I just priced out an F150 with max towing and payload and ran the numbers compared to an F250 with similar towing and payload. The super duty was $3500 cheaper.

 

Yup. Its the reason I dont have a F150. LOL. My tow loads are always under 10k. So an F-150 would have been ok but meh I prefer to have more truck and for a cheaper price it was a no brainer. besides I'm not a fan of a TURBO 6cylinder.

 

Agree RubenZ. Not a fan of the 3.5L, the water pump design namely. Its driven by the timing chain. When there is a bearing failure, cross contamination of oil & coolant is possible. Also, the SD’s have stronger brakes.

 

Brakes, frame, suspension, axles, etc. are all stouter on the SD. The towing experience between my 2020 F250 gasser and my friend's 2020 F150 3.5 was night and day. However, he did get about 2mpg better while towing (smaller trailer as well), has a slightly larger tank (CCSB vs CCSB), better turning radius and a subjectively "better" driving experience as a DD.

That said, I tow once every couple months and just ordered another SD to be used as a DD. To each their own but I didn't realize the apples to apples capacities comparison actually tipped in favor of the SD. Not to mention the stronger resale down the road.

 

That is only on the FWD/AWD based 3.5T. The RWD truck 3.5T is an external pump driven by the serpentine belt. But I agree, one of the worst engineering ideas I've ever seen. The 150's have their place but $ for $, go to a Super Duty if you can.

 

IIRC GM is now building a small diesel where the timing system is run off the REAR of the crank. So when it goes, you have to pull the entire engine to repair it.

 

I’ve found it interesting for quite some time that a Super Duty can often be had for less than a comparable 150. Hope it always remains true lol….

 

He would have to drive 3500 miles (appox) to make up the difference when towing. So the super duty pluses still is far better.

 

It's the oil pump and it's belt driven off the rear of the crank.

 

I compared a 5.0l v8 F150 to a 6.2l v8 F250 and got the F250 because it was comparable in price and far better for towing. I always though a Superduty would be a lot more money so never considered them before now.

 

When my last 5.0 F 150 was getting about 8 - 8.5 MPG towing my vacation load, I decided that if I was going to get Super Duty mileage I was going to have Super Duty benefits like heavier brakes and carrying capacity when not towing. That was 4 (5 counting newly ordered) trucks ago.

 

My last truck before this one was a 2010 F150 4.6l v8 2wd. I was towing a 4,700lb camper. It did fine but you could tell it didn't want to do too much more. Switched to a class C RV for 6 years and now back to a travel trailer. Wanted to have much more truck this time. My SD can tow my 7,000 lb camper much easier than my F150 towed the 4,700 lb camper.

 

I guess it makes sense if you consider you are upgrading a light duty truck to make it do the work of a SD. Adding bits and parts to something is typically more expensive than buying what is offered as standard equipment.

 

I had the same experience. Always driven F-150s, and was tired of having a truck that was just almost enough to pull our camper (last truck was a 2009 5.4). So I decided I wanted a SD, and did a "build and price" on a 7.3 Lariat Tremor. Wanting to make sure I was doing the fiscally responsible thing (and not picking a SD just because I wanted a bigger truck), I configured the most comparable F-150 as I could, with the most towing ability. The F-150 (Lariat FX4) was $3000 more!

 

I had a couple of 4.6 trucks back in the day. One was a 1997 that I ordered new. Then went with the 5.4. Neither too impressive as I recall but its all we had. Of course maybe the 6.2s and 7.3 have colored my recollection.