Ford’s F-350 Crew Cab Limited – If you’ve got it, flaunt it

Ford’s F-350 Crew Cab Limited

If you’ve got it, flaunt it

Back in the 1960s, Texas-based Braniff Airlines had a commercial campaign with the If you’ve got, flaunt it tagline. That slogan could easily fit Ford’s 2020 Super Duty Limited.  Ford took a fully capable work truck, one perfectly at home in the West Texas oil fields (when there were West Texas oil fields) and turned it into a luxury vehicle that no one really needs. But, hey, if you’ve got, why not flaunt it? And when my wife finally does buy that winning lottery ticket, I’m getting one of these.

I test drove an Iconic Silver 2020 F-350 SRW 4×4 Crew Cab Limited for a week and fell in love with a truck. I’m sure I’ll never justify the need to drive one as my everyday vehicle, and this press vehicle is not for sale – so it didn’t come with a window sticker. But a quick visit to the Ford.com website showed the truck can be yours for about $85,000. Just for comparison, the base model F-350 Crew Cab has an MSRP of $39,150.  That gap virtually defines ‘big difference’.

The Super Duty came with the 6.7 liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel, mated to a 10-speed transmission. This engine has been upgraded for the 2020 model year with 475 hp and 1050 lb-ft of torque, which Ford claims is best-in-class. The turbodiesel is a hefty $10,495 up-charge, but if planning on towing anything this is the powertrain you want, it’s one of the main trucks used for heavy equipment transportation. I towed a loaded 12-foot long trailer from Dallas to Houston, and the F-350 didn’t break a sweat. 

One of the innovative features included in the Limited trim is the Pro Trailer Backup Assist.  Unlike my Texas-born wife, who grew up towing the family boat with her Dad’s F-150 and who can back up a trailer with ease, I’m a novice who hasn’t figured that out yet.  Once I set up the Trailer Assist feature, I backed up the trailer like a pro just by turning a dial on the dashboard.  It even readjusts the blind-spot monitoring to cover the length of the trailer. So if you tow anything on a regular basis, this feature is super handy.

The Limited trim does its best to wrap its occupants in luxury.  The stylish two-tone Highland Tan leather seats are exclusive to this trim.  On the center armrest, the badging shows the class, the serial number and the year of that particular Limited. The one I drove was number 00011.  Another feature that I loved was the twin-panel moonroof that really adds to the luxury feel of the Super Duty.  

Heavy duty pickup trucks are engineered to haul heavy loads, and tend to ride rough when ‘hauling air’, which can make long drives tiring.  I drove the Super Duty back and forth from Dallas to Houston twice, once towing a trailer.  After eight hours behind the wheel, I found driving this Super Duty a breeze.  It drives tight and the immense power and the low-end torque of Ford’s 6.7-liter turbo-diesel makes the big pickup feel peppy.  I found myself driving it more like a car than a big pickup. 

Frankly, I can’t wait to drive one of my own. I want it, and I want to flaunt it.