Do I need a 250?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 887
Likes: 370
Just letting you all know I've been reading all the replies and really appreciate it 
I've been scouring dealer sites around me (Gainesville FL) to find just the right 150, just not finding it yet (see specs below), so also checking their 250s while I'm there. The '24 350 Lariat we test drove yesterday really impressed me, and we have the funds for it, but it's too tall for my garage and I just don't think I really "neeeeeed" a 250, even tho I kinda want it! Torn ...
...
Any more ideas or thoughts, including better ways to search for 150's, would be greatly appreciated. I've been scouring so much the past few days, I'm ready!
I've been scouring dealer sites around me (Gainesville FL) to find just the right 150, just not finding it yet (see specs below), so also checking their 250s while I'm there. The '24 350 Lariat we test drove yesterday really impressed me, and we have the funds for it, but it's too tall for my garage and I just don't think I really "neeeeeed" a 250, even tho I kinda want it! Torn ......
Any more ideas or thoughts, including better ways to search for 150's, would be greatly appreciated. I've been scouring so much the past few days, I'm ready!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 232
OK I'll contact her. My garage door is the standard 7' high, and my little ol' non-lifted 4x4 Titan only clears it by less than an inch. Search shows the F250 height range is around 4" higher than the Titan's height range ... but really i need to measure the height precisely instead of using ranges, and will do ASAP. My door is adjusted to be allllll the way up, ie the door frame is actually the low point, not the door itself.
(and that claims without options, which weighs more and reduces height I'd guess if you got it loaded up).
If you have std type garage door opener with arm that hangs down, you can replace it with jack shaft opener to get max clearance to door when it is up.
https://www.ford.com/trucks/super-duty/models/f250-xl/
See "specifications"
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 1,376
From: Chaz
F150 crew long bed with max tow and 3.5 EB would be perfectly fine. Loved mine. I moved up to SuperDuty, it’s a day and night difference in handling while towing. Using it as my daily driver, I do miss my F150. If I’m making twice as much, I would be buying both F150 and a Superduty. 😉
Anyway, also forgot to mention tow mirrors. You can get them aftermarket, the stock little mirrors suck and its not common to see f150 lot trucks with tow mirrors.
We use f150s at my company and I am really familiar with them.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 69
From: Okotoks Alberta
What is the tounge weight on the trailer loaded? Then look at your payload sticker on a F150. Subtract tounge weight from payload number. Keeping in mind the remaining weight is for passenger weight, gear, everything in pick up bed, etc.
i bought a F150 on a whim and my tounge weight on my Airstream was close to 900lbs with a 1300ish payload I was not even factoring in my 70lb Reese WD hitch. That means I only had an extra 400lbs of payload left. I’m 200lbs dog is 80lbs wife is 130lbs and I was going to max payload. This didn’t include hunting gear, camping gear, firewood…etc. I always have to drive a f250.
it’s all about PAYLOAD, not towing capacity.
Being safe while towing is paramount!
i bought a F150 on a whim and my tounge weight on my Airstream was close to 900lbs with a 1300ish payload I was not even factoring in my 70lb Reese WD hitch. That means I only had an extra 400lbs of payload left. I’m 200lbs dog is 80lbs wife is 130lbs and I was going to max payload. This didn’t include hunting gear, camping gear, firewood…etc. I always have to drive a f250.
it’s all about PAYLOAD, not towing capacity.
Being safe while towing is paramount!
At this point in my life I didn't need an F350 6.7 PS, but I wanted an F350 6.7PS & that is what I purchased
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 69
From: Okotoks Alberta
Ha! Bling it out ... we test drove a barely-used '24 350 Lariat today ... the wife was in heaven. I said, Well gimme some money!
Thanks all ... scouring nearby dealer sites now for a 150 that suits me.
Edit: Not finding one so far with a V8 and Max Tow. Is that a rare combo?
Thanks all ... scouring nearby dealer sites now for a 150 that suits me.
Edit: Not finding one so far with a V8 and Max Tow. Is that a rare combo?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 69
From: Okotoks Alberta
The longer ones do tow and ride a little better but its not necessary. I had a crew 5.5 bed and it did fine. Just because he is looking at lot trucks, just find a crew cab with a 5.0/3.73 4x4 and that will definitely meet his needs.
Anyway, also forgot to mention tow mirrors. You can get them aftermarket, the stock little mirrors suck and its not common to see f150 lot trucks with tow mirrors.
We use f150s at my company and I am really familiar with them.
Anyway, also forgot to mention tow mirrors. You can get them aftermarket, the stock little mirrors suck and its not common to see f150 lot trucks with tow mirrors.
We use f150s at my company and I am really familiar with them.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 198
Likes: 201
Those are both unicorn HDPP trucks. Typically you will see between 1500-1900lb actual payload on a well equipped XLT truck. Mine was 1750 on a 2020 3.5 Ecoboost super crew with the short bed and 3.55 gears. Being at the max was another reason I upgraded to the F250. Nothing like going to the scale before a 3 week trip to Utah and being ~350 over the trucks payload and having to go home and repack. My F250 has a 3550 lb payload so won't ever even come close to that with my current camper.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 125
Likes: 69
From: Okotoks Alberta
Those are both unicorn HDPP trucks. Typically you will see between 1500-1900lb actual payload on a well equipped XLT truck. Mine was 1750 on a 2020 3.5 Ecoboost super crew with the short bed and 3.55 gears. Being at the max was another reason I upgraded to the F250. Nothing like going to the scale before a 3 week trip to Utah and being ~350 over the trucks payload and having to go home and repack. My F250 has a 3550 lb payload so won't ever even come close to that with my current camper.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 99
Likes: 56
From: Dayton, OH
2025 F350 max height is 81.4, so technically, you'd clear by approx 2.5 inch (assuming 7' = 84").
(and that claims without options, which weighs more and reduces height I'd guess if you got it loaded up).
If you have std type garage door opener with arm that hangs down, you can replace it with jack shaft opener to get max clearance to door when it is up.
https://www.ford.com/trucks/super-duty/models/f250-xl/
See "specifications"
(and that claims without options, which weighs more and reduces height I'd guess if you got it loaded up).
If you have std type garage door opener with arm that hangs down, you can replace it with jack shaft opener to get max clearance to door when it is up.
https://www.ford.com/trucks/super-duty/models/f250-xl/
See "specifications"
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 1,669
From: NW Wyoming USA
2017-2019 SD are a little taller than 2020-2022s. Not sure about 2023+, I think they’re similar to 2020-2022s.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1,118
Those are both unicorn HDPP trucks. Typically you will see between 1500-1900lb actual payload on a well equipped XLT truck. Mine was 1750 on a 2020 3.5 Ecoboost super crew with the short bed and 3.55 gears. Being at the max was another reason I upgraded to the F250. Nothing like going to the scale before a 3 week trip to Utah and being ~350 over the trucks payload and having to go home and repack. My F250 has a 3550 lb payload so won't ever even come close to that with my current camper.
Yep, good luck ever finding an F150 with a 3,000 lb payload, most are sub 2,000 as noted. The 1,750 lbs of payload on yours is very typical for most trucks that people actually buy. While I agree the OP doesn't strictly need a heavy duty pickup for his load, the functional capacity difference between even the stoutest F150 and a base F250 is substantial - don't let things like advertised max payload or advertised max tow capacity fool you.
Dave
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 1,376
From: Chaz
Yep, good luck ever finding an F150 with a 3,000 lb payload, most are sub 2,000 as noted. The 1,750 lbs of payload on yours is very typical for most trucks that people actually buy. While I agree the OP doesn't strictly need a heavy duty pickup for his load, the functional capacity difference between even the stoutest F150 and a base F250 is substantial - don't let things like advertised max payload or advertised max tow capacity fool you.
Dave
Dave
A super crew 5.5 bed 4x4 Lariat will have about 1,600 payload (and those aren’t conservative like an f250). If his 7,000 lb trailer tongue weight is between 700-900 lbs he has more than enough payload though.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 232
Yeah you won’t find one, at least on any lot, with 3,000 payload and 14,000 towing. I wouldn’t want to do either with an F150.
A super crew 5.5 bed 4x4 Lariat will have about 1,600 payload (and those aren’t conservative like an f250). If his 7,000 lb trailer tongue weight is between 700-900 lbs he has more than enough payload though.
A super crew 5.5 bed 4x4 Lariat will have about 1,600 payload (and those aren’t conservative like an f250). If his 7,000 lb trailer tongue weight is between 700-900 lbs he has more than enough payload though.