In 97 ford came out with the new body style in the F150 and a oddball light duty F250 with 7 lug wheels. They kept building the OBS in the heavy duty F250 and F350 until they introduced the Superduty new body style in the 99 model year.The heavy duty has nothing to do with the trim packages. If I remember right, the XLT Lariat was the top of the line trim package.

 

Pretty much if the truck has 8 lug wheels, it's good to go!

 

I entered in my VIN to see what I had after someone saying I had a HD version.


Build Date: 13.01.1995
Vehicle Line: C346 APA MCA China
Body Style: Double Cab (3/4 Door)
Version: 350 Series
Engine: 7.3L Diesel V8 Turbo
Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Drive: LHD 4WD (PTD)
Axle Ratio: 4.10
Emission: California Emission Requirements
Air Conditioning: Manual Air Conditioning
Minor Features
• Medium Opal Grey
• Styleside Box - STL Inner/Outer
• 168"/4267MM Wheelbase
• XLT
• Kentucky Truck Plant Build
• Less Special Equipment Package
• With Camper Pack
• With Convenience Group
• With Off Road Appearance Pack
• With Power Equipment Group
• With Privacy Glass
• With Sliding Rear Window
• With Rubber Floor Covering
• Sunvisor - Dual Drv Illuminated
• Sunvisor - Dual-Pass Illuminated
• With Noise Insulation Pack
• Chrome-Plated
• With Lower Body Moulding
• With Electrochromic R/View Mirror
• Double Cab (3/4 Door)
• With Door Entry Remote Control Unit
• With Front Licence Plate Bracket
• With Steel Spare Wheel
• 7.0 X 16" Forged Aluminium Wheel
• LT235/85R-16E BSW A-S Tyres
• With Conventional Spare Tyre
• Immersion Heater Engine
• With Standard Suspension
• With Handling Package
• 4.10
• Rear Axle Limited Slip Differential
• 7.3L Diesel V8 Turbo
• Man Transfer Case And Man Hubs
• With Skid Plates
• With Auxiliary Fuel Tank
• With Tilt Steering Wheel
• With Speed Control
• With Tachometer
• With Anti-Theft Alarm
• Elect AM/FM/Stereo/Cassette/Clock
• Roof Marker/Clearance Lights-Conv
• With Light Group
• 350 Series
• 5 Speed Manual
• C346 APA MCA China

2-speed transfer case
4.10 axle ratio
72 amp-hour (650 CCA) maintenance-free battery
95 amp alternator
8' pickup box
9200# GVWR/3565# maximum payload
5000# capacity mono-beam front axle
6250# capacity full-floating rear axle
4100# capacity front multi-leaf/7596# capacity rear multi-leaf springs
HD gas-pressurized shock absorbers
Single rear wheels

(4) 16" x 7.0" 8-hole std steel wheels
Pwr steering
Dual fuel tanks (19.0 gallon front/18.2 gallon rear)

 

Only the '97/98 OBS F250 got the label "Heavy Duty" and that's was because of the "Light Duty" F250 that looks like an F150. F350s never got the label because they didn't make a light duty version. If it's an OBS, it's an HD; if it's a PSD, it's an HD. The light duty trucks got the modular engines (4.6/5.4). There's no difference between an HD and "non-HD" OBS. End of story.

 

Actually Darrin,this is where the story just gets interesting.Ford did in fact offer a 9th gen/OBS (92-96) F250LD pickup.They are not very common but they do exist.They sport the F150 frame with crumple zones and they have a semi floating rear axle.
Your statement about if it's a PSD,then it's a HD is very accurate though.The LD F250's got the 300-6 or 302 engines.OBS F250LD unicorns do drive the streets though.Keep your eyes open,you just may spot one someday.I never have personally.It took a few members posting their pics on the forum for me to see one.VIN verified and the whole 9 yards.


In the year range your looking for,there is the custom and the XLT.The custom is bare bones with vinyl floor,crank windows.Basically a "beater with a heater", with perhaps a thing or two special ordered as well (for example,perhaps someone just wanted air conditioning and cloth seat and perhaps a chrome front bumper) whereas the XLT comes with power windows and doors,cruise control,A/C,tilt wheel,carpeted interior floor (once in a blue moon,you'll find an XLT where someone ordered carpet delete/vinyl floor instead),plusher seat covering as opposed to vinyl,upgraded stereo etc. As well as chrome bumpers,grills and headlight surrounds.Many XLT's come with tu-tone paint as well.

 

 

Yeah that's right.Funny my mind was thinking XL but still typed custom instead lol.As I was typing I was thinking of a '96 XL I used to have (with A/C,chrome front bumper and cloth seat) yet I still typed custom............Dunno.Brain saying one thing,fingers saying another.

 

and to muddy the waters even more, the 87 to 91 250's were offered as LD and HD.
LD 250 had a semi floating rear axle with no hub sticking out past the rim, the HD had the full floating rear with the big hub sticking out.

 

So then, Ford gurus, why in the H do/did the oem wheel covers for our PSD HD trucks have 7 lugs instead of 8?

 

maybe someone at ford had a sense of humor?