Got a fifth-wheel trailer to haul around? The 2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup was made for just that kind of heavy hauling. The dual rear wheel (DRW) F-350 trims – available in only Super and Crew Cabs and only with an 8-foot bed - can, with the proper tow package, handle some 18,000 lbs of fifth-wheel weight. The single rear wheel (SRW) trims are no slackers either, able to pull 16,000 lbs in fifth-wheel configuration. Payload capacity for the DRW trims is 5,720 lbs and for the SRW trims, 4,230 lbs. On top of that, the selection of wheelbases, drivetrains, cab configurations, bed lengths, engines, and transmissions for the 2009 F-350 all but boggles the mind. If there’s a big job to do, there’s an F-350 out there that’s perfect for it.
Six ’09 F-350 trim levels - XL, XLT, FX4, Lariat, King Ranch, and Harley-Davidson - allow buyers some leeway for style, comfort level, and pricing. The F-350 Super Duty is delivered in either eight or ten wheelbases from 137 inches to 200 inches, depending on whether a buyer is looking for a SRW or DRW chassis. Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Crew Cab configurations are all available, as is the choice of four-wheel or rear-wheel drive. Neither the FX4 nor Lariat level offers Regular Cabs, with the F-350 King Ranch and Harley Davidson trims offered only in the Crew Cab configuration. FX4 and Harley-Davidson trims are also offered only with 4WD.
All 2009 F350 Super Duty trims, except the top-of-the-line Harley-Davidson, feature the standard 300-hp, 5.4-liter SOHC Triton V8 that, in combination with a six-speed manual overdrive transmission, throws down 365 lb-ft of torque. Optional in all trims but the Harley-Davidson is a 362-hp, 457 lb-ft, 6.8-liter V10. Then there’s the 6.4-liter twin-turbodiesel V8 that churns out 350 hp and a jaw-dropping 650 lb-ft of torque and is the standard powerplant for the Harley-Davidson trim. A five-speed TorqueShift automatic transmission, standard on the King Ranch and Harley-Davidson trims, is offered as an option for all other F-350 trims.
Standard features for the base F-350 XL include the 5.4-liter V8 with six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a twin I-beam front axle with heavy-duty shocks and coil spring front suspension, rear auxiliary springs, solar-tinted glass, a Class V trailer hitch with seven-pin harness, front vinyl bench seats, and an AM/FM radio with two speakers. XLTs add chrome wheels, cruise control, a trailer brake controller, power doors, windows, and heated power outside mirrors, a CD player with four speakers, tilt-wheel steering, and remote keyless entry to the mix.
The FX4 is an off-road beast with standard fuel tank and transfer case skid plates, a limited-slip differential, and a 4.01 rear axle ratio. FX4 dualies feature the 6.8-liter V10. F-350 Lariats boast such standard features as a power telescoping trailer mirror with turn signals, universal garage door opener, SYNC hands-free communications with Bluetooth capability, Sirius satellite radio, a power-sliding rear window, foglights, and power front seats, and the longer-wheelbase DRW configurations also feature the standard 6.8-liter V10 powerplant.
The 2009 F-350 King Ranch and Harley Davidson trims feature the TorqueShift five-speed automatic transmission and 6.4-liter turbodiesel with five-speed automatic respectively, as well as leather upholstery and unique branding. In the DRW configuration, the King Ranch trim is offered with the 6.8-liter engine as standard equipment. The Harley-Davidson trim features standard 20-inch polished chrome wheels and a chrome-tipped exhaust standard, but doesn’t come in DRW.
Options for the ’09 F-350 range from up-powered engines and the five-speed TorqueShift automatic transmission to all-terrain tires, in-dash computers, power doors, windows, and mirrors, a rear backup sensor and camera, traction control, premium sound systems, rear-seat DVD entertainment, heated power seats, a power moonroof, upgraded paint, chrome accents, and leather upholstery.
The 2009 F-350 Super Duty line-up includes such standard safety features as four-wheel disc ABS, second-generation front airbags with passenger side deactivation, the SOS post-crash system, child safety seats, and Ford’s Securilock anti-theft system. Optional safety features include traction control and a stabilizer package with a rear stabilizer bar and heavy-service front springs.
