I am thinking it is time to replace my Silverado 2500HD and getting an F450 for hauling our toy hauler and occasional farm use. I have been looking and found a 2016 KR with 36k miles (older couple just used to haul their 5er) and a 2021 Lariat Ultimate with 43K miles within $4k of each other. I am inclined to go with the 2021 since they are closely spec'd but looking for advise since there is quite a technology difference between the two (10 speed and aluminum body/boxed frame specifically). I have searched and found a few threads about the 2016/2017 differences but nothing really for the post covid builds...my newest vehicle is 2018 so have not had to deal with this. This would not be a daily driver, driving about once a month unless being used for trailer duty.

 

2016 model year is the latest, greatest, and last year of the steel body Super Duty. It is a fully matured design, and includes the 6.7L diesel engine updates that Ford introduced the previous year, in 2015.

The 2015 and 2016 F-450 are also the years where Ford returned to the 19.5" commercial truck tires and wheels, and upgraded the rear axle in the F-450 pickup to a Dana S130.

The 2021 F-450 is gorgeous... arguably the best looking F-450 made, before, or since, apart from the identical 2022.

You can't go wrong with either truck on paper. But you are not buying specifications. You are buying a USED truck. The specifications no longer matter as much, because a USED truck is unique, and cannot be fairly compared to any other truck... not even one of the same model year, model, and options.

USED vehicles get wrecked, rebuilt, flooded, restored, stolen, recovered... and not all of these events are dutifully recorded on CARFAX, or discovered upon inspection.

Instead of comparing generations, or the availability of options "post COVID" or "pre COVID," I would take each candidate USED truck on a thorough test drive, with the truck owner in the cab, and compare what you see, hear, smell, and feel driving each truck.

You might be tooling along the highway and suddenly feel a weird vibration. Look at the owner right away, with concern on your face, and don't say anything. Give the owner a chance to start pouring out the excuses or explanations for what you just heard or felt. It isn't just what the owner says, it is how the owner says it. All of this can be informative.


If you were comparing brand new trucks between 2016 versus 2021, then your question in theory would make more sense. But since the vehicles under consideration are not new, then their present and actual individual condition is more important than the features they have or don't have.

 

@Y2KW57 Had a very thoughtful response!
Sounds like both could be potentially great options. I would check and drive both to get a sense of what their actual condition is. I would personally lean towards the '21 if all other things are equal. My thought being that if they're essentially the same price, the '21 has been priced below what it should be at considering it's quite a bit newer. Even if that's not the case, a vehicle that's 8yrs old with 36k miles will have a variety of maintenance related issues since it's essentially just sat around. That's 4500mi/yr. That's not a lot, which could be a hidden gem, or bag of cats. I like the cosmetics of the '21, but that's a distant priority compared to the condition of the truck.

 

The 21 will be a better driving truck especially if you plan to leave it stock.

As mentioned Covid had a quality impact. But as long as the owner paid attention any potential issue was probably fixed.

My 2020 dually had an AC box drain issue and transmission recall. Both fixed by the dealer. The drivers side windshield wiper arm made weird noises.

The 21 and 22 had issues with the trailer brake controllers that the dealer could fix with a flash.

 

If we assume equal condition of the trucks I’d pick the 21 over the 16 every day of the week

 

I would take the '16' over the '21' just for less spying & nanny crap on the truck.


I own both years at present.

 

I owned a 2016 f350 for 150 k trouble freee miles and traded into a 2019 350 and hated the 2019. The 2016 was the best superduty I owned out of a 2001 2002 2008 2011.
I would take the 2016 anyday and I did try like heck to get back into a 2016 after my trade for years but didn't have the funs to take the loss etc.
Hated the 2019 until the day I traded into the 2024 150k miles later. The 2024 is much better but still not the 2016.

 

Would the 2021 have any warranty left by chance? That would be a deciding factor for me.

If no warranty left I would still lean toward towards the 2021 due to the better electronics, but would drive and kick the tires on both. If they seem to be equal then I don’t think you could go wrong with either one.

My son has a 2015 SD F250 SB and mine is a 2019 F350 LB both 6.7l. Mine is quieter with less rattles but also mine has 80k miles my sons has 140k. Both are good trucks though.

good luck…

Mike

 

I will say the '11-'16 Super Dutys has more comfortable seats vs the '17-'22 trucks. I also prefer the design of the window sill on the original Super Duty's as they provide a better arm rest.

 

I think the big ticket items for your use would depend upon inspections, maintenance and test drives.

Be good if you could tow with it or at least do some heavy throttle runs,

Look for emissions intact, dirty tail pipes and obvious body repairs under the hood and door hinge areas.