I have owned a 2013 F150 Supercrew with a 5.0 engine since new. It has 120,000 miles and has been an excellent truck. It's GCWR is 7,700 pounds.

We bought a 6,600 GVW camp trailer a month ago and while my current F150 pulls it, but drops to 2nd gear on the steeper hills here in N.C.

I want more truck than I need, so I set my sights on a new F250 with a 6.7 diesel and started researching. It didn't take long to see that there is a strangely large number of F250s on the dealer lots. There are a bunch of YouTube videos discussing teh large inventory and few that attempt to explain why. Pulling the thread leads to bad ratings by consumer reports, discussions of 10 speed transmission issues, A/C compressor failures within a thousand miles or so, and the driver's side wheel sticking out an inch further from the fender than the passenger side wheel.

I expected Ford and especially the Ford F250 to be at the top for quality. But instead I learned that Ford "ruined" even the 5.0 engine for 2025.

I don't enough about the all the problems myself to ask the right questions, so what say the owners of these trucks?

 

Quit worrying, imo.

Go buy the truck you want and enjoy. Keep in mind most consumers will jump on the internet and complain or want help with an issue. Very few jump on and just praise how much they love their truck after several thousands of miles.
I for one love my 2023 SD (latest generation). 36,000 miles here. If you want a small piece of mind buy the Ford Premium Plus warranty. I have logged almost a million miles on Ford diesel’s from 1999-current and have never had any major problems. Take care of the truck and it will be ok. Mindy I change oil when my truck tells me to and fuel filter every other oil change.

Enjoy the new truck and post pics when you get it.

 

There’s plenty of 250s because a 350 is only a grand more, and you get a lot more payload.

Ford had a bad run of compressors. I wouldn’t let that deter you from a purchase. If it fails, they will take care of it.

The transmissions are great. Yes there’s been a few failures, but that goes for every brand. The vast majority of them out there are solid.

Your current truck is a solid truck. Those were some great years for half ton fords and that 5.0 is flawless. I miss mine, it was a great truck. My 24 loaded lariat ultimate with 10k miles has been great so far. Only thing that has failed has been the ambient temp sensor in the mirror housing, easy fix for the dealer. Don’t read into issues you hear on the internet. Every automaker has a few failures on parts here and there. Always has.

 

If you go looking for problems with any vehicle of any brand on the internet, you'll find it. If that's your criteria then you'll never buy anything.
I'm not a diesel guy. I simply don't need it for my uses. But I owned 4 of the gas 2017-2022 gen and now have a 2023. No problems worth noting, even with the 10 speeds, of which I'm on my third.
LIke Philly said above, for the relatively little amount of money I'd go for the 350. I'm on my second 350 SRW and don't regret it.

 

We had a '13 302ci SuperCrew... loved that truck, and especially the motor. My daughter totaled it out in 2017, unfortunately. It was just a great truck.

I have a 2023 F-250 with a gas motor, and another 2025 F-250 gasser on order. The new F-series trucks are good trucks, but, like you, I have my reservations about the longevity of the platform. My 2009 F-250 has 215K on it, and has been relatively trouble free, even considering the severe service I've put it through... I can only hope my 2 new ones will deliver. Like was mentioned, every truck, every brand, has it's issues. After our F-150 was totaled, I bought a Chevrolet 2500HD... transmission took a puke at 113K, right after the extended warranty ran out... so it happens to everyone.

For what it's worth, I've had my 2023 in for transmission service already. It is what it is. I don't like the 10-speed transmission... but I can't get a manual, anymore, so... again... it is what it is. You pays your monies, and you takes your chances. Before I bought my 2023, I evaluated the other brands... even with Ford's supply issues at the time, I still stuck with Ford... over another Chevrolet, or, Heaven forbid... a Dodge... and I'm glad I did.

 

So what have y'all heard about the need for a transmission software reflash? Is a recurring requiring multiple trips to the dealership over time or is the reflash a one and done fix?

 

As far as my 2023 is concerned I've heard nothing of this issue and haven't received any notices since purchasing new off the lot 10 months ago

 

a/c compressor issue should be taken care of. they had a bad batch.
transmission issues are becoming less common. they keep updating them. i think quite a few problems have come from one of the drums, which has been updated and seems to have fixed it.
sure, there are issues with electronics and other things, but i don't believe there are really more than the other manufactures are having

 

I was in a similar situation I had a 2018 F150 with Max Tow, and we bought a 9200lb GVWR 28ft travel trailer. F150 handled it fine, but I was always worried about payload and not loading up too much. So I went whole hog and bought a 2023 F350 with the 6.7. The towing experience is night and day. It is so much more stable and capable. I'm getting significantly better mileage when towing than with my old truck, too. I've only had the truck a month. I bought it with 18,000 miles on it. So far there's been no issues. I love the truck, and wouldn't hesitate to make the trade again.

 

I can't speak to diesels in particular, but on the note of YouTubers talking about "how ford has failed," or "too much inventory," most of them don't know anything. They aren't presenting facts, just opinions, and all so that they can get more clicks and likes and have their numbers go up.

Also the people saying that Ford ruined this or that are often just complaining about changes they don't see as necessary--change is hard for people.

Buy the truck you want. The majority of trucks won't have major issues.

 

Be careful when looking at F250's. The diesel version doesn't have near the legal payload most people think it does. Check the sticker on the door jam.

 

Actually, if you read through the threads here at FTF, you will get some substantive feedback... some opinion, some fact... it's up to you to distill what you want out of it. One person's truck may be perfect in every way, and another, identical truck may be a disappointment to the owner. Like everything... it depends. Ford has some issues... both in manufacturing/assembly, and from a corporate standpoint... how much of that is relevant to you, is up to you.

I agree... buy the truck you want.

 

I too had all sorts of reviews and comments to read when searching this year. I bought a 2024 F250 6.7L Powerstroke 4x4 Platinum for towing and mostly around combo driving. I drove the F350 and way too stiff of a ride. F250 met my needs, but barely. After 8500 miles, six months, towing near 4000 miles, I can only share my experience for you to ponder. Every truck will have its own issues and those issues are sometimes what you make of them.

• General and Diesel Measurements are broken and blank if you are in tow mode and Navigation. Ford failed at this one.
• My transmission needed updating shortly after delivery, fixed now
• Steering wheel was off center and out of alignment the day I drove away from Corwin ford in Tri cities. Another failure by the dealer to do a precheck, but fixed easily.
• Fancy step in tailgate kept popping out a bit and caused the tailgate to not automatically move. Ford fixed this.

That is about it. I looked at my front wheels and yes, they are the same distance out on each side, so that is an issue with other trucks, but not mine. I get about 15 mpg in the mostly city/ little hwy driving. I get 21 on the highway at 70. Towing 5th wheel at 65 I get 11. The PUCK system is a must to have installed. I really like this Ford F250 and it is not too bouncy, is a solid ride, has good lighting at night, lights up when I approach, etc. I do not like how the truck turns up my iphone audio to max when using Appleplay wireless.

 

First off the main differences between an F250 and F350 are the stickers and badges. They are identical trucks otherwise from the frame up. The real differences are in the rear axles and springs, and nothing else. Second, Dealers tend to sell more F250 trucks and F350, so they tend to order more of them and usually XL and XLT model for inventory, Lariat and higher tend to be special orders or a one off dealer. Third, Take Consumer Reports and shove it up a whales **** orifice, thats all they are good for, Whale TP.

For your situation though, a 6.7 is OVERKILL! A 7.3 F250 is perfect for your trailer, plenty of power, and you get that sweet rumble of a V8. Unless you plan to go to a 5th wheel, then it can handle any bumper pull you throw at it. If you do have thoughts of a 5th wheel, then skip the 250 and go right to the 350 and 6.7.

I have towed a 6400 pound Coleman Bunkhouse with 3 F150 Ecoboost 3.5, the third being a 2018 RWD Platinum. Once I straightened out the hitch problem with incorrect weight bars, it towed like a dream, plenty of power, and even tackled the IKE with tht trailer and a 2014 RWD with 3.15 gears and it pulled it nicely. Then went to a 2012 F350 with the 6.7 and even though it still needed the sway control of the WDH, pulling it was effortless, like it wasn't there(weight wise). We upgraded to a 14K, 43' long 5th wheel though, so the 350 was essential.

I just happen to have been in your shoes with RV towing and F150. If you plane to keep that RV, the 7.3 will save you $10K and have more than you need.

 

Not around here... you are lucky to find an XL on the lot that isn't already assigned to a fleet customer, and the XLT is just a starter kit for most truck leasees. When we wanted to test drive a 2WD XL, I had to pull teeth at 3 different dealers to finally find one... they had to pull it down from fleet sales... and was actually already equipped an lettered for Texas DOT. Finally, we had to order our XL... because they couldn't/wouldn't source one from anywhere else. YMMV, of course.

What it boils down to... higher trim levels have a higher lease residual, and are easier to resell at trade-in time. The dealers don't want to lease, or even sell, XL's and XLT's...