I see on the Ford website, that the tow package upgrades the axles and increases the GCWR to 25.7K lbs. In real-ish world numbers how does this affect payload?

Several Lariats (ultimate package), I've seen, have approximately 2100 pounds of available payload. None of these have had the tow package. How big of a bump would I see from the tow package? 500 lbs? 1000 lbs?

 

Payload? None and possibly reduce it. It increases towing capacity.

 

The 250 is limited by being a class 2 truck. So, it's stuck at 10k GVWR and a matching de-rated payload despite it's physical capabilities. The HD Tow package for the 250 upgrades the truck to the point that it's a single leaf spring away from a SRW 350 6.7. It's essentially the same truck but de-rated on paper to fit a different market segment.

 

Thanks guys. I don't really understand how you can increase tow capacity w/out increasing payload. The point about being "one leaf spring" away from a 350 makes sense.

Based on the point about being derated to meet a market segment, it sounds like the payload sticker will never really show a 250's true capability.

 

As you surmised above, the reason you can increase tow capacity without increasing payload is because the 250's GVWR is artificially de-rated on paper to keep it under the 10k Class 2 cap. This helps buyers in states that pay registration fees based on GVWR so you'll see a lot of fleet trucks out there as 250's. It's physically capable of much more. Back on the 2016's the 250 and SRW 350 could be equipped 100% identical and one was rated to 11.5k and one at 10k. Every part was the same. Similarly, on a SRW 350 you can order the 10k GVWR package. It changes nothing on the truck except the door jamb sticker.

 

Ah, okay. I get it now. The 10K rating isn't an increased capability. It's an artificial cap to meet regs / tax guidelines. I mistakenly thought the 10K rating was an increase in capability, not a cap. These "sticker games" are super frustrating.

 

Yep, 10k is the max on a 250. A lot of SRW 350 buyers also get confused by the build and price website. It lists the 10k and 11.4k de-rate packages but makes no mention of the 11.5k standard GVWR. So, many mistakenly order the 10k or 11.4k thinking those are what's available and that they need to pick one or the other.

 

If I was on the market for a 350, I would have definitely have made that mistake. I would love the payload of a 350, however for a daily-driver the 250 is probably going to be in our sweet-spot.

 

test drive a SRW 350 back to back against a 250. The ride quality is the same. I would still go 350 for a DD if you're buying one anyways.

 

Absolutely! The ride is about identical....

 

Big advantages for F350 over F250 are as follows:
1. better rear axle,
2. upgraded tranny (if buying 6.2 V8 gasser, you get the diesel tranny with the 350)
3. More payload capacity -- my biggest reason since considering a 5th wheeler trailer
4. upgraded brakes.
5 ??? anything else???
6. Same drive-ability when tested back to back to back by me.

Downsides: well, there all hellishly tall.

--Brian

 

Actually the brakes are the same and the HD 250 gets the same Dana M275 axle as the SRW 350.

 

That's what I thought as well.

 

In our part of the world an F350 is considered a commercial vehicle and taxed at the regular rate, regardless of the price. An F250 over $55,000 has a luxury surtax added at rate of 1 percent extra per thousand to a maximum of an additional 3 percent. You don't see as many 250's on the lots here for that reason.

 

All depends what you are towing and where you are towing it. I have had a 2017 F150, SCSB, 3.5TT, Max Tow. The F150 has only 5 cross members. I towed an 8500# TT over mountain passes. The roads here in the PNW can be a hassle. The F150 had porpusing and sway, especially in high winds. I had the correct options and turned on and still leaned and swayed good. Now driving an F250, 2020 7.3L, 3.55 gears, SCSB. The Superduties come with 10 cross members for stability and stifness. My wife even said today while driving home with the trailer that could not even tell the trailer was there behind us and the truck was not laboring at all. If you drive an F150 with 10,000# attached and down the California Central Valley (straight and flat), then it will do good for you. Anywhere else would recommend a Superduty for anything over 7,000#.

Edit: Sorry, wrong thread. Thought was in a different towing thread.