Within the next year or so I will be looking to purchase a new of slightly used F-250 primarily for plowing snow. I used to work for a local municipality plowing snow and have put quite a few miles on various super duty trucks from work. I have since found a new job in a different field and really miss plowing snow so looking to buy a truck and do it on the side in addition to my full time job. Like I said, the truck will be primarily used for plowing, with some occasional use and some towing throughout the rest of the year. My idea trim is an XL with the 8 inch touchscreen, and 4.3 inch productivity screen in the gauge cluster, super cab, 4WD, appearance package, vinyl seats, carpet delete, snow plow prep, FX4. Trying to find a truck like this is quite difficult because very few XL's have the 8 inch touchscreen with all these other things. The XLT would be perfect but I absolutely hate cloth seats and does not appear like you can get vinyl or leather in XLT. A lariat would be nice but I don't necessarily need all those features, but it is easier to find a lariat with everything I want than an XL. So at the end of the day I am looking at a fully loaded XL or base lariat. The next issue is trying to decide between the 6.2 and 7.3 engines. I am well aware of their hauling/towing performance, fuel economy, and things like that but my biggest question about the engines is which most capable of handling lots of idle time without any issues. Appreciate feedback about the engines or anything else, Thanks.

 

Finding the truck is the biggest challenge. Depending on what you find you can pretty easily swap out seat to vinyl if all you find it cloth. A 6.2 in a F350 would be probably the most reliable since it's transmission is beaffier. I would assume the 7.3 is on par with the 6.2 for tolerating idealing. Have you looked to see if it possible to change out the smaller screen to an 8" one without to much trouble?

 

It would be cheaper to swap leather onto cloth seats on an XLT than to upgrade the tiny cluster and tiny sync screen in an XL. Plus for little more money on an XLT you can get features that are nearly impossible to add after-the-fact like power mirrors and 360 degree cameras.

 

Interesting, did not know the F-350 had an upgraded transmission. I have not looked into changing out the screens.

 

will definitely look into swapping the seats in an XLT.

 

Ordering a new one the way you want is the best way to get what you want. Not many used trucks on the market, and even fewer super cabs. In the SC all Lariats are base Lariats, no premium pkg available on a SC. I do not understand the dislike of the cloth seats. They are super durable, warmer in winter, cooler in the summer. Seat covers would fix this for a few hundred bucks wouldn't they?

My last plow truck was a 2021 F250 SCSB 6.2 6 speed XLT with a rubber floor. Great truck, still in the family. Replaced with a 2022 F350 SCSB 7.3 10 speed XLT with just a couple options on it. I think the XLT is the sweet spot, it definitely is for 23 as the XL has kind of been ruined options wise. The new truck is obviously a much nicer truck. Both do the job just fine.

You are looking for a rare bird, good luck!