Ford F-Series Towing, Horsepower, and Fuel Efficiency Comparison Guide
When you’re shopping for a truck, it’s only natural that you would look at what Ford has to offer. The F-series has been the most popular truck in America for decades, and the extreme capability and advanced technology that you’ll find in these trucks explains why they’re so popular. That said, there are many differences between the different F-series trucks, and whether you need an F-150, an F-250 or an F-350 might be difficult to figure out. To save you the trouble of going back and forth between all the relevant spec sheets, we’ve put together the following guide to the Ford F-series truck lineup, and what sets the different configurations apart.
Ford F-Series By The Numbers
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| F-150 | F-250 | F-350 | |
| Available Engines |
• 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 • 2.7L EcoBoost® V6 • 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 • 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 • 3.5L PowerBoost™ Full Hybrid V6 • High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 • High-Output Supercharged 5.2L V8 |
• 6.8L Gas V8 • 7.3L Gas V8 • 6.7L Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel • 6.7L High Output Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel |
• 6.8L Gas V8 • 7.3L Gas V8 • 6.7L Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel • 6.7L High Output Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel |
| Horsepower Range | 290 - 700 | 405 - 500 | 405 - 500 |
| Torque Range | 265 lb-ft - 640 lb-ft | 445 lb-ft - 1,200 lb-ft | 445 lb-ft - 1,200 lb-ft |
| Fuel Capacity | 23 - 36 gallons | 29 - 48 gallons | 29 - 48 gallons |
| Max Conventional Towing | 14,000 pounds | 22,000 pounds | 27,000 pounds |
| Max Gooseneck Towing | Not Rated | 23,000 pounds | 32,900 pounds |
| Cargo Box Size | 52.8 cubic feet / 62.3 cubic feet / 77.4 cubic feet | 65.4 cubic feet / 78.5 cubic feet | 65.4 cubic feet / 78.5 cubic feet |
The configuration options list for each of these models is huge, and a comprehensive list would defeat the purpose of a quick guide. So we’ve listed ranges and maximum capacities, which still illustrate the differences between the trucks. A quick look at the chart and it's easy to see that the biggest differences are between the F-150 and the rest of the F-series lineup. The F-150 is smaller, but has even more configuration options than the bigger trucks. In most forms, it’s more fuel efficient, and this is especially true when the F-150 is equipped with the hybrid drivetrain option. There is a smaller bed option, but the other two are similar enough to the two Super Duty models that it would be difficult to tell they were different at all at a glance. The F-150 Raptor sits at the top end of the power range, and it offers so much more horsepower that we thought we should mention that the most powerful non-Raptor drivetrain option is the hybrid, which produces 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque.
The F-150, when properly equipped, will handle all the towing that most people will ever attempt. But for those who do need to tow more than 14,000 pounds, there is a big step up in capacity when you go with an F-250 or F-350. The confusing part here is that the F-250 and F-350 are essentially identical in everything except towing capacity, even the photos look basically the same. But there’s an easy answer for this. The F-250 is only available with single rear wheels, while a dual rear wheel option is available for the F-350, though not standard.
F-150 Lightning
There is one more truck to mention here, the F-150 Lightning. While the Lightning is essentially an F-150, and all of the things you like about the F-150 apply here, it does have an all-electric drivetrain, so we’re going to need slightly different terms to talk about it. There are two drivetrain options for the Lightning, the Standard Range and the Extended Range. EPA ratings for the Standard Range is 240 miles, while the Extended Range comes in at an impressive 320 miles. Both drivetrains produce 775 lb-ft of torque, while the Standard Range makes 462 horsepower and the Extended Range makes 580 horsepower. Both of those horsepower figures exceed all but the Raptor horsepower figures, and the Lightning has the highest torque rating of any F-150. Unfortunately, the battery packs in the Lightning are heavy, and that lowers the towing capacity to 10,000 pounds. That said, studies1 have shown that about 96% of F-150 owners never tow more than this anyway. MotorTrend2 named the Lightning Truck of The Year for 2023 specifically because it’s the one electric truck on the market that can just be used like a conventional truck and doesn’t require any compromises.