Ford F-350 dimensions

With an perfect combination of performance, brawn and refinement, the 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty is a top pick for a heavy-duty truck. Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cabin offers the following pros: Cool engines; substantial towing capability; high-tech features; refined ride class. Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cabin drawbacks are: Numb and slow steering; dashboard is getting a bit dated.

The 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty is available in three cabin designs (regular, extended Supercab and Crew Cab), two back axle designs (single wheel and dual) and two bed lengths (8 feet and 6 feet, 9 inches, the latter of which is unavailable with the regular cabin or dual back wheel). There are four versions -- XL, XLT, Lariat and King Ranch -- but not all are available with each cabin, bed and axle customization.

The base XL available in all configurations comes traditional with 17-inch metal wheels, a tow suite, telescoping trailer mirrors, air-conditioning, 40/20/40 front seat bench, 60/40-split-folding back bench (supercab and Crew Cab), vinyl upholstery, vinyl flooring, a tilt-and-telescoping helm and a two-speaker radio. The XL dually adds running boards and a hydraulic slot. The Value suite adds cruise control, chrome bumpers and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player. The Performance Equipment Group adds keyless entry, full performance accessories and heated performance mirrors with integrated blind-spot mirrors.

The XLT contains the Value suite and Performance Equipment Group, but adds alloy wheels (single back wheel) cloth upholstery, back privacy glass, cupholders, carpeted floors, add-on dashboard performance points and an optional stereo slot. The XLT Dashboard suite adds automatic headlights, a keyless entry code pad, a six-way performance driver bench and power-adjustable pedals. The XLT Luxury suite available on the Supercab and Crew Cabin adds the Dashboard suite, plus performance telescoping mirrors, foglamps, auto-dimming rearview mirror, steering-wheel controls and the Sync controls system. The latter contains Bluetooth and an Ipod interface and also provides "applink" smartphone integration.

The Lariat is Supercab and Crew Cabin only. It contains the Xlt's above auxillary items and adds back parking sensors, a power-sliding back window, dual-zone automatic conditioning, eight-way performance front bucket seatings with performance lumbar adjustment and a full center control panel, leather upholstery (supercab backseat is luxury vinyl), back bench air vents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an improved trip computer and an eight-speaker audio system with radio. It also adds 18-inch alloy wheels (single back wheel) or 17-inch alloy wheels (dual back wheel). Many of these additions are auxillary on the XLT.

The King Ranch adds to the Lariat special look and dashboard trim, remote ignition, a rearview camera, original King Ranch rust-red leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seatings and driver memory functions. Other than the King Ranch-specific trim, all these items are features on the Lariat.

Features on all Ford F-350s include a gooseneck/fifth-wheel hitch kit, roof clearance lights, a tailgate step, a back window defroster, a sunroof and a navigator with integrated HD radio. The available Ford Work Solutions suite is provided on XL and XLT models and adds an in-dash computer that is customizable to suit commercial users and fleets. The FX4 Off-road suite available on 4WD models contains all-terrain tires, skid plates and updated Rancho-brand shocks. Single-rear-wheel models get an electronic locking differential and hill descent control with this suite, while the dually gets a limited-slip back axle. .