OK, Here it is...

The F-250s & F-350s have the same: springs, axles, shocks, frames, transmissions, drivetrain components, motor options, gear ratio options, interior options, paint options, tire & rim options, tow/camper/plow options, etc... It is the same truck except for the following 3 things:

1) Between the rear axle and rear springs the 250 has a 2" metal spacer and the 350 has a 4" metal spacer. This gives the 350 a 2" higher "lift" in the rear to allow the bed more "sag room" as you pile the weight on.
Over on an RV web site I read a post where a 350 4x4 owner replaced his 4" spacers with 2" spacers to give more clearance between his 5th wheel trailer and truck bed rails, in essence making his 350 into a 250!

2) 1,100 lbs higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) from the boys at Ford (9,900 lbs vs 8,800 lbs). This is what you are really paying the extra $$$ for... For many, this bigger GVWR number on the door sticker is peace of mind. The 250 and 350 are basically the same truck, yet magically the 350 is certified to carry more. Many feel if you exceed your truck's GVWR and cause an accident, you are setting yourself up for a lawsuit. Probably a truth in today's legal system.

3) F-350 vs F-250 badges on the sides and rear of the truck.

That's it... although the Ford page says the 250/350 difference is between $455 & $775 depending on the Super Duty model, some dealers charge close to $1,000! Why the cost of a 2" larger spacer varies so much between a standard cab and a crew cab is beyond me, but Ford obviously believes we'll pay it.

Edmo

 

Go to this site and check for your self. There can be other differences based on config. etc. But by all means get the 350!
Just change the year in this link.
http://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/...001/specs.html

 

Well, I just put in my order for my new truck. I went with the 2004 350 Lariat Diesel, Toreador red, camping & tow options, and pretty much all of the rest of the goodies. I've driven the 250 Diesel and towed my horse with it; it towed really nicely, but I wanted that extra payload. I think that it will come in handy when I eventually put a Cabover on it.

Two months to wait, though! So much for immediate gratification. This is the first tow vehicle I've ever bought new. My previous truck was a 1972 Intl 3/4 ton Camper Special. I loved it to death (almost literally ), but it was getting a bit long in the tooth and Really painful to drive with the milage I have on my back! I expect I'll have this truck for an equally long amount of time.

Thank you all, very much, for taking the time to explain the various options and differences to me. I truly appreciate it! Your advice definately made some of my decisions a lot easier.

 

Amsha,

I didn't get whether you got the crew cab and 4x4 option on the truck you ordered? If so, you might be surprised how little payload you'll really have once you take your truck to the scales. I'm guessing the truck will weigh 7200 lbs. This leaves 2700 lbs for you anticipated slide-in camper and trailer tongue weight if you want to stay within Fords GVWR limits. You'll be hard pressed to find a camper that stays within those limits once you load any gear in it. So be forewarned. I'm not a stickler for staying within Ford's warranty weight limits, but you can easily exceed the rear tire ratings on a SRW truck when hauling a camper.

Here's my weight story. In early 1998, I pickup up my 1999 F350 SC LWB SRW 4x4 XLT V10 auto pickup truck. All the truck I would need according to the RV salesman who sold me my camper. The Ford brochure showed about 4000 lbs payload for my truck and the camper only weighs 2900 lbs dry weight per the brochure. When the camper arrived from the factory it showed 3277 as wet weight. So I stop by the local garbage transfer station and politely ask them to verbally tell me my weight by axle (no charge as I wasn't dumping any garbage). It was about 6800 with me and full fuel. After loading my camper, I stop by again and find out I'm at 10,700, with about 6700 of it on the rear axle (virtually all the camper weight goes on the rear axle). I ran with it for 2 years by making the best of a bad situation with Firestone Ride-rites and keeping the rear tires inflated to 90 psi (allowable per the Firestone inflation table). I felt very unsafe being overloaded. Just before trading in on my current truck, I drove across some scales on the highway (they were closed, but the scale was still on) and found that my rear axle weight had grown to over 7200 lbs (6830 is max for the tires). I was trying to simulate a worst case scenario by having the holding tanks full and also refilling the fresh water tank.

I took a $4000 loss on a 2 year old truck with 15,000 miles on it to get my current truck. It's basically the same, except I upgraded from SC to CC and SRW to DRW. This truck weighs 7200 with me and full fuel. With my previous 3900 lb loaded camper weight, I'm barely legal with a Dually! If I had the diesel engine, I would immediately be 500 lbs overloaded (heavier engine). I haven't weighed it lately, but with the seemingly constant influx of "stuff" into the camper I'm probably overloaded. I personally am not concerned about slightly overloading this truck. The nice thing about a dually is that you have to really work at overloading the rear tires. I feel much safer in this rig.

 

Edmo it should be 4 things
#4 being tires
They upped the 350 rating with larger tires
Other wise its the same truck..

Just my thoughts
twinbulls

 

If you look in the specs on the site that Benro posted you will find that the crew cab F350 has a stronger frame than the F250.

 

Really, seems you are looking at something different than me.

6.87 x 2.36 x .240 with a common yeild strength of 36,000 psi.

Same truck, the frame section only changes in the 350 chasis cab and 450/550 models.

 

I got the SRW and two wheel drive; not the 4.

 

I did not know that. I've wondered why my F250 sits higher that all my buddys F250s. I checked it out, and if what I'm reading is right, I have a F250 with F350 suspension on it. Cool!! The frist owner did special order it for towing. Maybe that's why.?? Thanks, God Bless, Huckster


'99 F250 w F350 suspension SD CC 4x4 Lariat

 

The F350 Crew Cab has a frame modulas of 6.0 vs 5.6 for the F250 in the specs. I am assuming this would make the frame slightly stronger. I believe the specs for the Crew Cab also state that the F350 weighs slightly more which could account for the heavier gage frame. Or it could be that the tires are bigger and heavier?

 

Also the 36,000 PSI is only a rating of the steel , the F150 has a rating of 50,000 PSI but as you all know can not haul as much as an F250.

 

Go back and read the specs again. The only time the specs change on the frame is when you order a box delete truck. Yes, the modulas changes then and only then between the box delete and regualar pickup, and only on the super cab. The specs for a standard box on chasis pickup, which most are ordered as, is EXACTLY the same for all models whether it be a standard, super, or crew cab.

 

Lets not forget the 350 has the option of dual rear tires with a Dana 80 as well.

 

Your right in that most of the parts of the truck are the same, but a few are different. The following is for F-250/350 SRW: Dana 60 rear end. The front springs are different and have a different part number for the SRW F-350, higher spring weight ?? Diagram of the part looks like another coil. Looks like the shocks are the same, same part number. Rear springs for the SRW F-350 are different part numbers, again higher "spring" weight. Rear shocks are same part number. The rear leaf springs (4X2) have the same part number. Higher front spring capacity is probably why you cannot order the snow plow package on a F-250. Tires for SRW F-250/350 appear to be the same, no real specific part number. Now for the DRW F-350. Different part number for both front and rear springs, (different part numbers from the F-250/350 SRW alltogether) The shocks again appear to be the same part numbers. Dana 80 rear end. 4" blocks, rear leaf spring is different part number, probably one more leaf ? And rear sway bar is different part number, defference ???? Maybe thicker ??? And last but not least the badges.......

Just an FYI, the F-350/450 share the same rear end, same part number and discription, Dana 80. The F-550 is a totaly different part number and no discription, plus the expoded diagram looks different.

 

The f250/350 srw both use a Visteon 10.5 inch rear axle not a Dana 60. You can get various front and rear springs depending on which options you choose (4x4). They are not standard f250 or f350 springs. For instance my truck has the V code I think in front and it's a 350. Some here have the X code springs which are heavier. Also with the f350. Some have overloads in the back and some don't. There are many options for 250 and 350 but they have the same running gear except the drw's.