What Is the Difference Between the F-250, F-350, and F-450?

Ford is known for its trucks. From the legendary F-150 to the classic Ranger to the compact Maverick, Ford has the truck market pretty much cornered. At the top of the Ford truck lineup are the Super Duty models. When you drive through locations known for construction or farming, you see the Ford name just about everywhere. That’s because drivers who know their trucks and need something reliable go for a Ford, particularly a Ford Super Duty truck.

If you are looking for Super Duty trucks for sale near Murfreesboro, nobody knows this lineup of trucks as well as we do here at Newton Ford South. We carry them all, new and used, and offer competitive prices on these popular powerhouses. It is important to understand the differences between the three, so you can ensure you purchase the right one for your specific needs. Here’s a look at the differences between the redesigned 2023 F-250, F-350, and F-450.

Ford’s Super Duty lineup actually goes even higher with the F-550 and F-600 chassis cab models, but today we’ll just discuss the F-250, F-350, and F-450 pickups. Ford’s Super Duty trucks are hardworking pickups that are ready for tough environments and challenging jobs. They have really impressive towing and payload capacities, are powered by potent engines, and offer tons of valuable features. All three are built on the same platform, so the differences mainly come down to how much performance you need.

The F-250

Starting off the Super Duty lineup, we have the three-quarter-ton F-250. This model is arguably the most versatile of Ford’s heavy-duty options and makes a great all-around truck. The new 2023 F-250 offers four engine options:

• 6.8L V8 (405 hp / 445 lb-ft)
• 7.3L “Godzilla” V8 (430 hp / 485 lb-ft)
• 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 (475 hp / 1,050 lb-ft)
• 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 (500 hp / 1,200 lb-ft)

Let’s talk about these engines for a moment, as each one serves a different purpose. If maximum power is what you’re after, then your best pick is going to be the 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8. This engine is new for 2023 and boasts the highest horsepower and torque, empowering you to hitch, haul, and tow (almost) anything your heart desires.

Now, if your truck needs to cover a bit more ground but you still need a lot of power, you might want the slightly better fuel economy offered by the basic 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8. Your horsepower and torque drop slightly compared to the High-Output variant, but just a little.

Moving away from the diesel options, the 7.3L “Godzilla” V8 offers best-in-class output for gasoline-powered heavy-duty pickups. It is extremely durable and ready to haul heavy loads but doesn’t limit you to diesel, which is more expensive and can be harder to find than regular gas.

Finally, the 6.8L V8 is the new base engine for 2023. Based on the 7.3L V8, this smaller engine can still kick out its optimal torque when you’re operating at low RPMs and has excellent power. If you don’t need all the power and size of the upper-end engines but do need something more powerful than what you’d find in a half-ton pickup truck, this is the way to go.

Towing & Payload

Now let’s talk about towing and payload since that’s what these Super Duty trucks are made for. Below are the towing and payload figures for each engine option of the 2023 Ford F-250.

• 6.8L V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 17,300 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 4,302 lbs.
• 7.3L “Godzilla” V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 19,500 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 4,212 lbs
• 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 22,900 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 4,145 lbs
• 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 23,000 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 4,002 lbs

The F-250 is ideal for Murfreesboro drivers who need to tow larger equipment and items, like tractors, boats, and campers. If you know you need to be able to pull more than the F-150 can handle but aren’t planning on towing truly massive loads, the F-250 could be right for you.

The F-350

Moving onto the one-ton F-350, you will note that it is available with the same four engines as those offered in the F-250. Those are:

• 6.8L V8 (405 hp / 445 lb-ft)
• 7.3L “Godzilla” V8 (430 hp / 485 lb-ft)
• 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 (475 hp / 1,050 lb-ft)
• 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 (500 hp / 1,200 lb-ft)

We’ve already discussed the benefits of each engine, so we won’t repeat those here. However, this is where the difference shows up. While the F-350 has the same engine options as the F-250, it has an upgraded suspension that can provide far greater towing and payload capacities. This includes an available dual-rear-wheel option, which is not available on the F-250.

• 6.8L V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 18,900 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 8,000 lbs
• 7.3L “Godzilla” V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 22,500 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 7,685 lbs
• 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 36,500 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 7,100 lbs
• 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 38,000 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 6,992 lbs

As you can see, the max towing capacity of the 2023 Ford F-350 with the base engine is 1,600 lbs higher than that of the F-250, and the top engine gets a huge 15,000 lb towing capacity jump. Payload ratings are up by anywhere from 3,000 to 3,700 lbs per engine, too, compared to the F-250. It’s always best to choose a truck that can handle slightly more than what you think you’ll need so you never find yourself unable to carry out any task.

The F-450

Finally, we have arrived at the hefty F-450. When you need serious power out of a consumer truck, you need the F-450. This model has fewer engine options than the others because it’s built to tow, haul, and trailer more, so it has no need for lower-end engines. The engine options here are:

• 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 (475 hp / 1,050 lb-ft)
• 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8 (500 hp / 1,200 lb-ft)

The towing and payload capacities of the 2023 Ford F-450 are where it shines. They are:

• 6.7L Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 38,600 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 6,342 lbs
• 6.7L High-Output Power Stroke Turbo-Diesel V8
  • Max Towing Capacity: 40,000 lbs
  • Max Payload Capacity: 6,502 lbs

The payload and towing abilities of the F-450 are much higher than those of the F-250 and F-350. If you need to hitch a horse trailer, mega camper, or big boat to your truck, you’re going to want the power of the F-450.

Choose Your Super Duty

Your next step in shopping for a Super Duty truck for sale is to consider the tasks you have planned for your pickup. If you aren’t sure what sort of weight you’ll be towing and hauling on a regular basis, get the facts on those. Once you have your truck, you want to make sure it is capable of carrying out all of the tasks you need it to. However, you also don’t want to pay for more power than you require. There is a significant price difference between the different Super Duty models and engine options, so make sure you need what a more powerful truck offers before buying it.

The team here at Newton Ford South will be glad to help you further narrow down your choice. We are highly experienced in helping DIYers, farmers, construction workers, and others from Murfreesboro and beyond pick out the perfect Super Duty truck for their needs. Visit us and tell our team what you have planned for your pickup, and they’ll gladly help you decide on the perfect model and options.