Ford Press Release

America's Work Truck Gets Stronger, Better, Tougher - 2005 Ford Super Duty is King of the Hill

Ford Super Duty customers rely on their trucks to get the job done - whether at work or at play. The 2005 Super Duty delivers - with more capability, unsurpassed power, more toughness and useful new features that will make work easier and recreation time more enjoyable.

"The 2005 Super Duty takes capability to the max, with towing and cargo ratings that will astound our customers," said Frank Davis, Ford vehicle programs director for pickups and commercial vehicles. The 2005 Ford Super Duty features a host of functional, capability and convenience improvements:

Increased tow ratings across the board, with best-in-class maximum tow rating of 17,000 pounds.
Class-leading payload for Super Duty pickups - up to 5,800 pounds of cargo in the F-350 dually. On average, payload improves 500 to 1,000 pounds for F-250 and F-350 pickups.
TowCommand™ System - a combination of standard and optional features that makes towing easier, including an industry-first factory-installed trailer brake controller.
Unsurpassed power - including the segment's most powerful gasoline engine, the 6.8-liter, 3-valve Triton™ V-10 with 355 hp and 455 pound-feet of torque. The best-selling 6.0-liter Power Stroke® diesel increases to 570 pound-feet of torque.
A new front suspension and improved steering for better ride, handling and maneuverability in 4X4 pickups and all F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs.
Best-in-class braking, with larger rotors and larger, stiffer calipers. Even the parking brake is larger and stronger.
Stronger, tougher frame to deliver all of this new capability.
Design changes that cap off the new capabilities with a bolder, tougher look up front, the segment's only 18- and 20-inch wheels and a more refined interior.

Higher Tow Rating, More Payload Capacity

For 2005, Ford Super Duty pickups have more towing and payload capacity than ever, making F-350 the clear class leader, for towing up to 17,000 pounds.

All Super Duty trucks - from F-250 through F-550 - benefit from chassis upgrades, including stronger frames and available stronger axles. With more customers opting for features like diesel engines, four-wheel-drive and crew cabs, Ford Super Duty's higher axle weight ratings, stronger frames and better brakes enable maximum pickup payload capacity increases by up to 1,280 pounds.

"There's a reason people look up to Super Duty as the benchmark in this class," said Susan Dehne, F-Series Super Duty chief engineer. "It was a great truck to begin with - and we've improved more than 100 individual areas to make it even better."

TowCommand™ System Makes Towing Easier

The 2005 Ford Super Duty's TowCommand System makes life easier for the driver when a big load is along for the ride.

"This truck is all about capability and control," said Dehne. "Knowing 90 percent of our customers tow trailers, towing had to be a priority in our improvements."

The TowCommand System, which includes the industry's first factory-installed and warranted electronic trailer brake controller, offers smoother operation and safety features. This includes a special trailer brake strategy when the truck's anti-lock braking system detects poor traction. No aftermarket trailer brake controller can do this.

F-Series Super Duty

Ford's Super Duty lineup includes F-250 and F-350 pickups, as well as F-350, F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs, and is a part of Ford's F-Series truck family - America's best-selling truck for the past 27 years, and the best-selling vehilce, car or truck, for the past 22 years.

The 2005 Ford F-Series Super Duty will be built at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky., and will arrive in dealerships this fall.