F250 or 350?

[B and B]

Originally Posted by ferguson65

Please stop spewing this nonsense. The stickers are NOT accurate! Payload can only be calculated by weighing the truck and subtract that from GVWR.

To the OP, 350, long bed, factory 5th prep. I have a dually with airbags, so don't think going to a 350 gets you out of the woods on that one.

The 250 is the same as the 350 with the exception of the overload spring on the 350. If you get a camper package on the 250, you get the overload spring, so same as 350. The GVWR stays at 10k though, so you have to decide if that matters to you.

I agree with the Truck. I have Camper package and the springs are the same, engine, tranny etc. Rear diff might have a extra tooth or so.

[ferguson65]

Originally Posted by B and B

Rear diff might have a extra tooth or so.

That is a misprint in the Ford literature. Rear diff is the same on all SRW trucks.


F350 DRW and F350 tow boss get the Dana 80. (also 2011-2014 F450)


2015 up F450 gets the Dana S130. Another misprint in literature states it has the S110.

[B and B]

So Ferguson with your investigation the only difference is the sticker.

[ferguson65]

Originally Posted by B and B

So Ferguson with your investigation the only difference is the sticker.

I've not dug that deep into it. I was between SRW F350 or dually. Rodney, who has been banned on here (twice!) went as far as looking up part numbers for same gear ratio axles from a F250 and F350. The part numbers are the same. Thinking about it from a cost perspective it makes no sense to have such slight differences in axles, just an extra headache on the assembly line.

The 11's and 12's did have hydroboost brakes on the diesel SRW F350's, and the F250's were vacuum boost. In 13 all SRW trucks went vacuum boost.


Though I believe the literature is still wrong on that too.

[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by ferguson65

Most of F250's I see anymore have the 4" blocks. They were all "supposed" to have 4" blocks from 2013 on, but that clearly didn't happen. I agree there is no rhyme or reason to what trucks get them. So I'll change my statement to if you have the 4" blocks and a camper package it is identical to an F350, sans 11.5K GVWR sticker.

Thanks everyone for all the info in this discussion. Can someone answer a few questions for me please?
I have a 250 CC 4x4 gasser with the 4" blocks and a 2,761 payload. I have weighed loaded to go and after crunching the numbers I come within a hundred fifty or so pounds on all my limits.
So If I was to add the overload springs I'd essentially go from 10,000 to 11,500 GVWR although on paper I'd still be at 10k? Would this increase my payload as well and by how much? Or does that depend on the rating of the overload springs I put on? Thanks for all your help.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[doc73]

Oh boy.. Get ready for another 5 pages.. You just asked one of the most, if not the most (next to diesel or gas) debated and controversial questions my friend.. Prepare for it!

You can add whatever you want but you do not legally increase your payload. The truck is still rated at 10,000 lbs. You cannot change this unless you buy a bigger truck. With all this talk of being the same and all is great, but by the numbers on the door they are not. If you choose to add things or run over weight than that is your choice to make and bear.

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[18CrewDually]

This is a no brainer since a dually is only available in an F350 +.
For payload margin, stability, comfort, and many other reasons a diesel DRW crew cab 8' bed truck is the way to go if you plan on touring the country. If you want to drive the malls' parking lots then go for the little 250.

[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by doc73

Oh boy.. Get ready for another 5 pages.. You just asked one of the most, if not the most (next to diesel or gas) debated and controversial questions my friend.. Prepare for it!

You can add whatever you want but you do not legally increase your payload. The truck is still rated at 10,000 lbs. You cannot change this unless you buy a bigger truck. With all this talk of being the same and all is great, but by the numbers on the door they are not. If you choose to add things or run over weight than that is your choice to make and bear.

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Thanks. So like I said on paper/legally I'd be the same but in reality I'd be configured like the same truck except a 350.
I'm not running overweight. Never have, my max weights for a fully loaded 2 week trip were all 150 lbs or more under all the way around when I weighed last summer before heading to Maryland.
What peaked my interest was just recently I weighed and was close to 1k under all around. But that was just me loaded to go when I took the 5er out locally to dewinterize, sanitize, and do the yearly maintenance. It really showed me that adding the wife, kids, dog, bikes, and all their stuff and food really adds up fast.
So essentially I'd just like to increase the buffer for piece of mind.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[5er_tom]

If the only difference between the F250 and F350 is an added leaf spring, that implies the wheels, axle, brakes, differential, etc. etc. are the same on both trucks. So, if I add air bags on my F250 to help the rear springs carry extra weight, I have an F350 equivalent, yes?

Flame on.


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[doc73]

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[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

If the only difference between the F250 and F350 is an added leaf spring, that implies the wheels, axle, brakes, differential, etc. etc. are the same on both trucks. So, if I add air bags on my F250 to help the rear springs carry extra weight, I have an F350 equivalent, yes?

Flame on.


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Curious? I would think bags don't have the same load carrying capacity as overload springs. But I'm the one with the questions, not the answers. So I'm going to find out tonight. I'm speaking with the lead SD mechanic at my local Ford dealership.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[doc73]

They support entire trucks on air bags so they CAN be just as strong I would assume. If given my choice and to play this mind exercise... I'd do the bags. They would let me (did let me when I had them) dial in the balance and ride to fit the load. Over load springs are either on or off.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by jheacox1

Curious? I would think bags don't have the same load carrying capacity as overload springs. But I'm the one with the questions, not the answers. So I'm going to find out tonight. I'm speaking with the lead SD mechanic at my local Ford dealership.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

Most kits are rated 5,000lb ea. @ 65psi. That's 10,000 pounds combined. They are plenty stout. I know some guys with 2wd dullies take out the helper when they install the airbags. Sometimes at ride height with bags, the helper spring will kiss the stops on bumps and can be real annoying.

[spock123]

I put Firestone Ride-rite air bags on my 2500 Silverado with a on-board air compressor. I was pulling a long travel trailer and they didn't help, the truck hooked up rode level but I still got to much sway. That's one reason I went with the 3500, I just wish I had went all the way and got a dually. You can have to much trailer but you can't have to much truck. My 3500SRW is hard to park and I have to walk some, with a dually I would have just walked a little farther


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[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Most kits are rated 5,000lb ea. @ 65psi. That's 10,000 pounds combined. They are plenty stout. I know some guys with 2wd dullies take out the helper when they install the airbags. Sometimes at ride height with bags, the helper spring will kiss the stops on bumps and can be real annoying.

Just got done speaking with the mechanic at Ford. He said on the SRW 4x4 configuration everything is the same except for the overload springs and the sticker. He says that every 4x4 250/350 he has seen in the last few years has 4" (3 1/2) blocks. And he reaffirmed that if you add the same overloads or bags to the 250 that you gain the payload but legally you're still bound by the 10k GVWR and your registration fees will still be lower. ;-)

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[Skyliner]

Yep that little sticker is what makes it legal and I don't have to worry about being overweight in the event of an accident.

Hate the fact that I had a couple of dealers try to sell me a 3/4 and then told me just to add a leaf spring to get the extra CCC I needed.

[jheacox1]

The Ford mechanic also told me he gets at least 10 of us 3/4 ton guys asking the same question every year. He said just suck it up and start saving for the 1 ton dually and end your worries. I told him I'm already doing that but I just want some piece of mind/buffer room for the next few years while I save for the big boy.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[doc73]

How much more are the F350 than the 250? Here I could get a 3500 (if they actually had one) for $500 more bucks.

[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by doc73

How much more are the F350 than the 250? Here I could get a 3500 (if they actually had one) for $500 more bucks.

About the same here in the Detroit area. The problem I ran into last year when I bought my truck was all the 350 4x4 SRW trucks were basic work trucks and the one I found that wasn't was loaded beyond my price point at the time. I get A/Z plan so the other brands really can't come close to the discount I get with Ford. Didn't really want to wait for a build so I got my 250. It's great, I'm happy and within limits. But like I said I'm saving for the loaded dually in a few years knowing what I know now about how quickly weight can add up. As my kids get larger I'm going to run out of payload.

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[B and B]

Originally Posted by jheacox1

Just got done speaking with the mechanic at Ford. He said on the SRW 4x4 configuration everything is the same except for the overload springs and the sticker. He says that every 4x4 250/350 he has seen in the last few years has 4" (3 1/2) blocks. And he reaffirmed that if you add the same overloads or bags to the 250 that you gain the payload but legally you're still bound by the 10k GVWR and your registration fees will still be lower. ;-)

2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

I need to upgrade my signature to F350 then. I have the camper package and overload springs. Also rear sway that stops the hop on bumps or uneven payment.