Of note is the increase in maximum tow rating on Super Dutys to 17,000 pounds, which puts Ford in a leadership seat. Ford says that more than seventy percent of Super Duty owners use their trucks for towing, Ford boasts best-in-class capacity for conventional and fifth-wheel towing. Also new are optional, factory-installed in-cabin trailer brake controllers to coordinate truck and trailer brakes. Another improvement to the Super Duty is the monobeam coil spring front suspension that appears in place of the leaf springs that used to underpin 4WD F 250s and 350s. New steering geometry improves steering feel and reduces the turning circle by 5.5 feet. The rear suspension has also been revised, with staggered shock placement meant to improve ride quality. More boxing, thicker frame steel, and a heavier rear crossmember contribute to huge payload and towing capabilities - Super Dutys will carry up to 5,800 lbs. as well as pull up to 17,000 lbs. Halting all this mass can be a chore, so Ford fitted its Super Duty with larger brake rotors - 13.7 in. up front and 13.4 in. out back - and calipers that use larger pistons. The calipers have also been stiffened to help shed power. Super Duty's power to stop, it seems, extends beyond its four-wheel disc brakes. The aggressive new Super Duty design is meant to captivate the viewer and user, convincing him or her instantly that a Ford is present. Long before the 9-in. blue oval is visible, a "Built Ford Tough" chime should resonate in the brain's vehicle identification region.
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