I have had several F150s to compare to my current gas 2019 F250 4wd SCSB with 5600 front springs. I also had a bunch of other solid front axle vehicles and other SUVs. I think my 2019 F250 rides awesome unloaded. Except for an occasional slight bump steer, I think my F250 rides as good as my 2014 F150. After decades of an occasional slight bump steer, it becomes second nature. My girlfriend has only owned half ton trucks and as much as she liked my last F150, she likes the ride of my F250 better (trust me, she would let me know if she didnt like it). Don't get the 20" wheels and keep tire pressure lower when unloaded and the ride is nice. I agree with everyone else about the towing differences. I don't think I can go back to an F150.

 

Well this thread went the way it always does.

 

You can call a circle whatever shape you want but it'll always be a circle, same applies here and the reason most threads like this end the way they do. Half ton guys think they have the right tool for the job, SD guys they think they have the right tool for the job. Coming strictly from a safety standpoint the SD will tow better in 99.99% of scenarios and that can't be debated.

 

The tradeoffs for both vehicle types are obvious and haven't changed, I totally agree. However, it seems to be controversial when someone wants to discuss those tradeoffs. Ah well.

 

yup ….

im not going through all of the point and counterpoint, as it is just too time consuming. I’ve done it all before, and I’m generally just tired of it.

Here’s my stance:

telling someone that their half ton isn’t the right tool for the job when they are well within their ratings because an f250 or f350 would do it better is ludicrous. If that is your stance then I would counter with your f350 isn’t the right tool for the job because an f750 would do it better. Control, handling, braking - everything is better from a towing standpoint in a 750 vs a 350. So why aren’t you all using 750’s?

trade offs. Life is a compromise.

But what gets old is constantly being told that you are in the wrong for pulling a 7500 lbs camper with a truck that is rated for it. My rig is within its ratings and it is controlled and safe — I wouldn’t put my family at risk in something that wasn’t safe. It’s that simple. The “bigger is better” argument is only looking at one side of the coin. The other side of the coin has to do with the primary use of the vehicle.

My expedition generally gets around 20,000 miles a year. Maybe 2,000 of that is towing. Why on earth would I compromise 90% of the time instead of 10%?

the newer ones ride better than ours. I’ll grant that. Ours is not comfortable to ride in. The new ones are better, especially in the front seat. But I was shocked how much different it was in the back seat. Not nearly as good. But our 2004 f250 just rolled 40,000 miles. Yes 40k. Why? Because unless there is something heavier than what I can pull with my expedition, it sits. Why? Because it isn’t that much fun to drive.

It’s about trade offs and compromise and primary use. But pulling 7500 lbs with a vehicle rated for 9000 isn’t unsafe just because one rated for 15,000-20,000 lbs would do it better.