My F-250 6.2 rides considerably stiffer than my F-350 6.7 does and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me why. Both are 2018 super crew short box trucks, the 350 is a limited and the 250 is a xlt, neither have a camper package or heavy suspension group. Obviously the 350 is a lot heavier truck, 960 lbs to be exact (confirmed on scale) but the 250 has a smaller spring pack and no overload spring. The front isn’t bad on the 250, slightly stiffer just from the engine weight difference I would guess, but the back end bucks when going over bigger bumps and just feels like a lumber wagon in comparison.

Not complaining or or really expecting to change it, just curious if anyone has some insight as to why it’s like this, I would have said the opposite before I got the 250 so I’m surprised.

 

I think the spring differences are much more slight than the weight differences, so you could be feeling the effects of a stiff suspension with a lighter load with the F-250. There is also just natural tolerance stacks ... some trucks will just be smoother than others based on how the 493,217 components interact with one another. You also didn't mention years or age. Some components may soften up over time and lead to a smoother time.

Ultimately, similarly equipped 250s and 350s should ride the same, with the differences due to tolerances or significant diffs (diesel vs gas, 5200 vs 5990 springs, etc.).

I always smirk when I read things like, "I got an F-250 diesel because I didn't want the rough ride of a 1 ton." SMH. Same truck. Same ride.

 

The gas trucks ride rougher because they are lighter.

 

I know the difference in weight to the pound, but the 250 also has one less spring in the main pack plus no overload so I expected it to be a wash.

The trucks are within 10k miles of each other so not a worn out thing.

 

Tires and psi identical between both trucks?

 

THe F250 6.2 and the F350 6.7 will likely have different front springs. Check the two trucks’ certification labels for each front GAWR.

The standard F250’s second stage rear spring deflection rate is a bit higher (760 lbs./in/spring) than the F350’s (700 lbs./in/spring).

I was also wondering about this very question.

Regards,

 

As I said, I don't think this is correct. I believe the suspension diff to be minimal and the weight difference significant. For practical purposes, you have 2 similar trucks with similar suspensions, one is 1,000 lbs heavier and, as a result, rides a little better. I think it may be as simple as that.

And, again, tolerance stacks could have worked out coincidentally such that you happen to have an F-250 on the rougher end of the spectrum and an F-350 on the smoother side of the range.

Front springs may have more to do with the ride than you're giving credit for. You said it was the rear that was rougher, but this could be due to some transfer of front stiffness through the frame.

And, as mentioned above by a couple of people, tire type, size, and pressure can make an enormous difference.

 

This is generally correct. Most F250s without the camper package have three-leaf rear spring packs. Most F350s (including all with the 6.7) have five-leaf rear spring packs.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

My 350 has the 5 lead pack and the 250 has the 3 leafs.

350 has 20” factory wheels and factory Michelin’s at 65 front 55 psi back

250 has 18” factory wheels and factory continentals at same exact pressures as the Michelin’s on the 350.

Like I said in the first post, more of a curiosity than anything. I get the lighter weight and totally get how much difference almost 1k lbs makes to ride quality, what puzzles me is the 250 has 2 less leafs in the rear pack (really only one extra being used all the time) but is literally like a buck board and the 350 feels like a caddy in comparison.

Best way I could describe it is the 250 is rougher than my previous 06 dodge dually.

Either way, cool discussion and interesting to me about the different spring rates, need to look into that further. Didn’t know ford did stuff like that.