Navigating a rally stage skillfully isn’t necessarily something that very many production automobiles have in their bag of tricks. Sure, there are rare exceptions to the rule but most have some sort of intentionally sporting nature like the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato or the Toyota GR Corolla. One vehicle that certainly wasn’t meant to rally is the Ford F-450 Super Duty King Ranch. While it isn’t the fastest, this video proves that it can at least look the part.
Brought to us by the folks at the O’Neil Rally School just outside of Littleton, New Hampshire, this video isn’t what most expect from the training facility. With over 580 acres of space to play in the dirt, the school has more than enough room even for a truck that weighs more than four tons and spans more than 22 feet from front to back. Thankfully, it’s motivated by 475 hp (354 kW) and 1,050 lb-ft (1,421 Nm) of torque.
Team O’Neil member Wyatt Knox first takes the dually out to the all-dirt skid pad and rips donuts in it in both directions. It looks so good that it almost appears that Ford engineered it to do exactly that. Knox notes how the firm suspension initially intended for towing makes the F-450 tight enough to pilot confidently. Interestingly, rear-wheel drive mode is the only one to use as the 4WD setup causes massive wheel-hop, he says.
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Knox takes the truck through a slalom course and gets a feel for the way it changes direction before finally lining it up for a timed lap. The course is a simple one-way linear stage comprising 1.25 miles of track and 460 feet of elevation change.
It combines a few really hard hairpin turns with some straight sections, one S-bend, and a long sweeping curve. It’s one thing to see this big beast tested in an open lot and another one to watch Knox carry speed through turns while sliding the F-450.
He points out that the one major problem with the F-450 is weight. Not only does it keep the truck from accelerating or switching directions quickly, but it also makes stopping the beast nearly impossible. For that reason, being committed to a specific line is paramount to getting around the course safely and swiftly. Frankly, it’s amazing that it’s as capable as it is. Have a look at the video to see just what we mean.