I suspect the rating on the F-250 has a lot to do with the 6.4L Powerstroke engine. They were very unreliable, very costly to repair and nothing at all like the previous 7.3L in terms of longevity.
That would explain it... I’ve also heard that they had trouble or messed up the diesels.
jw
“I suspect the rating on the F-250 has a lot to do with the 6.4L Powerstroke engine.”
I have the 7.3 in a 1996 E350 van. Runs like a top, lots of pep, and gets good mileage. They shouldn’t have changed. Probably the EPA made them.