I am planning on purchasing a new Ford 6.2 gasser to haul my BigFoot camper that is designed for a short bed pickup. My camper is a model 25GVC8.11B with a dry weight sticker of 2752 #. I would guess 3300 # wet.
My questions are:
Which Crew Cab, 4WD, pickup would work best for me as I would only be hauling the camper 20% of the time and the pickup would be used as a daily driver the remainder? I am looking at ride comfort without the camper loaded.
F250 or F350 each with camper special package’s, 3.75 or 4.30 rear end, which size tires and which combination would be more expensive to License and Insure in Calif. ???
With all of the expert and experienced hands on this forum I would appreciate your opinions.
Thanks Jerry

 

Man, I just typed a bunch of stuff and then realized you have a slide in camper.... Haa haa..

You'll probably want to get a 350 for the increased GVWR. I don't know about CA laws and GVWR registration but some states require that you insure a vehicle >10k GVWR as a commercial vehicle, which is pretty hefty from what I've read. If that's the case in CA, get the 250. Either gear set would be fine more than likely, but the 4.30's will give you a bump in oomph but slightly less mpg's. I don't know how the 250's ride, but for a 1 ton truck, mine rides nice (even better now with the 9000's on it). I rarely tow, truck is a daily driver (26 mile roundtrip to work everyday). So my final answer, 350 w/ 4.30's.

Regardless of what you go with, I'd recommend some air bags for the rear. The camper pkg will give you stiffer front springs and a rear anti-sway bar, but unloaded may be a harsher ride. I can't speak to that though, don't have it on my truck. You could always add the rear sway bar after the fact and retain a decent unloaded ride.

Here's the details of the camper pkg:

CAMPER PACKAGE (471)
Availability:
• Optional on all Pickups
Not available with:
• 20" Wheels and Tires, Pickup Box Delete (66D), 3.31 Axle Ratio
(on 4x4 with 17" or 18" tires) or Heavy Service Front Suspension
Package (67H)

Includes:
• Extra heavy-service front springs (4x2) (2 up upgrade above the
spring computer selected as a consequence of options chosen. Not
incl. if maximum springs have been computer selected as standard
equipment)
• Heavy service front springs (4x4) (1 up upgrade above the spring
computer selected as a consequence of options chosen. Not incl. if
maximum springs have been computer selected as standard
equipment)
• Rear stabilizer bar (SRW only)
• Slide-in camper certification
• Rear auxiliary springs (F-250 only)

 

Thanks Matt or responding.

The cost benefit ratio of the purchase of a F250 V F350 is a big consideration as to whether it is necessary and worth the investment in my case.
I don't need a vehicle that the ride will bust my kidneys the 80% that I am not hauling my camper. I believe that I can outfit the F250 to carry my camper but need to check out if the ride of the F250 will be a little better ride when empty.
I need to check and see if the license costs more in Calif. for the F350 over the F250 and whether the insurance will cost more for the F350.
Lots of checking.

 

I bet you won't notice much ride difference between the 250 and 350. I can tell you one thing, Ford made these '11+ trucks alot softer than previous years. My SD felt like it was bobbing around all the time so I threw a set of Rancho 9000's on it to get that truck feeling back. Rides perfect as can be now (until I ruin it with a leveling kit and 35" M/T's. lol).

Good luck!

 

If I had to do it again I would have got a F250 because of Ma. Laws....
A F250 with the 10,000lb package would have been more than enough for me and my landscaping/snow removal business AND I would have saved hundreds per year. Every year I have to re-registar my commercial plates and I have to pay $20 per 1,000lbs. The GRVW on my door sill states 11,300 so it also costs me $240 every year. With a F250 I could have got regular plates and paid as much for registration as an economy car...

Still, I love my F350 6.2 and having commercial plates isn't the end of the world for me.
I do have to carry wheel chucks, orange triangle reflectors, a fire extinguisher and a Ma. Health Card...

In the end, it all depends on what state you live in. The front end is the same in both trucks, so its really just the rear leaf springs that make the difference.

Live and learn (or read this and don't make the mistake I made)
Good luck with the purchase!

 

Fawcett,
I am in MA too. I ordered my 350 with the 10k GVWR package for those same reasons... the yearly inspection, the yearly registration renewal and not having to carry around that extra stuff.

 

In CA the registration is base on value of the vehicle and how much it weighs, not GVRW. So and F250 and F350 would be pretty much the same. BTW i just paid my registration last month and it was $525. I have a regular cab 4x4 F350.

 

I guess that what you call registration fees we call excise tax in the lovely state of MA. I just got my bill for $920.

 

Here's my two cents worth:

• Go with the 4:30 rear end. From what I've read on FTE there is very minimal MPG difference between the two, but the extra pull you get with the 4:30's with less up/downshifting is a definite benefit.
• Camper Package: Skip it. You're not hauling much weight. If you're looking for a 'softer' ride when not hauling you'll be happier without the camper package.
• In Minnesota there's no difference in insurance between the two. The yearly registration is a different story. To license a 250 costs nearly $700. To license a 350 is $140. So for that reason I went with the 350.

Hope this helps a little. Either way you WILL love it!

 

Just a quick question...but according to this...the Rear Auxiliary Springs are NOT available with the F350???

I don't understand why? Do they add an extra leaf in the spring pack or something for the F350 with the camper package???


biz

 

I haven't seen it on the 250, but I'm assuming the top spring in the pic below (from my F350, no camper pkg) is the auxiliary spring.

 

4.30 vs. 3.73
I ordered mine with 3.73 since my towing is minimal and light (ATV's) for better MPG.

On the highway, there seems to be a difference between the two. My last trip up north, with 2 ATV's on a trailer and winter blend fuel, I got over 14 mpg.

First trip up there with no ATV's I got over 16 mpg.

Around town my mileage stinks, numbers seem to be the same as 4.30.

 

I think the 350 comes with the helper springs already.

 

I think you're correct

 

That looks beefier than the stock 250's. I know my F350 has more leaf springs than that. On a side note, are those Michelin tires? When I bought my truck it had the tire upgrade and man not only do they look cool, they've got amazing grip in the snow. I'd def buy them again.