1999 powerstroke 7.3 6900$

[Diamondpilot]

i know this is a personal like / dislike issue.

I feel way more comfortable hauling with my drw f450 than my f250.. just rides better..

to me anyway.

soundguy

It all depends what you do with it. Hauling daily at highway speed, yes I would want a dually.

Using it like me. Pushing snow, just driving in snow, going to the bank, parking at WalMart, getting though the gate and into the parking garage at my work, going off roading, and towing the SRW is the only way to go.

By far the worst vehicle I have pushed snow with or just plain driven was the 1996 GMC 3500 454 powered 4x4 with a Boss V-plow. It could not figure out which rear wheel was supposed to follow the front wheel in snow, on the ice, or in mud. It was also just limited where I could take it versus the 3/4 I later had.

No way I would have a dually for everyday use again. For towing only, maybe.

Chris

 

[dstig1]

that doesn't take into account custom or aftermarket mods like air bags.. or the higher models like a f450+ etc.

soundguy

Sure aftermarket can change some thing, but then I didn't discuss it either. I was talking stock F250/350's. And airbags, etc don't change the axle ratings in any case. And I should also note SRW only, though that should be obvious.

 

[Diamondpilot]

F250-F350 - the running gear is all the same on both. Only difference is the spring packs and the spacer block (lift block) on the 350 rear is taller than on the 250. Axles, wheels, tires...everything is the same but the springs and thus the ratings.

Go ahead and look up any part you like, if you don't believe me. This is for the "current" models from 1999+ (Yes I know there is a new one now - not sure on that one). There may have been differences on the older models, but I do not know those years at all.

You are right to a point. The wheels are not the same with Ford. My F-350 SRW has no lift blocks, just massive springs.

At the end of the day non of that maters. Its what is on the GVWR blank on the door sticker. The max GVWR for a F-250 is 10,000# while a F-350 SRW is 11,500# so there is a major difference there. At the end of the day this is all that matters along with the max GCWR.

As for the dually being safer, that is a farce. I would not worry about a rear blow out on a truck nearly as much as a front blow out on any vehicle.

Airbags, lift block, add a leaf, ect does nothing for the legal capacity of the truck. Its always limited by the GVWR. You can buy all the Kentucky-Go-Fasters you want but at the end of the day its still the same rating.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

It all depends what you do with it. Hauling daily at highway speed, yes I would want a dually.........
No way I would have a dually for everyday use again. For towing only, maybe.

Chris

Good point. My 450 is not a daily driver. it stays parked in the barn .. and only leaves the property with some sort of trailer on it.. or to move someone else's trailer. it's not a run to the store to grab a gallon of milk type vehicle... more like run to another state to pick up a trailer load of milk..

soundguy

 

[dstig1]

Both the 250 and 350 have spacer blocks between the rear axle and the spring pack (I guess lift block may not be the correct term). The one on the 250 is supposed to be about 2" and the 350 about 4". I assume this just allows the springs a bit more full travel and so it doesn't sag as low under load.

This point of the difference between 250 and 350's has been beaten to death on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum (in the SD section) so much they put it in the tech folder sticky (Posts 4 & 5):
Super Duty And Heavy Duty: ______SUPER DUTY Tech Folder_____ - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

 

[tractorboy5500]

Good point. My 450 is not a daily driver. it stays parked in the barn .. and only leaves the property with some sort of trailer on it.. or to move someone else's trailer. it's not a run to the store to grab a gallon of milk type vehicle... more like run to another state to pick up a trailer load of milk..

soundguy

I have to say, I got a laugh out of this. :laughing::laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

i've got it's suspension set so stiff , that running with no trailer is a bit rough on the passangers in the back seat. mind you with 14k behind it it rides great..

soundguy

 

[BeeferMan]

As for the dually being safer, that is a farce. I would not worry about a rear blow out on a truck nearly as much as a front blow out on any vehicle.

Really? Can't say I've had enough blowouts to speak from personal experience, but most everything I've read says a blow out on the steering axle is always easier to handle than a rear blowout, particular when the rear has a trailer leaning in it. Same reason for putting the best tires on the rear...

 

[sandman2234]

Really? Can't say I've had enough blowouts to speak from personal experience, but most everything I've read says a blow out on the steering axle is always easier to handle than a rear blowout, particular when the rear has a trailer leaning in it. Same reason for putting the best tires on the rear...

The steering axle "scare" from a blowout may originate with truckers. Since we seldom worry about a rear tire blowing, other than the time and money inconvience, and only have the single tires in the front to support the weight of the truck, when it goes, truck drivers worry a lot about steer axle tires going out. A rear axle tire blowing on a srw vehicle is no fun at all.
David from jax

 

[slowzuki]

The wheels are the same, but the 250 doesn't always have E rated tires on those rims.

The max GCWR isn't a legal number in most places, you won't find it printed on the door sticker. You have max axle weights that govern your pin weight.

You are right to a point. The wheels are not the same with Ford. My F-350 SRW has no lift blocks, just massive springs.

At the end of the day non of that maters. Its what is on the GVWR blank on the door sticker. The max GVWR for a F-250 is 10,000# while a F-350 SRW is 11,500# so there is a major difference there. At the end of the day this is all that matters along with the max GCWR.

As for the dually being safer, that is a farce. I would not worry about a rear blow out on a truck nearly as much as a front blow out on any vehicle.

Airbags, lift block, add a leaf, ect does nothing for the legal capacity of the truck. Its always limited by the GVWR. You can buy all the Kentucky-Go-Fasters you want but at the end of the day its still the same rating.

Chris