Hi,

I am looking at a 2001 used f-250 4x4 lariat truck.

To my surprise, it looks like an F150 not a F250 super duty.

Do they make a non super duty F250? I was searching on Kelley Blue book to find a value but F250 always comes up with super duty.

If it is not a super duty then where can I find specs on it?

Thanks .... Mike

 

1997 was the last year of what I call the "classic" F-Series in that the -150 shared the same body as the -250 and the -350. In 1998 they split the line and the Super Duties got a different body than the F-150 line. That year they built a "heavy duty" F-150 and called it an F-250, probably because it took Ford a while to ramp production of the (then) new Super Duty line.

The F-150 bodied F-250 was more of a marketing experiment recognizing the fact that many F-250 buyers didn't really need a "real" 3/4 ton truck. I think it only lasted a couple model years, if you've seen a 2001 version then it appears it went longer than that. I saw a lot of them back in the day but never see them anymore.

The suspension was all that was upgraded, there was never a V-10 or diesel offered in that body style.

-Joe

 

Mike, how did you determine that the truck you are looking at buying is a model year 2001, or that it is an F250? Perhaps the seller has made an error, and the VIN should be verified?

Here's why: Ford indeed did make an F250 light duty, but not in 2001. So either the year is quoted in error, or the truck has been debadged and rebadged (bodywork? accident? previous owner "upgrading" the look?)

Ford made the F250 Light Duty from 1997 to 1999, when it was dropped. This light duty F250 shared the same rounded body style as the similar F150. Other than the badges, the only way I know of to distinguish the models is looking at the number of wheel studs. The F250 light duty has a unique seven (7) wheel stud lug nut pattern, whereas the F150 uses a five (5) wheel stud lug nut pattern.

Like the F150, the F250 light duty was never offered in a crew cab (although I have seen drawings of one that was never produced). Unlike the F150, the F250 lightduty was only offered in one basic wheel base of about 138" (138.8" 4x4, 138.5" 4x2), whereas the F150 came in 120", 138", and 157" wheelbases (nominal measurements vary between 4x2 and 4x4 versions).

The F250 light duty had a 7,700 lb GVWR, which is still under the 8,500 GVWR that traditionally separates the 3/4 ton and above from 1/2 ton and below trucks. Hence the designation light duty. The F150 of the same generation had GVWRs that ranged between 6,050 lbs to 6,500 lbs, depending on model, wheelbase, bed length, & cab style.

I visited the Kelly Blue Book website, and had no trouble finding where KBB listed both the F250 and the F250 "Super Duty" for the same model year (1999). The F250 listing did not say "light duty", but it did not say "Super Duty" either, like the second F250 on the list did. Therefore, the value information you are seeking is definitely available on Kelly Blue Book.

The problem is that if it is a 2001 F250 light duty turck that you are trying to look up, that truck was never made, and therefore does not exist on KBB. Either the F250 you are considering is a 97-99 model, or it is a 2001 F150. I'd get the VIN, and count the lug nuts. If it has seven per wheel, it is an F250, but older than you are being told. If it has five per wheel, then it is an F150, and that would be good for you to know as well.

 

Thanks for all the information. I called the seller who assured me it was a 2001. I will find out for sure when I go look at it tomorrow.

What numbers in the VIN will tell me what year the truck is?

Attached is a picture of the truck. It does indeed have 7 lugs.

Thanks again!

Mike

 

The 10th digit of the VIN will indicate the model year.
1 = 2001
Y = 2000
X = 1999
W = 1998
V = 1997

And while we're at it...

The first digit is country of origin:
1 = USA
2 = Canada
3 = Mexico

The 2nd and 3rd digits is the World Manufacturer Identifier:
FT = Ford Truck (completed)


The 4th digit is the brake type and GVWR class (for trucks only):
P = Hydraulic Brakes, between 7,001 lbs and 8,000 lbs. GVWR


The 5th, 6th, and 7th digits are the Ford model, series, chassis, body, and cab types.
X17 = F150 Super Cab Styleside bed 4x2 pickup


Out of the 17 digits in the VIN, the ones above will help you determine what kind of truck platform you are looking at.

Also, I answered your duplicate post on the F150 forum, and was going to suggest that you post up about your prospective truck on that sub forum anyway, as that is where the owners of similar trucks are.

I was also thinking of another possibility:

You might be looking at a 2001 F150 "7,700" GVWR... which is an F150 with seven lugs, formerly badged by Ford as an F250, and perhaps rebadged by a previous owner as an F250, but technically and originally sold by Ford in 2001 as an F150.

In other words, while Ford dropped the "F-250" designation for the 7,700 lb. GVWR pickup in 1999, that capacity pick up itself (including the 7 lug wheels) still carried over in model year 2001, only it was called an F150, not an F250.

So if you want to see the Kelly Blue Book value, then use 2001 F150, and select 7,700 GVWR.

 

Model year is the 10th digit. 2001 will be a "1".

 

Let me just throw this out as well:

What is your intended use for the truck? Keep in mind that this is not a true "Super Duty" in that it's probably not the best choice for a slide-in camper or towing a large fifth wheel.

Think of this as a beefed up 1/2 ton truck, which should end up doing 1/2 ton type work quite well.

-Joe

 

I was discussing the light duty F250 with a friend who is a Ford mechanic several years ago. I don't remember his exact reasons but what he said was "if you want a 3/4 ton, don't buy one of those". It seems like they had some kind of weird suspension that was prone to problems.

 

Thru 1996, F150/350 use the same bodies as do 1997 F250/350. 1997 F150 was all new, did not share the same body parts. Ford also offered a "Light Duty" F250 in 1997, it looks identical to the F150.

 

If it was from Mexico then it would be an F-250, but it would not be likely that it even could have been registered in the US.

Also, check the lugs! Take a hubcap off and actually check to see if it is 7 lug. They used the 7 lug look hubcaps on non-7 lug wheels sometimes.

 

Looking at the bumper from the pictures it is a 98 model year as in 1999 Ford switched to the same bumper that is used up to 2003.

Mark

 

Ford did build F-250's that shared the F150 body until MY 2004, in Mexico.

 

After having one of fords "odd *****" I wouldn't touch that thing with a 10 foot pole!

 

I had 3 of these light duty f250's at my last job to take care of, and I have over 40 yrs of experience as a certified Master Auto and HD truck tech and have NEVER seen a 7-lug wheel, take the hubcap off and you will find 8 wheel lugs. That said these trucks where not any better than the F-150 they where a HD version of, and did not hold up well, I suspect people really bought the hype that they were a 3/4 ton truck and overloaded them badly.

 

There's a first time for everyone: