Rvinnewbury
SoCal
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Joined: 05/26/2011
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I am curious about the real difference between a f250 and f350 srw. The reason being I can get a smoking deal on a F250 with low miles that I know the history. When I look at the weights of the new fiver that I am looking at (Cougar 322QB GVWR 12000lbs), the payload capacity of the F350 is what I need. I have been told that the only difference is the rear spring pack. Is that true? The pin weight of the trailer should be around 2k to 2.5k. Is that to much? I am leaning towards a 350, just it would be an great deal with the F250.
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NewsW
US
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Joined: 02/06/2012
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Depending on year.
If it is a 2010 or later model, there is a high probability that there are considerable differences in the software as well.
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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250 v 350
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NewsW
US
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A modestly well engineered piece of software can give give a 150 near 250 capabilities.
Likewise, software can raise the limit for a 250 easily to 350.
The parts can be identical --- just a software change.
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bmanning
Phoenix, AZ
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Joined: 05/22/2005
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NewsW is right, it depends a lot on the year of the truck in question.
I had a 2002 F250 7.3L which came with the factory camper pkg., thus it had the overload spring & sway bar, making it NEARLY an F350...I say "nearly" because it still had the shorter block in the rear suspension, and the rear axle was rated for 6084lb rather than the 6830lb rear axle of the srw F350.
A mechanic friend once told me that the reason for the 6830lb rating in the srw F350 vs. the 6084lb rating for the F250 was the size of the bearings. IIRC the ring gear diameter & ratios were identical to the offerings in the F350.
Frame, engine, trans, cooling, brakes, front suspension, etc. were identical for F250s & F350s...in 02. Other MYs may vary.
IMO Best way to research the differences is by part #s; you'll see very quickly which pieces are shared and which are different.
BManning
baking in Phoenix 
2008 Ford Super Duty F250 XLT, 4x4, crew cab, 6.75' bed
5.4L V8 300hp/365ft-lb, 5sp Torqshift, 4.30 AAM gears
9400lb GVW 11200lb tow
2007 Volvo XC90 AWD V8
4.4L 311hp/325ft-lb, 6sp Aisin, loaded
6100lb GVW 5000lb tow
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NewsW
US
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bmanning wrote:
IMO Best way to research the differences is by part #s; you'll see very quickly which pieces are shared and which are different.
We use to be able to do that quite well.
Now, the part numbers can be identical, but with different programming, the capacities can be totally different.
And there is basically no way for us to replicate the factory software programming... not without back engineering the whole truck.
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Rvinnewbury
SoCal
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Sorry I forgot to give the year of the truck. 2005 with a 10000 gvwr, 23000 gcvwr. I don't remember the axles off the top of my head.
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4x4ord
Canada
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If your talking diesel and 2011 or newer F250 vs F350 the only difference is the F350 has an overload spring added plus higher axle blocks and hydro boost brake assist as apposed to vacuum boost in the F250. Even if the software is slightly different I can't imagine it making any difference to you or me using the truck - not when the fifth wheel tow rating is virtually the same on the two trucks anyway. (15700 for a 4x4 F250 CC and 15800 for the 4x4 F350 CC) The 4x2's are identical at 16000 lbs 5th wheel tow rating.
I see your talking 2005 - even less likely that the software would be different.
2011 F350 SRW short box 4x4 CC 6.7 PS King Ranch
B&W TurnoverBall and Companion
2003 Citation Supreme 34 RLTS
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NewsW
US
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4x4ord wrote:Even if the software is slightly different I can't imagine it making any difference to you or me using the truck - not when the fifth wheel tow rating is virtually the same on the two trucks anyway.
Without trying too hard, it is possible to raise the tow ratings by 25% with software.
That is not small or slight difference.
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fly-boy
Los Angeles, CA
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Joined: 11/05/2004
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For that size trailer any F250 will be more than sufficient.
That is not that big/heavy of a trailer- period.
2012 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax 4x4
2009 WW HKD with a big garage 
A few toys
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