Bub’bye to the 2 WD Ford Super Duty Trucks

[AbleGuy]

In a ‘base’ decision, Ford announced this week a huge restriction on the upcoming availability of 2WD Super Duties. Basically, if you want a 2WD you’re stuck with low XL level trim.

That’s probably not too much of a irritant to Expo’ans who want the 4x4 badge for props and the utility of that drivetrain for “overlanding.”

But for those of you with fewer dineros who are perfectly happy to save cabbage by getting a 2WD to haul your quads, etc., to those outdoor playground trailheads, you’re gonna be stuck with advertising your poverty (or frugality) by being seen a cheaper version of that iconic truck.

But on the plus side, now you can spend $80,000+ for a 2kw generator (that’s now part of an option package on these big boys….buy the Genny, get a truck thrown in!).

Want a 2023 Ford Super Duty 4x2? You Have to Buy the Base Model

Ford is making 4x4 standard on XLT trucks and higher, which is fine... most of the time.

www.thedrive.com

There's a new Ford Super Duty in town with divisive styling, a reworked interior, and four engine options. The truck's new standard power plant is a 6.8-liter gas V8, and in its most basic XL trim, you've got to pay extra for four-wheel drive. It's included on every other trim, which most will agree is a good thing, but that means no other version can be spec'd with two-wheel drive.

 

[AbleGuy]

In other FUD news, perhaps in a nod to the upcoming self driving rigs soon to dominate our streets and highways, it was also revealed that one option for the new Blue Oval Behemoths with be fully reclining front seats.



(It’s rumored that purchasing this option will include an Apple Music Gift Card for Asleep at the Wheel band’s Greatest Hits)

 

[carterd]

Now we'll have shops offering 2 wheel drive conversion for 2023+ Super Duty. There is a lot of weight and potentially rotating mass in a 4WD system that hurts fuel economy, but I guess when you have an engine named Godzilla you don't care about fuel economy. I know Ford is seeking to reduce the platform variations, so this is one step in that direction. I was somewhat surprised they didn't kill the SuperCab. There are a lot of neat features in the 2023s, but the reliability of all that tech and/or cost to repair has to be taken into consideration if you are buying one for the long-term.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Seems oddly short sighted to me. ?‍♂️

Here in CO, of course, most privately owned trucks are 4wd but pretty much the entire southern 1/3 of the country rarely gets snow and 2wd trucks are the norm. And those people have boats, RVs and other things that they like to tow or campers they need to haul. And most of them would like to be comfortable when they do it so the poverty package will be a no-go for them.

Seems like Ford is basically saying if you don't need 4wd and want something other than base level trim, you need to buy Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota (or maybe Nissan - do they still make the Titan?)

 

[Martinjmpr]

I know Ford is seeking to reduce the platform variations, so this is one step in that direction.

And yet, they make two trucks that arguably fill almost the same niche: the Maverick and the Ranger. How much does that duplication/overlap cost them?

 

[Todd780]

Now we'll have shops offering 2 wheel drive conversion for 2023+ Super Duty. There is a lot of weight and potentially rotating mass in a 4WD system that hurts fuel economy, but I guess when you have an engine named Godzilla you don't care about fuel economy. I know Ford is seeking to reduce the platform variations, so this is one step in that direction. I was somewhat surprised they didn't kill the SuperCab. There are a lot of neat features in the 2023s, but the reliability of all that tech and/or cost to repair has to be taken into consideration if you are buying one for the long-term.

Seems oddly short sighted to me. ?‍♂️

Here in CO, of course, most privately owned trucks are 4wd but pretty much the entire southern 1/3 of the country rarely gets snow and 2wd trucks are the norm. And those people have boats, RVs and other things that they like to tow or campers they need to haul. And most of them would like to be comfortable when they do it so the poverty package will be a no-go for them.

Seems like Ford is basically saying if you don't need 4wd and want something other than base level trim, you need to buy Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota (or maybe Nissan - do they still make the Titan?)

Yep. 1st thing I thought being from Canada is I guess all the snowbirds hauling 5th wheels to Arizona for winter won't be buying Fords. Plenty of people around here hauling 5th wheels only use their trucks in the summer. So no need for 4x4.

Not to mention 2wd allows for more payload and towing capacities.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

Seems oddly short sighted to me. ?‍♂️

Here in CO, of course, most privately owned trucks are 4wd but pretty much the entire southern 1/3 of the country rarely gets snow and 2wd trucks are the norm. And those people have boats, RVs and other things that they like to tow or campers they need to haul. And most of them would like to be comfortable when they do it so the poverty package will be a no-go for them.

Seems like Ford is basically saying if you don't need 4wd and want something other than base level trim, you need to buy Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota (or maybe Nissan - do they still make the Titan?)

I live in the south (Texas), and I can count the number of 2WD Alumiduty trucks that I see monthly on one hand. They are very few and far between. Previous generations were seen considerably more often. Not so much these days regardless of trim.

 

[carterd]

No self-respecting brodozer driver would be caught dead with 2WD. The number of full size pickups with huge lifts, mud tires, and turbo-diesels that never leave the pavement and never tow is surprising.

 

[Todd780]

No self-respecting brodozer driver would be caught dead with 2WD. The number of full size pickups with huge lifts, mud tires, and turbo-diesels that never leave the pavement and never tow is surprising.

View attachment 745703

I think a lot of those don't have the front drive shaft connected anyway.

 

[SDDiver5]

No self-respecting brodozer driver would be caught dead with 2WD. The number of full size pickups with huge lifts, mud tires, and turbo-diesels that never leave the pavement and never tow is surprising.

View attachment 745703

While I respect peoples ability to do whatever to their trucks, I've never quite been able to wrap my head around this style.

How much of a difference in MPG will someone see not being able to buy a 2WD Lariat F350? It can't realistically (not the manufacturer estimated MPG) be more than 2-3MPG. Especially if you're towing a 5th wheel/TT/Boat whatever.

 

[tacollie]

I had a 2wd F350 work truck that got the same 12 mpgs as my 4wd F250. Both trucks had a 6.2 with a 6 speed. All the gas 3/4 ton and up trucks are thirsty. The diesel is a $12k upcharge so I doubt diesel buyers are going to squawk over "having" to spend a little bit more on 4wd.

If Ford was selling a bunch of high trimmed 2wd SD they would keep making them.

My grandpa had a farm in Kansas. He always had 2wd trucks. Every farmer in that same area now has 4wd trucks. 2wd just aren't that popular anymore.

 

[Todd780]

The lowered dually crowd is going to be sad.

 

[Buddha.]

Wait, 6.8l v8?
It’s going in the mustang, f150 and super duty?

 

[ThundahBeagle]

And yet, they make two trucks that arguably fill almost the same niche: the Maverick and the Ranger. How much does that duplication/overlap cost them?

I don't know. I'd say the Ranger is geared more towards some adventure, some offroad fun, and light work. Mav is more zipping around town and extremely light work. Home size mulch hauler (in bags) vs just dumping a load of mulch in there. And there's the hybrid. So while I thought as you do, now I'm less convinced

 

[dbhost]

Seems oddly short sighted to me. ?‍♂️

Here in CO, of course, most privately owned trucks are 4wd but pretty much the entire southern 1/3 of the country rarely gets snow and 2wd trucks are the norm. And those people have boats, RVs and other things that they like to tow or campers they need to haul. And most of them would like to be comfortable when they do it so the poverty package will be a no-go for them.

Seems like Ford is basically saying if you don't need 4wd and want something other than base level trim, you need to buy Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota (or maybe Nissan - do they still make the Titan?)

You've heard of mud, and sand right? Here in coastal TX we get both in abundance, even on so called paved roads. And as you mentioned many people with pickups also have boats, which means slippery boat launches. I've never been to the boat launch and NOT used 4wd...

Admittedly 4wd isn't as common here as it is up in snowville, but rest assured, we have em, and use em a lot...