Buying my next truck this fall, and going through the 150 -v- SDuty debate. All options, numbers, and price aside- I'd like to hear from some that downsized, moving from the SD class to the 150. Specifically:

-What do you miss about your SD? What don't you miss?

- Where does your 150 out shine the SD?

- Overall take on making a 150 or SD your truck of choice.

Looking forward to the feedback. Thanks!

 

I think a lot depends on the year of Superduty.When I bought the '13 F150 it was replacing a '99 F250. The difference in all aspects is dramatic. I miss the the feel of the F250 the size and bulk (don't say it Frantz ) but the 150 is way more driver friendly. Do you really need a Superduty? Tow alot? Tow heavy? Terrain your towing in? Superdutys are overkill for most driving them but I'm not dissing those people. I say it's your money drive what you want.

 

I did at the end of 2014. After nearly 20 years of 250/350 diesels. I just didn't want a modern diesel anymore and really wanted to try the EcoBoost as I knew no one directly with one.

Leaving the SD, I missed: the overall ruggedness of the SD, I really like solid front axles and manual hubs, the larger size so I don't feel the need to lift, and mostly the ability to rent heavy equipment. (It's annoying, but around here most of the yards still want you in a 3/4 ton min.)

I didn't miss dealing with diesel motors and less so, the ride.

I really liked the F150 EB, and almost bought a new one at the end of last year when I found a F250 6.2 that I opted for. That EB motor was so great for towing up to 12k as I did and yet the mpg's for my daily work were awesome. Leaving my 2014 EB, I miss the motor/power the most, then the mpgs, and finally the ride was much nicer.

Really for me, I am just a SD guy. I have had so many for so long I just feel at home in one. I don't think many would be disappointed in the move from SD to F150, I was more impressed with what the new 3.5EB could do. There are days today, when I wished I would have found a 2015 F1, optioned the way I wanted when I ended up driving home my current SD.

 

I went from an '05 F350 4x4 6.0PSD CCSB to an '09 F150 SCrew 4x2 5.4. I loved the ride height of the SD, but I don't pull anything that really required it (heaviest thing is maybe 8,000lbs. - a communications trailer) and maneuvering it was a challenge. I also despised the 6-liter turd under the hood (turbo stuck from carbon coking, floated heads and head gaskets... $13K of repairs *each time* all under warranty... 3 times in 98K miles).

The 150 is just a better fit for me. I was very happy with my 09... I love my brand-new 16 Lariat 501A, 4x4, 3.5EB.

If you aren't pulling things that *need* the SD and especially the diesel, I would be very much inclined to go to the 150.

 

I've had '08 and '11 Super Duties with diesel engines, as well as an '03, '07, '13, and my current '15 F150. Last two F150s have had the 3.5L EcoBoost engine.

I've pulled some serious weight with all of them, and the diesel pulling power was always my motivation for getting the Super Duties. That ended with the purchase of my '13 F150 though, as the 3.5L EcoBoost engine's diesel-like torque curve makes for a really impressive towing experience. My last F150 was quite stable with a trailer, and I had as much as 15,000 lbs behind it without issue. I expect similar performance out of my '15, but there's a chance it will lose a bit of stability compared to my '13 because of the decreased weight. My '15 is a full 690 lbs lighter than my nearly identically configured '13, and nearly 3,000 lbs lighter than my '11 F350.

 

Just traded a 2014 SD on a 2016 F150:
What I miss, the power......the 250 is extremely powerful and the power delivery is amazing.
What I don't miss, the ride when running unloaded....not completely the trucks fault, I lifted it and it's designed to work, I mean really work, so you will give up a compliant ride for that capability.
Th F150 rides great, is extremely easier to handle in traffic, quiet, and has the hauling capability that suits my needs.
The only reason I got the 150 was recent changes in employment and I lost the company vehicle, otherwise I'd still own the Super Duty, but with the amount of traveling I have to do, the Super Duty just wasn't the answer.
It's really according to what your intended purpose for the truck is. If it's a daily driver that sees limited towing, F150 all day long. If you plan to tow heavy often,can't go wrong with the SD. Bear in mind the Super Duty isn't going to be inexpensive to operate, everything costs more, basic maintenance, fuel, tires, brakes, etc and harder to live with in the real world. I live in the sticks, so the size of the truck wasn't an issue, but the few times I went to New Orleans in it, I could be a PITA. Don't get me wrong, I loved the SD, and in the perfect world, I could've kept it and purchased a half ton.
I also am very impressed with the new F150, it completely outshines any truck I've ever owned on a long trip. It's amazing how advanced and refined it really is.

 

I've tried the down sizing on many different occasions. Got tired of never having enough truck to do the job safely.

I have had at least 4 different 150's over the past 15 years, and every time I got frustrated with lack of payload and towing capacity. I got tired of having to borrow or rent a truck 4 to 8 times a year.


My wife's minivan has more payload capacity and cargo space than most of the pimped out 150's I see on the road today for crying out loud.

Imo I have a minivan that provides the ride for road trips and cushy ride.

I have a SD and am glad it rides like a truck.....it's supposed too!

IMO buy what makes you happy, and don't try to justify your purchase to anyone, it's your choice!

 

I had 3 F350's 99', 2005' and a 2008 but was towing 27-36 foot 5th wheels. Now we are towing a 6000lb trailer trailer so I did not need the larger truck.

 

I did not downsize, my good friend up sized from 150 to 250 and here is whats going on. We each have a inline 7x25 trailer we pulled on 600 mile one way trip last week. Each was identical set up weighing approx 4500 lbs. His truck did handle the hills a hare better than my 150 but My 150 got 12 mpg where the 250 got 9-10 mpg. I realize mpg is not the number one stat in towing, however he had an overall higher cost of gas to buy as he only had 28 gallon tank vs my 36...I was impressed that the 150 was right there with the 250 I was thinking maybe 250 next time around, but I don't tow anything heavier than this load, and dont care how the truck rides empty. The engines were 6.2 250 and 5.0 150 ......then parking was a hole another story.......f150 is plenty of truck IMO

 

I came from a Ram with the Cummins and I know I'm going to miss the stability of the 3/4 ton suspension when towing. Everything I read talks about using a weight distribution hitch and I'm dreading that.
The reason I didn't go back with one is because I don't tow enough to keep all the new emissions bs cleaned out. I've read too many stories and seen too many pictures of new diesels now towing and getting all backed up with soot.

 

Everyone's made some good points thus far. My F350 was overkill for the 9,000lb trailer I was towing, but since it was 30' long I liked having the long wheelbase on the SD when I hit those cross winds. If you're going to be towing heavy (near the F150 limits) or large trailers where a long wheelbase and heavier truck is needed, then go SD. Otherwise, I suggest a F150.

But at the end of the day, my vote is always for "Buy what you want, this is 'Merica".

 

This post is a good view of the main towing issue. If you're a person that just wants to throw a trailer on regardless of it's tongue weight and get rolling, you need an SD. It's why a local company here I talked to uses 350 SRW trucks for their lawn service and not 250 or 150 MAX trucks. His guys don't have time to balance out WDH setups with each different load throughout the day. The truck needs to be able to just hitch and pull. When you go F-150, you're committed to always needing a WDH for every trailer over 5K pounds, and depending on the weight of it (like a toy hauler) you may need WDH before that even.

 

Super Duty trucks need them too. I don't have a Super Duty hitch near me, but there is a separate, much lower, rating for weight carrying hitches. I believe it's either above 6,000 or 8,000 lbs.

Larger trucks can help mask the effects of an improperly loaded trailer, but they can still kill you.

 

I went from a 2006 F250 6.0 to the 16 F150 5.0.

Pluses:

Smoother ride
Overall quieter (despite wind noise)
Waaaaaaay nicer interior

Negs:

Not as much power
Lower highway MPG
Doesn't feel as "rugged"

I simply will not be towing like I used to and have no real need for that capacity. However that capacity comes with a truck ride, the new F150 is more car like.

I do miss having the 06.

 

I just went from a 2011 F350 to 15 3.5 eco


F150 pluses
- Comfort. This was the main reason I traded. It rides so much better.
- My trailer is a 5k 20ft toyhauler. It easily fit with in the tow guidelines of the f150. I pull about 20 weekends a year and the motor is more than capable.
F150 Minus
- Man I miss that power for towing.
- Man I miss that power for towing


I'm torn. I absolutely love my f150. But I pull half the weekends of the year and there is nothing that can replace that power. When traffic slows down and then speeds up nothing replaces the roll on of that 6.7. If my trailer weighed any more I'd be back in a super duty and I'd just deal with the harsher ride.