Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Thinking about an F250

Ordering a new F250 with the 7.3 gasser tomorrow. Probably a 4-6 month wait these days.
Plenty of power for what I tow. Drove a new one with the 7.3 and the 4.30 rear end last week. Lots of get up and go.
Very nice interior on the new trucks.

I decided to drive my 80-mile commute home before refueling and the computer went from reading over 20 mpg to 19 mpg in 80 miles. I guess that is a regen!

Regarding order timing, my dealer placed my order with Ford September 7, Ford built it September 27 and the truck arrived October 16.

Mine is a King Ranch 4x4 with the only options outside of the KR package being diesel, FX4, engine block heater and towing package. I wanted a gooseneck ball and bedliner but was told that would slow production so getting that aftermarket. Pretty much a stripped down KR😀

I was looking at XLs but my wife complained about seat comfort, which is why I ordered a KR. The KR seats are more comfortable than the Lariat F150s I’ve had. Not sure if that is because of foam, leather quality or both. Only thing similar I’ve ridden in with that seat comfort is a Lexus. Still getting used to all the bells and whistles and automated features. Not sure how I feel about that.

The King Ranch seats are the most comfortable truck seats I’ve ever rode in. Worth every penny if you’ve got a bad back like mine.

Go straight to a One Ton Single Rear Wheels.

I outfitted my F250 with the towing package, which was about the same price and close in towing to the SRW F350. I asked dealer if I should get an F350, and he said go F250. He said he can give a better trade on an F250 over an F350. That factored into my consideration in that given the mileage I drive, I ran the numbers and may be better off trading for a new one in a year as opposed to keeping this long-term, assuming values hold up.

Not sure if the F250/F350 difference is just for my region or everywhere.

Is there more to a F350 drive train than an F250 than the extra leaf in the rear spring package?

Also, I've only had it five days and 800 miles, but the computer, assuming it's accurate, is consistently showing 20 MPG. Pretty impressed with that mileage for such a large vehicle!

Note sure, but I researched it and from what I can tell the F250 with the towing package comes with a heavier differential that has a larger ring gear than the truck without the package. That was not from the Ford Web site. Can't remember where I read that.

Hmmm, interesting.

No difference in the rear differential in super dutys until you get to dual rear wheels. Duallys do have a different rear end. On single wheel 250's and 350's no difference except leaf springs.

From what I've read, the regular F250 has a Sterling rear differential with something like a 10.5" ring gear. F250 with towing package or SRW F350 has a Dana M275 with a 10.8" ring gear. Double check my information because I'm no expert and this info is from the Internet, but multiple sources report the same thing.

I just google and here's one such thread. Not sure what year models this applies to.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1454071-new-dana-axles-2.html

Another source stating basically the same thing:

https://www.drivingline.com/articles/history-of-the-ford-super-duty-part-5/

A bit of advice for the Open-Minded folks:

1. The old-school International 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel engines are the most reliable V-8 engines that Ford ever installed in their trucks

2. There are 100’s of thousands of those 7.3 Powerstrokes still on the road today, hauling loads, serving farmers and ranchers; 20+ years later

3. Out of all the 20 year old trucks, the International 7.3 has the highest Blue Book value; only to be rivaled by the Cummins 5.9

I owned a 2014 F250 6.2 as well a 2016 F250 King Ranch Diesel and there is no comparison in power. The 6.2 you are getting the brakes, suspension, and transmission. If you have anything larger than a camper I would go Diesel. For a camper and a four wheeler you are good with a gas. I am in a half ton now and thinking of a new gas F250 for my needs. The new Godzilla 7.3 is available special order, buddy just picked his up in Missouri and is driving back to NM. He loves it but says 7-9 MPG.

That's pretty darn impressive. I half a half ton Ram that only seems to get 19 MPG on the highway, which has been disappointing for me, since my pops has about the same truck, just a couple years older, and seems to turn 26 on the highway.

I've got close to 2,000 miles on it now. Seems to do around 22 mpg straight highway. Throw in a regen and some town driving and it is averaging 19-19.5 mpg per tank. Around 70-75 mph seems to be a happy spot 3.31 gears, which work well with the 10-speed.

What is he pulling back? With my 7.3 gas I average 8-9 pulling a 15,000lb 4 horse with living quarters loaded.....

I pulled my Big Bend 16' trailer yesterday. I think the trailer is something like 5,000 empty. Pulled it 80 miles empty. Loaded it up with my 20-year hoard of ammunition and gun stuff and pulled it 120 miles back home. I'm sure by how sore my back is today that I was running over 10,000 loaded. I had it stacked full of mainly ammo to the gate in the middle of the trailer with much of that being shotgun ammo. Averaged 13.5 MPG. My Tundra usually got 15 MPG on the same trip empty. These new F250s are pretty amazing trucks and really pulling machines. Really barely noticed the trailer back there and it accelerates about like diesels of 25 years ago did empty but with a load. Hopefully, it will be reliable.

Pic of truck, trailer and helper.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/16575065/truck#Post16575065

Cattleman friend bought a new 3500 four door Dodge diesel. Dash board lights kept coming on. He kept taking it back. Finally it "lit up like a Christmas tree" and shut down. He had it towed, got rid of it (Lemon Law I bet), got an F-350 Ford with the big gas engine and is happy. Put his aluminum bed on it, says it gives 13 mpg, doesn't leave him stranded. Says power is good, no problems pulling a loaded Gooseneck trailer.

I've seen farmers who loved their diesels, going with gassers due to all the EPA stuff. Older diesel trucks bring a premium and for a reason.

DF

I liked everything about my Tundra, except it got horrible gas mileage. I'd go with the gasoline engine in the Ford.