I'm just about done beating up the dealer, but now he threw me a curve ball. I was all set to order the 250 and he asks me if I had thought about doing the 350 instead. I tow an 11,000 pound fiver (36' 2 slides) and that's about it. I'll drive the truck some back and forth to work (30 miles round trip) and go to the dump ever so often.

Any reason to spend the extra for the 350? I don't think insurance is an issue vs the 250.

I read that the 350 has beefier springs, bigger axle or diff and hydro boost brakes vs vacuum on the 250. What's that really mean to me?

thanks

 

Bigger is better... Sorry did not really have a comment just wanted to subscribe

 

As a guy who used to have an F250 and now an F350, I highly recommend spending th extra ~$200 for the SRW F350.

For this, you get a heavier rear axle rating, bigger blocks under the leaf springs in back, standard auxiliary leaf springs, and a higher GVWR. This is all there is for changes.

The main springs are identical, and the only increased stiffness is a result of the auxiliary springs which don't make contact without ~1,500 lbs in the bed. So you won't notice any stiffer ride.

The only disadvantage is the higher bed height as well as clearance height of the cab. If you regularly park in an area you clear by less than 2", you'd need to stay with the F250. If you don't nearly scrape the roof, you'll do fine with an F350.

Remember the increased bed height can make things more difficult. I think this makes the tailgate step an even more important option. I also highly recommend getting the step.

 

I'm interested in this topic as well, been going round and round with this one for a while. I do plan to put a lift on the vehicle....nothing too crazy, and also order the camper package, just because I don't need the 20" wheels as I'm going after market. I'm thinking the 250 w/ camper package is more than sufficient for my needs, but the 250 to 350 upgrade cost is fairly minimal in the big picture.

 

I pulled my Big Horn at 12000 pounds on my previous F250. I pull it now at 13000 pounds with my new F350. I would never go back to the F250 if I am still towing a fiver.

 

I really wish I would have gotten the f350 instead, of the 250 I got. BTW is more than 200 more, more like $900 more to get the f350.

as to the ride they should be the same the rear springs in the back are the same except the f350 has a 4" rear block vs 2" on the f250, so you get 2" higher rear ride height, which IMO looks better too, because my f250 sits almost level with no load on it, even a freaking bass boat will leave the back lower than the front. the 350 has the aux springs which only come into contact once the rear is pushed down about 1.5" otherwise you can't tell there is a difference in ride stiffness.

so yeah I highly recommend the f350, its not that the 250 can't handle the load, I am sure it will handle the load just fine it will just sag doing it. I installed the 4" rear blocks I bought off a guy on here to my f250 it sure makes the truck look way better and even better with the trailer not sagging the back anymore.

 

So, let me see if I have this right. The 250 and 350 have the same rear spring packs, but the 350 has a 4" block instead of a 2". How does this make the 350 any better than the 250? It seems to me that it would only make it sit higher when empty? Not trying to start anything here guys, just trying to understand the whole thing is all.

 

Interesting...I've priced them numerous times in the past to find only a nominal price difference. It appears more significant now, and I'm not sure why.

Because of the auxiliary spring that all F350s have. You can get this on F250s with the camper package though. The rear axle is also rated for more weight. Not entirely sure why, the specs sheets reference higher spline count in the axleshafts.

 

The rear axle assemblies are absolutely identical on F250 and F350 SRW trucks. They are both assembled on the same lines with the same parts at the Ford Sterling Axle Plant ten minutes from my house. BIL is a high level management at the plant. I asked him this exact question last Thanksgiving.

The F350 Dually has a different rear axle assembly that is not built at the Sterling plant.

I was under the impression that the 2011 F250 has a different rear spring pack than the F350 besides the overload spring.

Regards

 

Nope, they're identical.

 

Doesn't the 350 have higher weight rated tires and wheels?
Rich

 

same wheels; Load range E and wheels are the same too.

 

slightly off topic but if anyone has more info on the 4" spring blocks such as part number(s) to order, cost, good place to buy them etc., that would be great.

 

What about the height of the front end? I have an F250 with Super Springs towing
a fifth wheel weighing 14500 lbs. When towing my truck is only 1/2"
lower in the rear. When non towing the truck is higher in the rear than the front.
Any simple way to rasie the front end?

My truck is two wheel drive.

 

I had a 2008 F250 6.4 4x4. I had to add Timbrens to keep the bed from sagging when towing the 5th wheel. The F250 springs are softer and the weight of the pin would push the bed down pretty good. I tow an '08 Cedar Creek Silverback triple slide that weighs in at a little over 11k with a 2k pin weight.

I went with the F350. No need for helper springs or airbags.