ok, so im on the ford "build your truck" part of there site.. two trucks exactly the same,one f250 one f350 base price is $1400 apart, but if you look at the line up on the main page it says 50's and 350's are only $715 apart. ALSO...it says the f250 (6.7 s/c ) has a 2690lb payload and will tow 13,500lbs...the f350 says 2480 lbs payload and will tow 12900 lbs...odd

 

I believe the payload is more on the 250 because there is more weight to the 350's frame, which takes away the extra cargo capacity. Not sure about the price differences.

 

Unless Ford has departed from the last 12 years of SD history, the frames are still identical across the 250/350 power unit lineup.

Payload is GVWR less the weight of the truck. Towing capacity is GCVWR less the weight of the truck. Depending on the cab/bed configuration combination, the weight of the truck will alter what's left of the GVWR (arbitrary rating) and GCVWR (based on gearing/engine), leading to differing payload and towing capacities.

All you need to know is the truck are 98% identical mechanically, FGAWRs vary by package selection, GVWR is an arbitrary number, and GCVWR isn't a real rating anywhere but in the Ford manuals.

So really, there's no practical difference between the two unless you're expecting to run into a legal problem coming from exceeding the GVWR.

 

Hmmm that is odd. When I configured my 09 before purchase the 250/350 difference was well under $1k but I dont remember the exact amount. And with equal configurations the 350 was higher in rating (of course structurally there isnt any difference between them, other than taller blocks, etc, just higher numbers on the sticker really).

 

I was in the Dealer yesterday asking about maybe switching from a 250 up to a 350. Identically configured the diference was $650 retail and $586 on the invoice.

The 350 has a solid front axle and heavier springs. GVWR 11,500 compared to the 250's GVWR of 10,000.

 

You're getting hydro-boost brakes on the 350 diesel while the F250 diesels have vacuum boost. Maybe there's some cost associated to that as well.

 

My 08 250 6.4 has hydro-boost. Are you saying the 2011 250 6.7 does not have hydro-boost?

 

That makes sense. I wasn't sure about the frame but I figured the 350 had to be heavier somehow.

 

Is the gear ratio the same on both? That can affect the ratings.

 

Did they change something in 2011?? Don't they both have solid front axles? And I'm pretty sure you can get the same springs in the 250. There's a taller rear block in the 350 but I think that's the only difference in the suspension.

 

Yep. Details below from the order guide.

SRW Gas - Vacuum Boost
SRW (F-250) Diesel - Vacuum Boost
SRW (F-350) Diesel - Hydro-Boost
DRW Gas & Diesel - Hydro-Boost

 

Solid axle is a 2wd versus 4wd issue. Spring capacity for the front axle is based on package selection (Snow plow, front heavy service). Rear springs are physically identical, but RGAWR varies with the GVWR, but it doesn't matter, it's just a number on a sticker. (EDIT: I checked some VIN tags I have pics of, all the 250s I've got recorded have a RGAWR of 6100#, so I'm guessing it's a de-rating based on the de-rated GVWR the 250 already gets)


Brakes:
From 2011 specs: Vacuum (F-250/F-350 SRW gas engines) / hydro-boost (F-350 SRW diesel engine, F-350 DRW/ F-450)
From 2010 specs: Vacuum (F-250/F-350 single-rear-wheel gas engines) / hydro-boost (F-350 single-rear-wheel diesel engine, F-350 dual-rear-wheel F-450), ABS
From 2007 specs: Vacuum (F-250/F-350 single-rear-wheel gas engines) / hydro-boost (F-250/F-350 single-rear-wheel diesel engine, F-350 dual-rear-wheel), ABS


I'll be got-damed, I never noticed that. I don't know if it's a typo or if Ford really changed it, but I don't know why Ford would go through the hassle of having two sets of brake components bolted on to otherwise identical 6.7L diesel engine bay configurations.

 

It's gotta be a typo. The diesel doesn't have the vacuum of the gas and they wouldn't put in a larger vacuum pump just to ditch the hydro-boost.

 

Sorry...that is what the Ford guy that sits behind the desk and builds vehicles on the computer all day long told me at the dealer. I had asked him why the 350 sits about 4 inches taller than the 250 with the same size wheels and tires. They had two 350s and half a dozen 250s and the 350s were noticably taller. I was curious why and that's what he said.

 

No worries bud, and no need to appologize Sorry if I came off as a dick, I'm just a matter of fact kinda guy. There's a few reasons why the front ends sit the way they do, and it involves a lot more than 250vs350, and 2wd vs 4wd.

The rest of that rant comes from a severe case of Napoleon's complex I've got going on, because I won't admit that my F250 is any less of a truck than an F350, just because the stupid plastic badge on the side of the truck tells me so.