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Hello all. I've been lurking and reading as much as I can as I am in the market for a super duty gas truck. I will not be in the market for a diesel at the moment so please no suggestions to go there.
I have built out both the F250 and F350 gas trucks and aside from a presumed higher payload on the 350, what is the difference between the 2 that would push me into purchasing the 350? I would use this truck to tow a camper (~ 10,000 lbs wet); as well as, my daily (more like weekly, wouldn't drive it every day) driver.
I have checked the payload on quite a few F250's on the lot and most are greater than 3k which is more than enough. I have only found a few 350 gassers and the payload is higher but not by much.
If going with gas does it matter which one? Thanks in advance
For me, the 6r140 transmission in the 350 is the bulletproof choice for towing. Get the 350 in a 17" wheel build and you get a soft rear primary leaf spring stack.
Key mechanical differences between the 2017+ F250- and SRW F350 gassers are the transmissions and the rear leaf springs. The F250 is fitted with the 6R100 auto trans (new for MY2017), and the F350 is fitted with the legacy 6R140. The 6R100 has a shorter (deeper) first gear and a longer sixth gear.
The F250 standard rear springs packs are three-leaf, or four-leaf with the optional camper package. The base F350 is fitted with 17” wheels and four-leaf rear springs standard, and five-leaf packs with the optional camper package. However, most F350’s are fitted with larger wheels and five-leaf spring packs.
The F250 GVWR is limited to 10K lbs. Depending on configuration, the F350 GVWR is as high as 11,500 lbs., so the F350 can offer quite a bit more payload.
A 10K lbs. trailer means an ~1,500 lbs. tongue weight, which takes quite a bite out of a 3K lbs. payload. Would the remaining 1,500 lbs. of payload capacity be enough for the driver, passengers, and all other stuff in the cab and in the bed?
Either way, for towing the 10K trailer, I’d serious consider the optional 4.30 axle ratio, especially if you plan to order or install larger wheels and tires.
For me, the 6r140 transmission in the 350 is the bulletproof choice for towing. Get the 350 in a 17" wheel build and you get a soft rear primary leaf spring stack.
I would take the opposite view. The 6R100 is specifically designed to work with the 6.2 gasser and is plenty robust enough for the job.
The 250 has 3 leaf springs versus 4 of the 350, a Sterling/Ford rear axle vs a Dana (but the same axle used in older 350's), the 6R100 (a plus with the gasser). You might consider getting the Camper Package which adds rear overloads and an anti-roll bar. (The 350 comes with overloads standard)
Only the base SRW F350 with 17” wheels gets the four-leaf rear spring pack as standard. The camper package option on this configuration adds the auxiliary fifth leaf. SRW F350s with 18” or 20” wheels get standard five-leaf rear spring packs.
The gas engine- F250 and SRW F350 both get the same Ford Sterling rear axle.
The 6r140 was bomber for me on my 11 6.2 for over a hundred and sixty thousand miles.... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1536983-transmission-shudder-in-reverse.html
Another factor......are you in a state that taxes '1 ton' trucks? I went with an F250 w/4.30 gears for this reason. Moving to AZ in about 18 months and they have a weight tax that gets applied to F350's. The F250's are registered like a normal vehicle. I have 3110#'s of payload towing 8000lbs......As another mentioned, I also recommend the 4.30 gears regardless of which model you eventually go with.
Option Code “68 D” is a “paper” reduction of the F350’s GVWR to 10K lbs., but the hardware is otherwise all still the same. This might help,with tax and/or registration issues.
Only the base SRW F350 with 17” wheels gets the four-leaf rear spring pack as standard. The camper package option on this configuration adds the auxiliary fifth leaf.
I believe what you are calling a fifth leaf is actually the overload spring? Not part of the spring pack and engages separately?
It’s the total number of leaves in what Ford calls the “Main Leaf Pack and Auxiliary Spring”. Ford makes no mention of an “overload spring”. The total leaf count starts with three for an F250, and starts with four for an F350.
In other words, I just go by the leaf count in a pack, regardless of function. The four-leaf spring pack (including the aux leaf) on the F250 with the camper package and the four-leaf pack on the base F350 with 17” wheels and without the camper package appear to be the same.
Here’s what it looks like on our F350 with 18” wheels. For our configuration, it comes with a total of five leaves - no more, no less - with or without the camper package:
Thanks for the replies; very helpful. I live in North Carolina so I'll have to check on the 1 ton tax. Not that I am too concerned with gas mileage but since I'll be driving this somewhat daily also does having the lighter 250 help with gas? And, I would assume the 4.30 ratio will hurt gas mileage?
My camper actually is only at 8000 lbs and I have no plans to upgrade it but I mentioned 10k because it seems we're always upgrading.
I have gotten from this thread that if I go with F250 I should go with the camper package and maybe 4.30
Thanks for the replies; very helpful. I live in North Carolina so I'll have to check on the 1 ton tax.
NC the f250 and f350 get "weighted" plates... theyre the same fee because the trucks are rated the same by NC DMV.. you wont be able to get around that... unlike the trucks of the pre 2000's the 250's and 350's are built pretty much the same to handle the same loads... either one will suit what your wanting to do... just depends what your personal preference is...
Not that I am too concerned with gas mileage but since I'll be driving this somewhat daily also does having the lighter 250 help with gas? And, I would assume the 4.30 ratio will hurt gas mileage?
I have gotten from this thread that if I go with F250 I should go with the camper package and maybe 4.30
The 250 is not really any lighter then the 350, when comparing them model to model. Its the extra weight of the leaf spring on each side, and the difference in weight from the 6r100 to the 6r140 (If you opt for the 140 in the 350)
There are lots of members who have gone with the 6.2, that swear the 4.30 is the way to go. The camper package beefs up the springs on the 250, which narrows the difference to the 350.
I got the F250 6.2 with camper package and 4.30, I can double tow our 5ver and ATV trailer just fine, at about 13K lbs. I'll lock out 6th gear when towing..
11-25-2018, 06:18 AM
