Which truck for fishing truck f150 vs f250

[lakevet]

Looking at replacing my truck. Any opinions on Ford F150 vs F250 from ice fishing perspective? Would be supercab not crew cab. 8 foot box. Vehicle weight difference main concern. Would be gas engine. Any thoughts?

Thanks

lakevet

[icekid10]

I think the f150 would be a little better. It is a little lighter from my knowledge..

A buddy of mine has a 150 and it worked just fine.

[tsande00]

I can't think of any benefit to the 250 except perhaps it has a little more ground (snow) clearance?

[Esox_Magnum]

I got stuck on the ice a couple years ago, first guy that puled me out was a f-250 and struggled, 2nd time a Silverado 1/2 ton never spun a wheel pulling my suv and trailer off the lake. Seems the heavier truck had traction problems where the lighter one didnt. Don't make sence but thats how it worked.

[tsande00]

I got stuck on the ice a couple years ago, first guy that puled me out was a f-250 and struggled, 2nd time a Silverado 1/2 ton never spun a wheel pulling my suv and trailer off the lake. Seems the heavier truck had traction problems where the lighter one didnt. Don't make sence but thats how it worked.

I think tires and snow conditions play a bigger part in pulling somebody out than the whether it's a 3/4 or 1/2 ton.

[spearchucker]

The Chevy probably had better tires.

[icekid10]

I got stuck on the ice a couple years ago, first guy that puled me out was a f-250 and struggled, 2nd time a Silverado 1/2 ton never spun a wheel pulling my suv and trailer off the lake. Seems the heavier truck had traction problems where the lighter one didnt. Don't make sence but thats how it worked.

I got stuck on the ice last year and my buddies 1500 dodge ram pulled me out once we got rigged up the right way. So I think it has to do more with tires too.

[deadeye]

It has a lot to do with the tires. I have a Eagle talon which is a AWD car and have snow tires on it. My dad has a Durango and had questionable tires on it. I drove right around him last year several times even though he had the big truck.

Anyway, if your not pulling a big wheelhouse or other big loads I would stick with the f150. You will pay less for maintenance (tires, brakes, oil changes ect) plus it will be a bit nicer at the gas pump. While I am not a Ford guy myself I have seen ALOT of stuff about the new F150 and I got to say I am very impressed with their stuff (i work with a Ford person so its shoved in my face all day ) Even the v6's are fantastic the base model v6 makes more power than the v8's from a couple years back. Of course you should get the ecoboost twin turbo v6 .

[CJH]

Get the Off Road Package!!! (I think its FX4 in Ford's, Z71 in Chevy's)

[harvey lee]

I believe that good tires will play the biggest role. A few years ago I had to have Borch give me a tug on the lake and my tires were worn fairly bad. A week later I put new tires on my 1/2 ton and I went through way more snow than weeks before.

[cold one sd]

I have beenn driving an F250 on the ice since 2000 and just bought a new one this spring. If I didn't pull a 32' fifth wheel with an 18 1/2' boat behind it I would probably have an F150. You will never see me being the first one to drive onto a lake even with my quad though.

[herefish101]

I'v been driving an F150 for ten years now. I can personally attest to the fact that "it's all in the tires". A friend of mine got a brand new Ram 1500 last year with like 19 or 20 inch rims stock, the tires were pretty good but geard a little more tward the road. That truck would not go any where off of a plowed road. I drove circles around him, pulled him on and off the lake a few times. I convinced him to get a set of smaller rims 16's or 17's and some good all terrain tires bridgestone dueler at revo's, like the ones on my truck, and bam! his truck is an off road animal, that hemi almost makes me want one. But I really want one of those twin turbo V6's, sounds pretty amazing.

[Northlander]

Good tires and a light foot. I would go with the 150 unless you plan on hauling a bigger boat or wheel house. Most on ice situations a 150 will be more than enough. I know I wouldnt need the extra power or weight. Plus burning more gas.

[dougger222]

Haven't owned a half ton in almost 10 years.

Too small for my liking...

[Mnfisher]

I assume when you are talking a 150, you mean a 4x4 rather than a 2x4? My silverado 2x4 is not good in snow at all. Weight helps a bit and yes, good tires help too. Guess everyone (but me) drives a 4x4 and I will next time too.

[WARRIOR 2090]

good snow tires makes all the differance I drive a 2500 hd silerado with a durmax diesel I put on blizzak tires for the winter and it goes anywhere if I didn't haul heavy loads and love the diesel I would be driving a half ton go with the half ton you will love it

[spearchucker]

Get the Off Road Package!!! (I think its FX4 in Ford's, Z71 in Chevy's)

That alone, isn't going to get you unstuck. All they are is skid plates, shocks, and tires.

[popriveter]

1973 Toyota Hilux. Probably not the most popular choice, but it works and I won't likely mistake mine for anybody else's.

[Steve Foss]

I've not read any of the replies to this thread, on purpose, so I wouldn't be swayed from my own opinion.

For fishing either ice or open water, unless you are trailering a big boat, the half-ton is best. Pulls whatever you need pulled, a decent bit lighter, generally better mileage, cheaper purchase price, not much less in longevity when considering equal light/medium work demand vs a 3/4 ton. For ice fishing, a 1/2-ton is definitely best. Keep great rubber on it, keep it in great repair, keep a comealong, tire chains and a tow rope/strap in the toolbox. You might just spend more time pulling out stuck guys than ice fishing.

And yes, I've owned several 1/2 tons and two 3/4 tons, and driven many more.

Just my opinion.

And a final opinion? Buy whichever you want. Either one will do you just fine. The differences between them for ice fishing are not really too important, and the 3/4-ton gives you some serious payload muscle if that becomes an issue. Are you a vet doc? If so, it may be good to opt for the 3/4-ton if you have to haul horse/cattle stock trailers.

[lakevet]

Going with Nokian tires from Finland. They do a lot of racing on the frozen lakes over there with no studs allowed. Wife has them on her van and they are very sticky.

Limited slip differential also helps (FX4 off Rd pkg). Also a little wisdom about limits on what your vehicle can actually do also works wonders- like to fish more than digging out stuck trucks.

Gas mileage not much of an issue as I am light on both gas and brake pedals (excessive braking drops your gas mileage a lot, coasting more saves gas and brake pads). Every time I tell people what my mileage is , they can't believe it.

Have broke rear springs on last 1/2 ton I had, but that is separate issue from ice fishing.

Going with used truck as it is actually going to be used as a truck and I hate depreciation that new trucks have.

So in a nutshell how much more ice do you need to support a f 250 vs f150? Or more generally how much more ice for a 3/4 ton pickup vs 1/2 ton pickup ?

thanks

lakevet

[Steve Foss]

Going with Nokian tires from Finland. They do a lot of racing on the frozen lakes over there with no studs allowed. Wife has them on her van and they are very sticky.

Limited slip differential also helps (FX4 off Rd pkg). Also a little wisdom about limits on what your vehicle can actually do also works wonders- like to fish more than digging out stuck trucks.

Gas mileage not much of an issue as I am light on both gas and brake pedals (excessive braking drops your gas mileage a lot, coasting more saves gas and brake pads). Every time I tell people what my mileage is , they can't believe it.

Have broke rear springs on last 1/2 ton I had, but that is separate issue from ice fishing.

Going with used truck as it is actually going to be used as a truck and I hate depreciation that new trucks have.

So in a nutshell how much more ice do you need to support a f 250 vs f150? Or more generally how much more ice for a 3/4 ton pickup vs 1/2 ton pickup ?

thanks

lakevet

Geez, dude, sounds like you don't really need our help at all.

FWIW, I drove a 1968 IH Travelall with a 345, 5-speed and positraction rear end that went places no 4x4 could go. I could walk faster than that vehicle could travel at 3,600 RPM in first gear. Wish I had that bad girl these days.

[lakevet]

Brings back alot of memories. My parents had a IH Travelall with the 345. Road salt eventually did it in. It would go thru a lot. I remember as a kid my Dad in the old Travelall flying down some snow packed old logging roads in december taking me grouse hunting, problem was that they were now used as snowmobile trails. Dad had grouse hunted back there long before it became a snowmobile trail. The sled heads were speechless when we we by. Wouldn't do it now and the snowmobilers back then got a chuckle out of it.

lakevet

[tipup]

I have always had 1/2 ton and it has never let me down. I have a buddy that has a black smoke Excursion and it is always me pulling his house out and sometimes in as there is a wieght concern with his big SUV. I would say for 90% of the general public sportsmen a 1/2 ton is the only way to go. And I would agree tires and driving skills have the most to do with weather you can go or not, seen plenty of people w/4x4 who need a pull out because they think that since they have 4x4 they can go anywhere!! Just my 0.02!

[Surface Tension]

A half ton truck frame with twist to the terrain keeping all 4 tires in equal contact with the ground.

Tires pressure is less then a 3/4 ton. Those two things will make a huge difference.

[fishersofmen]

Agreed tires, and mine are bald.