2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty is Built for Towing
Until a couple months ago, I had not done much towing. Although we’re heavy into travel trailer camping, Colby typically does most of the driving. Honestly, we does most of the every day driving, so this just makes sense for us.
This past week though, we were going to be taking two trailers out for a family getaway at the lake and needed the extra space. This meant it was up to me to pull one of the trailers.
My first time towing a trailer was back in September on our trip to Montana. My hours of towing were mostly through the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
Therefore, I was able to get a true feel for pulling a travel trailer. Battling the elements (mostly smoke from wildfires and plenty of wind), maneuvering twists and turns, even weaving through downtown traffic.
2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty
Pulling our RV travel trailer about 30 minutes to the lake no longer intimidated me. Driving the 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty® Limited made towing even easier, and, let’s face it, a lot more fun!
I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy driving trucks with big mirrors, while at the same time talking about how trucks are for girls too. The F-350 didn’t disappoint in any of the aforementioned areas.
In addition to the PowerScope® Telescoping, Power Glass Trailer Tow Mirrors with Heat, the exterior of the truck also features:
- High-Intensity LED Security Approach Lamps
- Utility Lighting System (LED Side-mirror Spotlights and body-color skull caps)
- Quad Beam LED Headlamps
- Power deployable running board
- LED Fog Lamps
- LED Taillamps
- Moonroof, Power (Twin Panel)
- Remote Tailgate Release
- Tailgate Step
- (2) Tow hooks
More importantly, the 2020 F-350 Limited comes standard with the new Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System with Pro Trailer Backup Assist Package.
With hands off the steering wheel, drivers use the Pro Trailer Backup Assist knob to steer the trailer via the reverse camera. Trailer Reverse Guidance shows trailer angle and direction and provides steering suggestions to most efficiently direct a trailer backward. Both systems are built to accommodate all trailer styles, including conventional, fifth-wheel and gooseneck designs.
Again, trailer camping has become our newest favorite pastimes. In addition to our own camping trips, we also facilitate trailer rentals for others.
This means, we (meaning Colby) is towing trailers a couple times a week. This is a lot of hitching, backing up, and maneuvering trailers into various spots. We both appreciate and understand the need for a reliable backup camera system.
The Pro Trailer Backup Assist not only makes the entire process safer and easier, but can also save your marriage! Believe me when I say backing up a trailer can be quite stressful on even the best of marriages.
I believe the saying is, “Forgive me for what I said while we were trying to park the camper.”
Other 2020 Super Duty Smart Technology helpful while towing include:
- Smart Trailer Tow Connector
- Standard Trailer Sway Control
- Standard Hill Start Assist
- Trailer Reverse Guidance (included with the Ultimate Trailer Tow Camera System)
As well as the Trailer Brake Controller (TBC).
I learned a lot about the need for TBC while towing through the mountains. It integrates into the truck’s braking system and adapts output based on the status of the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).
When the ABS module senses the towing vehicle’s brakes are approaching lockup, the controller’s trailer braking strategy changes to compensate for traction conditions, reducing the risk of trailer brake lockup.
Getting the travel trailer safely to the camping spot is only half the fun!
Even after the camper was in place, we still found plenty of use for the F-350 Limited.
We easily carried 4 adult bikes in the bed of the truck to use at our campsite.
At night, in order to escape some chilly winds, we turned on the integrated lamps in the cargo area to pile blankets on the floor of the truck bed, then crawled inside to stargaze.
Of course, by “crawl” I mean picked ourselves up using the built-in tailgate step and handle.
During the daylight hours, we drove through the campground with windows down and the twin panel moonroof open looking for wildlife.
The camping trip was all about getting away for a while and relaxing in nature. The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty helped make that possible.
Towing a trailer shouldn’t be stressful and the Super Duty made sure it wasn’t.
The important need to know towing numbers:
- New Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup raises the bar again with best-in-class maximum gooseneck towing of up to 37,000 pounds, best-in-class maximum fifth-wheel towing of 32,500 pounds and best-in-class maximum conventional towing of 24,200 pounds with available 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel engine
- Available 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 – the most powerful diesel Ford has ever built – delivers best-in-class 475 horsepower and 1,050 ft.-lbs. of torque, surpassing the 1,000-ft.-lbs. barrier without checking an extra option box
- All-new available 7.3-liter V8 – the most powerful gas engine ever offered in Super Duty – cranks out best-in-class gas power of 430 horsepower and best-in-class gas torque of 475 ft.-lbs.
- Haul even bigger loads with best-in-class maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds with standard 6.2-liter gas engine
Find out more about the 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty at ford.com
