Ford Super Duty – Still a happy customer
Since my last blog, after buying the Ford Super Duty just before Christmas, we have towed our 21.7‑foot caravan (around 3200 kg) with an additional 400 kg on the ute from Ballarat to the Blue Mountains (Hartley). We followed the M8 to Melbourne, then the M31 north‑east, overnighted at the Ettamogah Pub just past Albury (a great free‑camping site), then turned onto the A41 at Coolac and continued through Bathurst and Lithgow to Hartley – altogether around 900 km.
Before setting off, we used the Smart Hitch to check both the ute’s payload and the tow‑ball weight, which showed 300 kg (this changed slightly once we got into the vehicle).
I mostly towed on cruise control at around 95 km/h, with the Super Duty sitting in 9th gear most of the way, occasionally dropping to 8th or 7th on steeper inclines. Starting with a full 130‑litre tank and without any headwind to speak of, my fuel consumption of 17.3 L/100 km was far better than the Patrol’s (probably because the Patrol was getting old and a bit underpowered).
In Lithgow, I topped up the AdBlue tank at a service station, putting in just over 11 litres. I had been dreading the cost after seeing AdBlue at a popular camping shop for $31 for a 3.5‑litre bottle, but to my surprise, I paid just over a dollar a litre (AU$11.89). The on‑board computer indicated this would last for around 2800 km.
Negotiating the steep descent into Hartley was a breeze. The ute’s proportional trailer‑brake assist worked well, with no sensation of being pushed.
Other than the occasional bad driver, my towing experience was relaxed, with the Super Duty doing most of the work. I had no worries about potential breakdowns and easily overtook a few heavily loaded trucks on steeper inclines.
We have ordered a canvas canopy, rather than a steel or aluminium one, from Aussie Tonneaus to reduce unnecessary weight. We are waiting for them to reopen after the holidays and expect to have it fitted in mid‑January. I’ll let you know how it works out for us.
By John Ievers
