Is an F350 overkill?

[Joe T]

The only real downside to a 350 SRW is the extra rear spring(s) and 80psi in the rear tires.

Its usually going to come with a 3 inch hitch (depending on the year) as opposed to an F250 2.5” (which is really good too fwiw). Higher gvwr up to 12,400 with a better braking system on that particular package.

The 250 would work fine, rides better, 65psi rear tire setting is more realistic for driving around unloaded most of the time. Helps on regulations, registration, insurance, etc, especially if you have any commercial use. You can run lighter offroad friendly tires that work with the rear GAWR and tpms and the base rear diff has aftermarket support. Its almost a numbers game derate and that is why you see them pretty common for the Urban Cowboy or light commercial use.

[CRH]

I run 65 psi in my SRW F350 rear tires.. My TPMS light does not come on.

[Joe T]

And I run down in the mid/high 50s in my 2019 F250. I do my own oil changes so never have to worry about someone jacking with it. Haven’t adjusted the TPMS.

I have another gas motor f250 work truck that I lowered the tpms setting to 45psi. Doesn’t have a gooseneck hitch so I leave the PSI around 50. Put higher load range tires on it so it meets the rear gawr with that psi.



Without getting super technical, to get the advertised rating out of the truck you need to run at the tire PSI shown on the door.

[Capt who]

When I got my F250 ccsb diesel 4x4 I didn't even look at the 350's. I think I made a good choice as I have right at 2400 lb payload which is enough for us. Even with that much payload I can see where a person would go with a 350, add a topper, decked storage system and all the other stuff people carry plus tw of 1200 lbs you can eat up 2400 lbs pretty quick. I didn't NEED an F250 but I sure am happy with it. I don't know how the ride is with a 350 but I would probably be just as happy with one. In fact if getting a high end truck the 350 might be the way to go, I only have an XLT.

[Air0801]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies, everyone. I really appreciate all the information, perspectives, and suggestions. I’ll update when we get a truck!

Margaret

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Last time I went through the numbers, taking a maxed out (capacity wise) F-250 and comparing it to the slightly higher capacity F-350 .... you paid about $1,500. That's the apples to apples number. Comparing a base F-250 to a base F-350 is comparing two very different payload vehicles.

Ordering wise, good luck. They are doing mods on the KY truck plant in June to get ready for the 2022's. Anybody who wants in on the "when will it get here?" lottery on the one I ordered a few months back is welcome to join. Beer bets settled on my front porch

Want to feel good about your ordering process on a SuperDuty? Try to order a nice new Bronco .... best guess there is you'll get it about a year from now.

Bob

[ForteePlus]

Just sharing info FWIW - 2019 F250 SRW 4x2 Crew Cab short box. Load sticker on door reads 2,710 lbs. We ordered it in August 2019 and picked it up in October. MSRP was $10k cheaper (we paid 10% < than our MSRP even with ordering it!) than the loaded out 250's on the lots we visited and I'm guessing a bit lighter as well and we got the exact configuration we wanted. One example of our a vs need is the Lariat packages. There were two: the Value Package at $710 and the Lariat Deluxe (or maybe Premium) package at $3,000+. Among the other inclusive's, I specifically did not want 'adaptive cruise control' which is part of the bigger package. Forum members with that system (on Ford's at least) have voiced if the adaptive component of the system goes out, the entire cruise control system is disabled. That's a non-starter for me as a cruise control junky. All it takes is a stone or healthy bug to damage the radar/distance sensor etc. 23K miles on it now and no problems. Willing to share details etc via PM.



Happy shopping!

[maroth]

So having owned both a F250 and F350 (F250 7.3 2WD standard box, F350 6.7 4x4 Long bed - both diesels with Lariat trim) I prefer the 250 for basic comfort in hauling. I tow a 29' Excella. They both were powerful enough to haul anything in that range and larger, no issues with breaking loading etc.... (I towed 16 tons with a gooseneck once with the 7.3, I had to manage the starting and stopping a bit, but easily handled the load.) The long-bed turn/backup required more skills with the longer truck but carries more fuel. I did like the 4x4 when I got stuck in soft sand in 2WD, manually locking in the hubs allowed me to pull the trailer out with ease. Just my $0.02.....

[nitzo]

Originally Posted by maroth

(I towed 16 tons with a gooseneck once

16 tons or 16,000 lbs?

[56ovalwindow]

After talking to Chevy and GM dealerships I found the 3500 was actually cheaper. The dealers kick the price up on the 2500 due to the advertising which they don’t have for the 3500. The extra capacity is well worth Harbin.

[skyguyscott]

I will just note that you were asking this question in a forum whose members seem to live by the mantra of “too much is never enough.”

Many here are also citizens of a country that at one point had enough Thermonuclear warheads to completely destroy the planet seven times over.

What answer were you expecting?

[Melucy2airs]

F350 + Hensley/ProPride + AS = No Worries about sway and mountains = All Fun

[Air0801]

Originally Posted by skyguyscott

I will just note that you were asking this question in a forum whose members seem to live by the mantra of “too much is never enough.”

Many here are also citizens of a country that at one point had enough Thermonuclear warheads to completely destroy the planet seven times over.

What answer were you expecting?

Previous experience using a public forum on the internet taught me not to have expectations. That said, I’m still a bit of an optimist, so I *hoped* for honest answers, based on the real world experience of people who have towed longer than I have. Lucky person that I am, I even got CAT scales weights from @JonDNC who tows a trailer of the same length I’m buying, with the truck and hitch I’m leaning towards, hauling perhaps a little more gear than I expect to haul. That data indicates he’s pretty close to the door sticker limits for an F350 diesel. The other responses were all helpful because I learned something. Good enough for me.

[maroth]

16 tons, it was a dirt load on a 32' trailer. The 7.3 was a monster. I regret trading it in for the 6.7 with 450k miles.

[RedSHED]

Well, you load 16 tons and what do you get.

[Air0801]

Originally Posted by RedSHED

Well, you load 16 tons and what do you get.

Another day older and deeper in debt?

[pwakeling]

I have a 2020 F250 to tow a 2021 Classic 30. I ordered the pro trailer towing package, that includes the trailer backup assist, increased GVWR, cold weather gear and snow plow prep package. The door sticker of this F250 Limited with the 6.7l diesel and 10 speed, off road 4WD is 10,800 pound GVWR and 2810 pound payload. A lower trim spec will have even greater payload. With the 20,000 pound tow capacity, how is that not enough for a 10,000 MGVW Classic, let alone a lighter AS? An F350 is overkill.

By the way, this truck is fantastic! Quiet, comfortable and easy to drive.

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by pwakeling

I have a 2020 F250 to tow a 2021 Classic 30. I ordered the pro trailer towing package, that includes the trailer backup assist, increased GVWR, cold weather gear and snow plow prep package. The door sticker of this F250 Limited with the 6.7l diesel and 10 speed, off road 4WD is 10,800 pound GVWR and 2810 pound payload. A lower trim spec will have even greater payload. With the 20,000 pound tow capacity, how is that not enough for a 10,000 MGVW Classic, let alone a lighter AS? An F350 is overkill.

By the way, this truck is fantastic! Quiet, comfortable and easy to drive.

2810 is plenty of payload. You’ve also added packages that *may* have made your F250 nearly the equivalent of an F350 in terms of payload. I’ve seen F250 diesels with door sticker payloads in the 2300-2400 lb range.....

I guess you ordered your truck. It’s probably not typical of one on the lot (at least here in the South).

[winfahl]

In Minnesota license tabs are based on the value of the vehicle so on a $80,000 250 it could be close to $1,000 they go down a little bit each year until it 10 years old when it’s a flat $55.

For a 350, it’s considered a commercial vehicle and it’s a flat price around $100.

Also, a 350 will be worth more for a trade in

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by winfahl

In Minnesota license tabs are based on the value of the vehicle so on a $80,000 250 it could be close to $1,000 they go down a little bit each year until it 10 years old when it’s a flat $55.

For a 350, it’s considered a commercial vehicle and it’s a flat price around $100.

Also, a 350 will be worth more for a trade in

So, a 350 with a flat price of around $100 for 10 years is the $1,000 that the 250 costs you in just the first year?