Ford’s tricky F-450 Series Super Duty with bed-extender

For example, the F-450 pickup rides on its own unique chassis. It incorporates a new rear leaf-spring suspension while using the radius arm front suspension from the F-450 chassis cab. This set-up provides for the tightest turning radius in its class, greatly improving maneuverability when towing.

“The increased towing and cargo hauling capability, the engine enhancements and all the refinements make the F-450 absolutely the most capable pickup truck we’ve ever built—period. And that is exactly what our customers are asking for,” said Pete Reyes, Super Duty chief engineer.

According to a study by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), towable RV shipments have grown steadily over the past five years, topping out at 323,000 units shipped in 2005, a 15.4 percent increase over 2004. In the same time frame, conventional motor coaches experienced a decline in sales, with shipments of the Type A variety down 18.1 percent in 2005.

The RVIA says that higher fuel prices and a desire for more flexibility are driving customers out of conventional motor coaches and into towable travel trailers and fifth wheels. And as these customers move to towable trailers, they will still expect to have the same level of luxury features – such as tile floors, granite countertops and big-screen TVs – as they had in their motor coaches. For example, almost 90 percent of fifth-wheel RVs shipped in 2005 had at least one fold-out room, according to RVIA data.

The 2007 F-350 Super Duty already offered best-in-class maximum payload of 5,800 pounds and maximum towing capacity of 19,200 pounds. The new 2008 F-450 pickup widens the capability gap, offering a maximum payload of more than 6,000 pounds and towing capacity of more than 24,000 pounds – a 5,000-pound increase over the class-leading F-350. All of this added capability comes with the same increased level of refinement found in the new 2008 F-250 Super Duty and F-350 Super Duty.

“Customers tell us they want to tow and the F-450 delivers,” said Reyes. “The trailer builders will be writing us thank-you letters because they can sell trailers with granite counter tops and fireplaces. And adding another horse to the trailer is no problem for the F-450 pickup.”

All-new 6.4-liter Power Stroke Diesel is cleaner, quieter and more powerful

A more powerful 6.4-liter Power Stroke Diesel joins a powertrain lineup that already includes the segment’s most powerful gasoline engine, the 362-horsepower 6.8-liter V-10 Triton.

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