Ford Super Duty Testers Hoard Trucks, Reporting Power, Fuel Economy and More

The new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty is fitting in so well on the job that it’s being asked to stick around longer. Based on customer requests, Ford Motor Co. is extending its unprecedented Ford F-Series Super Duty fieldwork evaluation program through the end of 2010 to select extreme-duty commercial customers. That means these preproduction Super Duty models will have earned their keep for a full year in some of the toughest work environments around.

“We tested the 2011 Super Duty in every situation imaginable throughout the development process, but nothing can replace these real-world scenarios,” said Chris Brewer, chief engineer of the 2011 Super Duty. Here are the story of three of these Super Duty evaluators.

Reynolds Asphalt & Construction Co.
Reynolds Asphalt, Euless, Texas, has a 2011 Super Duty F-550 4×2 dual rear-wheel chassis cab upfitted with a mechanic’s bed to use as a service truck for the company’s heavy-duty equipment. Essentially a garage on wheels, it services rollers, pavers and other support equipment. The F-550 chassis cab, with class-exclusive Live Drive PTO (power takeoff), carries welding equipment, compressors and a crane body to expedite repairs.

“The 2011 Super Duty is a big key to boosting productivity because we can use it to get to locations not easily accessible and get equipment repaired,” said George White, equipment manager of Reynolds Asphalt. The total weight of added equipment approaches the maximum payload limits of the class-leading 19,500-lb GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of the F-550 truck.

“We definitely have it loaded down, but the fuel mileage has been excellent — about a 20 to 25 percent improvement in highway situations over the truck it replaced,” said White.
The work will get even tougher in the coming months, as Texas already has seen 100-degree temperatures.

TexOp Construction
TexOp Construction, Roanoke, Texas, is working a 2011 Super Duty F-350 4×4 crew cab XL dual rear-wheel pickup outfitted with toolboxes to assist with maintenance. It also tows Bobcats and other equipment on a double-axle tandem gooseneck trailer to job sites.

“This truck has a lot more power and better mileage,” said Richard Webb, equipment and construction manager for TexOp Construction. “The throttle response and acceleration are outstanding. We’re glad to have it during this upcoming busy season.”

The Super Duty F-350 is used on the highway and off-road in about a 50-50 split. “We have to drive it on basically what’s going to be the base of the road, which can be slick mud,” said Webb. “It’s kind of an obstacle course, really.” This 2011 F-350 leads a double life, working on a 3,000-acre Texas ranch, pulling horse trailers and hauling hay and ranch equipment.

Florida Power & Light
Florida Power & Light Co., which drives all around the Sunshine State, employs a 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL super cab 4×4 and an F-250 XLT crew cab 4×2. The 4×2 truck is used for towing about 20 percent of the time with the 4×4 truck towing and/or off-road about 80 percent of the time. The main use of the truck is to keep underground — and underwater — power cables online. This entails driving all around Florida’s highways and “off the beaten path” to areas inaccessible to most vehicles.

“In our business, we need a truck that delivers outstanding fuel economy on the highway and also is capable of tackling the wetlands, swamps and ditches,” said Ray Haering, acquisition specialist for Florida Power & Light. “Our Super Duty pickups have been outstanding meeting those needs.”

The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine is significantly quieter than the outgoing product, which makes using the available hands-free SYNC system that much easier – and more productive.

“Before, you literally had to pull over and shut off the engine to talk,” said Joe Heatherly, Florida Power & Light driver. “This new engine is so much quieter, and with the SYNC system, we’re now much more productive.  The towing capability of the new Super Duty has been put to the test by both a 9,000-lb long-bed trailer that tows a 26-ft boat that aids in service efforts and an enclosed box trailer.

With these trucks delivering outstanding capabilities, it’s understandable why these businesses want to keep them on the team as long as possible.