F250 SuperCab or Crew Cab - TV length parking lot issues?

[Outdoorpeak]

Originally Posted by Naper

The 2016 F250 is different than the 2017. The 2017 uses the same aluminum body as the F150 with different grill fenders and hood however it sits much higher than the 16 250. The 17 is night and day better in ride and handling. Size wise the 150 and 250 are the same width and length, (only the height is different) when comparing similar configurations. The 250 only comes with the 6.7' box where as the 150 has a 5.5' or a 6.7' box. If you compare a 150 with the short box and the 250 with the 6.7 box the 250 is a foot longer. The extra 12" doesnt sound like much but it is when you have to maneuver in a tight area and is very noticeable with a 30' AirStream. For me the Supercab is the way to go. The only advantage to a SuperCrew is back seat passengers, and for me its not an issue. The whole argument about the back doors on the SuperCab is nonsense.

Very helpful. Is your 6.7' bed F250 SuperCab similar in length to an F150 SuperCrew with 5.5' bed? That might sway me to a 2017 F250, since I would not regularly be carrying back seat passengers.

[Naper]

Originally Posted by Outdoorpeak

Very helpful. Is your 6.7' bed F250 SuperCab similar in length to an F150 SuperCrew with 5.5' bed? That might sway me to a 2017 F250, since I would not regularly be carrying back seat passengers.

The 150 crew cab with the 5.5' bed is 232" long , The 250 Supercab 6.7' bed is 238" long. A difference or 6"

[kb0zke]

I'm looking for a 2013-2014 F350 crew cab single rear axle for our tow vehicle. We're full-timers currently in a 40' MH, so all the stuff in the basement will have to go in the bed of the truck. When we're working with Laborers For Christ the group goes out to eat once a week, and we often try to carpool, so having four doors and a full-size back seat is important.

Our Jeep Liberty can fit in quite a few closer parking places, but I often choose one a bit farther away if I'm not going to be bringing back something that is either heavy or awkward and that I have to carry. I always try to drive through one parking spot into the next one so that I'm facing out. No backing up that way.

We lived in our last S&B for 10 years before I got a garage, and then sold the place a few years later. The Jeep hasn't been in a garage in more than two years.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Naper

The 150 crew cab with the 5.5' bed is 232" long , The 250 Supercab 6.7' bed is 238" long. A difference or 6"

Length overall (quoted above) matters for garages. Wheelbase matters for manueverability. The F150 Supercrew with 5.5' bed has a 145" wheelbase, 15" shorter than the F250 crew with 6.5' bed. This isn't really a fair comparison, since the F250 short-box has about the same bed size as the F150 crew LONG box. Between those two there's only a 3" wheelbase difference, and oddly enough the 150 is a few inches longer overall, on the spec sheet. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that's because the 250 is available without a rear bumper (for outfitting with your own bumper) and that option isn't offered on the 150.

EDIT:
D'oh! Apologies for my reading comprehension problem. I could delete but people may already have read what I wrote. I missed that the comparison was between the F150 Supercrew and the F250 SuperCAB. In that comparison the wheelbase difference is only 3", so maneuverability should be very similar.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Outdoorpeak

Very helpful. Is your 6.7' bed F250 SuperCab similar in length to an F150 SuperCrew with 5.5' bed? That might sway me to a 2017 F250, since I would not regularly be carrying back seat passengers.

We never carry passengers and wouldn't buy anything but a crew cab. Traveling with two dogs its an absolute must for us.
Even without dogs being able to carry and access stuff easily is a real plus IMHO.

[DavidsonOverlander]

You may want to look up the turning diameter as well as wheelbase and overall length.
Here are a few sample measurements I got from caranddriver.com. When you get to the site select the vehicle under research vehicles.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by DavidsonOverlander

You may want to look up the turning diameter as well as wheelbase and overall length.
Here are a few sample measurements I got from caranddriver.com. When you get to the site select the vehicle under research vehicles.

Using that guide I see that my Ram 2500 turns in a 5' 7" smaller turning diameter than a similarity sized F-250. That is a huge difference when backing your trailer into a tight area (like the place we store ours in our driveway).
Interesting data...
Thanks,
Bruce

[DPRoberts]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Using that guide I see that my Ram 2500 turns in a 5' 7" smaller turning diameter than a similarity sized F-250. That is a huge difference when backing your trailer into a tight area (like the place we store ours in our driveway).
Interesting data...
Thanks,
Bruce

F-150 4WD SuperCab 6.5' bed 145" WB, 47.1' td
F-250 4WD SuperCrew 5.5' bed 145" WB, 47.8' td

F-250 XLT 4WD SuperCab 6.75" bed 148" WB, 49.5' td

Ram 2500 4WD Crew Cab 6.33" bed 149" WB 43.9' td

Personally, for my own apples-to-apples comparison, I'd like a truck with 4WD and at least an extended cab of some kind, preferably a crew cab. To that end, a Ram 2500 beats the F-250 in turning diameter, and that's even comparing a Ram with a full crew cab to the smaller Ford's SuperCab. Furthermore, the Ram turns more sharply than an F-150 too, in either longer-cab specification.

So, I find it interesting that in some rather important specifications, some 3/4 ton trucks are "smaller" than some half ton trucks.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by DPRoberts

F-150 4WD SuperCab 6.5' bed 145" WB, 47.1' td
F-250 4WD SuperCrew 5.5' bed 145" WB, 47.8' td

F-250 XLT 4WD SuperCab 6.75" bed 148" WB, 49.5' td

Ram 2500 4WD Crew Cab 6.33" bed 149" WB 43.9' td

Personally, for my own apples-to-apples comparison, I'd like a truck with 4WD and at least an extended cab of some kind, preferably a crew cab. To that end, a Ram 2500 beats the F-250 in turning diameter, and that's even comparing a Ram with a full crew cab to the smaller Ford's SuperCab. Furthermore, the Ram turns more sharply than an F-150 too, in either longer-cab specification.

So, I find it interesting that in some rather important specifications, some 3/4 ton trucks are "smaller" than some half ton trucks.

More important is probably the reasons why, in terms of the strength of the steering components. U-turn radius is the least of my criterion when looking at heavy duty trucks.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

More important is probably the reasons why, in terms of the strength of the steering components. U-turn radius is the least of my criterion when looking at heavy duty trucks.

Except that every trailer must be backed up into a site at some point, this is where the turning radius has so much impact.
Bruce

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Except that every trailer must be backed up into a site at some point, this is where the turning radius has so much impact.
Bruce

In our construction business we ran 2 F-250 with the V10 engines and one Ram 2500 with the Hemi. We run the F-250 200 K miles trouble free. We got tired of the RAM front end not holding up after three seasons and got rid of it.
No we run exclusively F-250s we are up to four now.
We never noticed any advantage in the tighter turning radius of the RAM nor did it ever seamed to be an issue the other way with the F-250. They are all used to pull various sizes of equipment trailers.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

In our construction business we ran 2 F-250 with the V10 engines and one Ram 2500 with the Hemi. We run the F-250 200 K miles trouble free. We got tired of the RAM front end not holding up after three seasons and got rid of it.
No we run exclusively F-250s we are up to four now.
We never noticed any advantage in the tighter turning radius of the RAM nor did it ever seamed to be an issue the other way with the F-250. They are all used to pull various sizes of equipment trailers.

Yes
Older Rams had lots of front end issues.
The newest Rams are redesigned so time will tell. I bet you are glad your F-250's aren't 6.4's though!
The 6.2 is a great engine and the F-250 platform was perfected years ago in that series.
If you believe that a turning diameter of 7 to 10 additional feet doesn't matter then you know a trick or two about backing up that I don't.
Every inch matters in a tight spot!!!
Bruce

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Yes
Older Rams had lots of front end issues.
The newest Rams are redesigned so time will tell. I bet you are glad your F-250's aren't 6.4's though!
The 6.2 is a great engine and the F-250 platform was perfected years ago in that series.
If you believe that a turning diameter of 7 to 10 additional feet doesn't matter then you know a trick or two about backing up that I don't.
Every inch matters in a tight spot!!!
Bruce

Never had to turn the wheels to the stops when backing up. I've seen people wreck trailers trying to turn too tight. I live on a tight city street and can get it in the driveway with cars parked on both sides without issue.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

Never had to turn the wheels to the stops when backing up. I've seen people wreck trailers trying to turn too tight. I live on a tight city street and can get it in the driveway with cars parked on both sides without issue.

Funny
I get it to the end stops all the time, I simply don't keep it there!
We are in Boyd's (Key West FL) now and even our little 16' Bambi was a challenge to get into this site as the site is on a corner and the road was clogged with tow vehicles parked close to the edge everywhere.
Longer turning radius would have made it more difficult.
Glad you like truck.
Bruce

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Yes
Older Rams had lots of front end issues.
The newest Rams are redesigned so time will tell. I bet you are glad your F-250's aren't 6.4's though!
The 6.2 is a great engine and the F-250 platform was perfected years ago in that series.
If you believe that a turning diameter of 7 to 10 additional feet doesn't matter then you know a trick or two about backing up that I don't.
Every inch matters in a tight spot!!!
Bruce

I honestly never got concerned about turning radius. I have driven professionally for a few years, both tankers and freight and have been driving a verity of pickups of all sizes and length over the last 50 years. What I found that you automatically adjust to the vehicles geometry and the only difference between tighter or wider turning radius makes is that you end up with an extra stop and back up and go versus just whipping around the bend. Not a deal breaker IMHO. (Unless you are planing on driving your rig in old town Madrid,Paris or Vienna) :-).

[james.mileur]

Originally Posted by Outdoorpeak

I'm considering a 2017 F250 diesel to tow a 30' Classic. Looking at overall vehicle length, the 250's are considerably longer than similar bed size 150's. If I were buying an F150, I'd definitely go with the Crew with 6.5" bed at 243.7" length. I'm concerned about parking my TV in grocery store or Walmart parking lots. I'd love an F250 SWB Crew Cab, but overall length is 250" vs 238" in a SWB SuperCab. This will be my only vehicle, and occasionally want to be able to take friends with us. Which do you prefer and why?

We shopped and almost bought F150/250 until the rv sales guy said go check out RAM. We love the ride, pull, stability, and so we hang into the other space on one end at Walmart; no big problem. As far as maneuverability, the picture was our first tow from dealer to outfitting site. Don't sweat the wheelbase. Plus, the Propride provides a bit of backing advantage. Wouldn't pull without it.

[Jaxon]

Crew cab for me... I can fold up the rear seats and carry my complete drum set + hardware bag in the back which makes them more secure and not have to worry about weather, either. When out with the Airstream, I can also carry misc. gear safely without worry from someone with sticky fingers and also another couple when out cruising the location...

Crew cab gives us options we wouldn't have with a smaller cab. I like options...
.

[Outdoorpeak]

Originally Posted by Jaxon

Crew cab for me... I can fold up the rear seats and carry my complete drum set + hardware bag in the back which makes them more secure and not have to worry about weather, either. When out with the Airstream, I can also carry misc. gear safely without worry from someone with sticky fingers and also another couple when out cruising the location...



Crew cab gives us options we wouldn't have with a smaller cab. I like options...

.

This makes sense. My one concern remains the parking lot at our condo in Florida. If I get a crew in an F250, it's a LONG truck and I'm worried that I don't have the room for it. I'll measure when I'm there next. But I agree with your thinking.

[james.mileur]

Take one for a test drive and go park at home condo. Any good salesman should be ready to help you decide what works for you.

[dcasr]

All of us have to make decisions based on our unique needs and patterns of use. If you have to park your TV in a parking spot at your home that is smaller, that is a serious factor. Another is how often and how will you use your "backseat" in your TV. Many of us in the WBCCI attend rallies and like to double up with other couples going to nearby attractions. Tiny back seats don't work, but moderately comfortable works for short distances. Traveling long distance with family in the back seat, better have a full crewcab size. If just occasional use, and only for pets, then a small child size back seat would work. So how will you use it, and how often? If you get an 8' pickup bed, and a full crewcab you have fantastic storage and cargo capacity and one heck of a long vehicle and public parking issues. Ford, GMC and Dodge all make great vehicles. All of them have had bad engine/transmission combinations at one time or another, but right now the big three can all provide a great gas or diesel, a great half ton, 3/4 ton or one ton. You can learn a lot from the Airforums, but at the end of the day the new buyer of a TV has to put all of their facts into a matrix and decide where to compromise, nobody can really do this for you.

I had a 1999 2500 4wd Suburban 7.4 gas. It towed great but was a little short on storage, and had to be packed carefully to avoid sway issues. Its computer died, so I went to a 3/4 ton 4wd Duramax GMC with a 6.5 box Crewcab. Its about 18' longer than my Suburban, and maybe 6" wider. Parking is much more of an issue, so I decline the handicapped spots due to the sign post in front, and park in left field with my mirrors tucked in and usually using two spots front to back. At home, no problem. Going down the road we love the space and need it, and need the weight rating of the 2500HD, and absolutely -0- sway, but that is our matrix decision. Yours should reflect you putting everything together, weighting the factors, and then seeing what works for you. Avoid buyers remorse.