2018 Ford F-450 SuperDuty Diesel

The F-450 is the amalgamation of the needs of a heavy lugger and the philosophy of “more is more”.

Endowed with a V8 that produces a staggering 935 lb-ft of torque this truck manages to be on the top even when its brethren offer a serious competition.

Available in 6 trims the F 450 as compared to the little brother(350) only sports a single engine option with Dually configuration and an 8ft bed. The XL variant shall satisfy most of the working class people’s needs but if you want a luxury studio apartment on wheels then the Platinum or the Limited trim will make you feel right at home.

Trim	MSRP	Key Features
F-450 XL	$51,795	LED Roof Clearance Lights   Tailgate - Tailgate Assist™ and quick-release   Individual Trailer TPMS/Customer-Placed Trailer Camera   Air Conditioning – Manual Temperature Control   Operator-Commanded Regeneration   Remote Start System   Audio - Auxiliary Audio Input Jack   Audio - AM/FM Stereo, (4 Speakers regular cab, 6 speakers Super Cab and Crew Cab)
F-450 XLT	$56,620	Headlamps - Quad-Dual beam halogen Tailgate - Tailgate Assist™ and quick-release LED Roof Clearance Lights Window - rear, power sliding with privacy  glass Air Conditioning – Manual Temperature Control Steering Wheel - Audio Controls Power Equipment - Power door locks and windows Remote Start System SiriusXM Satellite Radio Audio - AM/FM Stereo, Single-CD with MP3 Capability, (4 Speakers regular cab, 6 speakers Super Cab and Crew Cab)
F-450 LARIAT	$63,685	Mirrors - PowerScope® Trailer Tow, Power Heated Glass/Power Telescoping/Power Fold-away/LED Spot Lights LED Roof Clearance Lights  Splash Guards front Window - rear, power sliding with privacy  glass Air Conditioning - Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control Reverse Sensing System Lockable Under-Seat Storage Box Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ Compatibility Audio - Sony® Single-CD/MP3 Player with HD Radio™ (incl. 10 speakers and subwoofer Crew Cab)
F-450 King Ranch	$70,620	Headlamps - Quad-Dual beam halogen LED Roof Clearance Lights Mirrors - PowerScope® Trailer Tow, Power Heated Glass/Power Telescoping/Power Fold-away/LED Spot Lights Splash Guards front Window - rear, power sliding with privacy  glass  Air Conditioning - Dual-Zone Electronic automatic Temperature Control Powerpoint - auxiliary, 1 in media bin Steering Wheel - Audio Controls Navigation System Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ Compatibility
F-450 Platinum	$75,365	Mirrors - PowerScope® Trailer Tow, Power Heated Glass/Power Telescoping/Power Fold-away/LED Spot Lights Individual Trailer TPMS/Customer-Placed Trailer Camera Air Conditioning - Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control BLIS® (Blind Spot Monitoring System) with Cross-traffic Alert and Trailer Tow Visors with driver- and passenger-side illuminated, covered mirrors Instrument panel – 8" Productivity Screen Navigation System SiriusXM Satellite Radio
F-450 Limited	$86,285	Tailgate - Tailgate Step with Tailgate Assist LED Roof Clearance Lights  Customer-Placed Trailer Camera Air Conditioning - Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System (Includes 360 Camera plus rear CHMSL camera) BLIS® (Blind Spot Monitoring System) with Cross-traffic Alert and Trailer Tow Steering Wheel - Audio Controls Audio - Sony® Single-CD/MP3 Player with HD Radio™ (incl. 10 speakers and subwoofer Crew Cab) Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ Compatibility SiriusXM Satellite Radio Navigation System

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The XL variant shall satisfy your hauling needs and if you want the extra pizzazz and panache in the interior then you should go for the King Ranch, Limited or Platinum trim. The extra plush leather seating shall make the ride posh but will make your pocket equally light.

“On paper, the advantage of the 2018 Ford F-450 Super Duty over its sibling, the F-350, doesn't seem all that significant. In fact, depending on the configuration, the F-450 can actually have a lower maximum payload weight rating than an F-350. And that's OK because drivers who frequently tow heavy loads know there's more to it than numbers.” - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The bellowing and attention demanding 450 hp engine makes an aggressive sound that is a testimonial to the overworking and hard-hitting ponies under the hood that churns out a massive 935 lb-ft. of power, unmatched by others in its class. These numbers shall be enough to give any enthusiast a motor boner, to say the least.

Models	Ford F-450 XL super duty	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD Turbodiesel	Nissan Titan XD
MSRP	$51,795	$53,940	$42,195	$42,490
Engine	6.7L V8	6.4L V8	6.0L V8	5.0L V8
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Horsepower	450 hp	325 hp	445hp	394 hp
Torque	935 lb-ft	750 lb-ft	910 lb-ft	555 lb-ft

Being best in class has it perks and being on the top of the priority list of people happens to be one of them. The Ford enjoys the top spot and being an unusually large truck(22x8feet) it also happens to be one of the few 1.5-tonne trucks available to the consumers. The competition expands to ¾ tonne realm too just because of the lack of 1.5 trucks. Going on pure towing prowess each truck holds their own and offers something that the others don’t.

Acceleration

Judging a truck’s ability to race to 60 mph might seem futile at first but it certainly does help in planning overtaking maneuvers on the highway. With such monstrosities roaming on the streets its natural to assume that the sheer size and weight may act as an antagonist to the real hero “Speed”.

Models	Ford F-450 XL super duty	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew cab	Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab S
0-60 MPH	8.0 sec	8.6sec	7.7 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter mile	16.1 sec	-	-	15.7 sec
Engine	6.7L	6.4L	6.0L	5.0L

The 8s time on the clock may not be the most jaw-dropping but keeping in mind it does better than the other 1.5-tonne only adds to its accolades. The ¾ tonnes manage to shave 0.5s off the clock.

Braking

The humongous size of the behemoth makes it hard to brake when it gains momentum. This translates to a longer braking distance and a need of sturdy hands on the wheels.For what it’s worth Ford’s stopping distance is in the same league as the GMC which is a ¾ tonne truck.

Model	Ford F-450	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD	Nissan Titan XD
Brake Front (in.)	15.4	14.2	13.8	14.2
Brake Rear (in.)	15.7	14.1	14.1	14.4
Curb Weight (lbs.)	8,260	7,044	6,551	6,710
60-0 MPH (ft.)	135	-	132	124

Not for the faint-hearted, this grand chariot graces its rider with the maximum towing capacity but that also translates to a large stopping distance. At 135 feet the Ford F-450 might be worse off than its brethren but when all things considered(especially the weight) it is safe to say that the brakes do their part very well.

Ride and Handling

The ride might be a little numb and non-responsive but on the plus side, you'll get an eagle eye view of the whole road thanks to its height. A ride befitting a king at least by its size this truck is surprisingly comfortable and inviting for a long ride. The steering response leaves much to be desired and the braking seems stiff too. For a truck with the price tag of a Corvette the Ride and handling aspect maybe the only thing that maybe disappointing if we are being extremely picky

For the average Joe, the ride and handling is surprisingly comfortable for a lugger but urban mobility is severely restricted due to its size. Overtaking maneuvers need to be planned in advance due to the long acceleration time and the 22 feet length of the truck does not make it easy to overtake. For what its worth this is a for the countryside haulers and luggers who rarely make it past the suburbs. If you’re planning to use this in the city you’re going to have a hard time.

EPA does not rate Truck’s mpg.

“The Super Duty's interior is not only comfortable but also very functional. Its digital display is customizable, and you can check tire pressures for both the truck and trailer right from the cab.” - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The plush interiors grace its rider with a feeling of opulence and royalty while entering the cabin. This feeling is maintained throughout the 6 seater cabin. There’s no lack of interior space in this cabin the rear is as comfortable as the front seating. The retractable steps on a few models also aid in the entry and exit from the truck.

Model	Ford F-450 XL super duty	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew cab	Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab S
Passenger capacity	6	6	6	6
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.8/66.7/43.9	41.0/66.0/41.0	42.8/64.8/45.2	41.0/63.3/41.8
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.4/65.9/43.6	39.9/65.7/40.3	40.5/64.3/40.9	40.4/63.6/38.5

The F 450 is a class leader in almost all of the parameters in the above-mentioned table. Offering the roomiest of cabins the 22x8 dually does know how to spoil its handler. The rear seating is also class leading and offers more legroom than it’s competitors front leg room. Now that is something you don’t see every day.

Cargo volume

The Ford racks up the most impressive number of 78.5 cubic feet amongst its competition. This should be enough to satiate most people's needs and desires.

Model	Ford F-450 XL super duty	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew cab	Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab S
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	78.5	75	76.3	74

The cargo capacity is won by the class leader F 450. It is fascinating to know that the space for storage is similar in the class with the lowest being 74 and highest being 78.5.

Towing Capacity

The defining trait the deciding factor whilst buying a truck it all boils down to this section because at the end of the day no one wants to buy a truck that can’t lug and get the job done.

Model	Ford F-450 XL super duty	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew cab	Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab S
Maximum Towing Capacity	21000 lbs	19010lbs	14500 lbs	12310 lbs

Leading the class again the American powerhouse steamrolls over the ¾ trucks with ease. The massive dually crushes its competition and there’s a sizable difference between the nearest competition called Ram 4500.

The king of the road also looks like one, finesse, class and power all combined in one is what takes to be a royal. Opulence inducing, aesthetically pleasing the Ford F-450 is a kind of like a hard worker that even after achieving success hasn’t lost touch with its roots.

Model	Ford F-450 XL super duty	Ram 4500	GMC Sierra 3500HD Crew cab	Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab S
Curb weight (lbs.)	8,260	7,044	6,551	6,710
Length(in)	266.2	258.4	242.7
Width(in)	96.0	79.1	80.5	79.5
Height(in)	81.3	81.0	77.9	78.0
Ground clearance (in)	8.6	8.3	8.4	8.1
Wheelbase (in)	176.0	149.0	167.7	151.6

Intimidating, daunting and bold the Model T makers gave the f 450 everything they had. Largest wheelbase check, segment leader in length, width and height check, biggest ground clearance. With the contenders to the throne falling short the F 450 tightens its reign on the crown.

• Mykey System -inc: Top Speed Limiter, Audio Volume Limiter, Early Low Fuel Warning, Programmable Sound Chimes and Beltminder w/Audio Mute
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Safety Canopy System Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3 Point and Height Adjusters
• Back-Up Camera
• SOS Post Crash Alert System

F 450 vs Ram 4500

The chariot on wheels overpowers the Ram in almost every aspect and does so with class. The Ram has outdated interiors and tech that won’t please someone dropping north of 50k on a vehicle. The 4500 may make up for it in the towing department but the sheer size and the not so pleasing

F 450 vs GMC Sierra 3500 HD

The ¾ tonne trucks are barely a match for the behemoth. Rivaling its towing capacity all thanks to the Duramax engine the GMC gives F 450 stiff competition but in the end, is triumphed by the monstrosity called the Ford F-450.

F 450 vs Nissan Titan XD

An anomaly in the segment owing it to the large payload capacity but low towing capacity the Japanese is in for a hard time on the American soil. The Ford counterpart absolutely crushes the Nissan in every segment without mercy.

The Ford F 450 is a big truck no doubt but it is also a niche truck that does not cater to a large demographic. With its weight and size, a F 350 can be configured to have better payload capacity than its dually big brother. With severely compromised urban maneuverability and a niche set of skills, the F-450 is not a car that a silly sally would dilly dally in. The average Joe would afford this if he only has the dough, if not we suggest going with its foes.