The pickup market has been heating up for well over a decade as more consumers have turned to trucks for their primary vehicle. Trucks meet a variety of needs and wants: power, towing, interior space and cargo space. American automakers have met the desires of consumers with ever more capable, functional and comfortable trucks. Compare the build quality, ride quality, payload and tow capacity, features and options of any late model truck to the offerings of just 10 years ago and youll see that the manufacturers have met the challenge of building better, more capable trucks.
As the pickup truck market has grown, so has the heavy-duty pickup market. Ford Motor Company sold off its heavy truck division in 1997 to Freightliner. In 1999, Ford introduced the all-new line of Super Duty trucks and began producing heavy duty pickups as a separate product line from the F-150. This bold departure gave Ford the ability to have two lines of pickups: the F-150 to meet the needs of the consumer and light duty market, and the Super Duty to meet the needs of the commercial buyers and consumers who demanded more capability in a truck.
As a result Ford dominated the heavy-duty pickup market. Dodge and GMC both responded to this by increasing the capabilities of their heavy-duty pickups. Competition is good for the consumer and Ford has upped the ante with the introduction of the new 2005 Super Duty.
In May 2004 Ford Motor Company revealed the 2005 Super Duty truck. This highly anticipated successor to the current Super Duty features big, bold looks borrowed from the Mighty Tonka concept, more power, better handling and more capabilities. Ford Motor Company invited Ford Truck Enthusiasts to try out their new truck at the Arizona Proving Grounds in mid-June.
The competitive market of full size trucks is in many ways similar to the horsepower wars of the 1960s and early 1970s. Rather than focusing purely on styling each new introduction brings more capabilities and features.
•Tow capacity has increased across the entire product line, with a maximum of 17,000 lbs.
•Payload has increased an average of 500 to 1000 lbs per model, and a maximum of 5,800 lbs of cargo in the F-350 dually.
•The all-new TowCommand System optional factory installed trailer brake controller.
•Added Power. The 5.4L V8 now uses the same 3-valve technology as the 2004 F-150. The towing capability of this engine has increased by 3000 lbs. The Triton V10 now sports a 3 valve design with 355 hp and 455 ft/lbs torque, up from 310 hp and 425 ft/lbs in 2004. The 6.0L Power Stroke diesel increases torque from 560 ft/lbs to 570 ft/lbs.
•Improved steering and suspension. A new monobeam coil spring front suspension replaces the leaf springs on four-wheel drive models. The average turning circle of the F-250/F-350 has been improved by more than five and a half feet. On the heavier F-450/F-550 there is more than a 12 foot turning diameter improvement. The steering has been made more precise, for better steering feel. The frame rail thickness has increased, providing more strength and stiffness, resulting in better handling and ride quality. The rear suspension features staggered shocks and revised new spring rates to improve the ride.
•Braking has been improved with larger rotors and stiffer calipers.
•18 and 20 inch wheels have been added to the lineup - the 20 inch wheel makes Super Duty the only brand in this segment with this factory option.
Ford didnt stop with just the capabilities, the Super Dutys styling has changes in several areas as well:
•Chiseled front profile with a grill which draws cues from the 2002 Mighty Tonka concept Super Duty.
•New, stronger looking wheel designs.
•New gauge cluster and instrument panel.
•Lowered waterline.
•Industry first "flames" paint option on the Harley-Davidson Super Duty.
•Crew Cab rear doors open a full 76 degrees.
The stereo unit and A/C controls dont look well integrated with the dash panel, almost generic. Even the King Ranch has this layout. Considering the great layout of the 2004 F-150, Overall Ford has a real winner on their hands. This truck performs well, looks great and handling is improved from the previous generation. The styling is bolder yet does not depart dramatically from the previous generation Super Duty. It looks like Ford will continue its market leadership position with the 2005 Super Duty, and raising the stakes for the competition.
About the author
Alan Green has bought and sold Ford Trucks for over 15 years. He has written numerous articles on how to select and choose a ford truck and the pitfalls to be aware of. Visit the following site for further information