Was there even such a thing as F250 HD in 1988? How can I tell if my truck is an HD?

I have read in places that F250 HD trucks originally had no marking on the fender to indicate the HD. Does the HD truck have biggger axles, etc?

Thanks

 

>.>.... * F-150: 1/2 ton (6,100 lb GVWR max)
* F-250: 3/4 ton (8,500 lb GVWR max)
* F-250 HD: 1992–1997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton (9,000 GVWR max)
* F-350: 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
* F-Super Duty: 1 ton plus (15,000 lb GVWR max)

 

it breaks down like this

2wd light duty f250 had a GVWR of 6600lbs or 7700lbs

2wd heavy duty F250 had a GVWR of 8600lbs or 8800lbs

4x4 f250s dont have a heavy duty or light duty distinction and had a GVWR of 6800lbs, 8800lbs and 8600lbs

 

So when people cite having something like a 1988 F250-HD (anything before 1992) they are really just incorrect? As if they just say HD cause it sound better?

 

i guess so.... idk i just posted what info i found from the world wide inaccurate wikapedia

 

My spec book, which is where i got the GVWR info is for 1992. But i cant tell you anything before that.

Wikipedia is terrible for Ford trucks. There are numerous errors throughout the page.

 

yea... i know...

i always figured it wasnt a heavy duty or super duty unless it had a diesel

 

I do know that if it has a diesel it is automatically a Heavy Duty regardless of the GVWR.

 

LD f-250's had a semi float rear axle and the HD f-250's had a full float rear axle.

 

Nope, Ford made it extremly difficult to figure out what trucks came with what axles. Light duty or heavy duty did not depict what rear axle it got. I think that had to do with wheel base, engine, transmission, and GVWR all combined in some elaborate formula to decide what axle a truck got. I'v seen lots of LD F250's with FF, only 1 with Simi-float, and HD F250's with only FF's

Simular to how they decided if a truck got the dana 44HD or the dana 50. No one really knows.

 

Thanks guys,

I have the diesel engine, and full floater 10.25 rear end, so I guess that makes it HD (whether or not that an official designation).

I also found some good info on this topic at this thread...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...1989-f250.html

 

How do you tell if a truck is an HD or LD? Can you tell from the VIN or otherwise?

I see on the other thread I linked a guy says if your GVWR is 8600 lbs you have an HD, anything less is LD.

 

Look at the GVWR on the sticker in the driver side door jam. It should match up with one of the rating above. It may also say HEAVY DUTY on the F250 badge on the fender, but im not sure what decided whether or not it got that badge.

 

Thats a good thread but they have alot of stuff wrong. The GVWR doesnt decide what front axle it got between the dana 44HD and the dana 50. That depended on wb, engine, transmission and GVWR. This is where it get confusing and even im not really sure how they decided. I know some LD F250's got the dana 50 and i know all HD F250's got dana 50's. But i dont know what LD trucks got the dana 44HD.

I think super cab LD F250's got the Dana 50 while reg cab LD F250's got the dana 44HD. But im not positive.

 

I'll check my door jam sticker and see what it says...