It’s a branding match made in heaven—Ford Motor Company and the King Ranch. While pickups are smarter than ever, Ford’s Super Duty has risen to the top of the class for ingenuity, innovations and cutting-edge technologies that are embedded in a lineup of models that come in a variety of sizes and are available in a number of trim levels. Our favorite models are the King Ranch versions that pay homage to this famed south Texas ranch that covers more land than the state of Rhode Island and is known throughout the world for its Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz breeds of cattle, its lineage of champion thoroughbred Quarter Horses and for farming, recreational hunting and luxury retail goods. Plus, it’s credited as the birthplace of American ranching.

The Land Report’s Assessment of the 2023 F250 Super Duty King Ranch at Woodlife Ranch

We have sampled a number of the King Ranch models and this year selected the updated 2023 F250 Super Duty King Ranch to assess for the Land Report’s annual Gear of the Year event at the picturesque Woodlife Ranch, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The truck is unapologetically Texan but appeals to ranchers far and wide with a lux-level cabin, features for both work and weekend pursuits and its tasteful King Ranch heritage highlights.

Exterior and Interior Features of the 2023 F250 Super Duty King Ranch

Our appetite was whetted simply gazing at the Antimatter Blue exterior of the 4 x 4 Crew Cab that is punctuated by chrome accents, along with the King Ranch’s iconic “Running W” trim elements and badging. Appealing are the LED projector headlamps; power/fold and heated outside mirrors; a power-sliding rear window; power tailgate; tow hooks; and a rear bed with easy-step access and tie-down hooks. Slipping into the lux-laden pickup using the power running boards, we found seating for up to six cowboys (or cowgirls) in a cabin beset by Kingsville Antique Effect Java Leather, high-end wood trims and design materials, a cadre of “Running W” logos and a laser-etched image of the original King Ranch Carriage House. Front driver and passenger seats are powered, with a max-recline driver’s seat.

Once in the saddle, we headed out on the range; notable is the potent power of the 6.7-liter high output turbo diesel motor that has massive amounts of torque for towing and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that shifts seamlessly though its gears; an electronic locking axel, a 360-degree camera and 12,000-lb. Warn winch are among the efficiencies that provide aid when the going gets tough. Ford calls it the “ultimate workhorse”, as it can tow up to 40,000 lbs. and carry up to 8,000 lbs. of maximum payload, depending on the variant.

Revolutionizing Performance with Innovative Technologies & Connectivity

The automaker also refers to the Super Duty as a “smart phone on wheels”; it’s been endowed with an impressive list of technologies that include Head-Up Display inspired by fighter jets; an available Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, which uses ‘machine learning’ to simplify towing; an industry-first Tailgate Down Camera; available Pro Power Onboard with five times more exportable power than any other heavy-duty pickup; and the Ford Pro Upfit Integration System that revolutionizes body equipment installation. In addition, the newest Super Dutys are now the most connected ever, with an embedded 5G modem that connects up to 10 devices and will offer over-the-air software updates, adding new features and capabilities overtime.

Base priced starting at $75,975.

The Legacy of King Ranch and Ford’s Enduring Vision

Captain Richard King bought a creek-fed oasis in the Wild Horse Desert of South Texas, in 1853. The rest is history. Today, the King Ranch is renowned around the globe. Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, was the chief developer of the assembly line and mass production. In 1908, his Ford Model T revolutionized the automotive world. Captain Richard King and Henry Ford were visionaries clearly cut from the same bolt of cloth. The formal marriage of these brands began in 2001, although Ford trucks had been the mainstay pickup on the ranch for many years. Since, Ford has designed special-edition King Ranch models for four-of its thoroughbred vehicles– the Ford F-150 King Ranch, Ford F-Series Super Duty King Ranch, Ford Explorer King Ranch and the Ford Expedition King Ranch.