Hello

Here is my question..
I currently have a 1996 F150 XLT Supercab short bed, 2Wheel drive auto ,302 , 355 rear.. I bought it 3 years ago with 60,000 miles it now has 91000 and the whole truck is in excellent shape no rust to my suprise. I bought it so I could tow my 67 Fairlane to shows usually twice a year.(weighs about 5000 pounds total) I did not realize at the time that the truck was a little on the small side to do this but it does pull the car very well as long as I take it easy....
Here is my problem
I just came across a 1996 F250 supercab longbed XL 5.8L Auto, 4 wheel drive 355 rear with a snowplow and 65000 miles. It is in excellent shape with no rust I have known the owner for years. The truck is very very clean except for a small dent on the tailgate and a cracked tail light.
I am considering upgrading to this heavier truck with the hopes of it towing my Fairlane better. I looked in my manual at the tow capacities and to my suprise this is what I found..
My F150-- GCWR is 11,500 Trailer weight range is-- 0 - 7,000
The F250 -- gcwr is 11,500 Trailer Weight range is -- 0 - 6,000
I am wondering what is up with the trailer range being less than my F 150 or am I looking up the numbers wrong...
In short is it worth me selling my F150 and getting the F250 will it tow my car better?? In my mind it should but the numbers look strange. I do really like my F 150 but am thinking more about safety when towing...
All advice appreciated...

 

It surprises me a little too, that the GCW is the same. The reason the towing capacity is less on the 250 is because of the additional weight of the 3/4 ton 4x4 longbed. I still think that it's a safe bet that the 250 will handle your car and trailer safer and more comfortably than the 150. More torque, more weight, longer wheelbase, bigger radiator, bigger brakes, bigger axles, heavier springs.... it all adds up to a safer and more comfortable tow.

 

Another thought - could that be a light duty 250? I didn't think they made those in that series, but I'm still puzzling over the low (er than I'd expected) GCWR... Could be the 3.55 gears (which're fairly tall for that truck, imo) might affect that, too... Either way, I still think the 250 will work better for towing.

 

Ford Did make F-250 LD during that time, I forget when they started making them but they had them from atleast 1987-1998 in 1999 F-250LD became F150-7700, because when they changed design some idiot at ford said let me make the new F250LD be mostly a F-150 and it caused problems when mechanics and auto body places order something of a F-250 LD and they got shipped a F250 H/D part

 

They did not make the light duty F250 until 97. The numbers are what they are, according to the towing guide. They both have an 11500 GVWR, the light F150 will tow more (on paper). The F250 will definately do a better job, as stated earlier, due to brakes, wheels, tires, suspension. If the F250 is as nice as your F150 I would say go ahead and make the purchase, you won't regret it.

Toyman

 

the 250 has the added weight of the plow mount, unless that is rewmovable

 

Huh? I don't know what all years they were made, but there were two GVWR F250s made in the 87-96 years. They weren't necessarily called "HD" and "LD", but that's the essence of the difference. One had a sub-8000 lb GVWR (7700, I guess), and the other was 8800 (what I have). In '97, when Ford came out with the new body style, the F250 LD switched over, but the HD did not.

Jason

 

I think the difference that you are talking about was the semi floating rear end. It was a lighter duty truck, but they were not called light duty or heavy duty until 97. The semi floating rear end is capapble of the same tow ratings, but not the same carrying capablities.

Toyman

 

They did the same in 77. I have 1977 F250 rated at 6800lbs. It is the same as the HD except the brakes are smaller and springing is lighter. The carrier on the Dana 60 is identical except the drums and shoes are only 2" instead of 2 1/4" or 2 1/2'. The front calipers are single piston instead of dual. Nothing is the same except the size of the frame. It makes it impossible to upgrade without major work and is a major bitch. I can't believe Ford could justify the cost of producing two different vehicles with the same designation.

When I bought this thing new I had no idea they made two different F250's. I thought a F250 was a F250, man that salesman saw me coming.

 

I got my dads F150 supercab 4x4. It is really heavy duty even though it is a 150. He towed some very heavy loads long distances with no problems. There is a pic in my gallary of it. I really need to decide what to do with it. It runs very well and everything works.

 

I will repeat what I have said several times in this forum. You can pull about anything with anything, but can you stop it?

The brakes are the most often overlooked and yet the most important aspect of towing. If your braking is inadquate for the load then you shouldn't be towing that load.

You shouldn't rely on the trailer brakes because they can and do fail. Over the last 30 years of towing 5th wheel RV's I have lost my trailer brakes on two occassions. Once with a blown fuse (I use nothing but resetable circuit breakers now) and once with a controller failure. Thank God the truck brakes were adaquate enough to stop me.

You should hook up your standard load, turn off the brake controller to your trailer (if you have one) drive down a level road at 35 plus and put on the brakes. If you can feel good about stopping in time to avoid a car pulling out, or an animal or child running in front of you then you are good to go. If not then you had better rethink the situation. Just remember that its going to be a lot worse on downhill grades.

I guess being a retired fireman with a lot of rescues under my belt makes me a little more sensitive to safety than the average person is. I hope you don't think I am preaching. Good luck and many safe miles of towing to you.

 

I agree with what you are saying. We took my dads F150 with a 9 foot slide in camper and pretty good size boat through the mountains in British Columbia without a problem. This is more weight than my car.. I think trucks are just not built the same anymore but that is only my opinion. They are better in some ways but worse in others.. My 96 F150 does ok but like I stated before I did not understand towing capacities and thought my dad towed with a F150 so why should I get anything different.I soon realized that I need to upgrade to a F250 at least to have a safer tow. By the way I am only going on my 15th year as a Union firefighter but I have been on a couple Rescues too. I appreciate the input and I do not mind being preached at..LOL.. Thanks..

 

Could it be the F250 has taller tires and should be using a 3.73 axle of even a 4.10? Others who have noted the difference in chassis weight are correct. It doesn't sound like and SD to me.