The shaft drive models seem to have a lower gearing and more torque, thats just my opinion though no proof of that. But it seems like it. Although i have owned a 250ES and it didn't seem to have the torque and towing ability that my 200ES does. I have pulled a lot of stuff with mine, from trees to cars, to trailers of all sorts. I use it to move trailers around all the time, if its to heavy i just toss this big air filled wheel on the tongue of the trailer, something i found in a farm supply store, it quick clamps on the tongue and takes the weight of the tongue then i just use the trike to pull it around like a three wheeled trailer. Its easily moved my 5x12 trailer loaded with junk.