All-new Ford pickups are serious workhorses

The battle between big trucks is escalating. Dodge, GM, and Toyota are all offering new models to take on the champ – Ford. But Ford is banking on its F-Series, Canada's best-selling pickup, to retain its top spot. After all, the F-Series has held the title for more than four decades. The all-new 2008 F-Series Super Duty truck isn't for the faint of heart – it's a serious workhorse. That's why Ford officials chose Texas to showcase the new Super Duty lineup that includes the F-250, F-350, and F-450, with prices starting at $28,999.

A San Antonio ranch sets the stage for our first test – a towing exercise in an F-250 Super Duty Supercab. Attached to it is a 4,536-kilogram trailer. Takeoff is delayed by another Super Duty stuck in the mud ahead, and several minutes pass before I'm following a convoy of trucks and trailers off the muddy ranch and onto the highway. Surprisingly, the F-250 never struggled, not even uphill. Most of the time, it didn't feel like I was towing a thing. The ride wasn't harsh, but actually very plush and comfortable. I also had a great view of the trailer, thanks to the power-telescoping side mirrors.

While the Super Duty has serious hauling power, I'm overwhelmed by its off-roading skills. A future residential site serves as a playground for the Super Duty. The course is designed to whip, shake, twist, and batter the truck. Add some rain to the mix and you have torturous terrain. My knee-high rubber boots, massive men's gloves, hunting cap, and oversized plastic raincoat, make it impossible to enter the cabin gracefully – especially when there are no running boards.

The first obstacle is an incline – calling it "steep" is an understatement. But my test vehicle, an F-350 Super Duty Lariat, conquers it on the first try. My palms sweat as I reach the top with no idea what's below – only the grey sky is in my vision. I reach the bottom, relieved. Next up is a four-foot-deep pond surrounded by a rock wall. Hit the throttle, and the F-350 cuts a path through the water with confidence and ease. Mucky water splashes high above the truck. Rain washes away some dirt, making the course trickier to manoeuvre by the second, but the F-350 powers onwards.

The last obstacle is the hardest. It's the so-called "Mud Bath," a narrow stretch of muddy ruts. I crawl along the path. Slimy clay fills every nook and cranny of the F-350 as the truck's weight toggles on opposing wheels. I'm nearing the end, growing more confident that I've conquered the course. But the feeling quickly diminishes when I get stuck on the last bump. Reversing only makes matters worse. Two big guys and a bulldozer come to my rescue; within minutes, I'm towed to safety. At least I didn't explode a tire off its rim, like another journalist. Despite a setback in the final obstacle, my test-driving experience proved that the all-new 2008 Super Duty is built Ford tough, inside and out.

Petrina Gentile Zucco is one of Canada’s top auto reviewers.

Image courtesy Ford