I know this has probably been discussed, however I am a member of many forums and have not found one yet where you can type in a search and actually have it come up with what you are looking for, this forum being no different, so I will just ask the same old question again.


I am soon going to be buying a vehicle, I have a 2010 150 with low miles and the wife has a 09 front wheel drive escape. She has gotten a new job with a long commute and with the winter weather up here she needs a 4x4. SUV prices and mileage is comparable to trucks so I decided maybe getting a truck for her to be an idea, however I made the mistake of looking at the diesels and noticed the difference in msrp between the 150 and the diesels to be less than I expected so now I am considering buying a diesel and giving my 150 5.4 to the wife since it gets very good mileage on the highway with conservative driving. I am an operating engineer now so I will be doing some traveling for work and depending on how much travel I may just buy a camper to live in during work weeks so the diesel would come in handy also I have a 22 ft equipment trailer (bumper pull) rated at 14,000 lbs which I use to haul my small tractor backhoe, probably around 10,000 lbs. I currently tow the tractor with the 150 and it can handle it but it is a little much, luckily I don't do it all the time.


What I would get would likely be a 250 or 350 Lariat 4x4 regular rear axle, no dually needed. Either an extended cab or crew cab. Mainly I want to know your opinions on which is better to get and why, my main concern will be mileage, I probably do 75 to 80% highway driving.


Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

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The biggest difference is the extra rear spring for additional towing with the SRW trucks. Something not needed based on your use. Not bad if available, not bad if not.

Maybe trying to start over now.

 

By the way I am taking the new model year trucks not the past models

 

Let's start over guys. We're a friendly group, and going back and forth about the search function is counterproductive.

There are no pros and cons of each choice, for you are considering the same truck. The only difference between the SRW F350 is a higher GVWR number on the door sticker and the overload spring on the rear axles. But that same overload spring can be had if you get the camper package on the F250. There aren't any mechanical difference unless you step up to the DRW truck which uses a heavier axle.

The F350 SRW also has an additional 2" of height on the rear suspension.

Fuel economy will be identical between the two, and it doesn't sound to me like you'd really need the extra capacity. So I'd suggest getting the truck you like regardless of whether it's an F250 or F350.

 

I haven't gotten actual pricing yet as I haven't been down to any dealers I'd actually buy from. My local ford lot doesn't seem to interested in actually selling anything with their pricing so I take my business elsewhere but would I be correct in assuming there isn't going to be a whole lot of price difference in the 2 models either? I would hope a upgrade on the 250 to the camper package wouldn't make it more expensive than the 350 but that could vary between dealers

 

The base MSRP difference between the F250 and F350 is $895, and that much difference can be had in negotiation. The camper package is $160.

 

In Texas it's 6 to one, half dozen the other because we can register for whatever weight we want. The F350 has a higher minimum because of the GVWR being over 10k, so it costs double per year to register. In places like NY I'm pretty sure at a certain weight the truck has to become commercial regardless of use unless you modify it to make is "not-a-truck" like with a permanent shell and camping equipment. If Wisconsin has a certain law that makes the extra GVWR of the F350 desirable, get that. If not, get what they have.

There's no practical difference between an F250 and a SRW F350, just some some nit picking details that ultimately don't matter for day to day personal use. Fuel economy will be driven by engine and gearing, doesn't matter if it says 250 or 350 on the badge. As someone with a Super Cab, I'd vote for the Crew in a Lariat, it only makes the truck about 18" longer if the bed is the same length, and they're more desirable on resell. The Super Cab works great for guys who need some backseat (more than the "none" in a regular cab) to store stuff in or occasionally move a spare person, but for personal use I find the crew cab to be more versatile.