What is the difference between an F250 SD, SRW and a F350 SD SRW? I know the numbers on the side of the truck are different but what makes the difference in GVWR between the two trucks?

Friendly1

 

I just ordered an F250 diesel.
The dealer told me the towing rating is about the same, however, the Payload rating is significantly greater with the F350 due to heavier springs.

According to him, everything else is the same.

 

I just went through this before buying my F350. The springs are heavier on the 350 and they have one more "overload" spring that has a large arch to it. The main lower spring that sits on the axle is longer on the 250 I think it was, but I measured several 250's and they were different lengths between them also. Not by much but a 1/4" or so. They must have different presses making them I guess.

My salesman told me that the axles were the same and the housings as well. I figure they have to be almost the same if not exactly the same, it would be ridicules if they made them different as well I think.

I got the 350 because the ride was practically un-noticeable between the two, but mostly it had everything I wanted and then some and I got $9,000 of sticker on a 2011.

 

That's pretty much what I thought. I pull a fifth wheel so have to keep the GVWR in mind when I load. I guess the only way to get more GVWR is to go to a dually but didn't want to do that.

Friendly1

 

Aside from the F-350 having a higher GVWR, they also have a 4" block under the rear springs, as opposed to the 2" block on an F-250.

 

Ford payload numbers are derived by subtracting curb weight from GVWR, F350s have a higher GVWR printed on the VIN tag, F250s have a smaller number. The difference between the two is very literally only the numbers on the VIN tag; the mechanical differences are negligible.

Mechanically, up to the 2010MY, all the SRW trucks in a given year had the same code rear spring packs, the difference was in the spacer between the axle and the pack, and an upper auxiliary spring was standard on 350s and optional on 250s. I would assume that Ford has continued this tradition into the 2011MY, but that's just my assumption; I've never touched a 2011 SD. I base that assumption largely on that fact that I can't see why Ford would now decide to use different coded rear springs on the 2011MY SRW trucks, that's just more parts to have to deal with with negligible differences in load capacity.

Historically, GVWR on F250s has been a seemingly arbitrary number from Ford that changes at least in part due to commercial registration policies and other legal differences between states. There is undoubtedly a mechanical reason for the maximum GVWRs issued to F350 SRW trucks, but as far as differences go between F250s and F350s with the same cab/bed configurations, the F250 is derated on paper, but not in practicality.

 

There are more splines on the drive shaft on the '05' and newer 350s.

 

I'm pretty sure that was realized to be a misprint in the 2005 manual, kind of like the mythical 3rd spider gear on SRW diesel trucks. But I've been wrong before.

 

Sounds to me like Ford should build one truck in the 250/350 line and call it something like a SD 300. Give it the 350 equipment and forget the old 250. The problem there is that old duffs like me are so used to saying 250 it would be like saying "Give me a beer from a micro brewery" instead of a long neck Bud!

Friendly1

 

There are insurance, registration and other reasons to purchase the same truck branded F250 even though they are essentially the same. As an example, why do you think Ford offers a 10k GVW F350.

 

My 2008 v-10 with 4:10's has the third differential pinion gears.

 

My 350 srw is rated at 11,500. I don't think a 250 is rated that high even with a diesel.

 

That's my point.

 

Indeed. California & some of the northeastern states require a commercial license & registration for vehicles that exceed the 10K GVWR threshold. There are several threads here & on the engine-specific forums regarding folks that have run into this problem.

 

THe main difference between the two aside from the rear spring pack, is on the 4x4 models the f250 carries a dana 50 axle and the f350 carries a dana 60 axle and that is where you get the extra gvwr for the f350.