Ford F-350 Power: Dominant Heavy-Duty Truck

Photo Source/Copyright: Edmunds

Half-tons are great right up until the trailer gets heavy. That’s where the Ford F-350 lives. It’s the truck people buy after watching a 3/4-ton squat under a gooseneck one too many times, and Ford has spent the last few years sharpening it for exactly that buyer. Fewer engine choices now, oddly enough, but more capability per dollar at the bottom of the lineup and a cab that, in upper trims, feels closer to a luxury SUV than anything with eight lug nuts has a right to.

Two Engines, No Wrong Answer

Ford trimmed the menu. The 6.8-liter gas V-8 and standard-output diesel are gone, a loss on paper until you look at who benefits. Every gas F-350, including the bare XL version, now gets the 7.3-liter V-8 standard. That’s the big-displacement engine buyers used to pay extra to get.

• 7.3-liter V-8 Gas: 420 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque (standard across all trims).
• 6.7-liter High-Output Power Stroke Turbo Diesel: 500 horsepower and 1,200 pound-feet of torque (available across all trims).
• Transmissions: TorqShift-G 10-speed for gas; heavy-duty TorqShift 10-speed for diesel.

The diesel is the headline grabber. That 1,200 pound-feet of torque is something you feel in your spine when merging onto the highway with a loaded gooseneck, but the gas engine is the sleeper: cast-iron block, forged-steel crank, and no turbos to babysit. Owners still call it “Godzilla,” a nickname that has stuck since its 2020 debut.

Real-World Towing and Payload

This is where the F-350 earns its keep over an F-250. Properly equipped with the high-output diesel, dual rear wheels, and a gooseneck hitch, it’s rated to pull up to 38,000 pounds. Conventional towing tops out at 28,000 pounds. Gas trucks hold their ground too, hauling up to 22,500 pounds with the 7.3-liter engine.

Payload is the quieter stat, but it often matters more. A dually with the gas engine and Heavy-Duty Payload Package carries up to 7,900 pounds. Those dual rear wheels widen the truck to 96 inches across the fenders, keeping a fifth-wheel planted when crosswinds kick up. Exact ratings vary by cab, bed, axle ratio, and drivetrain, so the door-jamb sticker always gets the final word.

Trim Levels and Pricing

Pricing starts at $47,430 MSRP (excluding destination fee) for the base XL. The jump from XLT to Lariat is where the cabin turns luxury, while King Ranch and Platinum sit less than $900 apart, making the choice a matter of taste rather than budget.

Accessible Off-Roading and Smart Tech

The Tremor Package used to require jumping to higher trims, but it now fits an XL when paired with the STX Appearance Package, XL Driver Assist Package, and 160-inch wheelbase. You get 35-inch all-terrain tires and off-road suspension with 1.7-inch twin-tube dampers without paying for top-tier cabin luxury.

Hitching up is equally straightforward. Pro Trailer Backup Assist lets you steer a trailer with a dashboard knob, while Pro Trailer Hitch Assist automatically steers, accelerates, and brakes to align the hitch ball. Onboard Scales display bed weight in real time to take the guesswork out of payload limits, while the Smart Trailer Tow Connector alerts you to dead trailer lights before a state trooper does.

Stop by to test drive the setup that fits your workload, and feel free to bring your trailer along.