F250 v F350

[Oldtrick]

So I'm looking into a Diesel, and it will likely be an F250 or 350. I've driven my buddies '10, F250 down to Boise where we picked up our new trailer. He has air bags to bring up the back end, and it was so/so for handling.
I don't pull every day of the week and this will be a daily driver for me, mainly pavement, so I'm wondering how a 350 would handle in the city vs a 250 due to the difference in suspension, anyone w/experience in the two?
Just seems there are more 350's out there because of what the dealers brought in. ($800 difference)
Let the debate begin.....................

 

[Ancient Sledder]

In my opinion, a gas engine is still cheaper in the long run. I have an 05 King Ranch with a 5.4. But I only haul a single trailer and sled to the mountains. I don't think I would drive a diesel. But, I also know that my Ford probably would not be great if I had a loaded 4 place trailer behind it.

 

[Oldtrick]

I know my maintenance is going to go up, but I'm pulling a 26' Cargo almost every weekend through the winter w/4sleds and gear and then it goes to 4-5 quad rallies in the summer. I have a Hyper-tech installed and the shifting with this 5.4 still drives me nuts, as does the 38-4G RPM. Right now I wouldn't even think about heading to the mountains with it. (I'm trying to get the wife to feel sorry for me)

 

[new24stroke]

Buck up and spend the 800 bucks.I had a 02 f250 and when I put my rhino in the box it would sag then add my trailer it was worse.Now I have 05 f350 and when I just put my 32ft trailer on behind it drop about a half and inch.My old truck would touch the over loads

 

[Oldtrick]

Oh, I'm not worried about the $800. If a 250 sagged, as my buddies does, I'll just put bags in it as well. My concern is the Mon-Fri driving. From what I can find, the only difference is the springs, and i'm wondering if there is much difference in driveability. ie; is a 350 going to feel like driving a 550?

 

[mach123]

I have 06 f350 strait pipes, cold air intake, bully dog chip, lightbar and 8" lights, michey thomson tires new and it is a very nice truck for door short bed, can't compare it to my big old 99 dodge 2500 diesel bin around the block many times rides like a tank and still out pulls the ford with my equipment. Anyone looking to buy a ford pm me.......

 

[ZEDNECK]

my buddies dad has a 09 f350 and it rides real nice, i would recommend it. but my dads 02 f350 with the 7.3l feels like its got more ballz with only an exhaust and cold air intake

 

[Oldtrick]

Thanks,
its the ride I am concerned about, I don't need huge power.

 

[08summit]

You won't find a big difference in ride but it is worth it to buy the 350 just for towing purposes. Its better to find out down the road you have a little too much truck then finding out when you are looking to upgrade trailers or tow something a little heavier that you don't have enough....just my 2 cents.

 

[fastfuzz]

Have an F250 and know many with f350's the only diff is overload springs so once the rear sinks more then an inch the f350 takes action before that the spring rates are supposedly the same.....as for diesel vs gas your choice you can have limited power, crap gas mileage not to mention terrible resale with gas or have amazing power decent mileage and make upthe resale for difference in "New" buying price within 3-4 years...gas 3/4 and 1 tons have no resale...diesels in decent shape will always have resale.

 

[sledhead_2002]

i have a f250 and here in MB if your have a 350 you are required to preform regular safties just like hiway tractors, wieght thingy

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

Go to the 1 ton. When I bought my 3/4 ton I thought I had lots of weight capacity. Hit the scales loaded with sleds and I was over.
If I were doing it again I would go bigger.

 

[Oldtrick]

Thx for the insight guys

 

[Zar]

Once you add the weight of the diesel and drivetrain to a F250 you lose the payload capacity. It is better to go F350 in a diesel and you maintain the legal payload. If anything I think the diesel F350 rides better than a 5.4L Gas F250 since the heavier diesel motor keeps a bit more pressure on the front steering tires and the suspension and front settles down a bit better in the wash boards. The down side of any diesel is that the extra weight on the front pounds out the front end ball joints and swing arms bushings etc. a lot faster ( this is the case with any make of truck ). I have a F250 with a 5.4L 9200 # GVW and the front bounce around like it was on a tramp. I recent changed to Bilstien shocks form ( Ranchero ) and it is better but still the shaking is more than a GMC truck ride. Just my 2 cents worth

 

[canadian madman]

i test drove both a couple of years ago and there was little difference in the ride...i suggest taking out both models right after each other and compare...only way to know

...another consideration when looking at the overall picture is insurance costs...when i got quotes before i bought my truck the 3/4 ton cost $400 more per year to insure than the 1 ton...the 1 ton is considered more of a commercial vehicle and has less of an accident frequency rate...over the life of the truck this adds up...using up precious moneys that could be spent on performence parts

 

[mach123]

I pay more for f350 then my 2500 dodge both diesel, the guy said it is because it is in the class 40 and the other 3/4 is in the class 30 what ever that means. I think they are all full of crap. It depends on who your with..I think....

 

[chemmod]

I just got rid of my 2008 F350 6.4L desiel and got a 2010 6.4L. My 350 sat a bit higher probably due to the 18" rims and had no issues with rear end sagging. My f250 doesn't sag as bad becuase I got the FX4 package but it does sit a bit lower again probably becuase of the 17" rims and smaller tires. I personally don't notice any difference in ride quailty between the two, they are realisticly both kind of rough (oh I also drive 80-90 000km/year so i bank alot of miles). I personnaly say go for the F350 they get the same mileage or at least pretty damn close, the ride is the same, you get 18" rims on the F350 Base anyhow and you won't need to worry about sag at all, as for payload the 250 and 350 legally have the same payload if they are equally equipped (springs and tire rating). Oh that thats another thing my co-worker has the same f250 as me but not a FX4 so no rancho shocks but he put an overload leaf in the springs and his truck sags bad!! even now unloaded it sags bad!!

My suggestion is spend the 800 it will look nicer crusing down the hiway not looking like an overweight boeing trying to take on a 60 mile long run way pointing for the sky all the time!!

(plus don't even think about getting better mileage than 12-13 US mpg it just doesn't get any better) Maybe wait till ford comes out with the new 6.2L gas or 6.7L desiel for some better economy in 2011

 

[chemmod]

i test drove both a couple of years ago and there was little difference in the ride...i suggest taking out both models right after each other and compare...only way to know

...another consideration when looking at the overall picture is insurance costs...when i got quotes before i bought my truck the 3/4 ton cost $400 more per year to insure than the 1 ton...the 1 ton is considered more of a commercial vehicle and has less of an accident frequency rate...over the life of the truck this adds up...using up precious moneys that could be spent on performence parts

The f350 is only rated as commercial if you register it that way, you can register it as passenger, which you better do or you should be stopping at all those little pesky weigh scales and filling out log books like a real trucker if registered over 4500kg (which is about what those trucks weigh fueled and loaded with junk and ready to go)