F-150 versus F-250 direct comparison

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

I guess the difference in your experience could be, your not towing a 25' or larger AS. If you ever had the opportunity to tow a 25' or larger AS with a 1/2T (pick an engine) and a 2/4-1T diesel, up, down, around the Rockies you would understand what we are talking about. There is no comparison. I just went up/down 8% and 9% grades yesterday at around 10'000 ft, thru Flaming Gorge with my F250 6.7L at 99-100 degrees mid day...no issues. Saw 3 different 1/2T rigs with SOBs pulled over, as they caught my eye going by. My F150 EB towing my 25'AS 6 years ago heated up at 50mph and brakes smoked a bit going down; had to really take it slow...the overall feeling of handling, braking with the engine brake engaged, and braking is so much different/better with the larger 3/4T towing. Sure, you can get by, but if you have the choice or the chance to compare, do so...then report back. Adding that the weight difference in larger TV plus the extra 1' in wheel base gives a completely different tow feeling vs the 1/2T also...

Oh, make no mistake: if I was towing *any* thing bigger than my current 20', ie going to any dual-axle, 23' or longer, I'd trade the 1500 for the 2500 in a heartbeat. I wouldn't tow a 25' w/ my 1500 (even tho' my 1500 is rated for towing 9800lbs). I sometimes contemplate going up to a 2500 just for the payload anyway, even w/ my 20'.

My point only was, GM has all the full-size on the same platform now, not that there aren't still differences, a 1500 is NOT a 2500, whether they've the same base platform or not, all those other differences make a difference.

[Jeff7176]

Originally Posted by Jmacd

Just to toss in another view. I tow a 2018 25’ international. Scales just around 7,000lbs. loaded. Hitch is around 1,150-1,200lbs. I use a Blue-Ox hitch with 1,500 bars. For the past 5 years I towed with an Ford F-250 with a 6.7 diesel and a Leer cap. Mostly towed a 30’ International with that truck and then the newer 25’. Loved the diesel exhaust brake. Ordered a 2021 Ford F-150 4X4 SCC with the heavy duty payload package, 3.5 motor, XLT and another Leer cap. Payload is 2,478lbs., which is 200lbs. more than my F-250. The 2021 F-150 with HDPP scales almost 2,000lbs. lighter. The truck sits about 6” lower in overall height ground-to-top of cab. As has been mentioned the 3.5 Ecoboost had tremendous power, I sometimes miss the 6.7 exhaust brake, but I just take it a little easier on the big descents. I’ve put 20,000 miles of towing with the the F-150, all over the west this year. I don’t miss the F-250 at all. The key is having an adequate payload capacity. An F-150 is an excellent tow vehicle for my 25’ with the HDPP. Fuel economy runs around 11-12.5mpg keeping my speed 60-62mph.

I have had both a 150 and 250 (6.7) and COMPLETELY agree with everything above. I have a little over 2400 lbs payload. I love the exhaust brake (went through Cascades Highway on Sunday…it was awesome). I have a 55 gallon fuel tank (but that wasn’t free…paid about $1200 for it aftermarket) which gives us gobs of range.

But, the truck sits taller and the turn radius is huge. I miss those two things from my 150. I had the V8 and would only get the 3.5 if I was to do it again.

Both of the trucks were excellent for towing our 25, and if you spec it properly, would serve you well.

[TNOutback]

I appreciate everyone’s input here. I have an F-150 and considering an order for a 25RB. Tongue weight on that trailer would put me right at or over GVWR and right at the max rating for the rear axle for how we travel. I owned a Chevy Duramax for 12 years and loved that truck and the torque of the diesel, but I don’t think I could do diesel again. The $8K-$10K price premium up front, higher maintenance costs and right now here in the Southeast US, diesel fuel is 80% higher than gasoline, which negates any mpg savings. At 16,000 miles a year towing/daily driving, fuel cost alone would be $3k per year higher for diesel. For me, 10 years of ownership is typical, so a nearly $40k+ premium to own diesel over gas at current prices. I think my next truck will be the F-250 7.3L.

[tjdonahoe]

F250 every time.

[Fungus]

F-250 10-speed gasser got 11+ MPG today through the hills of TN to GA and through the heart of Atlanta. Slight headwind from Hurricane Nicole through some of it. Generally in the 60 to 70 MPH range. Slower on the up and down grades. Locked out upper gears to control descent plus the occasional long brake-tap while hanging with the loaded up truckers.

We struggled with the diesel vs gas decision. Went with the gasser at the very last second. If I did if all over again I’d still pick the gasser despite the range of the diesel. Right after we took delivery I wished I had ordered the F-350 for even more payload at minimal price difference but we don’t come close to the max payload (3K#) of the F-250 Lariat. Today, I’m as happy as a person can be after driving through Atlanta. Maybe it’s the wine talking.

[pteck]

Originally Posted by David in Lex

I’m reluctant to wade into the endless ‘how big a tow vehicle do I need?’ debate, but as someone with extensive recent experience with both a F-150 and a F-250 I thought my two cents worth might be of interest.

Our trailer is a 2020 Airstream FC 30 RBQ. The F-150 was a 2020, XLT trim, 3.5L EcoBoost engine, max towing package, 20-inch wheels, SuperCrew cab, short bed, 4WD; we added a tri-fold tonneau cover over the bed. Our F-250 is a 2021, XLT trim, 7.3L V8 (gas), 3.55 rear axle, standard towing package, SuperCrew cab, short bed, 4WD; we added a Leer cap over the bed. We have used the ProPride hitch with both trucks.

With the F-150, we towed approximately 9500 miles, including many miles on steep, narrow roads in WVA and western NC and SC. So far, we have towed nearly 15,000 miles with the F-250, all the way to the west coast from our home in Virginia, crisscrossing the western mountains, deserts, and windy plains.

Towing capability. Both trucks towed well in a wide range of terrain and weather. I never felt under-powered or under-braked with the F-150, but I was careful about speed, aiming to average 60-65 mph on the highway in light winds. And, again, we had the ProPride. But, while I felt fine with the F-150, there’s a big difference with the F-250. I’m much more comfortable at higher speed and now set the cruise control at 65 and can do faster than that if I want to and conditions are right. The F-250 feels stronger and more solid and secure, which I chalk up to the longer wheelbase and significantly greater curb weight. The 7.3L engine (aka Godzilla) is a beast, but the hp and torque numbers aren’t all that different from the EcoBoost, which is a fantastic engine when paired with the 10-speed transmission.

Payload. This was the main reason for trading the F-150 for the F-250. Payload for our F-150 was a bit under 1850 lbs. For the F-250, it’s a bit over 3000. It was a challenge for us to manage the lower payload limit. With the F-250, we don’t have to worry (but we still weigh before every trip).

Gas mileage. I can’t say for sure, but I think the smaller truck averaged around 12 mpg when towing. The F-250 does worse, of course, probably in the 8-11 mpg range.

Overall assessment. I think people can manage even a big Airstream with a properly equipped F-150, but we’re happier with the bigger truck. Besides the big payload difference, the longer, heavier F-250 just feels more secure and capable. Is it a night and day difference? I wouldn’t say so, but we much prefer the bigger truck for our large trailer and are glad we made the switch. I know some people will insist that nothing less than a diesel-powered F-450 dually (or a Freightliner?) is enough for a 30-foot Airstream, but we don’t agree.

F-250 negatives? The obvious one that comes to mind is that the F-250 is not a great daily driver compared to the F-150. The extra length can make it hard to navigate city traffic and to parallel park. When we’re home, we have a second vehicle (I still like driving the F-250), but we’ve been doing three to five month trips, which means the tow vehicle is the daily driver whenever we want to unhitch and go somewhere. Once we’re done with long trips, we’ll probably go back to a F-150 and get a smaller Airstream.

A final word on diesel versus gas. Many people on this forum swear by diesel engines. We chose to go with gas mainly because of the added cost of diesel, namely the upfront $10,000 up-charge and the higher fuel and maintenance costs. We also didn’t want to take the payload hit you get with diesel. We have no regrets about our choice. The 7.3L gas engine has plenty of torque and horsepower for our needs. No exhaust braking, but we didn’t have trouble negotiating the mountains out west.

Thank you for a very well balanced, fair, and concise review. I found myself nodding at all your points. Many of them are as expected given your load and use case. Extra kudos for properly configuring your F-150 and recognizing the details that make for a good 1/2-ton tow vehicle, even if a FC30RBQ in your long road trip use warranted more payload capacity.

That said, I love how people are now jumping in to misconstrue your statements to fit their narrative.

- Diesel brake a must?
- HD truck required for anything 23' or longer?
- "frame" this or "undertrucked" that, because more better? Against a 25' AS?
- 1-ton is best?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Once you head over to the F250, understand that the F350 is pretty much the same truck as the 250. At some point in the add this package / add that package process, they put a F350 badge on the beast. Look at a maxed out (payload wise) F250 and the "entry level" F350, there is pretty much no difference. Price is within a couple hundred bucks. Payload is higher on the F350. Ride and handling wise, tough to tell one from the other.

Bob

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Once you head over to the F250, understand that the F350 is pretty much the same truck as the 250. At some point in the add this package / add that package process, they put a F350 badge on the beast. Look at a maxed out (payload wise) F250 and the "entry level" F350, there is pretty much no difference. Price is within a couple hundred bucks. Payload is higher on the F350. Ride and handling wise, tough to tell one from the other.

Bob

I haven't looked closely at the F350 but I do know it has an extra leaf spring. That increases the payload capacity. I have not compared the ride between them. When I was looking to replace my F150, I drove a 2016 6.7L King Ranch 4x4 "demo" with less than 6k miles and was not impressed with the ride being a bit rough to me. I then drove a brand new F250 King Ranch 6.7L 4x4 and ride was night and day different. Wife thought so also, so that's all I needed...her approval...that was 142K miles ago! My buddy has same 28' FC model I have except it's a 22' model. He is a GM guy, so he got the Denali 3/4T diesel, loaded up; his rides very nice also...if I could figure out the combination to getting that tail gate down or open on his, I might buy one someday...key word..."might"!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

I haven't looked closely at the F350 but I do know it has an extra leaf spring. That increases the payload capacity. I have not compared the ride between them. When I was looking to replace my F150, I drove a 2016 6.7L King Ranch 4x4 "demo" with less than 6k miles and was not impressed with the ride being a bit rough to me. I then drove a brand new F250 King Ranch 6.7L 4x4 and ride was night and day different. Wife thought so also, so that's all I needed...her approval...that was 142K miles ago! My buddy has same 28' FC model I have except it's a 22' model. He is a GM guy, so he got the Denali 3/4T diesel, loaded up; his rides very nice also...if I could figure out the combination to getting that tail gate down or open on his, I might buy one someday...key word..."might"!

Hi

Things may have changed a bit. We had a "max load" F250 and now have a F350. As long as you have same / same this and that on them both the ride and handling is very similar. Based on folks tearing into both vehicles and noting the lack of any real difference it the two, this isn't a really big surprise.

Ok, so what's that same / same qualifier? They come with a variety of wheels and tires. Some combos do make a difference. The large diameter wheels are "more better" based on what I and others have noticed. The FX-4 package will impact how things feel.

None of that is to say that you aren't in a truck. You most certainly are in a truck and it's got a pretty ginormous turn radius on either the F250 or the F350. Even with the tweaks, the whole thing is "way up in the air". They both ride a bit better with a bit of "ballast" in back.

Bob

[wilsodf]

I am pretty sure the F350 has a heavier duty rear axle with a higher rating.

[OrangeCrush]

F250 with High Capacity Trailer Tow package has same rear end (Dana) and 5 leave spring pack as an F350. Only difference between the two from a payload perspective is the F250 is specified at 65psi tire pressure and F350 at 80psi. A gas or non-HCTTP Diesel F250 has a lighter duty axle (Sterling) and fewer leafs. Bottom line is an F250 with HCTTP is basically an F350 with ...... less air

[VeloBuckeye]

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

F250 with High Capacity Trailer Tow package has same rear end (Dana) and 5 leave spring pack as an F350. Only difference between the two from a payload perspective is the F250 is specified at 65psi tire pressure and F350 at 80psi. A gas or non-HCTTP Diesel F250 has a lighter duty axle (Sterling) and fewer leafs. Bottom line is an F250 with HCTTP is basically an F350 with ...... less air

I also have the 250 with the HCTTP. The package also includes the Class 5 3” hitch. Looked at the 350 but wasn’t enough difference for me. (I thought the F350 also comes with beefier brakes?) Also would cost more to register annually. I softened the ride a bit by swapping out the shocks with Bilsteins and Sulastic Springs. My dealer jokingly referred to it as an F300.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by VeloBuckeye

I also have the 250 with the HCTTP. The package also includes the Class 5 3” hitch. Looked at the 350 but wasn’t enough difference for me. (I thought the F350 also comes with beefier brakes?) Also would cost more to register annually. I softened the ride a bit by swapping out the shocks with Bilsteins and Sulastic Springs. My dealer jokingly referred to it as an F300.

F300 sounds like a good name for it. I will also add that if you get a ProPride 3" stinger like I did it is a 65lb beast and a lot to lift.

[CRH]

I believe a late model gas F350 also has a Sterling axle instead of a Dana.

[dhroberts]

For 5 years and nearly 50,000 tow miles, I towed my 2016 30’ Classic with a F150. All was ‘OK’ except in the mountains. Got a F250 Diesel with a 3” hitch in November ‘21 and have put 6,000 tow miles on it. Comparison? No contest, F250’s the winner. Stability at higher speeds. The Diesel engine break is outstanding. Great performance in the mountains in West Virginia. Upgraded to a ProPride 3” stinger. Cost of diesel is a consideration. Absent that, the F250 Diesel’s a winner!

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by CRH

I believe a late model gas F350 also has a Sterling axle instead of a Dana.

Good to know. My 2022 F250 Diesel 4x4 with HCTTP has the Dana M275 with electronic locker. Link below is a crowd sourced axle designator and it does look complicated depending on engine, ratio, and differential type. Main point here is that an F250 gas may ride better than an F350 but the Diesel version with HCTTP gets 5 leaf springs so other that dropping air pressure it should ride basically the same. That said I am very happy with my Diesel and it performs significantly better towing than our 2018 F150 ecoboost did, especially in the mountains.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...rxw/edit#gid=0