Recently we were fortunate enough to attend a Ford media event in Michigan at Ford's Michigan Proving Grounds (MPG). Their 3,888-acre facility is home to some of the toughest tracks, off-road courses, and sand pits to help pump out the toughest vehicles in America.

Outside of having the opportunity to take Ford's Super Duty trucks off-roading and drive them on courses only fit for a crash-test dummy, we were surprised to be able to thrash on the newest truck in their arsenal, the brand new 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty. Yes, there has been a F-450 in the lineup, but not with truck chassis. This truck has been upgraded to tow 16,000 lbs, or 24,500 lbs with a 5th wheel.

We put it to its test by towing a 20,000-lb 5th wheel trailer, and it barely felt like we were towing anything. Off-road, the 2008 Super Duty trucks handled everything we threw at it, and Ford's proving grounds had several opportunities to get us into trouble. In addition to a grueling off-road course that ended in a two-foot-deep mud bog, the MPG also offered up a sand wash with over 8-inches of sand. Stopping, starting, and driving in such conditions was truly impressive, especially considering the weight of the truck.

Other surprising additions to the 2008 Super Duty feature set includes fully motorized telescopic tow mirrors, and a rear view video camera backup system which includes a tailgate-handle mounted camera. This allows for mindless maneuvering in tight spaces or lining up the truck's hitch with trailers. The coolest part of this option is the screen that is integrated in with the rear view mirror on its left-hand side. When you put the truck in reverse, it instantly turns on (with guide lines to assist your direction). When you take the truck out of reverse, it magically disappears. This $480 reverse camera system includes reverse camera mounted in tailgate handle bezel and video display contained in interior self-dimming rear-view mirror. A must-have option, whether you tow or not!

» For more, view the photos or Watch our video

Thanks to everyone at Ford for showing us a good time and taking the time to educate us about their latest trucks!

For more information on this media event, we recommend...

• FordF150.net
• F-150 Online