250 vs 350 differences
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New User
Joined: Dec 2019
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250 vs 350 differences
Well, after a few long days of headaches, my truck that i had ordered actually ended up not being available. I was supposed to be getting a 2019 F250 Platinum, i had it spec'd out with everything i wanted, notably cab lighting, wheel well liners, bedliner etc. I dont blame the dealer as they are trying to work with me on the issue
they do have an F350 on the lot that literally has everything i was originally getting and more (platinum ultimate, gooseneck, tow prep, all trailer cams etc) and they are willing to sell me it for the same price as i would have payed for the 250, 20k off msrp. Is this something i should consider? how much stiffer of a ride is the 350 vs the 250, and what exactly are the differences, obviously the motor is the same but from what i could see just by looking myself it would appear there is an extra leaf spring in the back, is the front end different? what kind of difference in fuel mileage between them (not like it was good to begin with)
would this benefit me for trading in, in the future vs having a 250 if the price im paying now is the same. my options are getting pretty limited now for whats left with the 19's, i dont want a 20.
what would you guys do
they do have an F350 on the lot that literally has everything i was originally getting and more (platinum ultimate, gooseneck, tow prep, all trailer cams etc) and they are willing to sell me it for the same price as i would have payed for the 250, 20k off msrp. Is this something i should consider? how much stiffer of a ride is the 350 vs the 250, and what exactly are the differences, obviously the motor is the same but from what i could see just by looking myself it would appear there is an extra leaf spring in the back, is the front end different? what kind of difference in fuel mileage between them (not like it was good to begin with)
would this benefit me for trading in, in the future vs having a 250 if the price im paying now is the same. my options are getting pretty limited now for whats left with the 19's, i dont want a 20.
what would you guys do
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 618
Likes: 6
I'd go get that F-350. It will have a different axle (Data vs Sterling possibly, depending on your F-250 config) and another leaf spring - it doesn't ride too much differently.
F-250 6.7L Platinums are pretty useless if your hauling anything anyway- they just don't have any payload.
F-250 6.7L Platinums are pretty useless if your hauling anything anyway- they just don't have any payload.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 104
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I'll get flamed for saying this - but I would never buy a 3/4 ton truck. The 1 ton rides the same as the 3/4 ton when empty but it has an extra leaf spring for when you're towing a heavy load. That extra leaf spring gives you quite a bit more payload. In some jurisdictions, 1 ton trucks cost more to register and I think that's why a lot of people buy 3/4 ton trucks. I would absolutely buy the F-350!
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Joined: Dec 2019
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i should add as well where i live you do not require yearly inspection/safeties on vehicles with a gvwr over 9500 if you are using it for personal use, found out you actually do!... i am unsure about the actual registration cost though thats a good point im gonna make a few calls right now
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,840
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From: Jacksonville
Go for the F-350. I've had both and the ride difference is negligible, IMO. You increase your towing horizons and payload capabilities exponentially. My F-250 was a Lariat Ultimate and the payload was about 2002# vs the 3272# on my F-350 Platinum. Good luck and show us what you get.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2006
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This pretty much sums it up.
Get the tree fiddy, I did so I'd be legal towing my 40' fifth wheel. When I say legal, I mean within the limits on the door stickers. Some will say tow whatever you want with whatever you want, but I personally wanted the numbers to work out on paper just in case.
Get the tree fiddy, I did so I'd be legal towing my 40' fifth wheel. When I say legal, I mean within the limits on the door stickers. Some will say tow whatever you want with whatever you want, but I personally wanted the numbers to work out on paper just in case.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2019
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interesting, 40$ less per year to insure the 350.. boy this is a really tough decision lol. i dont know if i ever would have gone over the max cap of the 250 but never say never right. the added weight is just a bonus i think i should just take the 350 based on the price alone!
Im gonna take it for a drive most like on thursday now since New years. But i think you guys know what im gonna pick..
Im gonna take it for a drive most like on thursday now since New years. But i think you guys know what im gonna pick..
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 668
Likes: 6
From: FL
Having pushed my F250 to the limit with airbags, and having switched to an F350... I will NEVER go back to an F250 (or single rear wheel as long as I'm towing heavy) again.
People said the F350 is stiffer. (Remember I'm talking DRW... have no experience with SRW)... well it is stiffer. But by so little it took my wife thousands of miles before she ever noticed.
My gearing is different... yeah, runs slightly higher RPM, gets slightly less (1mpg?) mileage...and claws it's way out of the hole with a heavy trailer behind it like a freight train.
But when I need to put 5,000# in the bed... it just... does it.
As somebody mentioned above... the F250 Platinum has no real payload (IIRC mine was like 700#). What a waste on an $80,000 truck.
Buy the F350 and never look back. And if you're going to ever tow heavy... buy the DRW version and never look back.
People said the F350 is stiffer. (Remember I'm talking DRW... have no experience with SRW)... well it is stiffer. But by so little it took my wife thousands of miles before she ever noticed.
My gearing is different... yeah, runs slightly higher RPM, gets slightly less (1mpg?) mileage...and claws it's way out of the hole with a heavy trailer behind it like a freight train.
But when I need to put 5,000# in the bed... it just... does it.
As somebody mentioned above... the F250 Platinum has no real payload (IIRC mine was like 700#). What a waste on an $80,000 truck.
Buy the F350 and never look back. And if you're going to ever tow heavy... buy the DRW version and never look back.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,366
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From: Frederick, CO
Reasons to buy 3/4 ton over 1 ton:
Item 4 is probably the most common reason people opt for the F-250 ... which sort of amounts to "they don't know what they're doing." As has been covered many, many times, the build differences between the two platforms is almost non-existent. They sit the same, they're the same size, they ride the same, and the price difference ranges between $40 - $1,000.
Good luck.
- Registration fees. In some areas, it can cost more to register a 1 ton. In some areas, fees are based on GVWR.
- Insurance cost. In some areas and with some companies, it may be more expensive to insure a 1 ton.
- Commercial use. In many areas, a 1 ton crosses a GVWR threshold that requires a form of CDL for operation. In those areas, it will explain why maybe you see a lot of contractors and other businesses using 3/4 tons. Many people will double-dip -- buy a truck for their business, but also tow their RV with it. They may prefer the 1 ton, but the commercial restrictions would be too onerous.
- Outdated conventional wisdom that states a 1 ton is too stiff, is "too much truck," is "too big," is too expensive, and so on.
Item 4 is probably the most common reason people opt for the F-250 ... which sort of amounts to "they don't know what they're doing." As has been covered many, many times, the build differences between the two platforms is almost non-existent. They sit the same, they're the same size, they ride the same, and the price difference ranges between $40 - $1,000.
Good luck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 165
I went 350 with 37”s. No lift, but I do have PMF adjustable radius arms as part of my tire clearance strategy. In all the parts I considered I never found a suspension component that wasn’t the same across both.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,136
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From: Chaz
No the lift should work the same as the front ends are the same. Let the lift manufacturer know its a 350 as the rear blocks may or may not be different, but that shouldn’t affect anything.
The primary downside to the 350 is its gvwr is over 10,000. If you are using it for business it will be regulated under federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Regulations. Its not that you can or cant get around the regs, its just the fact you are subject to them and unless you haul heavy in the truck itself professionally the F250 works out better as it can tow nearly what a SRW 350 can and its lighter overall.
The 350 srw also has a heavier rear axle and spring which increases the weight.
You probably dont need a 350 srw but at $20k off I would get it!
The primary downside to the 350 is its gvwr is over 10,000. If you are using it for business it will be regulated under federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Regulations. Its not that you can or cant get around the regs, its just the fact you are subject to them and unless you haul heavy in the truck itself professionally the F250 works out better as it can tow nearly what a SRW 350 can and its lighter overall.
The 350 srw also has a heavier rear axle and spring which increases the weight.
You probably dont need a 350 srw but at $20k off I would get it!