F-250/350 - Ford Forums

sec · 10-13-2009, 09:37

Hey, new to the site. Looking at buying a 2000 & up F250 or 350. I want reg cab long box 4x4. I know the payload in the 350 is @1000lbs more. Anyone know the differances between the two? I'm assuming gear ratio & maybe amount of leaf springs but not sure. I've looked at two & frames look the same, diff's look the same etc. Any help would be great, thanks.

**rtg143** · 10-13-2009, 10:50

Here's specification information for 2004. Maybe this helps. https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...essd_04abb.pdf

**360ci** · 10-14-2009, 16:06

First, you have to decide what you NEED. An F350 has greater operating cost than a F250 does (more tires, heavier weight = more fuel use). If you really must get one with a 6.0L diesel, be sure to get the lowest mileage unit you can find in your price range and maintain it with strict standards. Otherwise, I'd stick with an older 7.3L unit. Any gas engine of course is also a good choice; lighter weight, similar mileage to diesel (V8), lower purchase cost than diesel and less complex (no fuel/water separator filters on gas engines, etc).

If you require payload, a base F250 can carry upwards of 3000lbs, once you add a diesel engine option, crew cab and 4x4 guise, that number drops significantly to just over 2000lbs. The added benefit of an F350 is the dual rear wheels, a SRW F350 will add 1000lb payload, but a dually can pull close to 5K of weight in the bed and some find it easier to drive in heavy winds and during winter for the added traction of dual rear tires.

To find gear ratio of a model you're interested in, it should always be posted on a sticker inside the glovebox, or in one of the door jambs along with the GVWR and GAWRs. Gears should go up to a ratio of 4.30 for the V10 engine. Most diesels came with a 3.73 ratio which is more than adequate for hauling and towing on a regular basis while returning respectable mileage numbers.

If you want a diesel engine and the greater payload capacity, then a SRW F350 is the way to go.

sec · 10-21-2009, 08:13

I'm wanting to get a SRW reg cab truck. I'm probably going to go gas as heard lots of horor stories on the 6L diesel & very hard to find a 7.3 around thats anygood. I do plowing in the winter & haul alot of suff in the summer. All the research I've done between the 250 & 350 shows there pretty much the same except payload is more for the 350. I can get a 250 alot cheaper. So if its pretty much just the payload as the differance I can beef up the rear springs for hauling. This is what I was wondering on.

**360ci** · 10-25-2009, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by sec

I'm wanting to get a SRW reg cab truck. I'm probably going to go gas as heard lots of horor stories on the 6L diesel & very hard to find a 7.3 around thats anygood. I do plowing in the winter & haul alot of suff in the summer. All the research I've done between the 250 & 350 shows there pretty much the same except payload is more for the 350. I can get a 250 alot cheaper. So if its pretty much just the payload as the differance I can beef up the rear springs for hauling. This is what I was wondering on.

I've used a F250 Ext cab long box for winter plow/salt work in the past. I now have a relatively new Dodge Ram diesel 3500 SRW to better handle the weight but will soon upgrade to a 4500 for even more salt capacity.

Anyway, you'll be fine with the 5.4L engine for general plowing needs. Depending on the salter you have in mind, the 5.4L and 4.10 gears will get you 10-11mpg average depending on how far you drive between clients. With the V10, well, you'd probably get around 8-9mpg with the same load. I never had problems with my old 5.4L (260hp) even though I only used it one season and it was used when I bought it; already equipped with the plow and I added the salter unit (Fischer 815lbs base weight plus 1150lbs salt) and a 910lb V plow. I was JUST under GVWR when loaded, including myself, laptop, and a small cooler.

The 5.4 also requires less costs to maintain over the V10. I stepped on it once when loaded and counted a wonderful 22 sec 0-60time according to my GPS. That was with 4.10 gears as well. I probably could have been fine with 3.73s, but lucked out and got the 4.10s!

Just remember that beefing up the rear springs doesn't increase your GVWR. Adding air bag springs would be the way I would go if I had that truck still. Firestone makes a good set at a relatively low cost (about $500 with two bags, air compressor and all required lines and gauges), plus installation unless you do it yourself. They'll at least keep the vehicle level, but with the weight of the plow on the front and the salter in the back, it was kept fairly level to begin with, just the ride was occasionally terrible enough that I nearly thought about adding bags.