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The heavy duty pickups are all American classics. And one of the most popular in
America is the 2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty Dually 2WD. Ford's one-ton dual rear
wheel pickup is a real work truck, but with all the amenities you would expect
in a luxury vehicle.
The body style of the Super Duty underwent a significant refresh in 2008 and is
basically unchanged for 2009. There are significant enhancements to the standard
features in every trim, however.
The F-350 Dually 2WD has three engine options. They include the 5.4 liter 300
horsepower gasoline V8 that is standard on most trims. The other two options are
the 6.4 liter, 350 horsepower Power Stroke diesel V8 and the 6.8 liter 362
horsepower gasoline V10. By the way, the diesel has a whopping 650 pound feet of
torque.
Regardless of the engine you choose, you can get either a five-speed automatic
or a six-speed manual transmission, either with overdrive.
Unlike some of the heavies, the Super Duties are not just an up-gunned version
of the standard half-ton pickup. They're built on a completely separate platform
from the half tons and have their own body style. They do tend to keep the same
basic interior and options, however.
There are three basic trims for the 350 Super Duty: XL, XLT and Lariat, in
ascending order of price and standard features. Each trim can be had in a
standard Cab, or a SuperCab or Crew Cab Long Bed, except the Lariat, which comes
only in the SuperCab and Crew Cab Long Bed options. You can also get the King
Ranch, Harley Davidson or the new Cabela packages.
The long bed is eight feet, the short bed is six. The manual transmission is
standard on all trims. The gasoline V8 is standard on all but the Crew Cab Long
Beds, which comes with the diesel standard and has only the V10 for an option.
The big pickups aren't required to provide either fuel efficiency or crash test
numbers. However, don't expect much in the way of fuel efficiency. Big engines
and a ton of weight do use the gas.
On the other hand, it's hard to image a safer vehicle to ride in. It's virtual
tank. Unless you're hit by a train, the only thing likely to be hurt in a crash
is the other guy. In addition, all the safety features you would expect are
available either standard or as options.
The 2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty Dually 2WD is a truck, in every sense of the
word. Built to stand up to the toughest work, it doesn't come cheap. Base price
is $26,725. Still, that's not bad for what you get. |
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