2024 Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation proves to be a contemporary marvel

When excessive cold-weather hits, the primary thought many automobile homeowners have is, “Will my automobile begin?”

That fear is even higher for diesel truck homeowners, who might put components to their tank to make sure the diesel gasoline doesn’t “gel up,” or forestall the waxes in diesel gasoline from crystallizing. The crystallized gasoline can result in clogged gasoline filters or a truck merely not beginning. 

Fashionable autos are underrated marvels of engineering, and the 2024 Ford Tremendous Obligation truck simply may lead the pack in chilly climate. It’s additionally the class-leading tow champ in a section the place massive numbers reign supreme.

Just lately I spent per week with the Ford F-350 King Ranch variant in excessive Minnesota chilly climate, with in a single day lows plunging into double-digit sub-zero temps. What I skilled was nothing wanting a testomony to how far trendy autos have come. Listed below are the professionals and cons from that have.  

Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation

Professional: Ford Tremendous Obligation begins insanely quick within the chilly, each time

A depend of two- or three-Mississippi. That’s all it took with distant begin for the large 6.7-liter Excessive Output turbodiesel V-8 to crank and hearth to life after sitting exterior in a single day in double-digit sub-zero temps. That’s not simply wild, it’s higher than some other trendy diesel I’ve ever skilled. A Ford spokesperson stated the efficiency comes right down to the use and programming of the engine’s glow plugs, that are heating parts that heat incoming gasoline and air. Every week later with temps within the teenagers, a Ram Heavy Obligation pickup’s 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel took nine- or ten-Mississippi to crank over and hearth to life. The Cummins doesn’t have glow plugs, quite it makes use of a grid heater that raises the incoming air temperature for the consumption manifold. In my expertise, a GMC Sierra HD’s 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V-8 can take three-Mississippi to crank over and hearth from chilly when it’s 70 levels out. The Duramax options glow plugs. The Ford carried out the identical feat in sub-zero climate with out having a block heater plugged in. A good friend with a 50-year-old Mercedes turbodiesel fired his automobile’s engine in the identical sub-zero temps, but it surely took, properly, no one goes to depend that top in Mississippis. Individuals who drive these items on a regular basis can rapidly overlook what outdated diesels have been like.

Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation

Con: Ford Tremendous Obligation intimidates

The Tremendous Obligation in my driveway was huge and hulking. That is ridiculous. The highest of the hood is almost to the highest of my chest, and I’m 5-foot-10. It’s not as excessive because the GMC Sierra HD’s hoodline, but it surely’s not that far off. The total-width grille working into the headlights now solely accentuates the truck’s 6-foot-6 width. If this factor’s dimension isn’t compensating for one thing, I’m undecided how else to clarify it. A non off-road variant of the Ram 2500 HD appears extra approachable with its much less blocky entrance finish. It’s additionally not small although.

Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation

Professional: Ford Tremendous Obligation options helpful tech

Over time, Ford’s tailored a number of the F-150’s tech into the Tremendous Obligation, together with zone lighting managed from the touchscreen, a surround-view digital camera system, and extra. The combination of a digital camera into the highest of the Tremendous Obligation’s tailgate so the backup digital camera can nonetheless be used with the tailgate down is pure genius. It’s helpful tech that makes backing up simpler and safer. 

Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation

Con: Ford Tremendous Obligation can get loopy costly

The Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation prices $48,010, which isn’t chump change. It’s additionally an enormous, succesful truck that in base type was designed to spend a tough life working. My leather-laden tester was a high-zoot King Ranch mannequin with every part from a head-up show to entrance seats that totally recline for naps within the subject. It additionally had a window sticker of $96,265, together with a $1,995 vacation spot cost. It was practically a $100,000 truck, which is bananas. 

Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation

Professional: Ford Tremendous Obligation rides surpisingly properly

This isn’t your father’s heavy responsibility pickup truck. Tremendous Obligation vans used to trip like a lumber wagon in order that they have been able to towing as much as 12,500 kilos, which is lower than the 2024 F-150 is rated to tow at this level. Now a Tremendous Obligation can tow as much as 40,000 kilos and trip higher than it has any proper to. Ford in 2023 redesigned and retuned a couple of key suspension elements together with the management arms and shocks that make the Tremendous Obligation not simply tolerable to trip in, however fulfilling. Damaged pavement doesn’t ship this monster bucking. 

Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation

Con: Ford Tremendous Obligation options good sufficient inside

At $96,265, my King Ranch tester’s inside was nonetheless a minimum of a half step beneath what consumers will discover in a Ram heavy responsibility pickup. The plastic trim that appears like steel is cool to the contact and fairly convincing, the thick leather-based is sharp with King Ranch logos stitched into the seat backs and entrance heart arm relaxation, and the steel speaker covers on the doorways are a pleasant contact. However the steel speaker covers in a Ram are nicer, the steel in a Ram is actual, and the leather-based in a Ram is softer. The injection-molded plastic seize handles on the A-pillars stare you within the face within the Ford screaming, “These aren’t leather-wrapped.”

The truth that Ford’s been capable of engineer and tune the Tremendous Obligation to trip higher than outdated light-duty pickups but nonetheless haul such heavy masses is a feat in itself. The truth that its huge turbodiesel is the fastest-firing diesel engine I’ve ever seen, even in sub-zero climate, impresses me much more. Ford’s HO diesel places an exclamation level on how outdated the Cummins turbodiesel is within the Ram. 

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2024 Ford F-350 Tremendous Obligation King Ranch

Base worth: $48,010, together with $1,995 vacation spot

Worth as examined: $96,265

Powertrain: 500-hp 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8, 10-speed automated transmission, 4WD

EPA gasoline economic system: N/A

The professionals: Quickest beginning turbodiesel, helpful tech, spectacular trip high quality

The cons: It’s enormous, will get loopy costly, Ram inside’s nicer nonetheless