What's with Bio diesel?

Newer F250s have a lighter rear axle than the 350s. By lighter, they’re only rated to 9000lbs ish vs 10-11klbs.
No advantages with a 350 srw, save for stiffer rear springs from the factory, over a F250.

What happened to biodiesel?

So if I am following, looking at a 2015 or later F250 SRW is essentially the same truck as an F350 -or can be easily modified to be. In checking prices the cost of them are almost the same on used, I guess that's why.

We are not looking for a high end FW. Contrary, I think we will land somewhere in the 40k category - new. One criteria we have is a W/D which seems to almost always add to the pin weight. Looking at units in the 12-14k range and pin weights around 2k. I Know the numbers are fuzzy until you get real weights etc, but unless I am wrong - and please tell me if I am - I think the F250 seems to be enough truck.

Here's an example of something we are looking at. Mind you - we are just starting our shopping and wouldn't know if this was a decent FW or not. Seems pretty big at 42' but checks the boxes of what we are looking for. My priority is to get a truck based on what we think we want in a FW. Hard to pick the RV first as I don't have a truck big enough to bring it home. ;-)


one we are looking at

When OP is considering trucks, in Ford land there were significant improvements in 2015 (better turbo and EGR cooler), 2017 (aluminum body), and 2020. The 2020 has improved torque and HP along with a 10 speed transmission. For the gas enthusiasts, the 2020 7.3 gas engine puts out almost as much HP with a very flat torque curve as long as you're willing to listen to a high revving engine. And, you get the 10 speed transmission along with no biodiesel worries.

My opinion--yours may vary.
Ford and GM both modified their engines to be rated for 0% to 20% biodiesel in 2011. I believe that Ram Cummins went a few more years before that rating. B5 is generally thought to run in anything and Mercedes Van diesel carried that rating for a long time, maybe still. 2% to 4% biodiesel is thought to be very good for lubrication.

There have been many debates on the differences between F-250 and F-350. For single rear wheel vehicles, the only difference since 2012 Job 2 has been the price, the auxiliary spring in the rear, the chrome badge on the side, the spacing block on the rear axle (F-250 had 2" while F-350 had 4") and the VIN sticker. The weight rating is intentionally down rated to 9900 or 10,000 on F-250s so that some folks can get cheaper insurance and license tags. The early 2010 1/2 model of the 2011 F-250 may have used a lighter weight axle left over from the prior year--since then the axles have been the same. Sometime around the middle of the decade, Ford starting putting in taller spring spaces blocks so the F-250s don't squat under load as much as they used to. So late model F-250s can be upgraded to carry a heavier load with air bags, and many do that.

It’s a fair piece down the road from ya but check car guru in Houston. I was shopping it recently and found a huge selection and unbelievable prices. Houston was easily 10k less on comparable trucks and had a bunch of them in all trim levels.

ShinerBock wrote:


There is a difference between the regular F250 and F350. The regular F250 does not have as many leafs in the leaf spring and does not have a sway bar like the F350 does between 2011-2016. This is why many F250s squat a considerable amount. The F250 with the camper package does not squat nearly as much since the package adds these making it identical to an F350.

Springs are simple to replace and not very expensive. You can upgrade the F250 if needed. Now the sticker police can report in.

^Diff between most of the US and Western Canada.
BC is tough on gvws, I hear. And most of the pickups are 1 tons instead of 3/4 tons.
If shopping used, I would 100% not turn down the right 3/4 ton for its gvw rating, considering most brands and models are virtually the same truck. Nothin a couple extra leafs and a pair of F350 badges won’t cure!

way2roll wrote:
Thanks for the replies. It makes sense and no reason to exclude these.

Curious though why F350's are so hard to find? I've looked at countless places for these trucks and at best there are only a handful for sale. I can't stomach the sticker on a new one but even those seem pretty rare. I guess it's just supply and demand and people probably keep them forever.

I think it has way more to do with your location than anything. Up here, there are PLENTY of 6.7L F-350's for sale.

The F 350 is the right choice. They tend to have stronger axles than 250s. Stronger suspension.