F250 Vs F350 payload question.

[jstchilln]

Sorry for another 250 vs 350 question but here I go.

We have an Imagine 2670 MK and this was our first year in it and we spent a month in Montana traveling from Kansas. The trailer is under my 10,000 limit for my Toyota Tundra and pulled fine on the flat but we quickly decided that we needed a larger truck for this trailer and a future 5th wheel . Like many others I assumed that an F250 would haul anything and I have seen them haul a large number of very large 5th wheels but now realize most of them were probably over loaded. The earlier question this month "F-250 vs F-350 was very informative and has helped me lean strongly in the direction of an F350 SRW. I dont have a problem driving a 1 ton around but our house was built in the sixties and even though it has a wide double car garage an F350 DRW would be pushing the limits. We already brought an F250 home and height wise it just gets into the garage with an inch to spare and the F30 SRW is the same height as the 250. We have a very large and long standing Ford dealership here but the salesman's and the sales managers depth of knowledge on towing is not that deep. Their answer is always "Buy the 250 and we can always air bag it if needed. From reading this forum I now know that is not the best advice.

Our future goal would be a Reflection 320 MKS but we may have to settle for a 31 MB or a 303 RLS.

QUESTION: Most F350 SRW that I have seen do not have that much of a payload difference than a 250. I found the chart below and can see that some 350's do have a heavier rating but finding one is the problem. Looking at the chart below, am I reading this right?

I know a lot more than I did when we bought our TT but I still have along ways to go. LOL

[Txfivver]

You will usually see a jump in payload of at least 1000 pounds and sometimes more by going to a 350 especially on the 2020 models. That can make all the difference when you go to a fifth wheel.

[Bamaman]

I have an older F250 crewcab diesel, and I've got a 323BHS that's one of the two heaviest Reflection fifth wheels. I'm at 11K lbs. dry weight and 2K lbs. kingpin weight--slightly heavier than the 320MKS.

My F250 has a helper spring and a set of air bags. I've got the horsepower to tow it, and my squat without the air bags is very, slight. But I'm still max'd out to my vehicle's capabilities.

If you think you'll never go any larger than a Reflection fifth wheel (mid size unit,) you'd be fine with a F350 SRW model. They're just marginally more expensive than the F250 SRW model.

[jstchilln]

I have an older F250 crewcab diesel, and I've got a 323BHS that's one of the two heaviest Reflection fifth wheels. I'm at 11K lbs. dry weight and 2K lbs. kingpin weight--slightly heavier than the 320MKS.

My F250 has a helper spring and a set of air bags. I've got the horsepower to tow it, and my squat without the air bags is very, slight. But I'm still max'd out to my vehicle's capabilities.

If you think you'll never go any larger than a Reflection fifth wheel (mid size unit,) you'd be fine with a F350 SRW model. They're just marginally more expensive than the F250 SRW model.

And that was what surprised me when I started to look at the 350 SRW, they are not that much more ($$$) than a 250

[bertschb]

...I found the chart below and can see that some 350's do have a heavier rating but finding one is the problem.

The published data is helpful for tow ratings but useless for payload ratings. You need to look at actual door stickers for the trucks you're interested in. But as others have said, if comparably equipped, an F-350 will have about 1,000lbs more payload capacity than an F-250.

[boyscout]

And that was what surprised me when I started to look at the 350 SRW, they are not that much more ($$$) than a 250

They are not much more money Larry. I have one and I wish I had spent just a little more to get the F-450! The bumps in price are small, but the differences can be significant.

Our first trailer coincidentally WAS a 2018 320MKS, with the F-350 SRW that we still have. I was pretty happy with the combination that first year, but we spent all of it in flatland Florida.

We traded it for a Solitude 310GK. Only a few hundred pounds heavier but I noticed the difference right away and still notice it. Rides differently, and gets pushed around differently; I'm more constantly aware that there's a big trailer back there. However most of all I've felt under-trucked when traveling in hilly country. In the Ozarks our truck was screaming in fourth gear, occasionally even in third, as it pulled the Solitude up some of those hills. We have the same powerful diesel as the 450 (and the 250) but our axle ratio is (IIRC) 3.31. It's OK on flat ground - that 6.7 engine is very powerful - but it's a bad choice for more-challenging terrain.

So I toss and turn and dream about the new 450 with its ten-speed transmission, dual rear wheels, and much lower axle ratio (along with a handful of other trailer-loving improvements over the truck we have).

Other people here with similar setups are quite happy with theirs but they acknowledge that their trucks are really close to their limits; ours sure feels like it is. You won't be far from the limits with your 350 SRW and 320MKS.

OTOH there's at least one person here (it might be @Txfivver) who has moved from the 350 to the 450 and he's extremely happy he made the change.

I hear you about not wanting a big wide DRW but if I was in your shoes I would definitely get at least a 350 DRW with a lower axle ratio (I believe that's standard with DRW), if not a 450. Then you can plan for whatever GD trailer you want in the future without wanting to change your truck.

My advice, worth every penny you've paid for it.

[Txfivver]

Yep that's me boyscout. Yes the 450 is well worth the small difference in price over the 350, especially because it becomes a much better daily driver vehicle if you need it to be. The turning radius makes all the difference. I drive it in town all the time and it's become no big deal, much easier to maneuver than the 350. Yes it's more truck than you need for an Imagine but we all know how that goes. A year from now you're going...."hmmm honey we need more room, what about a Solitude?" lol (I started this journey 3 1/2 years ago with an Imagine 2950RL and an F250 diesel.)

[Keebler]

Great advice above. On another post here, someone shared a comment about payload; to summarize it: all of the super duties can pull a small house off the foundation. The issue is carrying the weight of that house on your suspension. Words of wisdom; pay attention to payload.

All that said, if parking in your garage is important, need to see what ever truck will fit. Mine will NOT fit in my garage; something I understood and accepted up front.

[powerscol]

The F350 has about 1,400 lbs more payload that a similar F250. Both trucks weigh about the same as they are built on the same frame with the same parts. Only real difference is springs and axles (and I am not sure on that either for the SRW) For 2020 the max GVW payload package for the F250 is 10,000. For the F350 is it 11,400. To get the best payload capacity you need to not get the 6.7. It is one heavy monster. I am looking hard at the new 7.3 gas.

So what does all this mean - yep - open doors. Find trucks with the max payload option and double check the door stickers, but based on experience the F350 can handle 1000 lb more than an F250. Also be sure to get the camper package as that gets you upgraded front springs and the rear sway bar. Or you can go aftermarket and pay several hundred more to get one (Hellwig)
Hope this helps

[Jerryr]

My 2017 F-350 SRW Diesel Lariat payload was 3500 lbs
My current 2019 F-350 Diesel Lariat is 3523 lbs
A 2020 F-350 SRW Platinum diesel with sunroof is 3325 lbs
A 2017 F250 diesel platinum was ONLY 2238 lbs

Gas engine 350s and 250s are 700-800 lbs lighter so their payloads are 7-800 lbs higher.

Get a 350 diesel, you won’t be sorry.

As far as 450s go I seriously considered one.. they cost only $4-$5000 more than a similar equipped 350 but they are hard to find and too long to fit in my garage.

My 350 SRW fits into my garage with 1” to spare headroom and 6” in length. I back it in slowly.