BTW, it's Timbren, not Timbkin or Tmbkin.

My dad added a leaf and the Timbrens to the rear of his D-Max 2500 to pull his 15K 5er, and with all the pin weight the truck still sits flat and pulls great (he didn't want spend the $$$ to put airbags on his work truck).

In 2005 there were some non-interchangeable differences to make a 350. For the '99-'04 F-350 you got a "F-350" badge, a 4" block in the rear (instead of the 2 or 2 1/2" for the 250), the overload springs and a heavier spring pack. All of this you can get for the 250, but it will not change the published GVWR for your truck.

 

The F350 rear block raises the vehicle so it can "squat" an extra two inches. The part numbers for the rear springs are the same between a F250 and F350. As an example, my F250 has the EXACT same rear suspension, same springs, same overload spring; however, it has a block under the rear spring that is approximately 2" shorter. F250 and F350 share the same springs.

 

Ace in post #17 is 100% correct.

 

Does that mean that the F250 w/ the overload spring (camper package) would handle the same exact weight as the F350, since it's the exact same setup as the F350? I understand it's not legal to carry 9900lbs in the F250.

 

I learn something new every day!

Will the truck handle the load yes. Will the law enforcement agent who questions you about it agree that you can legally negotiate the public roads with it...probably not.

 

I just don't see how the extra 2" could increase the GVWR. It's just going to keep you from bottoming out sooner. FWIW, I have an early 99 F250 that came stock with the taller roughly 4" blocks... GVWR 8800lbs. No overload springs on mine. Ace, whats the GVWR on your truck with the OEM overloads?

 

My 2005 F250 GVWR is 9600. I just walked out and checked the door jamb.

The thing is, the F250 and F350 with the same springs will have a different GVWR. The reason is because the F350 can handle extra weight because it takes another whatever, 1000 lbs, to squat the rear of the truck to the same level as the F250 due to the almost 2" higher rear block. You're absolutely right, it's all about bottoming out, that's why they have a higher GVWR for the F350 with taller block.

The GVWR on the F250 doesn't change even with the overload spring. What is printed on the door jamb is what is printed on the door jamb. A F250 short bed crew cab 4x4 with 6.8L V10 will have a GVWR of 9600 regardless of the springs, regardless of the overload spring. So, it'll have a lower GVWR than a F350, regardless of the fact the springs are the same. It's a door sticker thing, not a physical difference between the trucks...except the rear block being taller for a F350.

By the way, you don't have to believe it, honestly. It wouldn't bother me, because I'd understand why you don't believe it. It doesn't really make a lot of sense, well it sort of does, but sort of doesn't. Would seem there should be a difference in springs, but there isn't.

What they are basically saying by allowing a higher GVWR with the F350 is it'll squat to what a F250 squats to with extra weight in the bed, so the GVWR is higher.

 

The F250 would squat about 2" due to the taller block under the F350, unless of course your F250 had a taller, F350, block under the springs.

 

My F250 has the same FAWR and RAWR as the F350, yet it has a lower GVWR by 2200lbs, figure that one out... Main thing for me I guess is taxes are lower, and I dont have to have truck plates on the F250 which are a good cue for the cops to bug you... The F250 also has overloads, so it must have been ordered with the heavy suspension package...

To the OP, go with air bags, they're better than overloads anyway IMO. On my F350 with 'bags, my overloads dont even touch with 4000lbs in the bed... Loaded handling is much better with airbags also. I used to have Timbrens, but they limit suspension travel unloaded, which results in a much more punishing ride unloaded as the rebound is too quick, while the suspension has full movement the other direction... Not sure I'm explaining that well enough... Timbrens work good under load, but airbags give infinite adjustability. I'll take the bags over Timbrens any day of the week... The price difference isn't much until you add in a compressor, but you dont need a compressor for air bags, any gas station air hose works just fine if cost is a concern.

 

My 2001 F250 2wd came with an overload spring and it doesn't have a camper package.

 

As an example, here are the spring specs for a 2005 taken from the builders guide:

Main Leaf & Auxiliary Spring (Including Spacer)
F-250 Pickup(3) 7000 6 4.18 58.1 3.00 330/650/1290 3133
F-350 SRW Pickup 7000 6 4.18 58.1 3.00 330/650/1290 3133

(3) Auxiliary rear spring available and included with Camper Package, Heavy Service Suspension Package, Snow Plow Prep Package and Heavy Service Package For Pickup Box Delete only.

 

In the words of Larry the Cable guy... it's like wiping before you poop. It just don't make sense

 

I still have the original window sticker for my 2001 F250 and it does not include any kind of an optional suspension package ( only the standard trailer towing package ) but there is an overload spring.

 

In 2001:

"Auxiliary rear springs are available as an option on F-250-350 Pickup and F-350 SRW Chassis Cab models as part of the Heavy Service Front & Rear Suspension Package, Slide-in Camper Package, Maximum Front GAWR Package and Snow Plow Package. Standard on F-350 DRW Chassis Cab and F-450-550 models."

I don't know what to tell you greenego.

 

It's all about taxes,More tax you can carry more load. I was told that by a DOT officer.(commercial Vehicle)