F-250 or F-350

[pjshier]

Originally Posted by pjshier

The attached video is added to this conversation as I ran into a 2020 F250 King Ranch in the sale bin at the local Ford dealer. Payload is 2127, and now that we have a few seasons of camping under our belt, it will work with some small margin, even replacing the fuel tank with an SB 60 gallon - when full.



A couple of considerations: I have been enjoying owning several cars for whatever mission - including the F350 Platinum with a Leer topper and extended range tank; the F150 King Ranch with a bed cover; and mama's Explorer, mainly. As the trucks just get older and the F350 gets driven only once every few weeks in the winter, I find myself looking at the insurance and maintenance of two truck - and depreciation - and say to myself: "Self, is there a way to make this work with one truck?"



So - I am considering trading in both for the 2020 F250 and cash. One truck, and we would tweak our setup as mama informs me she does not like the huge Leer topper and does not want to leave the (big) truck and Airstream outside Alaska all summer, anyway. (That was the original two-truck plan.)



Am I crazy? (Be gentle.)

Link here. In depth discussion of F250 and F350 running gear: appear identical. Noted the 2020 door sticker had same rear tires as the F350 but inflation of the 250 sticker is 65 lbs. inflation on the 350 is 80. Is there a theme https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...VIRE&PC=EMMX04

[rbs]

our last truck we decided to go with the 350. resale value, minimal cost for upgrade for a lot of the things you might/probably would add, and one of the big factors was the 350 has a Dana axle which is an upgrade. We don't see any difference in ride. We'll get a 350 next truck, enough said

[pjshier]

Originally Posted by rbs

our last truck we decided to go with the 350. resale value, minimal cost for upgrade for a lot of the things you might/probably would add, and one of the big factors was the 350 has a Dana axle which is an upgrade. We don't see any difference in ride. We'll get a 350 next truck, enough said

I get the axle consideration. Looks like the 2020s both have the same running gear, though.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by pjshier

The attached video is added to this conversation as I ran into a 2020 F250 King Ranch in the sale bin at the local Ford dealer. Payload is 2127, and now that we have a few seasons of camping under our belt, it will work with some small margin, even replacing the fuel tank with an SB 60 gallon - when full.

A couple of considerations: I have been enjoying owning several cars for whatever mission - including the F350 Platinum with a Leer topper and extended range tank; the F150 King Ranch with a bed cover; and mama's Explorer, mainly. As the trucks just get older and the F350 gets driven only once every few weeks in the winter, I find myself looking at the insurance and maintenance of two truck - and depreciation - and say to myself: "Self, is there a way to make this work with one truck?"

So - I am considering trading in both for the 2020 F250 and cash. One truck, and we would tweak our setup as mama informs me she does not like the huge Leer topper and does not want to leave the (big) truck and Airstream outside Alaska all summer, anyway. (That was the original two-truck plan.)

Am I crazy? (Be gentle.)

I love my 2017 F250 6.7L 4x4 King Ranch! Just turned 104K miles. Payload works for us with our 28', carrying a 95lb generator, camp gear, bbq, propane tank, and some tools. I don't need the extra fuel tank down here in lower 48...lots of fuel. I get average 13mpg towing, and am now getting 18+ when not towing, with all that gear I mention. I do have a heavy foot...65-70mph typically... When I empty the bed, I get around 23mpg...but I never empty the bed!


If I was looking at 250 vs 350 again and "price was the same", I would likely get the 350 for the additional payload. Downside for some is cost to maintain the 6.7L including fuel, and parking can be a pain. But, the truck rides nice, does an excellent job controlling/towing our 28' AS, and is "my" primary daily driver...(wife drives an SUV).

[JonDNC]

The primary difference is tires (higher load capacity), suspension (extra leafs etc) and I think rear axle. When we test drove both in 2019 rode the same to us. With minimal cost delta for same truck went 350 for no worries about payload and better resale. That also meant we could have a platinum and enjoy the extra comfort features.

[pjshier]

...well at least in this instance. Had the dealer put a suitable F350 in the sale bin, it would have been an easy decision. But it was a 250.

The "soul-searching" for this fellow who normally wants to be a respectable distance from mechanical limits started when the guy called and invited me to drive the 2020 F250 King Ranch. It had all the bling of both my current trucks - 2017 F350 Platinum and the 2018 F150 King Ranch I traded for this last spring. Plus the new 10 speed on the 2020.

Happens we had been penciling our cash flows for after DW retires next June, and talked again about one truck and using her SUV for runabout. Not make or break, but still. Add to that the depreciation hit both trucks would see soon, and it made sense to trade two older for one newer at year end with cash to boot. I miss the F150, though.

Thanks for the counseling. I feel better already.

[featherbedder]

IMO 350is overkill for airstream. I haul and tow much heavier than AS w/chev. 250 and 6.0 gas engine never short on power. Spec. proper for usage no prob. In Il. 250 lic. is less that 350 and no safety lane, 350 Lic. much more and safety lane every 6 mos. gets costly in short time. We have 3 250 & _Peterbuilt semis, 250 works great and we haul & tow quite a few dif things w/250 pu.

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by featherbedder

IMO 350is overkill for airstream. I haul and tow much heavier than AS w/chev. 250 and 6.0 gas engine never short on power. Spec. proper for usage no prob. In Il. 250 lic. is less that 350 and no safety lane, 350 Lic. much more and safety lane every 6 mos. gets costly in short time. We have 3 250 & _Peterbuilt semis, 250 works great and we haul & tow quite a few dif things w/250 pu.

Licensing depends on where you live. For me 350 is no different that 150 except I pay a little more for weight capacity as a private individual which Ai would also pay on a 250. Same inspections etc.

[Norrin Radd]

I feel like my 1999 F-250 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 4x4 has been more than sufficient to tow my 1999 28' Airstream Safari along with whatever I have thrown in the trailer, bed or cab to date. I should probably pay more attention perhaps but I can't imagine needing more truck than that...and I can imagine quite a lot.
I could be wrong...that happens a lot too.
Doc in the Norrin Rad

[matthewk]

F350 has a 4" vs 3.5" rear axel. The F350 adds 2 leaf springs and a helper spring. There is a 3" block vs. 2.5" block above the rear axel. and the front springs are +1 if gas and +2 if diesel.

That's it.

If you are buying a Super Duty to pull as Airstream get the F250 if you're getting a gasser, get the F350 if you're getting the diesel.

Payload: Platinum vs Platinum.. a F250 Gasser has close to 2.8k payload. a F350 Diesel has about 2.8k payload. A F250 Diesel has about 1850 payload which is the same as a F150 3.5EB Max tow.. The 6.7 Diesel consumes about 800-900lbs of payload, choose your model wisely.

If you are worried about the cost of licensing, because you live in one of those states, Ford has an option which lowers the axel rating via a sticker, no actual hardware changes. Payload is not effected. The actual cost of this licensing for the increased GVWR is about the cost of a good bottle of wine.

[matthewk]

Originally Posted by pjshier

Link here. In depth discussion of F250 and F350 running gear: appear identical. Noted the 2020 door sticker had same rear tires as the F350 but inflation of the 250 sticker is 65 lbs. inflation on the 350 is 80. Is there a theme https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...VIRE&PC=EMMX04

They are not identical.

[matthewk]

Originally Posted by featherbedder

IMO 350is overkill for airstream. I haul and tow much heavier than AS w/chev. 250 and 6.0 gas engine never short on power. Spec. proper for usage no prob. In Il. 250 lic. is less that 350 and no safety lane, 350 Lic. much more and safety lane every 6 mos. gets costly in short time. We have 3 250 & _Peterbuilt semis, 250 works great and we haul & tow quite a few dif things w/250 pu.

F250 6.0 and a F350 6.7 diesel have almost identical capacities. One is not overkill vs the other. In different configurations their ratings change considerably. The supposition that one is wrong and the other is right without the specific enumeration of configuration doesn't really make sense.

Ford has a 9,900 option to satisfy the licensing implications to that a F350 can enjoy the light truck regulations in states like IL.

[pjshier]

Originally Posted by matthewk

F350 has a 4" vs 3.5" rear axel. The F350 adds 2 leaf springs and a helper spring. There is a 3" block vs. 2.5" block above the rear axel. and the front springs are +1 if gas and +2 if diesel.

That's it.

If you are buying a Super Duty to pull as Airstream get the F250 if you're getting a gasser, get the F350 if you're getting the diesel.

Payload: Platinum vs Platinum.. a F250 Gasser has close to 2.8k payload. a F350 Diesel has about 2.8k payload. A F250 Diesel has about 1850 payload which is the same as a F150 3.5EB Max tow.. The 6.7 Diesel consumes about 800-900lbs of payload, choose your model wisely.

If you are worried about the cost of licensing, because you live in one of those states, Ford has an option which lowers the axel rating via a sticker, no actual hardware changes. Payload is not effected. The actual cost of this licensing for the increased GVWR is about the cost of a good bottle of wine.

Just when my nervous twitch went away a bit - new data. So let's review:

I saw same axles between the 2020 diesel 350 and 250 similarly equipped units. Dana 60 front and Dana 275M rear. Not interested in gas, which does have a different smaller rear axle and the tried/true 6 speed. For the record, the payload on my 2017 diesel F350 SRW SB blinged-out Platinum was over 3300lbs. Mistake was buying a blinged-out truck at all. Mama now very particular. Sticker on the 2020 F250 King Ranch says almost 2100 payload. Trip to the scale confirmed.

Based on those numbers, it appears we were talking navel and satsumas - not apples and oranges but also not same subspecies. Sound right? Very interesting about the sticker downgrade process. Gumint regs often result in paper-based compliance solutions! Cool that Ford is willing to play. Probably had to hide it from the attorneys.

One of these days I thought i would order the perfect truck, but seem to end up having my head turned by a near perfect unit at a smokin' deal. The 17 350 and 18 150 were both used and on the lot for a long time when I came along.

[matthewk]

Originally Posted by pjshier

Just when my nervous twitch went away a bit - new data. So let's review:

I saw same axles between the 2020 diesel 350 and 250 similarly equipped units. Dana 60 front and Dana 275M rear. Not interested in gas, which does have a different smaller rear axle and the tried/true 6 speed. For the record, the payload on my 2017 diesel F350 SRW SB blinged-out Platinum was over 3300lbs. Mistake was buying a blinged-out truck at all. Mama now very particular. Sticker on the 2020 F250 King Ranch says almost 2100 payload. Trip to the scale confirmed.

Based on those numbers, it appears we were talking navel and satsumas - not apples and oranges but also not same species. Sound right? Very interesting about the sticker downgrade process. Gumint regs often result in paper-based compliance solutions! Cool Ford is willing to play.

This guy does a really nice job of breaking it down.. https://youtu.be/QK3neNe3mTo

I only speak from the perspective of my personal experience. I have a 2020 F350 6.7 Platinum and had a F150 3.5EB Limited. When shopping the payload differences between F250 gasser, F250 diesel and f350 diesel were well studied.

As far as the pros and cons of blinged out.... I am never giving up those massage seats and whatever they call the trailer length blind-spot detection.. If there was an up level from Platinum that had even better seats I'd buy it.

[pjshier]

The seats are DW's favorite! Maybe next year's model will add Air-Ride suspension - pretty sweet when driving big rigs around Alaska roads!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by matthewk

F350 has a 4" vs 3.5" rear axel. The F350 adds 2 leaf springs and a helper spring. There is a 3" block vs. 2.5" block above the rear axel. and the front springs are +1 if gas and +2 if diesel.

That's it.

If you are buying a Super Duty to pull as Airstream get the F250 if you're getting a gasser, get the F350 if you're getting the diesel.

Payload: Platinum vs Platinum.. a F250 Gasser has close to 2.8k payload. a F350 Diesel has about 2.8k payload. A F250 Diesel has about 1850 payload which is the same as a F150 3.5EB Max tow.. The 6.7 Diesel consumes about 800-900lbs of payload, choose your model wisely.

If you are worried about the cost of licensing, because you live in one of those states, Ford has an option which lowers the axel rating via a sticker, no actual hardware changes. Payload is not effected. The actual cost of this licensing for the increased GVWR is about the cost of a good bottle of wine.

Payload for F150 vs F250 a bit off from my experience; my 2012 F150 Platinum 4x4 EB (loaded up with options) had a really poor payload...1039lbs. They have improved somewhat on the F150s but Platinum or KR models of 1/2T but are not near the F250 KR I have: my F250 4x4 King Ranch model with 6.7L has payload rating of 2144.

[pjshier]

Matthewk- I sit corrected and informed!! With caliper in hand I sallied forth and discovered indeed: My 2017 F350 Platinum with payload of 3322 and GVWR of 11500 does indeed sport a 4” axle; while the 2020 F250, payload 2142 and GVWR of 10000 sports a 3.5” axle. I live this site - and the Ford forums. I learn stuff.

[pjshier]

You can get the larger rear axle on a 250 - with the HD towing option raising the stickered GVWR to 10800. But it also comes with a stiffer spring pack. In all, we are fine with the 250 as is.

[featherbedder]

Not long ago there was a big thing you have to have 450 dually and big diesel engine. IMO if buying new study what you are using for and look at options then spec. for your use. Like I posted before just buy semi tractor w/big diesel all weight. Q. solved and towing solved A nice day cab or even sleeper cost less than some fancy pick ups, granted over kill but so are some things posted here. A proper specked tow veh. will work. Some thing as to specking most sales don't have foggiest idea what works, it happened to me when I ordered a new pu and specified what rear gears I wanted, when came in to dealer I looked at build sheet not any near what I ordered sales man said I did not think you new any thing about towing, at that time was towing over 25 yrs. now 70 yrs. I refused truck then they knocked thousands off if I would take, bad my part as gas consumption off the wall. I was specking trucks long before that sales man was even old enough to drive legally. So be aware as to so called experts. In closing I would never tell any one what to buy.