Test-Driving The Dog-Friendly 2026 Ford F-250 Super DutyForbesJosh Max, ContributorWed, September 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTCAdd us on Google2026 Ford F250 SUPER DUTYJosh MaxThere are two things that come in handy if you've got a 90-pound Irish Wolfhound to look after for two weeks, as I did in Yonkers recently - a park for her to run in, and an F-250 Superduty to haul her around in, both of you surveying the world from on high.In fact, for the 2026 F-250, Ford's accessories catalog currently lists a 4Knines second-row pet seat cover and a pet floor hammock/rear-seat cover. Ford's broader dog-accessory catalog also includes a front-seat pet barrier and a soft-sided pet kennel.What is the Super Duty?The 2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty sits one rung above the F-150 in Ford's truck hierarchy, built for buyers whose towing and hauling requirements have moved beyond ordinary full-size-pickup territory.2026 Ford F250 SUPER DUTYMy tester was a single-rear-wheel, four-wheel-drive Crew Cab. That combination makes considerable sense for someone who needs genuine Super Duty capability but doesn't want the extra width and cumbersome everyday manners of a dual-rear-wheel truck. Ford itself describes SRW models as better suited to everyday driving and maneuverability.What does it look like?Big, square and unapologetic. The F-250 has the tall hood, broad grille, upright cab and substantial stance you expect from a heavy-duty pickup, nothing delicate about it. Yet Ford has managed to keep the design from looking purely commercial. In Crew Cab form it has enough visual balance to look like an oversized personal pickup rather than something off a construction site.2026 Ford F250 SUPER DUTYEngine, mileage and priceFord offers four engines in the 2026 Super Duty - a 6.8-liter gasoline V8 producing 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque; a 7.3-liter gas V8 with 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft; a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel producing 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft; and a high-output diesel making 500 horsepower and a colossal 1,200 lb-ft.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnlike an F-150, the F-250 is heavy enough that EPA fuel-economy figures generally aren't published, so real-world mileage is more useful than an official rating. It's far from a Prius, though.My Lariat trim starts at $65,540, but with all options ($15,170) and delivery fee ($2,595) you are looking at $83,305 fully equipped.Why buy the F-250?Capability. A 2026 F-150 tops out at 13,500 pounds of available towing and 2,440 pounds of payload. Properly configured F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 models can tow substantially more, with certain configurations reaching 22,000 pounds conventionally.Within the F-250 lineup, XL and XLT are the work-oriented choices. Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum progressively add luxury, technology and interior trim. The mechanical mission remains essentially the same- haul and tow serious weight.What's it like inside?Enormous. Crew Cab passengers get genuinely adult-size rear accommodations, and the broad cabin provides plenty of shoulder room up front. Controls are logically placed and generally easy to operate despite the increasing amount of technology aboard.2026 Ford F250 Super DutyVisibility forward and to the sides is excellent once you become accustomed to sitting so high. The vast mirrors help enormously, although the truck's physical dimensions never disappear. Cameras are particularly valuable when reversing or threading the F-250 through a tight parking lot.How does it drive?On the highway, surprisingly well. It settles into a steady, confident cruise, feels planted and tracks straight without requiring constant correction. Acceleration is strong rather than sporty, with the V8 powertrain moving all that mass with little drama. Braking requires more pedal and more anticipation than in an F-150, but that is expected in a heavy-duty truck.2026 Ford F250 SUPER DUTY REARAround Yonkers, however, the Super Duty showed its other personality. Over battered streets it bounced like hell. The stiff suspension designed to support serious payloads simply doesn't pamper an unloaded truck over potholes, broken pavement and sharp urban bumps.AdvertisementAdvertisementHandling is predictable but deliberate. You don't fling an F-250 into corners. You point it, give it room and let the chassis do its job.Room for improvement?Ride quality is the obvious complaint. Empty-bed Super Duty pickups remain far happier on smooth pavement than scarred city streets. Its dimensions also make parking, turning and maneuvering a challenge.Conclusion: The Super Duty is a heavy duty tool that can also function as an everyday pickup. If you've got the coin, you'll love it.This article was originally published on Forbes.com