2015 Ford F Series Super Duty Horsepower, Torque, and Towing Ratings Lead the Class

Mine is bigger than yours. That’s what all pickup truck manufacturers try to claim about some aspect of their latest models, and so it is with the 2015 Ford F Series Super Duty lineup. In this case, Ford says the 2015 Super Duty trucks deliver maximum towing capacity among full-size, heavy-duty pickups courtesy of a new second-generation Power Stroke turbo-diesel V-8 engine option, paired with chassis upgrades that give the Super Duty class-leading towing and payload capabilities.

Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager, said: “We’re the only manufacturer that develops and builds our own powertrains in this class and when you combine that with a chassis that’s purpose-built for best-in-class power and torque, you can feel the result in the way it drives, especially when towing big loads.”

Available in the 2015 Ford F-250, F-350, and F-450 models, the new 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V-8 generates 440 horsepower and 860 lb.-ft. of torque, up from 400 hp and 800 lb.-ft. of torque in the 2014 model year. Thanks to the more robust Power Stroke turbo-diesel engine, the F-350 Super Duty can tow up to 26,500 lbs., 3,200 lbs. more than before, and receives a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 35,000 lbs., an increase of 4,100 lbs. over the 2014 version of the truck. To handle that kind of weight, the F-350 Super Duty must be optioned with a new High Capacity Towing Package. This upgrade installs new front springs and a wide track axle.

Buy the F-450 model and the Super Duty can handle a 31,200-lb. gooseneck trailer and is rated up to 40,000 lbs. GCWR. These increases amount to 6,500 lbs. and 7,000 lbs. more than last year, respectively. In order to manage this kind of weight, the F-450 is equipped with commercial-grade 19.5-inch wheels wrapped in appropriate rubber, upgraded rear U-joints, a toughened suspension, strengthened steering components, and bigger brakes with revised ABS calibration.

To boost the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel V-8 engine’s horsepower and torque ratings, Ford made numerous improvements to what it calls a second-generation version of the power plant. Robert Fascetti, Ford vice president powertrain engineering, said: “The improvements we’ve made essentially give Super Duty customers an engine designed for our larger F-650 and F-750 trucks. They may not realize how tough this engine really is.”

The new Power Stroke turbo-diesel employs a compacted graphite iron engine block and a reverse-flow layout with the exhaust positioned on the inside of the engine’s V-shape and the air intakes positioned on the outside. This change allows for shorter exhaust flow from the engine to the new, larger turbocharger that resides between the engine’s cylinder banks, thereby improving response and delivering more torque, faster. Additionally, new fuel injector tips spray a finder mist of diesel into the cylinders, resulting in what Ford claims is a more complete burn.

When the 2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks go on sale, they’ll compete with the Chevrolet Silverado HD, the GMC Sierra HD, and the Ram Heavy Duty.

The Chevy and the GMC are redesigned for 2015, and General Motors says they can tow a maximum of 23,200 lbs. worth of fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer. That’s 3,300 lbs. less than the 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty. The 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 engine installed in these models generates 397 horsepower and 765 lb.-ft. of torque, down 43 horsepower and 95 lb-ft. of torque compared to the Ford.

Ram says the optional 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output turbo-diesel 6-cylinder engine offered in the Ram Heavy Duty trucks will generate up to 385 horsepower and 850 lb.-ft. of torque, when installed in the RAM 3500 and depending on vehicle configuration. These numbers are good for a maximum tow rating of 30,000 lbs., and Ram claims a maximum GCWR of 37,600 lbs., just shy of the 2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty’s ratings of 31,200 lbs. and 40,000 lbs., respectively.