Does anybody have a 2011+ F250 with 20" wheels that they can check the rear axle rating on the b-pillar sticker? I found that the F350 SRW door sticker shows 7000 lb with 20's but want to know if the f250 is the same. The online specs show 6290 for F250 but nothing about tire size.

Add the additional leaf springs and taller blocks and you have a 350 rear end.

I special ordered my 13 250 with the HD service suspension. It has 4 rear springs, and heavier front coils.I did want the standard tires, and because of this my sticker shows 6200. My tires 245/17 are rated at 3195.Are you thinking of moving up from the buck 50?Jerry

Thanks, yes, moving up is a possibility. If I do, I just want to make sure I have the highest ratings possible in a SRW. It's a tough call because I like everything about my current truck... power, quiet, handling but that maxed out semi floating axle is still on my mind. Odds are that it would be OK but if I can trade or sell without losing a lot, I'll move on.

Trucks like yours should get a premium resale, since they are almost nonexistent.One thing to keep in mind, when getting the 20" tires and wheels is height. They are about 3"s taller than my standards, and will take away from your gearing.It will make a difference in load cap however. If you are thinking 6.2, I would suggest the 4.30 gears, with the 20"ers. It will be hard to find 4.30s used.If you are thinking 6.7, in a 250, it may not have much more payload than you have now.Just a few things to think about,Jerry

As far as the difference in diameter, I'm no too concerned about the effect on gearing as much as the height of the box and roof. I only have 82" in my garage door opening plus the 5th already sits about 1/2-1" high in front with my F150. That only gives me 5-6" clearance with the 57" high box (unloaded), 55" loaded. So, if an F350 with 20's is closer to 60" box height, it's going to be a problem.I could probably get by with 17's or 18's but if I make the truck swap, I'd rather not go from maxed out axle right to maxed out tires.

F250 Rear Axle Weight Rating with 20" wheels | Good Sam Community

35 Replies

Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 08, 2014
The front springs are typically the the same on the 250 and 350. You may have heard of leveling kits for the 350? They are 2" spacers for the front so the rear does not sit so much higher than the front.
Buck50HD
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Thanks for the additional info. The main reason I'm trying to avoid the 350 is the 2" additional height. It's going to make my 5th ride even higher in front. I'd rather not have to wrench on the truck as soon as I get it but I could swap the rear blocks and change front springs. The 350 doesn't concern me for any other reason and is likely the way I'll go if diesel.
spud1957
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Gdetrailer wrote:
spud1957 wrote:
Buck50HD wrote:
Thanks! Didn't think to look up this document. Now, I see why I thought you had to get 20's for a 7000lb RAWR. It's because the standard 18" A/S tires limit the rating to 6730lb and those are the only stickers I've seen. With the 18" A/T's, it shows 7000lb rating. So, with the camper package on an F250 and 18" A/T's, it's effectively 7k hardware, like the 350 but with a 6100lb sticker.

EDIT: another disclaimer... the guide shows the axle rating by itself is 6200 on F250 and 7280 on F350 so maybe there is a structural difference

No difference in the rearend/axles between the 250/350. Both use the Sterling 10.5" and the same shafts. That can be confirmed looking at the specs on the Sterling or Ford Parts website if you were to order one. If you were to order an F250 with the Camper package and 18" wheels, you technically have an F350 without the "official" F350 payload certifications.

On Edit: Looks like Ricatic got to this fact before I finished my post.

Perhaps you could explain the rear axle ratings difference to me?GAWR is determined by the rated capacity of the minimum component of the axle system (axle, springs, wheels, tires) of a specific vehicle. Which on the F250 is the 17" tire. You order an F350 with 17" tires, the axle is rated at 6290.

F250 rear axle rating no matter what payload package IS 6200 lbs, doesn't matter if you get camper package (camper package does add in "overloads")or any other it is STILL 6200 lbs ACROSS ALL F250s. Agree that Ford rated the axle/tire combo at 6200, not Sterling, because the 17" tire will come with the camper package..

Bigger tires on a F250 does not make it a "F350". For 2011+, with the camper package and 18" tires, technically it is an F350. Officially? No.

If you find yourself needing the extra capacity of 18" tires then you REALLY should be buying the F350... Agree
720Deere
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Don't fixate on the camper package if you are towing a trailer and not hauling an actual camper. The only thing about the camper package that you can't get in any other configuration with 20" wheels which will give the highest RAWR is the rear anti-sway bar. The factory sway bar is pretty weak at best anyway. For way less than $200 in parts, you can buy the factory setup from the parts department at your local dealer and bolt a rear anti-sway bar onto any truck that doesn't have it from the factory. A better option is to get a heavier setup from Hellwig.

As has been stated numerous times already, the Sterling 10.5 rear axle assembly used in both the F250 and F350 SRW trucks is one in the same. There are no separate part numbers for the axles between any of the SRW trucks either gas or diesel. Some people are never going to believe that and I've made peace with the fact that it is their problem not mine.

Personally if I were in the shoes of the OP and there was no major difference in the cost of either registration or insurance between a 250 and a 350, I would go with the 350 with 20" tire option for maximum payload and axle rating. It doesn't take much effort to swap the 250 rear spacer block into a 350 to reduce bed rail height by close to 2". I am a firm believer in buying the highest rated truck available in the class of truck that I am buying. That strategy has never caused me to trade a less than 2 year old truck in for more capacity.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 08, 2014
Ford and GM differentiate their 250/2500 and 350/3500 SRW by marketing and what options are available. The platforms on which these are built do not differ between 3/4T and 1T SRW.

Chrysler just started building 3500 SRW's differently than their 2500's but they used to use the same tactics.

Once you get into the DRW, you start to find more differences. However, many are still built on the same frame as the SRW and all the DRW parts will bolt right up to the SRW counterpart.
8iron
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Gdetrailer wrote:
spud1957 wrote:
Buck50HD wrote:
Thanks! Didn't think to look up this document. Now, I see why I thought you had to get 20's for a 7000lb RAWR. It's because the standard 18" A/S tires limit the rating to 6730lb and those are the only stickers I've seen. With the 18" A/T's, it shows 7000lb rating. So, with the camper package on an F250 and 18" A/T's, it's effectively 7k hardware, like the 350 but with a 6100lb sticker.

EDIT: another disclaimer... the guide shows the axle rating by itself is 6200 on F250 and 7280 on F350 so maybe there is a structural difference

No difference in the rearend/axles between the 250/350. Both use the Sterling 10.5" and the same shafts. That can be confirmed looking at the specs on the Sterling or Ford Parts website if you were to order one. If you were to order an F250 with the Camper package and 18" wheels, you technically have an F350 without the "official" F350 payload certifications.

On Edit: Looks like Ricatic got to this fact before I finished my post.

Regardless of the axle a F250 IS NOT a F350 no matter what tire size or optional payload "package".

There ARE other things coming into play other than the tire ratings.

Perhaps you could explain the rear axle ratings difference to me?

F250 rear axle rating no matter what payload package IS 6200 lbs, doesn't matter if you get camper package (camper package does add in "overloads")or any other it is STILL 6200 lbs ACROSS ALL F250s.

F350s however do have a considerable rear axle range with a large difference of max GVWR (10,000-14,000) depending on your payload package.

Bigger tires on a F250 does not make it a "F350".

If you find yourself needing the extra capacity of 18" tires then you REALLY should be buying the F350...

The point is that with certain option packages, mechanically it IS an F350. IF one chose to, one could exceed payload rating with an F250 and not exceed a single design rating of any component under that truck.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jan 08, 2014
spud1957 wrote:
Buck50HD wrote:
Thanks! Didn't think to look up this document. Now, I see why I thought you had to get 20's for a 7000lb RAWR. It's because the standard 18" A/S tires limit the rating to 6730lb and those are the only stickers I've seen. With the 18" A/T's, it shows 7000lb rating. So, with the camper package on an F250 and 18" A/T's, it's effectively 7k hardware, like the 350 but with a 6100lb sticker.

EDIT: another disclaimer... the guide shows the axle rating by itself is 6200 on F250 and 7280 on F350 so maybe there is a structural difference

No difference in the rearend/axles between the 250/350. Both use the Sterling 10.5" and the same shafts. That can be confirmed looking at the specs on the Sterling or Ford Parts website if you were to order one. If you were to order an F250 with the Camper package and 18" wheels, you technically have an F350 without the "official" F350 payload certifications.

On Edit: Looks like Ricatic got to this fact before I finished my post.

Regardless of the axle a F250 IS NOT a F350 no matter what tire size or optional payload "package".

There ARE other things coming into play other than the tire ratings.

Perhaps you could explain the rear axle ratings difference to me?

F250 rear axle rating no matter what payload package IS 6200 lbs, doesn't matter if you get camper package (camper package does add in "overloads")or any other it is STILL 6200 lbs ACROSS ALL F250s.

F350s however do have a considerable rear axle range with a large difference of max GVWR (10,000-14,000) depending on your payload package.

Bigger tires on a F250 does not make it a "F350".

If you find yourself needing the extra capacity of 18" tires then you REALLY should be buying the F350...
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 08, 2014
Both the F250 and F350 SRW use the same 35-spline Sterling 10.5" axle. When you compare Ford part numbers or even look at vehicle recycler sites, you will find they cross match.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jan 08, 2014
Fleet Ford builders rear axle specs

Differential......................F250..........F350 SRW
Axle Shaft— Spline Minor Dia......1.36..........1.50
..........— Spline Major Dia......1.50..........1.57
.........— No. of Splines (Hub End) 35............37

Ford shows these specs from 2014 back to 2005. I didn't search any farther back. IMO the differences in diameters and spline count could be gas vs diesel if Fords specs are right. I find it odd Ford has gone all these years with the wrong information.
Granted the axles carry no weight but just turn the gears so larger diameter axle allows more engine twist.
spud1957
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Buck50HD wrote:
Thanks! Didn't think to look up this document. Now, I see why I thought you had to get 20's for a 7000lb RAWR. It's because the standard 18" A/S tires limit the rating to 6730lb and those are the only stickers I've seen. With the 18" A/T's, it shows 7000lb rating. So, with the camper package on an F250 and 18" A/T's, it's effectively 7k hardware, like the 350 but with a 6100lb sticker.

EDIT: another disclaimer... the guide shows the axle rating by itself is 6200 on F250 and 7280 on F350 so maybe there is a structural difference

No difference in the rearend/axles between the 250/350. Both use the Sterling 10.5" and the same shafts. That can be confirmed looking at the specs on the Sterling or Ford Parts website if you were to order one. If you were to order an F250 with the Camper package and 18" wheels, you technically have an F350 without the "official" F350 payload certifications.

On Edit: Looks like Ricatic got to this fact before I finished my post.

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F250 Rear Axle Weight Rating with 20" wheels

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