Ordering a truck- can't decide on F150 vs F250 Tremor

[zimm]

I need some advice. We're a military family currently overseas. My wife retires next summer, I retired a few years ago. I just ordered a new '23 F150 Tremor to be picked up May '23 through the military auto sales program with a stateside delivery. My friends and even my own brother are saying I'm crazy for not buying the F250 7.3 which would actually be about the same price ($70k) the way I built it out. I still have time to change the order.

Here's the rub, I currently have nothing to tow. I sold all my toys before going overseas for 3 years. No boat, no RV, no trailers. But I have no idea what toys I'll buy in the future. I'd hate to limit myself with a F150 with only 1400 pounds of payload.

I've owned a '03 F250 7.3, 6" lift on 37's. It was a beast. Later in life I got a '05 F250 with 5.4 gasser. It had the self-seizing spark plugs and ticked a lot as well as getting 9mpg and had no power. In 2019 I bought a new F150 XLT with 3.5EB/max tow and leveled and 34's. It was a dang good family hauler, towed the 6000 pound Cub Scout camping trailer without an issue, and was plenty fast. Sadly I had to sell it at the 1 year mark to deploy.

Did I secretly wish it was a 3/4 ton, sure. But did I NEED a 3/4 ton? Not really. I just love heavy duty stuff. 1 ton solid axles with 8 lug full floating hubs give me tingles and make me happy. I'm also 47 years old and hitting midlife crisis, if I get another F150 and have super duty envy, I will not be able to afford to just buy another truck.

I know I told myself I'd never get a gasser, but the 7.3 is what I'll likely get if I go super duty. Has the same torque as my old 7.3 diesel, way less to go wrong, and simple to take care of. I do all my own work and maintenance, so the 7.3's simplicity is just hard to beat. I'm also not going to be driving many miles either- no long commute. It will be the family road trip machine for vacations and travel though. Family of 4 and a huge dog.

So really the question is get the more practical, more comfy, better MPG, easier to park F150. Or man the F up and slap down the order for a '23 F250? I don't even know if they'll build a '23 in time for a May delivery.

 

[High_Country]

Well, you’re on the F150 forum, so acknowledge that as you get answers. I had a 3/4 ton Ram Cummins 4x4 for awhile. I didn’t NEED the 3/4 ton or the Cummins like I thought I did. And, that larger, heavier truck was a sacrifice every day during ‘normal’ uses to and from work, parking, hauling the family around, poorer ride quality, etc. Sure, it was great having surplus capacity when towing something heavy a few times a year, but to me it wasn’t worth the DAILY sacrifice.
This F150 will tow what I need it to easily and I get to enjoy the 1/2 ton ride quality and smaller more maneuverable size.

 

[miff01]

Ditto x 2 what High_Country said!. I drove a F350 4x4 diesel for years, and hated every minute of it EXCEPT when towing. When needed a new truck this year it was a no brainer, for me, to go with the Tremor. Now, mine is still on the way but I have no doubt I will be happier with it, even towing our 32' travel trailer, than I was with the f350.

 

[Cranbery]

No reason to have a 250 if you don't tow, plain and simple. The 150 tows majority of what people tow anyways.

Also, where overseas? It's a pain driving a 250 some places in the states, can't imagine in other countries where everyone having a pickup isn't normal. Would be a bull in a china shop.

 

[zimm]

No reason to have a 250 if you don't tow, plain and simple. The 150 tows majority of what people tow anyways.

Also, where overseas? It's a pain driving a 250 some places in the states, can't imagine in other countries where everyone having a pickup isn't normal. Would be a bull in a china shop.

Well I'm in Japan currently, but will be picking up the truck in Seattle area and driving across country to Florida, then up the coast to settle in New England hopefully.

Also sure I don't have anything to tow currently, but in the near future we'll likely be buying a 28' travel trailer. I'd also like to get a car hauler for my Jeep Wrangler so I can tow it to Moab and not worry if it breaks down on the trails. I can get it home with the trailer. Both of those would be around 8000 pounds. I know the 150 is "rated" to tow 10,900 but you'll never get close to that with a 1400 cargo capacity. Family of 4, big dog, luggage, a trailer hitch weight would likely be approaching that limit. Or if I decide to get a camper for the bed, that would only work on a 250 as well.

I asked this same question on the super duty tremor forum as well to get their opinions also.

Well I got some more thinking to do.

 

[Yeti]

Welcome and congratulations on her retirement.

I was between the f150 tremor and f350 tremor (I mean why do f250s actually exist?). I obviously went with the 150 and have 1644 payload, tow an 8,000 TT, have 3 huskies and no kids. I also do a lot of moderate overlanding which is why the smaller 150 was even being considered.

I like the 350 better for the 7.3, towing, payload (I think I could carry a house with it) 35s and the 6.5 bed. Had I gone that route, I would have spent another $15,000 on a carli suspension and modified how/where I go off road.

With the 150, I got the payload and towing I needed for the foreseeable future(no sunroof, spray in liner or power tailgate) and spent $5k on suspension/wheels. And $2k (so far) on a hidden winch mount and IC relocation. With the cost of this truck, I'm in it for at least 10 years and I think I made the right choice (for me for now)

I think the 350 will be the last truck I own, just not yet

 

[WSH]

I drove a 2013 Ram 2500 Cummins with 8’ bed for the past 5-1/2 years. Loved the truck but it was a bitch when I had to drive and park in big cities like Austin, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans etc. I also didn’t “need” the Cummins as I don’t regularly pull much anymore. Also, maintenance on that thing was crazy expensive, and it was beginning to have a few issues that always cost $1000 or more it seemed. I think the Tremor is more than enough truck for my hunting and fishing adventures. And it’s cool as shit in my opinion. Love the stance and understated aggressiveness, but it’s not over the top in my opinion. Raptors are Badass but not quite my style. I’m sure you’d be happy with either one.

 

[FaKtor34]

Ok so my take on this is several have already pointed out the bonuses of the f150 vs f250, all are legit. The thing I will ask you is this, in the past with your toys did you ever tow over 10k on a weekly basis? If not then you will be better served with the f150. Having said that the choice is yours, as @Yeti said if you do go the f250 you will wind up spending even more to upgrade the truck, vs what it would cost for the f150, and let's face it, your mistake Numero Uno was to log on to this forum and ask a question that involves an opinion! Now you start looking around and that lists of add ONS will begin growing. Good luck on your choice, and remember if you decide later you might want the 250 then you could always sell or trade.

 

[BDE]

My last 4 trucks. 2015 f150 4x4, 2018 f250 xlt w/icon stage 2 lift, 2019 f250 lariat sport, 2022 f150 tremor.

I sold the first 150 for the super duty to tow a 30' toy hauler. Sold the 18 for a 19, hater how it drove with the lift and wanted more creature comforts. Sold the 2019 to back to an f150 because we just didn't have time to tow. Also would opt for a travel trailer over a toy hauler for the next one. The 250 was great, but the new interiors blow it out of the water. Day to day driving is much better, and with similar gas mileage, the gasser made sense. You don't lose any space but is just a better day to day truck for ride and parking. The tremor rides so much better than any truck I've had to this point.

 

[Fozzy]

Are your friends and brother all driving 2020+ Superdutys? They better be if they are telling you what to get. And if they are being honest with themselves they know they ride like crap and probably don't use then to their potential to warrant such a truck.

I love the cab and interior of the new Fords and the Superduty refresh should bring it to par with the F-150. But the Superdutys ride like crap with the gas engine in them. The weight of the Powerstroke helps a lot in the ride department, but still sucks balls. Even with a Carli setup it will not ride or drive half as good as a F-150. IMO a Carli kit is a must if you own a Superduty. No way I would daily drive a Superduty without the complete kit, but that's me. I feel bad seeing all the people with cheap lifts (some expensive crap kits as well) killing their kidneys just to look cool driving to work. Stock, even worse. You have to go at least their Commuter System so you get the track bar and add the lower steering stabilizer. The kit levels the truck. So if you need to fit in a garage it could be a deal breaker. Then you would have a decent riding completely capable truck if you decide to get toys in the future. Just remember a F-250 single wheel gasser max tow is 15K and goes down from there with options like crew cab and higher trim levels. Sounds like you where pretty happy with your 19' and made the right choice.

 

[zimm]

Well I switched my order to a F250. I can't get around the fact that the Lariat high trim F150 was $70k MSRP and a 7.3L Lariat Ultimate with lots of options in an F250 is only $72k. That's a lot more truck for the money.

Aside from my '18 F150, my last 2 trucks were a '03 and '05 F250 and I had no issues with the ride. I like my trucks to ride, well like trucks.

I enjoyed my time here on the forum though, lots of great info. Thanks for the opinions.

BTW- I think it's awesome you can now get a '23 tremor with the 5.0V8- I really like the sounds of that motor.

 

[Yeti]

Well I switched my order to a F250. I can't get around the fact that the Lariat high trim F150 was $70k MSRP and a 7.3L Lariat Ultimate with lots of options in an F250 is only $72k. That's a lot more truck for the money.

Aside from my '18 F150, my last 2 trucks were a '03 and '05 F250 and I had no issues with the ride. I like my trucks to ride, well like trucks.

I enjoyed my time here on the forum though, lots of great info. Thanks for the opinions.

BTW- I think it's awesome you can now get a '23 tremor with the 5.0V8- I really like the sounds of that motor.

Enjoy it when you get it!

 

[Pierless]

Well I switched my order to a F250. I can't get around the fact that the Lariat high trim F150 was $70k MSRP and a 7.3L Lariat Ultimate with lots of options in an F250 is only $72k. That's a lot more truck for the money.

Aside from my '18 F150, my last 2 trucks were a '03 and '05 F250 and I had no issues with the ride. I like my trucks to ride, well like trucks.

I enjoyed my time here on the forum though, lots of great info. Thanks for the opinions.

BTW- I think it's awesome you can now get a '23 tremor with the 5.0V8- I really like the sounds of that motor.

As long as you're getting what you want that's all that matters. Hopefully it's a quick build and you enjoy it!

Now GTFO of here!

 

[KAD]

You won’t be disappointed. I had an ‘18 F250 and it was cumbersome to drive in all honesty (wife wouldn’t drive it unless she had to). I got a ‘22 F250 last October and it is light years ahead in terms of handling. I honestly preferred the 6 speed transmission over the 10, but have gotten used to it.

Sold boat, have nothing to tow so selling F250 for F150 tremor. Super duty just too much truck for my daily driver around the suburbs.

F150 feels like sports car, but the SD has a great ride and handles awesome for being a massive truck.

 

[zimm]

I stumbled onto this old thread. Update time: Funny that I not only cancelled my Tremor F150 order, but ordered a f350 tremor, cancelled that. Ordered a F250 tremor, and now cancelled that and bought the F150. Sometimes it just takes a deep breath, a look in the mirror and realize I just don't need a superduty. That and I got nearly $5k off MSRP on the 150 so it was no longer the same price as the superduty.

 

[Shall3604]

I’m currently debating between buying a 23 f150 tremor 3.5L or a 25 7.3L f250 tremor and leasing it with intent to keep/haul in late future. I can’t decide and the dealer is expecting me in a couple days to make a decision.

 

[SubyEvo]

I need some advice. We're a military family currently overseas. My wife retires next summer, I retired a few years ago. I just ordered a new '23 F150 Tremor to be picked up May '23 through the military auto sales program with a stateside delivery. My friends and even my own brother are saying I'm crazy for not buying the F250 7.3 which would actually be about the same price ($70k) the way I built it out. I still have time to change the order.

Here's the rub, I currently have nothing to tow. I sold all my toys before going overseas for 3 years. No boat, no RV, no trailers. But I have no idea what toys I'll buy in the future. I'd hate to limit myself with a F150 with only 1400 pounds of payload.

I've owned a '03 F250 7.3, 6" lift on 37's. It was a beast. Later in life I got a '05 F250 with 5.4 gasser. It had the self-seizing spark plugs and ticked a lot as well as getting 9mpg and had no power. In 2019 I bought a new F150 XLT with 3.5EB/max tow and leveled and 34's. It was a dang good family hauler, towed the 6000 pound Cub Scout camping trailer without an issue, and was plenty fast. Sadly I had to sell it at the 1 year mark to deploy.

Did I secretly wish it was a 3/4 ton, sure. But did I NEED a 3/4 ton? Not really. I just love heavy duty stuff. 1 ton solid axles with 8 lug full floating hubs give me tingles and make me happy. I'm also 47 years old and hitting midlife crisis, if I get another F150 and have super duty envy, I will not be able to afford to just buy another truck.

I know I told myself I'd never get a gasser, but the 7.3 is what I'll likely get if I go super duty. Has the same torque as my old 7.3 diesel, way less to go wrong, and simple to take care of. I do all my own work and maintenance, so the 7.3's simplicity is just hard to beat. I'm also not going to be driving many miles either- no long commute. It will be the family road trip machine for vacations and travel though. Family of 4 and a huge dog.

So really the question is get the more practical, more comfy, better MPG, easier to park F150. Or man the F up and slap down the order for a '23 F250? I don't even know if they'll build a '23 in time for a May delivery.

I had the same dilemma. Ended up with the 5.0 Tremor because we never tow currently and I can get a small flatbed trailer to move anything if needed. Rides nice, better on gas than my 2017 Tundra and more comfortable. Good luck and hopefully whatever you choose, it's a great truck for your family.

 

[zimm]

Well 2 years in and 32,000 miles and still loving the F150. The only time I think the F250/350 would be better is when pulling 8000+ pounds. I towed my Jeep on a car hauler (8k) and it worked but I was sagging really bad. It's fine for part time towing, but if you plan to tow heavy and often, get the super duty. If it's more of a daily driver, 150 all the way. Rides better, turns better, better MPG on 87 octane.

 

[CAMDENN]

I’m currently debating between buying a 23 f150 tremor 3.5L or a 25 7.3L f250 tremor and leasing it with intent to keep/haul in late future. I can’t decide and the dealer is expecting me in a couple days to make a decision.

Just be perfectly honest with yourself about how much and how often you’re going to tow.
You might be surprised that it’s less than you think.
Also, does gas mileage matter to you?
How about parking in public or in your garage.