Or, save 9k and get a loaded F250 w/6.2 and over 3k payload. Just food for thought. Fuel is cheaper; motor is less complicated, oil changes are cheaper, the list goes on...

 

The 250 diesel payload is not so much a problem as people make it out to be. Most people who know they are going to be towing a very heavy trailer already know they need a 350 or even a dually. But those who are thinking 250 and are coming from a 150 in particular will do just fine.

My first 2017 was a 350 crew cab dually diesel 4x4 with a payload of 5,440lbs, Lariat Ultimate. My current 2017 is a 250 crew cab diesel 4x4 with a payload of 2400lbs, XLT Premium. I tow equipment trailers weighing in between 10k and 15klbs. I've never had a payload issue. The truck handles the weight quite well. Squats significantly less than the previous generation. And if I want to tow heavier, even though the sticker says "illegal," all I need to do is add some rear airbags for $500. The 250 has all the same frame, brakes, axles, engine, trans, etc...as a 350. Yes I know about the Sterling 10.5 vs Dana M275...but the Sterling was the axle under all 350 diesel SRW trucks through 2016.

 

 

^^^ This.

I daily drove two F150s; a 2012 6.2 and a 2015 EB both CCSB Lariats. I really liked both trucks. The 6.2 in the F150 was a good engine but having driven a 5.0 since then the Coyote is the better engine in that application. The EB was amazing and I really liked it. I towed occasionally with both trucks but they were primarily DDs and I used my '07 F350 SRW CCLB 6.0 to tow my various car haulers. Last August I bought a new 24' enclosed car hauler that weights just short of 9K fully loaded and then decided it was time for a new tow rig. I considered a '17 F150 EB 3.5 Max Tow as I knew several people that tow regularly with them and like them. I even drove a couple pulling their trailers. Towing a 20' enclosed at 6 to 7K lbs was OK but upping that to a 24' at 7500+ was a noticeable difference. My trailer was still easily within the F150 Max Tow's rating but the experience while towing was well below towing with my F350. I tow that trailer about 25K miles annually with lots of time spent on the interstate and the difference between the F150 and the F350 was enough that I decided to take a look at the (then new) '17 F250.

I have a car so I wasn't that worried about daily driving the new truck. I was more concerned about the towing experience. The '17 F250 CCSB 6.7 is easily the best tow rig I have ever used for the given task. Utterly competent, stable, comfortable and effortless on the interstate. Mountains, that had to be given care with the F150 simply don't exist for the F250. For the F250 6.7, the earth is flat. So the new '17 F250 CCSB 6.7 FX4 replaced my F350 for towing duty and has quickly assumed the primary role as my daily driver. While its bigger, heavier and stiffer than the F150 its not unpleasant. And its my wife's all time favorite long distance traveler. It eats up interstate miles (even without the trailer) in absolute comfort. I have no regrets.

I much preferred the F250 ride quality over the F350. And if you aren't going to tow heavy you don't need the 350 payload rating. I am nowhere near close on mine.

I would suggest you drive an EB F150 Max Tow back to back with an F250. And then maybe back to back the 6.2 against the 6.7. And if you can arrange a chance to tow your trailer on a test drive to that. Buy the one you like the best. For me the 250 6.7 was the clear winner by miles.

 

 

Everyone will have his opinion and who can say they are wrong. This is what I did. I originally considered a 5.0 L F150. I was convinced to move up to the Super Duty due to the stronger truck, brakes etc. Then I considered the F250 and F350. The price difference was about $1000. No brainer. I took the F350 with upgraded payload capacity, and stronger rear end and transmission. I chose to go with the 6.2 L engine because it was about $10000 to go diesel. I wanted to tow a 10000lb travel trailer but with the larger payload, changed it to a 5th wheel of the same weight. The only issue I find is pulling up hills. The tach goes up and so I slow down a bit and make it up fine. The rest of the time there is no issue with the gas engine. Good luck.

 

 

Thanks for all the input guys(gals?)! You have been saying what I was thinking on the F150, it will do it but not well. After reading all this, I built up a 350 and 250, loaded with the same options that I want, and the 350 came out just $70 more. I have X-plan pricing, and most of that $1k+ sticker price difference was eaten up by the high capacity tow package on the 250. I just need to do some research, when I get a chance, and see what the cost increase is for tags in my state for going over 10k. I am almost certain I will never push it near or over the 250 rating, but if costs aren't much more, the 350 would have higher resale value down the road. Payload has never really been an issue with my F150 as I don't haul a whole lot of weight in the bed of the truck, just large volumes. Of course overkill isn't always a bad thing, as long as it doesn't cost too much :-). I guess a super duty is in my future, I just need to decide between the 6.2 and 6.7. I'm still torn. I'm definitely going for a 2019, strictly for the Lariat sport package. I am not a chrome guy, and especially not on truck. When I was building up a 2018, I couldn't believe there was no blackout package/trim. I thought I was going to have to go to a King Ranch to get the painted bumpers, and pay for options I don't want to pay for. That was the reason I went with the FX4 over Lariat in 2011, to get the body color/darker finishings, but now in 2018 its either chrome or more chrome. I'm glad I stumbled across the 2019 build sheet forum here, it really took away the disappointment.

 

I concur about chrome, fortunately I can't see much of it when driving.

 

The question of which trim to buy and what options also. I live in Canada and the options are a little different. I purchased the Lariat base option. I did not want the moonroof that in 2017 was included in the Ultimate option for about $6000. I wanted the leather heated/cooled seats. I added the power running boards (can do this in Canada). I could have added the LED headlights but not prepared to buy the lights/BLIS option for $2000. In my opinion, add the 5th wheel prep package and upfitter switches to your build as in the future, hard to add and very useful if things change. Good luck on your new truck.

 

Minor detail, but on a gas F-350 the rear end would be the same as on a gas F-250.

 

I would suggest you drive a few trucks before ordering. That's what I did. I preferred the F250 ride quality over the F350 and I didn't need the payload. And I certainly didn't need the high capacity F250 package.

Also, the first '17 SD I drove was a neighbors. Its a 6.2 CCSB FX4 Lariat. I really liked the truck and figured the 6.2 was all the motor I would need. It wasn't significantly different from my F350 6.0 and I had plenty of experience towing with both gas and diesel motors. At the dealer's I drove a 6.7 and was instantly hooked. The engine is amazing.

 

One thing that I have not read you mention is if you are going to still get paid if your truck is down. If not it is VERY hard to beat a gas superduty for day after day keeping on the road reliablity. Sure it will use more gas than your other choices, but that fuel expense over a diesel will only be a drip in the bucket if you are waiting on a truck to get fixed and are not getting paid.

 

Get the F250! Duh

 

True fact, and that is why many fleets are running the gas engines simply because of dead-nuts reliability and cheap maintenance...but I've had no trouble with any of the four 6.7L diesels I've owned. Great engine, especially when towing something heavy.