All of the truck makers have different names and designations for similar trucks. In the case of Ford, there are F-150, F-250, F-350, and so on. There is also the Ford Super Duty designation that is also applied to some of these trucks. So, what does Super Duty mean?

Ford applied its Super Duty moniker to its line of heavy-duty work trucks. That takes in the F-250 and F-350 trucks. But a work truck denotes a stripped truck, which these are not. They’re rugged and great for hauling and cargo capabilities. Off-road excursions are better handled with an F-250 or F-350 four-wheel drive setup. But they also have higher trims when it comes to the cabin. 

So the differences have more to do with the numbers. Like the difference between towing capabilities. The Ford F-250 can handle a bit over 24,000 lbs. Add a gooseneck fifth wheel and that maximum hikes up to almost 23,000 lbs. Conversely, Ford’s F-150 has a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 lbs. The F-350’s towing limit is 20,000 lbs. With the gooseneck, that number jumps to 37,000 lbs. 

What are the differences in cargo capacity?

For cargo capacity, it’s the same story. The F-150 can take a maximum of 3,300 lbs, based on how it is equipped and the size of the bed. Remember, Ford offers three different bed sizes, starting with the 5.5-foot bed. From there, you can get a 6.5-foot or an eight-foot bed. 

Ford’s F-250 Super Duty trucks have a maximum cargo limit of 4,300 lbs, with an eight-foot bed. For the F-350, the number jumps to between 3,900 and 4,700 lbs. 

Yet the Super Duty trucks work well as family haulers, too. Ford has strengthened its Super Duty trucks for handling these heavy loads, yet kept its suspensions with the feel of an F-150. So there is no harshness or excessive noise commonly found in work trucks. 

Does Ford make an F-150 Super Duty?

No, the F-150 is considered a half-ton pickup. The Super Duty designation only applies to the three-quarter-ton F-250 and one-ton F-350 pickups. 

Are Ford’s Super Duty trucks gas-powered or diesel-powered? Actually, they’re both. There is one of each depending on your needs. The 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo diesel V8 has 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. 

Its 7.3-liter gas engine is also a V8, with port fuel injection. It is the largest gas V8 in the industry. With 430 hp, it is capable of 475 lb-ft of torque. 

Does Ford make a non-Super Duty F-250?

And not to confuse you, but there were some F-250 trucks in years past that were not Super Duty. The non-Super Duty F-250 trucks used the lighter F-150 frames, but with a beefier suspension. The F-250 Super Duty used the F-350’s heavier frame. That is no longer the case, and the F-250 is now exclusively a Super Duty truck.