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Farm News First >

BetterFarming.com

Better Farming

October 2016

F

armers rely on

their trucks to

fill a wide

variety of roles –

whether it be

transporting crop

inputs and feed,

travelling to family

events and industry

meetings, or even

just offering a quiet

and comfortable

location to grab a

sandwich in the

field.

With ongoing

technological and

engineering devel-

opments, the

features and capa-

bilities of these

trucks are advancing

at a rapid rate.

Pickup truck driv-

ers can connect with

friends, family and

industry representatives while on the

road or catch their favourite country

music or ag programming, thanks to a

range of digital technologies.

Drivers can also carry and tow

heavier loads due to the introduction

of new metal alloys, such as alumi-

num, which has increased the

strength and durability of pickup

trucks while reducing their overall

weight. An added benefit of this

engineering development, when

combined with other design im-

provements, is the decreased fuel

consumption.

Given the centrality of the pickup

truck to most farm operations,

Better

Farming

spoke with representatives

from Ford, General Motors, Ram

Truck and Toyota to find out about

the designs and new technological

features in their 2017 line of pickup

trucks.

PICKUP

FEATURE

A round up of 2017 pickup trucks

These trucks offer a range of options and benefits for Ontario farmers.

by TROY BRIDGEMAN

Ford 2017 Super Duty truck lineup

“Our customers look at technology as

a tool,” said Mike McGarrell, truck

marketing manager for Ford Motor

Company. “They are looking for

technological features that enable

them to maximize their productivity.”

Ford has been at the forefront of

the truck’s technological evolution

since 1925 when its first pickup, the

Model T Runabout, rolled off the line

in Detroit.

It came with very few options, but

as Henry Ford famously said, “A

customer can get it painted any

colour they like as long as it is black.”

Much has changed since then, with

the 2017 Super Duty being offered in

five trim levels. It has numerous

options to allow customers to build

the ideal truck for their application,

and of course, in a variety of colours.

McGarrell said the 2017 Ford F-Series

Super Duty is the most exciting line

of trucks they have built to date with

significant advancements in power,

durability, and innovative technology

that consumers can use to work more

efficiently, and safely.

“The new 2017 models are im-

proved in every way,” McGarrell said.

Bigger cabs have increased storage

capacity and improved passenger

comfort.

The use of a high-strength mili-

tary-grade aluminum alloy body and

bed has helped reduce the overall

weight of the vehicle. This design

decision allowed more weight to be

allocated to the high-strength steel

frame. This redesigned frame is up to

24 times stiffer than its predecessor,

thus allowing for better towing,

payload, ride and handling.

The redesigned frame and ad-

vancements in engine and transmis-

The 2017 Ford Super Duty F-250 Lariat.

Courtesy Ford Motor Company