Does the f250 Super Duty make the f350 obsolete?

[EddieWalker]

My 2012 F150 has more power, gets better mileage and has a higher tow rating then my 98 F250. At 200,000 miles, I felt it was time to trade it in. I'll keep this one for at least that long too.

I never seen a F350 with the six cylinder engine. We had a bunch of the E350 vans at Airborne Express, where I used to work and they all had the 300 six cylinder. That was a great engine. Took tons of abuse, got decent mileage and had plenty of power. Not sure about towing anything with it.

I'm still not sure if I want a diesel or a big block gas engine. Since it's not something that will be driven very often, I'm not too worried about the cost of fuel. More important would be what's going to start after sitting for awhile and be ready to work when needed.

 

[ultrarunner]

It seems to me the simplicity Diesels were known for doesn't exist anymore...

They are also more costly when it comes to repair.

I'm thinking their strong suit is going the distance towing.

One of the people I work with bought this huge boat on a tri axle cruiser... he went to pick it up and with his F350 Gas and decided it was a bad idea... had trouble at the launch...

The seller of the boat had a F350 Diesel and agreed to deliver for the cost of fuel... it was still a load... but the guy with the Diesel has towed it from Seattle to the Bay Area down Highway 5...

My 96 f150 is a 6 with a 5spd manual... hit a lot of traffic last week going out towards Walnut Creek... just inching along 24 out the Caldecott... took about 40 minutes to go a couple of miles uphill in stop and go... the first time I ever said I miss not having an automatic...

In the new vehicles... I guess a straight 6 and manual are no longer options...

 

[Btown]

It seems to me the simplicity Diesels were known for doesn't exist anymore... They are also more costly when it comes to repair. I'm thinking their strong suit is going the distance towing. One of the people I work with bought this huge boat on a tri axle cruiser... he went to pick it up and with his F350 Gas and decided it was a bad idea... had trouble at the launch... The seller of the boat had a F350 Diesel and agreed to deliver for the cost of fuel... it was still a load... but the guy with the Diesel has towed it from Seattle to the Bay Area down Highway 5... My 96 f150 is a 6 with a 5spd manual... hit a lot of traffic last week going out towards Walnut Creek... just inching along 24 out the Caldecott... took about 40 minutes to go a couple of miles uphill in stop and go... the first time I ever said I miss not having an automatic... In the new vehicles... I guess a straight 6 and manual are no longer options...

Were the F350's close in age. If they are the gas one should have a slightly higher towing capacity due to the lighter gas engine. My guess is the owner with the diesel had a dual rear wheel truck which has a higher rating than a single rear wheel. The diesel will have more torque and should accelerate better.

 

[fordmantpw]

That's a very nice truck, and very sharp looking! Congrats to your brother. :cool2:

 

[ultrarunner]

I will pass on the compliment....

He only buys a new truck every 38 years... so he will be in his 90's the next time.

 

[Copperhead]

The pickup OEM's play some slight of hand card tricks when it comes to capabilities. While a 1/2 ton might have some impressive "tow" rating, it really means nothing unless the payload capability is such to take advantage of it. Once one throws in the family, the dog, all the gear one needs in the box, full of fuel, and it doesn't leave a lot of payload left to deal with any kind of serious trailer (at least any trailer the approaches the advertised "tow rating"), unless one is pulling a grain wagon with a draw bar instead of a weight bearing tongue. Given that 10-15% of trailer weight is on hitch or 20-25% on a 5th wheel or gooseneck, just how much can that 1/2 ton really tow at that point? That same analogy applies when comparing 3/4 and 1 ton varieties. When folks take a look at pickups they have to take all factors into account. Marketing fluff is for sales and the buyer has to look behind the numbers and see what realities are.

 

[ultrarunner]

I guess Ford is the last of the majors to use the same testing to certify tow ratings.

Apparently the 2017 models will be the first to tow at maximum load in sustained heat up a grade.

 

[skyhook]

I dont need an F350, with an F250 I'd take the downgrade option to 9,900 pounds.

Driving a 350/3500 up here in Ontario means commercial annual safety and paperwork.

A 2500/250 is all I need. That gets me an 8' box and a full crew cab.

Not if you have the "personal use" sticker.

 

[tcartwri]

Not if you have the "personal use" sticker.

Doesn't that limit you to a 6000 lb trailer....

How do you apply for that?

 

[skyhook]

Doesn't that limit you to a 6000 lb trailer....

How do you apply for that?

Things get tricky when you start combing trailer weight, so I don't know, But on my F350, I just told the license bureau it was for personal use, they give you a red 'personal use" sticker to add to your plate. No annual safety needed. If your running a business and hauling a dual axle trailer, you can't get this. But an unmarked F350 like I have doesn't need it and i do own a dual axle trailer that I use "occasionally".

 

[jocww]

UltraRunner, where in the bay are you from? I live in San Ramon now, but am from Oakland.

 

[ultrarunner]

5 generations of family call Oakland home...

My Great Grandparents fled SF after the 1906 Earthquake to Oakland and found it better in every way and had no desire to go back to SF.

Seen lots of changes and one doesn't have to look far to find Oakland in the news or topic of discussion... Raiders, Warriors, A's... plus all the special commemorations on the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panthers going on now and HeII's Angels... etc...

Just about everyone I went to High School has moved long ago... catch up with some when the parents pass or move and the family home is sold off.

A LOT of my friends/classmates live in your area... Pleasanton/San Ramon/Livermore or Orinda/Lafayette/Pleasant Hill

In High School my brother was the only one with a truck... Ford F250 4wd 1978 Model... everyone knew him by that pickup... heard the person that has it now might be selling... asked my brother if he was interested as he sold it almost 30 years ago when he went off to college...

He loved that truck but remembered it not having much power and lacking for trailer towing... much prefers his 2016 Super Duty Diesel...

PS... Living in Oakland and owning Backhoes and a Dozer is not typical... found a place out Palomares Canyon that I fell in love with but not meant to be.

 

[Soldier415]

The difference being annual safeties, stopping at the scales vs not. i'll take not.

So if your pickup has a GVWR of 10,000 you have to stop at weigh stations? Is that in all states?

 

[bdog]

At exactly 10,000 you are exempt. Regulations kick in at over 10,000 and only apply to vehicles used for business purposes at least on the federal level. Individual states may require all vehicles over 10k to weigh but I am not aware of any that do if it is for personal use. Usually the signs at the weigh stations are very clear on who has to stop. I know in New Mexico for example when in my dually even with no trailer I have to stop at the weigh station at the border when going there for work and buy a permit. They ask where I am going and the cost is based on the miles traveled in their state and my weight rating.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ford does have a derate option for F250 AND F350 super duty that puts GVW just under 10k... often needs to be special ordered... we ordered the F250 derated.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My F350 has 11,500# GVWR. I don't have to stop because it's for personal use.

 

[oliver1555]

So if your pickup has a GVWR of 10,000 you have to stop at weigh stations? Is that in all states?

Depends on the state and how they enforce it. In Nebraska, all pickups pulling trailers have to stop at the scale - RVs exempt. I always pull in and get waved through. I've seen guys skip the scale and get pulled over. This is the sign approaching each direction at the scales in Nebraska City and North Platte, Nebraska.

The last time I pulled a trailer through South Dakota, the signs said to stop, similar to Nebraska.
In Montana, you are supposed to stop if your GVWR is over 8,000#. I never have and haven't been bothered.

 

[Copperhead]

Yep, can confirm that. I haul thru Nebraska regularly. Unless you are pulling a TT, you had better stop. Depending on trooper, you do not want to run a scale and get the fine for that, and maybe an additional fine for "failing to follow sign". I have seen that happen, two fines for the same occurrence. One for running the scale and another for failing to follow the sign to exit. Some states will put a weight limit on it for stopping. Something like 10,000 lb. But a 3/4 ton with any kind of working trailer with a load is going to top that. At least Nebraska has weigh in motion out on the highway at many of their locations, the highway sign will light up to tell you whether you should exit or it is ok to drive on by.