While the F-150 may steal a big share of Ford’s pickup spotlight, their expansive Super Duty lineup is a huge part of F-Series lore. And for 2023, the Super Duty is reclaiming some of the limelight with a next-gen redesign, taking the stage at Ford’s Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan.

Standard is a 6.8-liter gasoline V8 with 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque, joined by an available 7.3-liter V8. The proven Power Stroke 6.7-liter turbo diesel V8 returns with 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque; but, we opted for the new high-output variant.

500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque makes it a prime candidate for heavy towing— more than 20,000 lbs for most configurations and up to 40,000 lbs with the F-450. All that grunt meant hauling a 30,000-pound trailer up a seven-percent grade was no biggie.

BEN DAVIS: “I came into this day with very little towing chops… nothing outside of an old jet ski trailer. But here I am… charging 7 percent…”

So even if trucks could break a sweat, our Super Duty still wouldn’t. But Ford took a “work smart and hard” approach, giving the Super Duty plenty of brains to go with its brawn.

Pro-Trailer Backup Assist lets operators move their trailers with the turn of a dial. Pro-Trailer Hitch Assist allows the truck to more precisely align the tow hitch. A built-in scale will measure your payload and help with trailer distribution.

And a tv-studio worth of cameras bolsters situational awareness, including a new rear-view angle that works with the tailgate down.

The 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty starts around $44,000 dollars, but can climb up to six-figures. With so many options in between, chances are there’s a Super Duty perfectly tailored to your needs.