The 2023 F-Series Super Duty: Tech & Specs for Construction Fleets

Visit any construction site and you’re likely to see at least one Ford F-Series Super Duty truck. When it comes to the construction industry, Ford has made a name for itself with its vehicles. According to the S&P Mobility 2017-2021 five-year average, US TIPNet registrations for pickups, chassis cabs, and straight trucks over 8,500 GVW revealed that 50% of construction providers choose Ford Super Duty trucks, compared to two other major automakers.

Ford’s truck lineup features a range of reliable options for construction fleets to get the job done. Ford’s all-new 2023 F-Series Super Duty truck is no exception, with several new technological additions and four engine choices.

“Our customers rely on us. And we lead in these segments because we understand their business, we've developed a truck as the platform to do the work for them,” Ford Pro North America General Manager Tim Baughman said.

I recently had an opportunity to visit Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds to test out the truck and see what all it has to offer for construction fleets.

Built with Construction Workers in Mind

With 1,200 lb.-ft. of torque available, 40,000 lbs. maximum towing, and 8,000 lbs. of maximum payload, the 2023 F-Series Super Duty can handle whatever construction fleets put it through.

“The all-new 2023 Super Duty is designed and engineered for America's builders. Our job is to help make our customers’ work feel easy, and this truck nails that commitment,” Super Duty Chief Program Engineer Andrew Kernahan said. “The combination of purpose-built construction, powerful engines, 10-speed transmissions, and new technology means our customers can work, tow, and haul with absolute confidence.”

Towing with Confidence

Super Duty offers a variety of options for whatever your fleet might be towing: conventional, fifth-wheel, and gooseneck trailers.

The Super Duty can also haul using a pintle hitch, which is common for construction fleets. Ford is the first in the industry to have a pintle rating at 30,000 lbs., Vehicle Energy Integration Engineer Michael Mack said.

Here’s how the towing ratings break down on the 2023 Super Duty:

• Maximum available gooseneck towing of 40,000 lbs. with F-450.
• Maximum available gooseneck in F-350/3500 DRW pickup subsegment with 38,000 lbs.
• Maximum available 5th wheel towing of 35,000 lbs. with F-450 dual rear wheel (DWR).
• Maximum available conventional towing capacity in its class at 30,000 lbs.
• Maximum available conventional towing in the F350/3500 DRW subsegment of 28,000 lbs.
• Maximum available conventional towing in the F350/3500 single rear wheel (SRW) subsegment of 25,000 lbs.
• Diesel F-250/2500 pickups subsegment maximum available towing with F-250 offering 23,000 lbs.
• Maximum available 7.3-liter V8 gas F-350 DRW conventional towing of 22,000 lbs.
• F-350 equipped with Tremor Off-Road and Power Stroke high-output diesel is rated at 23,000 lbs. towing a gooseneck.
• Maximum towing for an F-350/3500 gas Tremor Off-Road with 21,000 lbs.

The 2023 F-Series Super Duty also has several technologies in place to assist with the towing process.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps drivers guide whatever materials they’re hauling with a simple knob near the steering wheel. The tech moves the steering wheel for the driver so they can focus on their surroundings. Cameras mounted on the back and sides of the trailer allow the driver to watch their surroundings while guiding the trailer to the correct spot.

Pro Trailer Hitch Assist uses machine learning to automatically back the truck up, aligning the conventional hitch ball to the trailer receiver.

Both of these features make the towing and hauling processes simpler, which is good news for newer drivers. The features also allow operators to avoid needing help from a spotter, which can boost jobsite productivity since workers won’t be pulled from their tasks to help truck operators.

Simple additions to the bed of the truck, like bedside and back bumper steps, plus a handle along the top rim of the bed, make it easier for drivers to quickly grab something from the truck’s bed without climbing all the way in.

One of the highly anticipated features on the truck is the tailgate down camera. When the operator needs to put the tailgate down to haul materials or tools, they will no longer have to deal with an inoperative camera that’s blocked by the tailgate.

The camera, housed at the top of the tailgate, creates that additional view for drivers. The tailgate is also lined with sensors that alert the driver when they are getting close to something, making the worksite safer.

The full-color head-up display keeps drivers’ eyes on the road by showing information in the driver’s line of sight. Drivers can choose from three views to see which information is most important to them:

• In Normal Mode, information like speed limit, the vehicle’s actual speed, and navigation prompts are displayed.
• Tow-Haul Mode includes tachometer, gear, and trailer brake output.
• Off-Road Mode displays tachometer, drive line status, and vehicle pitch and roll updates.

What’s Under the Hood?

There are four engines to choose from to get your 2023 F-Series Super Duty moving:

• 6.8L 2V DEVCT PFI Gas V8: New for the 2023 model, it offers 405 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque, greater than the previous 6.2L flex-fuel engine. It also delivers more low-end torque to make starting on steep grades and merging onto highways easier.
• 6.7 High-Output Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel: Also new for 2023, it offers 500 hp and 1,200 lb.-ft. of torque, the most powerful Super Duty ever offered. It has a unique turbo, upgraded exhaust manifolds, and unique tuning.
• 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel: Offers 475 hp and 1,050 lb.-ft. of torque. It can go longer intervals between oil changes, reducing downtime.
• 7.3 OHV PFI Gas V8: Offers 430 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. It optimizes low-end torque, and the variable-cam timing helps optimize high-output power.

Every Super Duty features a 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission, designed and built by Ford. Additionally, every chassis cab model comes standard with a power take off connection to run added equipment you may need for the jobsite.

Getting the Job Done, On- and Off-Road

A number of features come standard on the Super Duty XL and Super Duty XLT, both popular models for fleets:

Super Duty XL —

• Trailer sway control.
• Hill start assist.
• Cruise control.
• Rearview camera.

Super Duty XLT —

• All of the above PLUS:
• Lane departure warning.
• Pre-collision assist w/autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
• Forward collision warning.
• Post-impact braking.

Super Duty XL/XLT —

• Trailer sway control.
• Hill start assist.
• Cruise control.
• Lane departure warning.
• Pre-collision assist w/autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
• Forward collision warning
• Post impact braking.

Some of the additional ADAS features are available through optional packages. Offerings on the Super Duty XL were increased for the 2023 model year.

However, in the chassis cabs, because the trucks have various types of bodies put on, some equipment can cause interference with the sensors that limit ADAS ability. Therefore, fleets have asked to make the features optional.

The Tremor Off-Road Package makes off-road trips smoother. It includes a front-end lift and uniquely tuned suspension, a Dana front axle with limited-slip differential and axle vent tubes, 35-in. Goodyear tires, 18-in. wheels, Trail Control, selectable drive modes including a rock-crawl mode, as well as Trail Turn Assist — new for this year.

Upfitting Made Easy

The new Ford Pro Upfit Integration System (UIS) allows business owners and upfitters to collaborate on the upfitting process more smoothly. UIS provides aftermarket equipment makers with improved access to the truck’s electrical system and signals to seamlessly integrate the equipment. Equipment makers can also add digital buttons allowing Super Duty drivers to control their equipment from the SYNC touchscreen, so there’s no need to install additional hardware to operate the equipment.

With more reliable connections and vehicle integrations, owners no longer have to rely on cutting and splicing into the vehicle wiring and potentially voiding their vehicle warranty.

The system also allows for high levels of customization and interlocks, like preventing the transmission from shifting into drive with a raised boom lift.

Work from Anywhere with Your Mobile Office

Whether you’re looking at a floorplan, scheduling and coordinating sub-contractor work, or taking phone calls from future homeowners, the F-Series Super Duty allows you to work wherever you are, acting as a mobile office — with an interior work surface add-on available.

Available Pro Power Onboard allows operators to power a jobsite or equipment with 2.0-kilowatts of output. Power outlets are accessible inside the truck and cargo box. They can also be mounted on chassis cabs with a special outlet installation kit.

The standard FordPass Connect embedded 5G modem enables Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices at home or on the jobsite. It gives drivers faster Wi-Fi, mapping, and navigation while on the job.

Over-the-air software updates allow the truck tech to get better over time as new features and capabilities are made available.

Ford Pro Telematics, a cloud-based platform, uses vehicle data to give fleet managers access to valuable insights to accelerate productivity, reducing vehicle downtime and increasing time on the jobsite.

Keep Your Truck Organized with the Middle Console

This section may seem unnecessary, but think about it: have you ever found yourself digging through your middle console for a permanent marker to mark a door frame, a tape measure to get the height of a window opening, or a construction pencil to mark a spot on a wall?

For construction workers, the middle console can seem like a bottomless pit. The middle console has several compartments to help you keep things organized. With a seemingly endless supply of storage space for small tools, you won’t have to use those precious cupholders for storage.

A tray in the middle console that’s meant to house a tablet or cell phone comes with three slots for chargers, so you don’t find yourself trying to untangle a mess of chargers. You can simply weave the chargers through the slots and keep the console area even more organized.

The glove box, center console, and under-seat rear storage are all lockable so you can protect your tools.

The Bottom Line

The 2023 F-Series Super Duty is made with workers in mind, offering technology made to boost productivity and safety on the jobsite so you can keep the job moving and your workers safe.

The all-new 2023 Super Duty is shipping to customers now. 

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet