While the Ford F-150 has been the bestselling truck in America since about five minutes after life emerged from the oceans and began walking on land, some people need trucks with more power and capability. If you like what the Ford F-Series offers but are looking for towing or payload beyond the F-150, then you should consider the Super Duty models. The F-250 is a great option if you need just a bit more power than the F-150, but for truly exceptional performance, you should check out the powerful F-350.
Looking at the 2022 Ford F-350, we can see there are six different trims available, along with several options for engines and powertrains. This can make it difficult to narrow down what’s available and get a real sense of just what this truck can deliver. To make things simpler, however, we’ll go through these options and see what they offer to distinguish them from each other. Hopefully, by the end of this, you should have a good sense of what will provide you with the power and capability you’re looking for.
An Array of Powerful Engine Options
One of the most remarkable things about the Ford F-350 is that it has three engines available, all of which offer monstrous power. Many heavy-duty models like this might only have two options, but this gives you a broader range of capabilities to get exactly the kind of power you want. The standard engine on the F-350 is a 6.2L flex-fuel V8 that delivers 385 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. For many people, this will be all the engine you need with plenty of capability to get your job done, yet there are still two more options available.
If you want an even more powerful gas engine, consider the 7.3L V8 that provides 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. For truly incredible performance, you can choose an available 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 if you prefer a diesel engine in your heavy-duty pickup, which provides an enormous 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. All three of these engines are fantastic, but there’s no denying the power of quadruple-digit torque in a pickup.
No matter which engine you choose for your Ford F-350, it comes paired with a TorqShift 10-speed automatic transmission. This is designed to improve shift performance and optimize drive ratios to provide you with a superior driving experience. You also get five selectable drive modes, including Normal, Slippery, Tow-Haul, Eco, and Deep Sand/Snow; the F-350 comes with two-wheel drive (4×2), but four-wheel drive (4×4) is also available. Your engine choice will greatly impact the towing your truck can handle, which we’ll get into later.
A Multitude of Cab and Bed Sizes
As you figure out which Ford F-350 is right for you, it’s important to consider the major configuration options available. There are three different cab sizes available for the F-350: a Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Crew Cab; each is larger than the one before it. If you’re not looking for much space inside, then the Regular Cab might work well for you, but the Crew Cab is ideal if you tend to have a few other passengers riding with you. Keep in mind this also impacts how much storage space you have inside your cab, so consider these options carefully.
There are also two different bed lengths available for the F-350: a 6.75-foot bed and an 8-foot bed, both of which are offered on the Super Cab and Crew Cab, with the 8-foot bed only available for the Regular Cab models. That being said, just with these options in mind, you have five different potential configurations to choose from as you put together the perfect truck with everything you need. You can also get 4×2 or 4×4 across all of these options, giving you 10 different setups for your truck. Add to that the three engines and your choices have become much more extensive.
A Broad Range of Impressive Towing Capacities
While your choice of cab size and bed length can impact the towing your truck can handle, the engine you pick has the biggest direct influence on your 2022 Ford F-350’s towing capacity. For most drivers, the F-350 represents the pinnacle of towing power that you’re looking for, so you’ll find capability here well beyond what the F-150 can handle. You can use the Ford F-350 for both conventional and fifth-wheel or gooseneck towing, so consider exactly how you want to haul a trailer behind you and keep that in mind when choosing the right truck. To get a sense of how well each engine works for towing, here’s the maximum towing capacity for each of them. Just remember there can be differences from one model to the next:
Conventional Towing
- 6.2L V8: 15,000 lbs
- 7.3L V8: 15,000 lbs
- Diesel V8: 20,000 lbs
Fifth-Wheel Towing
- 6.2L V8: 16,500 lbs
- 7.3L V8: 21,000 lbs
- Diesel V8: 22,800 lbs
As you can see, the difference between the standard engine and the available gas engine isn’t all that great when it comes to conventional towing, though you can certainly feel the difference while driving. The more significant difference comes from fifth-wheel towing, where the 7.3L V8 offers far greater capability than the standard engine. Across the board, however, the available Turbo-Diesel engine delivers exceptional towing capability that exceeds the other two engines, though the difference for fifth-wheel towing isn’t as huge. One important thing to note, however, is that if you’re interested in fifth-wheel towing, you should strongly consider a dual rear-wheel (DRW) model of the F-350, which delivers far more impressive levels of towing.
Fifth-Wheel Towing – DRW Models
- 6.2L V8: 16,700 lbs
- 7.3L V8: 21,200 lbs
- Diesel V8: 35,750 lbs
While the standard and available gas engines can handle slightly more weight with a DRW setup, you have to look at the diesel engine to see the difference. The leap in towing capability with a DRW Ford F-350 and the diesel engine is absolutely massive and showcases what this truck can do. You can see why so many people count on the F-350 to handle anything they throw at it and help them get their job done.
A Variety of Trims Available
There are six trim levels available for the Ford F-350, and while the differences from one to another can be significant in some key ways, they don’t always mean enough to fully justify the extra expense, depending on what you are looking for. It’s important to choose options that work well for you and get the most for your budget, whether you’re shopping for a work truck or need something to use every day for work and your time off. Functionality and features from one trim to another vary quite a bit, but you can get fantastic towing ability and power in the baseline XL trim.
For starters, the XL features a basic infotainment system with a 4-speaker sound system (6 speakers in larger cabs), a 2.3-inch productivity display, and vinyl seating; available features include larger screens and diver assist tech like cruise control. Looking at the next trim, the XLT, you get an upgraded infotainment system with an 8-inch display and a 5-speaker sound system (7 speakers in larger cabs), with a 4.2-inch productivity display and cloth seating. Great features like cruise control and advanced safety features that are extra options for the XL come standard on the XLT.
Moving up to the Lariat trim, you get numerous improvements, like a 10-speaker B&O sound system, dual-zone automatic temperature control, and an 8-inch productivity display. The Lariat also includes navigation functionality and leather-trimmed seating, with power-adjustable front seats. If you go all the way up to the F-350 Limited, the top-trim, then you get the incredible 6.7L Turbo-Diesel engine standard, along with a remote start system, all of the available advanced safety features, and unique two-tone leather seating all included. This makes the Limited an amazing choice if your budget allows for it, so keep that in mind when shopping for the perfect truck.
The Perfect Combination of Power and Diversity
As you can see, if you’re in the market for a heavy-duty truck and are considering the Ford F-350, the choices are seemingly endless. For those needing the power of a heavy-duty truck, customization is a necessity. For most, they are more than just daily commuters and need to be able to tackle the challenges of a job site. This is why finding a truck that meets your demands is so important. Ford understands these needs better than any manufacturer, which is why so many options are available with the Ford F-350, making it the ideal job site companion.
