Ford Motor Company introduced its 2004 F-650 and F-750 Super Duty trucks Sept. 6. The 2004 trucks were unveiled at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. According to Ford, typical uses for trucks in this category include dump, utility, van and stake bodies for construction, urban-suburban delivery, and service applications. The company says one option includes three diesel engine families with a variety of horsepower choices. Customers also can choose between ten manual and seven automatic transmissions. The base engine will be a direct injection, 32-valve, 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel with four power ranges, generating up to 230 horsepower and 620 foot-pounds of torque. Other engine offerings include a 3126 Caterpillar 7.2-liter diesel with up to 300 horsepower and 860 foot-pounds of torque, and a 5.9-liter Cummins ISB diesel engine (available late spring 2003) with up to 260 horsepower and 660 foot-pounds of torque. According to the company, F-650 or F-750 customers will be able to order the vehicle exactly as they need it. There is a choice of three cab configurations: Regular Cab, four-door SuperCab, and four-door Crew Cab, each with a wider variety of seating choices than last year. There are 38 wheel-base choices - up from 11 last year -- allowing the trucks to be upfitted across a wide spectrum of body types. Customers also can choose from nine different frames, including one of the strongest rated frames in its class (120,000 psi and 3,580,000 RBM), according to Ford. An array of rear axles is offered including two-speed axles and single-speed axles with driver-controlled locking differentials. There are five multi-leaf and five air suspensions to choose from. Air suspension is offered on all models, with or without air brakes, and ten fuel tank combinations are available. Each of these design elements and others have been creatively packaged to allow for the most fuel capacity and highest ground clearances for given applications - especially those requiring clear frame rails for skirted bodies.