F150 VS F250

[FordGuy1]

The one real positive to a F-250 6.0l right now is you can pick one up cheap that is low mileage and in great shape. Spend the money to fix Ford's screw-ups and you will have a awesome truck that will take whatever you throw at it. Hands down for the money it would be hard to beat a 2003-2007 Super-duty chassis. If the motor is done right, you throw on the right tuner and you will see 16MPG.

 

[Rustlin']

I am of the mindset that less is more. Sure, an overkill 350 w/ a diesel will kick ********, but they are work trucks, and work trucks suck as a daily. It all really depends on what youre doing, and two people w/ a dog would be well served with a half ton.

However, I am all about the venerable straight six - 1965-1996. It aint fast, but with a torque pattern flatter than a kansas prarie itll pull anything if geared right. The old 7.3 idi is a hell of a motor also. Throw a turbo on it and you are made. Some folks cant deal with the lack of creature comforts, and those comforts are great.

Give and take.

 

[AFBronco235]

I am of the mindset that less is more. Sure, an overkill 350 w/ a diesel will kick ********, but they are work trucks, and work trucks suck as a daily. It all really depends on what youre doing, and two people w/ a dog would be well served with a half ton.

However, I am all about the venerable straight six - 1965-1996. It aint fast, but with a torque pattern flatter than a kansas prarie itll pull anything if geared right. The old 7.3 idi is a hell of a motor also. Throw a turbo on it and you are made. Some folks cant deal with the lack of creature comforts, and those comforts are great.

Give and take.

Adding those creature comforts to an older truck isn't that hard. I hear of guys throwing newer seats in their OBS fords all the time. Heated, powered seats seem to be easier than most think, so long as you're not afraid of a little wiring. Same goes for things like backup cameras, radio/CD players, TV's (see my build thread in my signature.), extra lighting, and just about any kind of upgrade or creature comfort you can think of.

 

[FordGuy1]

I am of the mindset that less is more. Sure, an overkill 350 w/ a diesel will kick ********, but they are work trucks, and work trucks suck as a daily. It all really depends on what youre doing, and two people w/ a dog would be well served with a half ton.

I do enjoy the Room!

 

[dustboy]

Gotta subscribe to this. My next truck will probably be an F150 or F250. I usually only tow about 3,500 lbs so the F250 is overkill...but I really want diesel. I would buy one of those new Ram 1500 with the small diesel but I have watched too many of my friends' Rams fall apart.

 

[FordGuy1]

Gotta subscribe to this. My next truck will probably be an F150 or F250. I usually only tow about 3,500 lbs so the F250 is overkill...but I really want diesel. I would buy one of those new Ram 1500 with the small diesel but I have watched too many of my friends' Rams fall apart.

I enjoy being able to drive with zero effort whether towing my jeep or whatever. Hitting a grade and not having to mash the pedal, I enjoy, the room, can't be beat on road trips. Even the wife prefers to take the Superduty even if we don't need it just for the openness of the crew cab. However it sucks in the grocery parking lot.

 

[uscg2008]

Build thread?

 

[cbking]

I've driven trucks my whole life so I'm not worried about the sized issues. I park at the back of the lot even in the car to avoid others.

 

[cbking]

Gotta subscribe to this. My next truck will probably be an F150 or F250. I usually only tow about 3,500 lbs so the F250 is overkill...but I really want diesel. I would buy one of those new Ram 1500 with the small diesel but I have watched too many of my friends' Rams fall apart.

I'm in the same boat a f250 diesel is probably overkill for 90% of what I do but every once in a while Id like more than a half Tom.

 

[cbking]

Little Update for everyone. I bought a 2009 F150 Crew cab FX4 last night. Hopefully this summer it will be getting some upgraded coil-overs and a add a leaf and 33's. Sorry poor picture and for my immature friend in the front seat.

 

[DividingCreek]

comparing a gas f150 to a powerstroke 250 is like comparing a wilderbeast to a black rhino.

 

[r3run33]

chime in with problems if you guys can, I was going to go with a ford raptor but things did not work out at the time; I do go camping with a friend that has a 13 and has had 2 sets of the IWF thingy done. apparently the wires are getting corroded and shorting out?? so not connecting the 4WD or not dis connecting from the 4WD. etc He is under warranty and does not care but I don't see it that way. I don't want these things to break in the first place

 

[155mm]

It's usually the vacuum, not the wires that causes the IWE problem. Once you start the truck (with key in "on" position, not remote start, as the vacuum only engages with the key in "on"), give it 10 seconds or so as you put your seat belt on before you take off. Wouldn't hurt to start off slowly either. This makes sure your 4wD isn't partially engaged if the vacuum hasn't built up enough yet. The reason for this is that when the truck is off, there is no vacuum and the IWE is engaged by a spring, so it sits in 4WD when the truck is off, or if the vacuum fails. When the truck is on in 4x2, and everything is working, the vacuum pulls against the spring and disengages the IWE. It takes longer to disengage the IWE in cold weather than hot weather.

Also, when switching to 4WD, it's best to do it at a complete stop. They say it's shift on the fly, but that just means the IWE gears will be slipping and partially engaging (e.g. wearing away). It's better to come to a stop, switch in or out of 4x4, then take off slowly.

 

[Rosco862003]

So the lady and I have been considering a versatile "adventure" platform and went looking around a few lots. I was very impressed with the F150 but find that they can get pricey very quickly if you sneeze the wrong way. It wouldn't be a DD, but would be used on road trips with a 3 and 7 year old. We plan on towing some toys (4 wheeler / jet ski) down the road along with either fitting a slide in camper or towing a small camper. To cut to the chase, I found that it would be very easy to get outside the vehicles GVWR and wondered why a 2011-new F250 isn't talked about more?


Has a 3k lb payload
Tows 12k lbs
Sterling 10.25" w/ available electronic rear locker
High Pinion Dana Super 60 Front axle with 35 spline axle shafts, 3.75 diameter axle tube with a .5" wall, upgraded U joints the list goes on..
Manual Hubs..Ok so they're not real manual hubs, but nothing Warn hubs can't fix
Manual transfer case shift lever
Vinyl floors and seats which is handy for hosing out mud and dirt and getting rid of dog hair. This may not be a big deal for most but I have two dogs and I don't care how much Subaru touts being a dog friendly brand, they're interiors most certainly are not and is a major gripe of mine and my passengers inparticular.
Manual crank windows - I like as little complexity as possible..
Skid Plate Package
Real tow hooks

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things, but I feel this truck checks a lot of the boxes on the hypothetical overlanders checklist that a lot of us have in our head. Sure you may have to deal with a stiffer ride, but there are kits out there to handle that issue. There is a general outcry in the Overland community at the lack of "Overland veterans" like the 70 series or Defender, but I feel if you look at the specs on some of the vehicles on offer here in the states, most people will be ok with what's on the market.

When doing searches, I'm finding that the gas trucks are right on par price wise with similarly equipped F-150's. Am I missing anything here? I realize a 3/4 ton truck with a gas motor isn't going to return ideal mileage but as mentioned it wouldn't be a DD, I still have a Subaru for that and the gf has a Kia, so for the occasional trip out to the mountains with 2 kids, why is this not an option that is considered more often, please tell me what I'm missing??

 

[155mm]

You're not missing much, I think you're pretty much right on. I wanted a basic (vinyl seat) Super Duty, but the wife hated it cause it wasn't comfortable for her. So I compromised and got an F-150 that had a lot of creature comforts and a soft suspension. I'm not putting a camper on the back, so the GVWR is enough.

The biggest problem some folks have is they like the tighter trails and if you get a crew cab with four full size doors, plus the shortest bed on the 250/350 is 6.5', so you're talking a fairly long wheelbase and some folks like the trail crawling more. I'd rather have more of a hybrid vehicle that can fly down the road better, so a half-ton truck works for me.