250 or 350
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: Southwest Desert, AZ
F250 vs F350 SRW vs F350 DRW
My $0.02 worth.
I played the same game. Here's what sold me on the F350 DRW. Buddy of mine was towing a utility trailer behind his F350 SRW at 70mph on I17 NB towards Flagstaff, AZ. Blew left rear tire. Trailer and truck decided to swap ends. You see where this is going I'm sure. Good news is he saved it and his family. Only bad news is bent sheet metal. Minor stuff. I tow a toy hauler and I've got the 5th wheel hitch if a buddy needs their's moved.
I figured if I was gonna haul myself, my grown kids, hunting buddies, ladyfriend with her granddaughter, or anything I care about I was not gonna take a chance with their lives. If a tire is blown on a dually you will loose a fenderwell. Big deal. That's what we pay the insurance for. I can't bring those I care about back from the dead.
I've taken enough chances with my own life. I fly, been to war 4X, parachuted, numerous other dangerous things but I figure that's my choice. Their lives are not mine to make those choices.
When towing, if you don't have a dually, I'll drive myself. Thank you very much.
Post script: You don't buy, nor use these trucks for their mileage. Everytime I hear about better mileage I want to scream. You want better mileage, go buy a Prius and tow with that. Drive a SUPER DUTY, MAN THE F*** UP, pay the price at the pump. Your turn on the soapbox. Enuff said.
I played the same game. Here's what sold me on the F350 DRW. Buddy of mine was towing a utility trailer behind his F350 SRW at 70mph on I17 NB towards Flagstaff, AZ. Blew left rear tire. Trailer and truck decided to swap ends. You see where this is going I'm sure. Good news is he saved it and his family. Only bad news is bent sheet metal. Minor stuff. I tow a toy hauler and I've got the 5th wheel hitch if a buddy needs their's moved.
I figured if I was gonna haul myself, my grown kids, hunting buddies, ladyfriend with her granddaughter, or anything I care about I was not gonna take a chance with their lives. If a tire is blown on a dually you will loose a fenderwell. Big deal. That's what we pay the insurance for. I can't bring those I care about back from the dead.
I've taken enough chances with my own life. I fly, been to war 4X, parachuted, numerous other dangerous things but I figure that's my choice. Their lives are not mine to make those choices.
When towing, if you don't have a dually, I'll drive myself. Thank you very much.
Post script: You don't buy, nor use these trucks for their mileage. Everytime I hear about better mileage I want to scream. You want better mileage, go buy a Prius and tow with that. Drive a SUPER DUTY, MAN THE F*** UP, pay the price at the pump. Your turn on the soapbox. Enuff said.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 436
Likes: 51
From: Southwest WA
Dual rear wheels are not necessary with a tow behind camper. It costs more and I believe it is overkill. I have a tow behind with 2 slides and tow it with a 2011 F350 SRW diesel and it is very stable with more than enough power. If you decide to tow fifth wheel that is on the heavy side DRW might be a smart choice but it is still not necessary.
The OP was talking about slide in the bed pickup camper, not something to tow behind the truck!
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 5
From: Minneapolis, MN
They're essentially the same trucks if you're looking at 99 or newer. The different front axle between the 250 and 350 you referred to was in the previous generation.
Registration fees may be different between the 2 as well. In MN, an F250 (under 10k GVW) is registered as a passenger vehicle, and registration fees are based on it's value ($600+/yr on a new F250), whereas an F350 over 10k GVW, the registration fees are based on it's weight ($140/yr for 15k registered weight). Only difference being on an older vehicle registered as a passenger vehicle, the registration tax is decreased as they age (my 01 F250 is only $40/yr, while my 2 F350's and F550 will never change as they age).
The other consideration between the 2 is commercial usage. If you're buying strictly for personal use, there's no consequence to buying the bigger truck, but for commercial use with no trailer, I'd take an F250 over an F350 any day of the week to avoid the DOT regulation hassles, provided it can handle the load. That goes out the window as soon as you hook a trailer though, as the combo puts you over 10k GVWR and right back into commercial vehicle regs if used for work. Every state's rules vary slightly, but in MN a driver is required to have a medical card, the company is required to have DOT numbers, inspection records, random drug testing, and you have to pull into weigh stations and comply with various other rules with regards to fire extinguishers, road flares/triangles, load securement, etc. Some states also require annual vehicle inspections (MN doesn't unless you're over 26k, hauling passengers, or crossing state lines). Again, none of this matters if the truck is strictly for personal use.
Registration fees may be different between the 2 as well. In MN, an F250 (under 10k GVW) is registered as a passenger vehicle, and registration fees are based on it's value ($600+/yr on a new F250), whereas an F350 over 10k GVW, the registration fees are based on it's weight ($140/yr for 15k registered weight). Only difference being on an older vehicle registered as a passenger vehicle, the registration tax is decreased as they age (my 01 F250 is only $40/yr, while my 2 F350's and F550 will never change as they age).
The other consideration between the 2 is commercial usage. If you're buying strictly for personal use, there's no consequence to buying the bigger truck, but for commercial use with no trailer, I'd take an F250 over an F350 any day of the week to avoid the DOT regulation hassles, provided it can handle the load. That goes out the window as soon as you hook a trailer though, as the combo puts you over 10k GVWR and right back into commercial vehicle regs if used for work. Every state's rules vary slightly, but in MN a driver is required to have a medical card, the company is required to have DOT numbers, inspection records, random drug testing, and you have to pull into weigh stations and comply with various other rules with regards to fire extinguishers, road flares/triangles, load securement, etc. Some states also require annual vehicle inspections (MN doesn't unless you're over 26k, hauling passengers, or crossing state lines). Again, none of this matters if the truck is strictly for personal use.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 407
Likes: 1
From: Richland, WA
In my case I chose the 350 4x4 SC 6.0l because things like a pallet of brick, block, mortar or cement are too heavy (on paper) for a 250 4x4 SC 6.0l. Don't know if it makes a legal difference, but I wanted to play it safe.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
My $0.02 worth.
I played the same game. Here's what sold me on the F350 DRW. Buddy of mine was towing a utility trailer behind his F350 SRW at 70mph on I17 NB towards Flagstaff, AZ. Blew left rear tire. Trailer and truck decided to swap ends. You see where this is going I'm sure. Good news is he saved it and his family. Only bad news is bent sheet metal. Minor stuff. I tow a toy hauler and I've got the 5th wheel hitch if a buddy needs their's moved.
I figured if I was gonna haul myself, my grown kids, hunting buddies, ladyfriend with her granddaughter, or anything I care about I was not gonna take a chance with their lives. If a tire is blown on a dually you will loose a fenderwell. Big deal. That's what we pay the insurance for. I can't bring those I care about back from the dead.
I've taken enough chances with my own life. I fly, been to war 4X, parachuted, numerous other dangerous things but I figure that's my choice. Their lives are not mine to make those choices.
When towing, if you don't have a dually, I'll drive myself. Thank you very much.
Post script: You don't buy, nor use these trucks for their mileage. Everytime I hear about better mileage I want to scream. You want better mileage, go buy a Prius and tow with that. Drive a SUPER DUTY, MAN THE F*** UP, pay the price at the pump. Your turn on the soapbox. Enuff said.
I played the same game. Here's what sold me on the F350 DRW. Buddy of mine was towing a utility trailer behind his F350 SRW at 70mph on I17 NB towards Flagstaff, AZ. Blew left rear tire. Trailer and truck decided to swap ends. You see where this is going I'm sure. Good news is he saved it and his family. Only bad news is bent sheet metal. Minor stuff. I tow a toy hauler and I've got the 5th wheel hitch if a buddy needs their's moved.
I figured if I was gonna haul myself, my grown kids, hunting buddies, ladyfriend with her granddaughter, or anything I care about I was not gonna take a chance with their lives. If a tire is blown on a dually you will loose a fenderwell. Big deal. That's what we pay the insurance for. I can't bring those I care about back from the dead.
I've taken enough chances with my own life. I fly, been to war 4X, parachuted, numerous other dangerous things but I figure that's my choice. Their lives are not mine to make those choices.
When towing, if you don't have a dually, I'll drive myself. Thank you very much.
Post script: You don't buy, nor use these trucks for their mileage. Everytime I hear about better mileage I want to scream. You want better mileage, go buy a Prius and tow with that. Drive a SUPER DUTY, MAN THE F*** UP, pay the price at the pump. Your turn on the soapbox. Enuff said.
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