our 2018 One-Ton Heavy-Duty Truck Challenge was this 2018 Ford F-350 Lariat. You've already seen the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 High Country , so let's dive into what this F-350 offered our judges.
As a quick reminder, this test was for 4×4, crew-cab, single-rear-wheel trucks powered by diesel engines, and our pricing target was $75,000. Where the F-350 differed from the Silverado 3500 is in its optional features. For both, a diesel engine is a roughly a $9,000 option; however, the F-350 adds another $11,000 in features on top of the Power Stroke motor.
Racking up those extra costs is pretty easy. A 3.55:1 rear axle ratio is an extra $390, which seems reasonable, as does the $400 FX4 Off-Road Package. The significant charges were for things like the Lariat Ultimate Package, which adds navigation, LED bed lighting, remote start, a tailgate step, and 10-way heated and ventilated front seats for $3,255.
Towing tech racked up nearly $2,500 in extras: $500 for a fifth-wheel hitch prep package and $1,970 for Ford's towing tech bundle that includes adaptive steering, a lane-keeping alert system and a towing-focused camera system.
Chromed 20-inch aluminum wheels ($1,140), LED headlights ($1,080) and adaptive cruise control ($740) were the next three largest charges. Sprinkle in a few more goodies and the total cost of options on the F-350 came to $20,640. Add that and a $1,295 destination fee to a starting price of $52,535 and you get at $74,470 truck.
Our next and final competitor was a 2018 Ram 3500 Laramie, which we'll introduce Friday. Stay tuned for that preview and the full results of our 2018 One-Ton Heavy-Duty Truck Challenge Monday.
Cars.com photos by Chris Collard
For a larger version of the 2018 Ford F-350 Monroney, click on the picture above.
