Despite its size and practicality, the Ford F-150 is classed as a “light-duty” half-ton class truck. This isn’t a label Ford slapped on there; it’s actually a government specification. The F-150’s gross vehicle weight rating is under 8,500 pounds, hence its designation. The F-250, on the other hand, is above that threshold and classed as a three-quarter ton, heavy-duty truck.

The differences go far beyond classification. The F-150 is far more practical for everyday life and can provide a more comfortable and stable ride at highway speeds. It’s also smaller and less of a pain to drive around cities. Although fuel economy is probably low on the list of priorities for truck owners, it is more efficient than the F-250. The smaller truck is packing some variety of eco-boost V6, while the F-250 will likely have a large V8 PowerStroke engine.

At the top end, the F250 has a 6.7-liter engine capable of producing 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-foot of torque. The best an F-150 can manage is a high-output eco boost that can almost match the horsepower of the F-250 but only packs around half the torque.

Where the F-250 excels is on the job. It is a larger vehicle with more torque, horsepower, and robust suspension. As a result, it can tow more and handle a larger payload than its little brother. F-150 owners know their vehicle is pretty handy when it comes to hauling and carrying things — so the F-250 is likely overkill for the majority of drivers.