I'll be putting a camper on my 2001 F250 Super Duty Long Bed. I've heard that the main differnce between a 250 and 350 is the springs. If so, can I have F350 springs put on my F250, thus increasing the load capacity? Any comments, suggestions, appreciated.

 

Assuming the 02's have the same specs as the 01's I believe the springs are the same.The 250 and 350 have the same ratings as each other.

From what I gather the 350 rides on average 2in. higher when equipped with the same pkgs.The standard tires on the 250 are LT235/85Rx16E and the standard 350 tires are LT265/75Rx16E,these are about an inch wider and about the same height or overall diameter. Axle options are a little different,but not as far as ratio goes.

Now...the camper package includes heavy service front springs,(200lbs. heavier rating based on options)a rear stabilizer bar(probably important with a slide in and available after market)and slide in camper certification.Some people,like Quikirk for example,have installed the aftermarket stabilizer bar.

Hope this helps .

 

Need more info on your truck ?
Is it a 4x4 ?
what engine and what GVWR do you have now ? it's on the door Jamb Driver side.is it a dually?
The other difference is frame thickness!
Do you have the camper pkg on there now

The 8800lb gvwr is the heavey suspension for F250 (srw)
The 9750 lb gvwr is the f350 (srw)

You can put the 350 under the 250 but you have to be sure you don't exceed the 6830 GAWR for the rear axle.

rich

 

>I'll be putting a camper on my 2001 F250 Super Duty Long
>Bed. I've heard that the main differnce between a 250 and
>350 is the springs. If so, can I have F350 springs put on my
>F250, thus increasing the load capacity? Any comments,
>suggestions, appreciated.

Your load capacity is really dicated by your tires.

Although there are nominal differences in the frame thickness and varying spring packages, the bottom line is to not exceed what the TIRES are rated for.

I should aslo say that just changing your springs to a higher rated spring (even if your tires are, let's say, E load) WILL NOT increase you load capacity (legally or really even otherwise...) it will only increase your resistance to sag. The higher load caps for the 1 ton trucks are part of a "planned package" or system if you will. Meaning that they are actually designed for the load capacity that is stated on the door jamb. You cannot change one part and walla you have a different truck with a different GVWR.

With you sliding a camper in back, I would imagine that your concern would be the rear-end squatting too far. Rather than swapping springs just get an air bag system to keep it level and be done with it. No matter what springs you put on it, you shouldn't exceed your stated GVWR.

My .02

Oh and Ken, Welcome to FTE!!!

 

You might, if you haven't already, consider a device to help the rear springs instead of replacing them. There are a number of companies making different approaches to the same solution.
The best, for your application, is the air bag. It is adjustable and basically perfect for the camper. There's also add-a-leaf. The idea is the simplest, but the spring pack has to be disassembled to install it. Hellwig makes an adjustable leaf pack that bolts over the stock set up. Roadmaster makes the Active Suspension which is basically the same idea but with a shock or coil instead. They can both be installed quickly and easily. They help the rear stay level and also help control wheel hop.
Now I haven't tried any of these myself yet. So I can't tell you which is going to work the best. I think that air bags are the way to go because they can definately be adjusted to put the rear exactly where you want. The others, I'm not so sure about. I'm split between the airbags and the Roadmaster. The initial cost is higher for the airbag with compressor kit, a must for me because of continuously varying loads. But I also like the idea of subdueing wheel hop. I don't know if airbags will do that. The roadmaster guarantees it.
Either way, I think there is a better method of beefing up the rear susp than trying to put F350 springs in. Hope this helps. Please keep us posted as to what you do and the results. Thanks and good luck.

 

Oh yeah, welcome to the Ford Truck site.

 

what is the heaviest duty spring pack and what trucks are these found on?


-nathan

 

also, isnt there one spring pack that makes the truck sit higher?


-nathan

 

>I'll be putting a camper on my 2001 F250 Super Duty Long
>Bed. I've heard that the main differnce between a 250 and
>350 is the springs. If so, can I have F350 springs put on my
>F250, thus increasing the load capacity? Any comments,
>suggestions, appreciated.

It would help to know what weight of camper you're going to install. This would help dictate what items would be worth adding to your F250. These would be my choices: (The heavier you go, the more items should be used.)

1. Anti-sway bar
2. F350 overload spring (camper package)
3. E rated tires with 3450lb srw rating
4. Load leveling air bags
5. Rancho 9000 adhustable shocks
6. F450

Good luck in your quest

 

>also, isnt there one spring pack that makes the truck sit
>higher?
>
>
>-nathan

I believe that the X spring " plow prep package" is the stiffest spring available in the front. This pack in the front would bring the truck to a almost level rake. My 01 250 was-is more level or higher in the front from the factory than my 99 350 without the snow plow package. I do not plow with the 350, it is primarily my tow vehicle, where my 01 is my "play truck" that I do use to plow some snow with.
The 350 comes with a 4" block under the rear spring pack, where as the 250 has a 2" block.

 

Hey guys, sorry to bring up an old tread, didn't want to make a new one. Was thinking about doing a leveling kit on my dads '02 F250.

I've got a set of front '04 F350 front springs laying around. Do they sit any higher than the front '02 F250 springs? Thanks!

 

Hello FTE Members:

Today I ordered from my local Ford Parts Dept the heaviest front coil spring there is for a 2009 F350 SD XLT. The # is 5C3Z-5310-AA 7,000 LB SPRING. This is the biggest front coil spring you can get on a 2009 F350. I was told that this will almost make a gaser 5.4 leveled out. I currently have 5,600 GAWR Coil Springs in front.

I know the ride is going to be more bumpy, but it is a truck, not a pimp mobile,,,,lol I did not want to put anything aftermarket on my truck regarding lifts . I was already warned very nicely by the salesman when I purchased the ext waranty, not to touch certain items on the truck, which included lift kits as well. Every dealer is different.

The springs were approx $85 "EACH" and the install will be $250, AND A $90 allignment. Not bad for dealer waranteed work, at least in my mind. I know some folks on here will disagre with the allignment, but I did a search on this forum regarding this entire topic, most members that changed their front coil springs, recomended the alignment.

As mentioned by previous FTE Members, it does not matter what package you have " Camper, Snow Prep, HeavyDuty" It goes by the GAWR or if your truck is still new, there is a sticker tag on the coil springs. Very few superduty trucks in my area have the 7,000 lb springs except the 450's

I will take berfore and after pictures next week when the job is done.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy the holiday weekend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SLIM_SNOOPY

 

Nice. Hijack.

 

Now it is offically HI- Jacked....lol