The 2018 Ford F-550 offers all the power and capability you'd expect from a Super Duty full-size pickup, but with the additional versatility of a chassis cab to tailor the vehicle to your specific requirements.
2018 Ford F-550
Why Buy the Ford F-550?
If you want all the power and capability in the world with the comfort and convenience of the F-Series, but you want to configure your vehicle to suit your own unique requirements for a specialized task, that's where the F-550 comes in.
The Ford can handle just about any towing or hauling task you care to assign it, but the chassis cab format means the F-550 can be upfitted for any job, no matter how specific or how specialized. Whether you want a flat bed, a pickup, a recovery tow truck, or even a fire engine, the F-550 can be tailored to fit.
Which F-550 Should I Buy?
You should buy the F-550 that best meets your specific needs, but the truck you order from the factory is really just the starting point. That's why there are fewer options here with the F-550 than there are with smaller, less capable trucks that are designed to be used pretty much as they are.
The Ford F-550 comes in just three trim levels: XL, XLT and Lariat. All models come with dual rear-wheels, with options like Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cabs, a choice of two or four-wheel drive, and a choice of a diesel or a gas V-8 engine. Once you chosen from those basics, much of the rest is up to you and your upfitter.
What Can an F-550 Tow?
You'll find a lot of different towing and hauling maximum ratings for the F-550, depending on the cab, wheelbase, and drivetrain you choose. So, a 4x4 Regular Cab with a 145.3-inch wheelbase has a maximum payload of 11,960 pounds, but a 4x2 SuperCab with a 167.9-inch wheelbase is rated at 12,540 pounds.
But as far as the maximum tow capacity of the F-550 is concerned, a properly configured 4x2 Regular Cab with the 6.7-liter turbodiesel is the way to go with a ratings as high as 31,800 pounds.
How Can an F-550 Be Upfitted?
Only a handful of things can restrict how the F-550 can be upfitted: the maximum weight ratings, your imagination, and your budget. Other than that, the chassis cab format of the F-550 means it can really be anything you want it to be.
The thing is, you don't buy an F-550, or any chassis cab to be honest, and then think about what you can do with it. These vehicles are bought because buyers have a very specific requirement for a vehicle that can't be ordered straight from the truck manufacturer. You might want a secure mobile workshop, a moving corporate display unit, a fire-truck, a low-loader, a crane, or anything else. As long as it fits within the weight and size limits, the F-550 can be that vehicle.