Hello all. I have been reading this forum for several days now, just trying to learn the pro's and con's of the F250 superduty in an offroad purpose. I am currently looking for a truck I can go offroading in and have found 2 very good options. One option is a 1999 Chevy 1500 and the other is a 2003 F250. Both of these trucks have lift kits on them. I know, I know... this is a Ford forum so try not to bash the Chevy option too much! I was just wondering about the performance of superdutys offroading compared to the lighter trucks such as F150's doing offroading. I dont know if superdutys perform better staying on the pavement just hauling heavy things which they were intended for, or if they perform better than the lighter trucks while offroading due to their stronger parts. I am mainly wanting to use the truck for having fun in the snow, dirt, and mud. Any advice, opinions, and experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thank you. -- Tim

 

Not great in stock configuration.

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I would go with any solid axel truck over a ifs!! I have a tahoe with a 8 in. lift I used to use for going to camp. Its a good truck but go up a small amount in tire size and get ready for very costly repairs every time it is in the mud! go above 35 in. tires and one stomp on the skinny pedel and good by diferental. Its for sale now after $12,000 invested. My F350 has the same size tires stronger running gear and has been in worse situations without an incedent or breakage. I am not saying ford only, simply look harder at buying a truck with solid axels. You will be happy in the longrun. Welcome to the site I hope this helps!

 

When I think of off-road the absolute last thing I think about is a heavy duty full size pickup truck.

I'd look at a Jeep Wrangler if you're serious about it. Of course this is a Ford forum and all, but the Super Duty trucks weren't really designed for what you're talking about doing.

 

I wouldn't pick either

I've got 35/12.5/18 M/T's on my truck and it can get stuck pretty easily. I also have a PSD on top of the front axle

I love my truck, but she is a heavy monster. It sinks straight to the bottom of mud pits, and the 1 time I was on the sand I was about 5 seconds from getting stuck...and that was on the hard packed stuff by the road edge.

As for the Chevy, IFS sucks. Especially the Chevy version. It's prone to breaking.

 

My 4Runner is pretty good offroad for a IFS but it's no match for the CJ.
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Tylus, The key to making the weight work for you is to have the ground clearence to not drag hard parts, this is the theory behind the H1 hummer.

I goes like this, if it sinks to the bottom it can gain whatever traction is there.... There is a million variables that can affect this theory, but as a basic princable it works... But i agree, this is a bad choice...

 

I agree Mark. I've got tons of ground clearance for everything but the pumpkin. The axles are mud shovels. I've got a pic around here somewhere where my front axle bulldozered mud when I got stuck.

other think about weight, it takes more to get unstuck. it took 3 other diesels and a jeep to unstick me. And I was only stuck with front axle/frame in the mud

 

Yeeeesh! nice job! oh ya the other good thing about the H1! 4wheel ind suspension... so punkins are way up there. Brakes are tucked up there too...

 

Yup. And those leaking geared hubs provide plenty of lubrication to make it easier to get yanked out...

 

For off roading only I agree but the op was asking about a chevy 1500 and f-250. The jeep wrangler is no more designed for off roading than a superduty other than a tighter turning radius. With the proper tires the superduty is as good or better than truck off road!

 

If you truly are only looking at a vehicle for offroad a Jeep, Bronco or Scout are your best bets. If you still want a truck and want Ford then any of the SuperDuty Gen aren't the best, the '92-'97's are my favorite for offroad ability of the trucks, they definitely aren't my favorite for highway or towing though. MY last work truck was a '92 F250 and it would run circles offroad around the '08 F250 that replaced it. Lots more places the '92 could go that the '08 just can't.

 

If you just want to do some light easy 4 wheeling either one would be fine. If you're into heavy duty wheeling especially in tight areas a smaller rig would be easier to wheel and more fun.

 

They both arnt going to be to well at wheeling but between the two the ford will be better because of the solid axle. Its alot stronger and performs better off road. I have 37 on my truck and have wheeled it some but its not the best. Mine is diesel with a stick which is not great for wheeling sense you dont have much rpm range and they wiegh alot! Would be cool to use the v10 with a reg cab truck. The long bed and extended cab make it have a huge turning radias.

 

I guess before we can give you an informed opinion, we need to know what your idea of "offroad" really is.

Are you a hardcore mud pit monster? Maybe driving on fire trails/logging roads until you find a good camping spot? Hunting or fishing? Climb the side of an ash covered Icelandic volcano?

An F-250 will work for some off road applications, but keep in mind that these trucks are big, heavy and not real agile.