What type of truck is a Ford F-550?
The Ford F-550 is a heavy-duty commercial pickup truck in Ford’s Super Duty family, designed for towing and payload work. It is most commonly configured as a cab‑and‑chassis or dual‑rear‑wheel work truck, rather than a standard consumer pickup.
Classification and purpose
The F-550 sits at the lower end of Ford's Super Duty lineup and is marketed as a vocational, medium‑duty vehicle. It blends a robust chassis with strong towing and payload capacities, making it a staple for fleets, contractors, and emergency and utility services that require a durable platform for upfits.
Configurations and body styles
Cab-and-chassis and upfits
Most F-550s sold to fleets are cab‑and‑chassis configurations designed to accept aftermarket bodies such as service fleets, bucket/truck bodies, boxes, or ambulances. It is also available as regular or crew cab with single or dual rear wheels to match payload goals.
Wheels, payload, and GVWR
GVWR is typically around 19,500 pounds, with variations depending on cab style, wheel configuration, and upfit requirements. The dual‑rear‑wheel setup is common for higher payload needs and added stability when carrying heavy loads.
Powertrains and performance
Engine options
Ford offers a gasoline V8 option (commonly a 7.3-liter unit) and a diesel V8 (the 6.7-liter Power Stroke) for the F‑550. These engines are tuned for high torque output to support towing and payload tasks and are paired with Ford’s heavy‑duty automatic transmissions.
Drivetrain configurations
Users can choose between 4x2 and 4x4 drive, and single rear wheel or dual rear wheel configurations, depending on the application and regional regulations. The DRW option helps with stability and payload capacity for heavy work.
Use cases and applications
The F‑550's rugged design and upfit flexibility make it a go‑to choice for vocational fleets. It is widely used in towing, hauling, and specialized trades, including utility services, emergency response, and mobile workshops.
Common configurations include cab‑and‑chassis trucks fitted with service bodies, bucket trucks, dump bodies, flatbeds, refrigerated units, and ambulances, among others.
- Cab‑and‑chassis upfits for service bodies, utility trucks, and emergency vehicles
- Dump trucks and platform or flatbed configurations
- Tow trucks, wreckers, and recovery vehicles
- Flatbed and box trucks for material transport
- Refrigerated and specialized transport configurations
These variants illustrate the F-550’s versatility as a platform for fleets requiring a durable chassis capable of supporting a wide range of professional bodies and tools.
Summary
The Ford F-550 is a heavy‑duty commercial pickup in Ford’s Super Duty family, designed for high payload and towing capabilities. It offers cab‑and‑chassis and dual‑rear‑wheel configurations, with gasoline and diesel engine options and multiple upfit possibilities, making it a staple for vocational fleets and specialized services.
What type of vehicle is a Ford F-550?
The Ford Super Duty F-550 is a versatile and capable commercial truck that is well-suited for a wide range of industries and applications.
What's the difference between an F 450 and an F-550?
The main difference is that the F-450 is available as a pickup truck or a chassis cab, while the F-550 is only offered as a chassis cab. This means the F-450 pickup has a higher maximum towing capacity, while the F-550 is built for higher payload capacities due to its heavier-duty components like its frame and axle ratings, making it better suited for applications like dump trucks, tow trucks, or buses.
This video highlights the differences in frame and springs between the F450, F550, and F600: 0:59BTBRVInstagram · Jul 9, 2023
| Feature | F-450 | F-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Pickup truck or chassis cab | Chassis cab only |
| Payload Capacity | Lower for pickup; up to 14,000 lbs for 2025 pickup model | Higher for chassis cab; up to 12,750 lbs for 2022 chassis cab model |
| Towing Capacity | Higher for pickup truck; up to 34,300 lbs with a 6.7L diesel engine | Lower for chassis cab than F-450 pickup. For 2022, it's 31,600 pounds, but can vary by configuration. |
| Primary Use | General towing and hauling needs | Heavier work applications like dump trucks, buses, or tow trucks |
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Key differences in detail
- Configuration: The most significant difference is availability. The F-450 offers the versatility of a pickup, while the F-550 is a work-focused chassis cab that serves as a base for commercial upfits like dump bodies.
- Payload: The F-550 is built for heavier loads. Its frame, axle, and GVWR are designed for higher payload capacity compared to the F-450 pickup, making it the preferred choice for applications where the truck's body is a significant part of the weight.
- Towing: The F-450 pickup typically boasts higher towing numbers, especially when equipped with a gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitch, due to its lighter chassis compared to the F-550's chassis-cab-only setup.
- Components: While both trucks share the same engine options, the F-550 has beefier components like its rear axle and frame to handle its higher payload rating.
- D-Tuning: F-550 chassis cabs are often "d-tuned" (engine power is limited) to reduce stress on the drivetrain, further prioritizing durability and longevity for heavy work over maximum power.
- Suspension: The F-450 pickup and F-450/F-550 chassis cabs have different rear suspension setups. The chassis cab versions use a stiffer, more robust spring pack designed to minimize bouncing under heavy loads, which contributes to their higher payload capacity but results in a less comfortable ride.
What is a Ford F-550 classified as?
A Ford F-550 is classified as a Class 5 medium-duty truck because its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) typically ranges from 16,001 to 19,500 pounds. This classification places it between the light-duty F-Series Super Duty pickups and the heavier F-650 and F-750 trucks. The classification is determined by its weight and is used for regulatory and tax purposes, with common uses including service trucks, box trucks, and small dump trucks.
- Class 5 Classification: The F-550 falls into the Class 5 category, which has a GVWR of 16,001–19,500 pounds.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): This is the maximum operating weight of the F-550, including all its features, passengers, and cargo.
- Medium-Duty Truck: This label indicates it is a heavy-duty vehicle, but not as large or heavy as the Class 6, 7, or 8 "heavy-duty" trucks.
- Common Uses: Its classification is suitable for applications such as service trucks, chassis-cab trucks, and small dump trucks, making it a popular choice for commercial and municipal uses.
Is a F-550 a CDL truck?
How Does “Under CDL” Differ? Under CDL allows the driver to drive a commercial vehicle with a gross weight of less than 26,000 pounds. The most common vehicles that are under CDL are as follows: SUVs, cars, vans. Dodge Ram and Ford F550 are recognized as under CDL.
