2023 Ford Super Duty Is King of the Spec Sheet

The coming 2023 Ford Super Duty pickup has eclipsed competitors with a spec sheet that sounds almost too good to be true:

• Top torque: 1200 lb-ft.
• Maximum payload: 8000 pounds.
• Maximum tow rating: 40,000 pounds.

Yowzer! It seems like only yesterday that 1000 lb-ft of torque was an acheivement equal to the four-minute mile. Now here comes Ford with 1200 lb-ft of twist. OMG!

“The all-new 2023 F-Series Super Duty is unrivaled among heavy-duty pickup trucks with the best towing available for every trailer type and maximum available towing of 40,000 pounds, best-in-class maximum available payload of 8000 pounds, and 500 horsepower and 1200 lb-ft of torque from the new high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel,” Ford crowed.

Ford

Of course, not all fully redesigned sixth-generation Super Duties offer all those seemingly outrageous specs. The Super Duty lineup covers a broad swath of needs and capabilities. Let’s start with this handy chart from Ford that lists all the engine options and their outputs:

Engine	Horsepower	Torque (lb-ft)
6.8-liter V8 gas	405	445
7.3-liter V8 gas	430 (best in class)	485 (best in class)
6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel	475	1050
High Output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel	500 (best in class)	1200 (best in class)

The base 6.8-liter gasoline V8 is a solid platform for any rig. As we noted in our Super Duty story last month, that 405-hp 6.8-liter engine was derived from the existing 7.3-liter gasoline V8, which itself was all-new for the 2020 model year in Ford Super Duty trucks and now remains as an uplevel gas option, with improved air intake and tuning.

But as we also noted last month, there’s more energy density in diesel fuel, which helps explain why this sector of the truck market leans toward oil burners to pull massive fifth-wheel vacation trailers, livestock, and large cabin cruisers. Ford estimates about 70% of its Super Duty customers opt for the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8. The final step up in the line, the king of the Ford Super Duty powertrains, will be the new “High-Output” 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 producing the outlandish 1200 lb-ft of torque and 500 hp.

All the above engines are paired with 10-speed automatics, with 4×2 powertrains in the lower trim levels and 4x4s standard on XLT trim levels and above.

Sorting through all the numbers and specs from Ford, it appears the 8000-pound max payload is available on the F350 DRW Regular Cab 4X2 XL trim with gas engine and Heavy-Duty Payload Package, though we hope to verify that when we get to drive these trucks later this year. Ford further reminds us that the 8000-pound payload is only available when no additional options or accessories are added to that configuration, no doubt because added options would change the GVWR.

As for that 40,000-pound max trailer rating, it’s only available on a gooseneck-rigged F-450 Reg Cab paired with the 6.7-liter HO diesel and the “Max Tow Package.” Ford points out, “Max towing” varies based on cargo, vehicle configuration, accessories, and number of passengers. Still, 40,000 pounds—that’s more than 10 Ford Mustangs!

Capacity varies as you start juggling different configurations and packages. If you get a gooseneck F-350, your towing capacity is 38,000 pounds. If you go with a fifth-wheel configured F-450, your max trailer rating is 35,000 pounds. And so on down to the F-350 gasoline-powered Tremor Off-Road trim level, which can tow 21,000 pounds. Nonetheless, that’s still a lot of trailer.

Ford

To help with all that towing, Ford offers technology: Pro Trailer Hitch Assist actually steers the hitch ball right to the receiver to avoid embarrassment in the trailer park; The Smart Hitch feature helps distribute weight properly; and the 360-Degree Trailer Camera Package gives that bird’s-eye view of the truck, cargo box, and trailer for added vision of the whole operation as you maneuver about the cattle yard/work site/trailer park. The Tailgate Down Camera and Tailgate Down Reverse Park Aid help, too.

There’s even something called Trailer Navigation that identifies the best real-time drive route to take based on trailer size. The Ford Pro Upfit Integration System makes adding and operating special work equipment such as lights, cranes, or snowplows “easier than ever,” Ford promises. Added tech features include a 2.0-kilowatt Pro Power Onboard setup that can power up a worksite as well as an embedded 5G modem with WiFi for up to 10 devices.

Expect all this Super Duty wonder in showrooms early next year. Pricing info for now is limited to the entry-level model at $45,765, but more details will be released soon enough. Once loaded up with options, you could easily double that. In the meantime, start shopping trailers!

If you have a heavy-duty pickup, do you use it for business or pleasure, and are you loyal to a particular brand? Please comment below.

Mark Vaughn
Mark Vaughn grew up in a Ford family and spent many hours holding a trouble light over a straight-six miraculously fed by a single-barrel carburetor while his father cursed Ford, all its products and everyone who ever worked there.