Ford Upgrades 2017 Super Duty Work Trucks

Ford made two big announcements at the 2016 National Truck Equipment Association's Work Truck Show in Indianapolis: It's upgraded the Super Duty chassis cabs and the Power Stroke engine used in the F-650 and F-750.

The biggest news from Ford centers on the all-new 2017 F-350, F-450 and F-550 aluminum-bodied chassis-cab models, which will now be stronger and tougher due to heavier-duty axles, suspension pieces and frame; however, the most significant improvement for many commercial truck customers is that the stronger front axle now offers a higher weight rating, making it better able to accommodate large snowplows or other types of front-end equipment. Additionally, the new chassis cabs will have the highest gross combined weight ratings in the segment, with a max GCWR of 40,000 pounds. As for the available Power Stroke V-8 turbo-diesel engine, it will now make 30 more horsepower.

Other Ford news from the Work Truck Show, which runs Friday, included smaller improvements for the Power Stroke 6.7-liter V-8 turbo-diesel, making it both quieter at idle and at 60 mph. Ford is so confident about the upgraded Power Stroke turbo-diesel — available with 270, 300 or 330 hp — that it claims 90 percent of F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks won't need a major service (such as breaking into the cylinder heads or dropping oil pans) for 500,000 miles, a distance similar to traveling to the moon and back.

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