Why Can the F-350 Tow More Than the F-250?

Both the Ford F-250 and F-350 will help you complete even the toughest tasks. The main difference between the two is that the F-350 has a 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing maximum of nearly 36,000 pounds, while the F-250 delivers a max 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing capacity of 22,800 pounds.

The main things that allow the F-350 to tow more than the F-250 are the 4’’ rear suspension blocks vs a 2.5″ block in a F-250 and stiffer suspension springs.

Let’s dive deeper into the topic and learn more about the differences between these amazing trucks from Ford’s Super Duty line.

Is a F-250 Better Than the F-150 for Towing?

When comparing F-150 and F-250, the smaller truck wins in quite a few categories. When it comes to fuel economy, transmission performance, and road handling, F-150 outranks the F-250. Furthermore, it has a lower base price.

However, the Ford F-250 has greater towing and hauling capacities than the light-duty truck that can tow up to 13,200 pounds. The F-250 can tow 20,000 pounds which you will be able to take advantage of if you regularly tow massive payloads. By the way, the F-250 is also considered better for towing a travel trailer.

With that being said, if you’re planning only on pulling a boat or a small trailer and you prioritize fuel economy and cabin comfort, then going for the F-150 might be a better option. Aside from the towing capacity, F-250 has minimal to no improvements over the light-duty truck.

What Are the Differences Between F-350 and F-250?

There are a lot of similarities between the Ford F-250 and the F-350, but there are also a few important differences that might not be too obvious. The F-350, for example, has the option to have dual rear wheels which will allow more heavy-duty towing. However, the main differences are the absolute maximum that the trucks can tow and their maximum payload.

The max conventional towing capacity of the F-250 is 20,000, while F-350 provides up to a 21,200-pound towing capacity and a 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing max of 35,750 pounds. With the F-250 you can access a payload of a little over 4,000 pounds and the F-250 delivers the best-in-class max payload of 7,850 pounds.

The features that allow the Ford F-350 to achieve such excellent results are a 4-inch suspension block that increases the maximum payload and the larger center section that gives the truck a higher gear ratio which allows it to tow heavier weights better.

Why Is It Called a 3/4-Ton Truck?

You might have heard the terms ‘half-ton’, ‘3/4-ton’, and ‘1-ton’ that are usually used to describe the different classes of pickup trucks. The number was based on how much payload the vehicle was able to carry. But, nowadays, the term is used quite loosely as the amount of payload trucks can haul has increased a lot.

According to the government’s definition, any pickup truck with the GVWR that falls between 8,501 pounds and 10,000 pounds can be classified as a ‘3/4-ton truck’. The Federal Highway Administration would also classify such trucks as the ‘2b’ class. The Ford F-250 is considered a ¾-ton truck, while the F-150 is a half-ton truck and the F-350 is a 1-ton one.

The reason why a lot of people might be confused by this classification is because the term ‘3/4-ton truck’ was used to describe vehicles that could haul only 1,500 pounds (which is three-quarters of a ton). And though modern-day pickup trucks can haul a lot more than that, the classification is still used by some (mainly for marketing purposes, to classify a truck that falls between the light- and heavy-duty categories).

What Is the Difference Between 5th-Wheel Towing with F-250 and F-350?

A fifth wheel is basically a hitch that allows the driver to connect the cargo attachment to the back of the tow truck. Unlike the gooseneck that uses a ball to connect to a unique-style vertical coupler, the fifth wheel hitch features a set of jaws and a pivoting plate that is used to connect to the kingpin.

The main difference between 5th-wheel towing with the Ford F-250 and F-350 is that the latter has a 35,750-pound fifth-wheel tow rating. The F-250 has a maximum fifth-wheel towing of 22,800 pounds. Some configurations of the ¾-ton truck might simply not be able to support the pin weight of the fifth wheel.

A 5th-wheel hitch is generally used to tow fifth-wheel trailers. Such trailers are large and heavy and, in the majority of cases, require a one-ton truck to tow them. Empty and unloaded 5th-wheel campers have an average weight of around 12,700 pounds.

What Size Truck Do I Need to Pull 10,000 Pounds?

The size of the truck is not the only thing that you should take into consideration when shopping for a vehicle for towing. The trim level of the truck, its weight and configuration, the tow package, and the weight of the hitch – these are just a few factors that would also affect your decision.

In general, some half-ton trucks will be able to pull 10,000 pounds. The Ford F-150, for example, has up to 13,200 pounds of max trailering capacity for conventional towing.  However, going for a ¾-ton trick might be a safer option – most of the F-250s will pull between 13,000 and 15,000 pounds.

Even though 1-ton trucks can certainly be used to pull 10,000 pounds, the vehicle might be slightly too much for what is required. Just remember, when doing your calculations, to follow the 80/20 rule and to consider all of the 5 important weights (curb weight, front and rear axle maximum weight, GVWR, and CGVWR).

How Much Can a Ford F-350 Pull?

To haul your cargo, trailer, or boat, you can choose between incredible engines – the gas-powered 6.2L V8 and the 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel. This is one of the main factors on which the towing capacity of your F-350 is going to depend.

Overall, you can expect the Ford F-350 to tow up to 21,200 pounds with a conventional towing setup. The heavy-duty truck is also capable of being configured for 5th wheel and gooseneck towing which will give the vehicle the ability to pull up to 35,750 pounds.

By the way, Ford announced that its F-450 from the 2023 Super Duty heavy-duty truck lineup is going to have a towing capacity of 40,000 pounds with a gooseneck trailer. This will put the manufacturer way ahead of its heavy-duty competition with the Ram HD maxing out at a little over 37,000 pounds.

Final Thoughts

The Ford F-350 has been created for drivers who need more power for towing and an increased payload capacity than what the F-250 can offer.

Even though the two vehicles might have a lot of things in common, the F-350 truck has a considerably higher maximum towing capacity and payload.

But before you make your decision, make sure that you do actually need something this huge to fit your lifestyle and needs.