Ford F-150 Vs. Ford Super Duty F-250

Ford is a world leader in designing and building trucks. Two of their most popular trucks are the F-150 and the F-250. Trying to pick one over the other is challenging. While there are a number of obvious and subtle differences between the Ford F-150 and the Ford F-250, the key to picking the right truck is to consider what you need the pickup truck to do. The F-150 and the F-250 are versatile, powerful and technologically advanced trucks that can do the tough, physical jobs a truck is designed to do, but they also have large, comfortable cabins with all of the infotainment and connectivity features you need for business or pleasure.

Some Basic Differences

The Ford F-150 is classified as a half-ton, light-duty truck and the Ford F-250 is in the heavy-duty, three-quarter ton truck class. The 2021 Ford F-150's gross weight has a rating of between 6,100 pounds and 7,050 pounds. The gross weight rating of the 2021 Ford F-250 is between 8,500 pounds and 10,000 pounds. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum allowable weight manufacturers engineer the vehicles to carry safely. It doesn't include the weight of trailers they tow.

Different Engines And Roles

Another difference between the two trucks is their engines and the roles the trucks are designed to play. As a light duty truck, the Ford F-150 is built to haul lighter loads while cruising effortlessly down any roadway. The F-150's engine is more fuel-efficient and its cabin designed to block out outside noise even while traveling at high speed. The Ford-F250 is built to do hard work. It has three different V-8 engines available and their primary goal is delivering the power to get the job done. Fuel efficiency is not its main focus. This truck is engineered to move very heavy loads.

Available Engines

Ford's 2021 F-150 has six different engines available. The base engine is a V-6, 3.3 liter, 290 horsepower one that produces 265 pound-feet of torque. There's also a V-6, 2.7 liter 325 horsepower EcoBoost engine that delivers 400 pound-feet of torque. Plus, a 3.5 liter, EcoBoost V-6 with 375 horsepower and gives 470 pound-feet of torque. The fourth is a high-output 3.5 liter V-6 EcoBoost engine that has 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. The F-150 can also come equipped with a 395 horsepower, 5.0 liter V-8, with 400 pound-feet of torque or a 3.0 liter V-6, 250 horsepower Power Stroke Diesel engine with 440 pound-feet of torque.

The three available engines on the 2021 Ford F-250 are all V-8s. A base 6.2 liter, 385 horsepower engine that delivers 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford's new 7.3 liter, 430 horsepower V-8 gasoline engine that cranks out 475 pound-feet of torque. It's the most powerful V-8 gasoline engine in a heavy-duty pickup truck. There's a Ford 6.7 liter, V-8 Power Stroke diesel engine with the best-in-class 475 horsepower and an amazing 1,050 pound-feet of torque.

Towing And Hauling

Want a truck to do towing and hauling? The maximum towing and hauling capacity of the Ford F-150 and the Ford F-250 are dramatically different. The maximum towing capacity of the 2021 Ford F-150 is 14,000 pounds. Its maximum payload capacity is 3,325 pounds. Both those numbers are the best in its class. But the 2021 Ford F-250 is built to tow and haul heavy loads and has a much larger maximum towing and hauling capacity. It has a maximum towing capacity of 20,000 pounds and its maximum payload capacity is 4,260 pounds. So if you have lots of towing and hauling to do, choose the 2021 Ford F-250.

Inside The Cab

Inside the 2021 Ford F-150 has innovative features, new technologies and the nice cabin amenities that help make it America's best-selling pickup. It has a 12-inch display, a faster, powerful Sync 4 infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, navigation, split-screen control of multiple functions simultaneously, a digital gauge cluster with all the data you need and cool drive mode graphics. A fold-down table with room for working or eating and cooled, heated and massaging, super comfortable new Max Recline front seats to help you relax. Fold-flat gear selector in the center console, lots of storage space and rich amenities make it a great cabin.

The 2021 Ford F-250's airy, spacious, quiet cabin blends ruggedness and functionality with spot-on ergonomics to create a great cab. Its flat, well-defined dashboard design has easy-to-use physical buttons and knobs that make controlling all vehicle functions a breeze. A urethane-covered steering wheel, vinyl seat upholstery and seating for 3 tall people with 4-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats make long rides more comfortable. There's an optional bench seat configuration and on the truck's pricier trims, premium leather upholstery.

Safety And Driver Assistance Features

At Ford, the safety of its trucks' occupants is very important. Therefore most trims of the 2021 Ford F-150 have Ford's Co-Pilot 360 2.0. It's a suite of excellent driver's aids including lane departure warning, emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, driver facing camera, Active Drive Assist and a new intersection assist feature. They help make drivers and passengers even safer whether heading to work, taking the kids to school or on an exciting family vacation adventure.

The 2021 Ford F-250 is among the safest pickup trucks today. It got good grades from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on front, side, rear and rollover crash testing. Very rare for a truck its size. Its list of safety features includes 4 advanced multistage airbags, electronic stability control, rearview camera, dynamic hitch assist, hill start assist, trailer sway control and rollover stability control. Some trims have Ford's Co-Pilot 360 suite with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep alert, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, reverse sensing system, trailer tow camera, adaptive cruise control, trail control and adaptive steering.

Visit Tim's Truck

Having a tough time deciding between the Ford F-150 and the Ford F-250? Stop by Tim's Truck, test drive them both, get your questions answered, then decide.