TRUCK REVIEW: 2001 FORD F-550 SUPER DUTY XL

TRUCK REVIEW: 2001 FORD F-550 SUPER DUTY XL:

            Introduction: When you think of trucks, one manufacturer comes to mind: Ford, and that’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today. Ford introduced its new body style of commercial truck in 1998 as a 1999 MY (Model Year) vehicle: the then-all-new 1999 Ford F-Series Super Duty Trucks. The basic design of the Super Duty lasted up until 2004, while the truck received a minor restyling in 2005, and this design lasted up until 2007. In 2008, the truck received a full redesign, which was all-new inside and out. Let’s take a look at the 2001 Ford F-550 Super Duty XL Super Crew Cab.

            Exterior: From the moment you first take a look at the F-550 Super Duty, you can definitely tell it means business and doesn’t play games. From its large, “egg-crate” front grille, to its dual rear wheels, the F-550 Super Duty is definitely a “no-nonsense” truck. In XL trim, the truck being reviewed sports a black-painted front grille, chrome front bumper, and steel wheels that measure 19.5 inches in diameter. These wheels ride on size 225/70R19.5 all-season Black Sidewall (BSW) tires. Chrome 19.5-inch wheel skins that cover the steel wheels are available, though you can upgrade to 19.5-inch chrome-clad steel wheels if you desire them. The 1999-2004 F-550 Super Duty comes in three basic trim levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat. Add the XL Décor Group to the base XL and you get a chrome-finished front grille with black insert, and a full chrome front bumper. The F-550 Super Duty comes in wheelbases ranging from 148-201 inches, depending on which cab configuration and model you choose. The reviewed F-550 Super Duty was a Super Crew Cab with a 179-inch wheelbase. Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew Cab models are all available. Though the reviewed F-550 Super Duty has a flatbed installed onto it, the possibilities are endless when it comes to up-fitting a custom body onto it (the truck comes with a steel frame that is ready to have a body up-fitted onto it).

            Interior: When you step into the cab of the F-550 Super Duty, you’ll find it very utilitarian, with some convenience features that are either standard equipment or can be added onto the truck for an additional cost. Heavy-duty vinyl, regular vinyl, cloth, or leather seating surfaces are available in captain’s chairs or bench seats, depending on how you wish to have your truck configured. Heated front captain’s chairs are an option on the Lariat model. The A/M-F/M stereo is standard, though a cassette player, single-disc CD player, cassette and single-disc CD players, or a six-disc in-dash CD changer can be added for an additional cost. Either two or four-speaker sound systems are available, though only two speakers are available with the standard A/M-F/M stereo. All other stereos include four speakers. The standard two-speaker sound system in the reviewed model was of good quality, though the XL front doors do not have as much padding in them as the XLT and Lariat models do, so sound quality isn’t as good in the XL. Air conditioning is optional, and has a single-zone, manual control. The dials for the climate control are easy to reach and easy to grip, allowing for quick adjustment while on the road. The front bench seat adjusts, though only fore and aft, and the whole seat must be adjusted. Though the truck tested had roll-up, manual windows and manual door locks, a Power Package with two keyless entry remotes, power windows with one-touch front driver’s auto-down window, and power door locks with rear child door locks is available. Rear seat leg room in the Super Crew Cab models is adequate, and everyone can ride comfortably from job to job. The truck will seat anywhere from two to six passengers (the model tested sits six passengers with two bench seats), depending on the cab and seat configurations. The interior is consisted mostly of soft-touch vinyl surfaces, though the XLT and Lariat models feature either black lacquer interior trim or dark-finished faux wood interior trim adorning the dashboard and front and rear doors, respectively. The manual gauges are easy to read, especially at night (later upgraded with a digital odometer readout), and the dash lights are easy to see at night. The overhead storage console with trip computer as well as a front center flip-up console is both available options on the truck, though the truck tested didn’t feature these options.

Engine, Transmission, Payload, and Handling: The F-550 Super Duty came with two engine options: a 6.8-liter, 310 horsepower and 425 lb. ft. of torque Triton V10 or a 7.3-liter, 250-275 horsepower and 450-570 lb. ft. of torque Power Stroke Turbocharged Diesel V8 built by International (the T444E). A 6.0-liter, 325 horsepower and 570 lb. ft. of torque Power Stroke Turbocharged Diesel V8 built by Ford replaced the International engine in 2003, though the 7.3-liter engines are proven to be more reliable than the 6.0-liter engines. All engines can be mated to either a four-speed, shift-on-the-column automatic transmission, or a five-speed, floor-shift manual transmission (the tested truck had the automatic transmission option). Two or four-wheel-drive is available (the tested truck had the two-wheel-drive option). The F-550 Super Duty has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of up to 19,500 pounds, and can carry a heavy weight with deluxe springs and shock absorbers in the front and rear. Ride quality is truck like, as is expected of a truck like the F-550 Super Duty, though it is smoother when the truck is loaded with equipment. Fuel economy is not rated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for trucks of this class, though this truck equipped with the 7.3-liter Power Stroke Turbocharged Diesel V8 got good fuel economy. Engine reliability, especially with the Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V8 engines, is excellent, and trucks like this will last well over 400,000 miles.

            Summary: To sum up, if you’re looking for a work truck that will take a beating and keep on trucking (ha-ha!), look no further than the Ford F-Series Super Duty, specifically the F-550 Super Duty.

-Vincent D. for Vincent’s Auto Reviews