Guys, Thanks for your input. I'm towing about twice a month under 500 miles round-trip normally. I usually keep my highway speeds at 60-65 MPH max. for safety reasons. And Manx...... Isee what you mean about those better felling brakes on the 250- I noticed it immediately on the test drive! Hopefully this trucks in by the end of the week.........Thanks again, Point Man........

 

Another thing to remember on gearing.. If you ever want to go with larger/taller tires,you'll want the lower gears,as the taller tires with raise your effective gear ratio! There is very little difference between 3.73 and 4.10 gears,if you think that the 4.10 gear is too steep,just go up a couple of tire sizes and it'll be the same as the 3.73's with stock tires!! If you go with 3.73's and then put taller tires on,it will be a SLUG,in comparison.

 

fomocofan just stoled my post dammit ! He is right on, if I were going to do it I would order the 4.10 gear's. If you would say put 285's or 295 on it your ratio would be closer to 3.73. Now if you did something like that with the 3.73 your ratio would probably drop to below the 3.55 mark. THese are not exact number's I'm just giving an example you can go to tirerack.com & use the gear ratio calculater to figure out exact number's.

As far as j-150 comment's about the fat commission that is wrong. If the saleman want's more commission he would point your tword something you don't really need, like a more expensive v10 or the PSD. The higher dollars they sell the more commision they make.The salesman might be having your needs in mind by recommending whay you really need.

I don't think you can go wrong getting the 5.4l v8 ,but only you know what you really need. My friend just got one with 3.73 gear's he pulls an enclosed trailer about 3-4 time's per month weighing about 6000 lbs. He said it work's out great for him.

We don't have ***** for snow here in Wisconsin either.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I originally was going to get that shadow gray model but opted for a 2-tone black with arizona beige stripe on the bottom 250 Lariat, with 3.73's (5.4) The truck has got $800 extra in options but I got it for the same price as the other one (because they thought they were going to lose the sale since the other one actually wasn't 2-tone like I wanted). Anyway, I've got 600 miles on it so far and love it. Haven't towed the RV yet, since there's been snowy, slushy weather up in Boston here (don't want to dirty the RV !!!!) but will test soon as the @#$% clears up. Thanks again for the advice guys.....Point Man.......

 

Enjoy the truck Point Man
It sounds like you got a deal
the two tone is sharp
You should check out the posts over at Ford-Diesel.com
ends up that the F250 and F350 are the same truck in 2002
(they use the same springs & axles)
the difference in load ratings is the tires 235 vs. 265
now the 250 lariats have the bigger tires
so they might not have the larger GVWR sticker
but they are capable of allot more then they are rated for
in all it's F350 with F250 badges
and you have the 1,000 difference

 

Manx, Thanks for the reply. Yes, I got a VERY GOOD DEAL on the truck. I did not know that about the 250/350 ratings-Thanks. I'll go check that website out....Point Man.