Commercial vehicles are definitely not for everyone. Most people are completely fine driving something like the Ford F-150 and will find the power and performance such a truck provides more than sufficient for everything they need. But some folks, and particularly businesses in the construction, delivery, and utility industries, require something with greater power or more flexibility than the standard F-Series trucks can provide. That’s when the 2021 Ford commercial vehicles come into play, and they are well worth the investment.
But do you really need one of these specialized pickups for your business? And if so, which one should you be looking at? Or maybe you’re not even interested in one of these trucks for a company, and you just want to know more about what’s out there – completely understandable. Either way, let’s take a look at the Ford commercial vehicles available right now, particularly the two shining stars of the F-Series and see what they have to offer.
I can’t necessarily tell you which one might be right for you or your business, but I can at least give you a brief breakdown of what’s offered.
2021 Ford F-650
Both the Ford F-650 and F-750 are chassis cab models, which means they have a cab with a frame behind it that you can build upon. This is a major reason why these are primarily commercial vehicles and not designed for general consumer sales. Such an open platform design is perfect for a business, as it lets you customize these trucks to be exactly what you need. If you just need a large, flat bed, then you can do that; but if you are looking to build a long delivery vehicle out of it or have storage for supplies and tools, then you can do that too.
The Ford F-650 is available in a few different versions, so let’s take a look at each of them:
- F-650 SD Gas Pro Loader – The first of two gas-engine versions of the Ford F-650, this model features an impressive 7.3L V8 gas engine that is perfect for handling large and heavy loads. The Pro Loader models of the F-650 are designed with a lower kick-up frame that makes them easy to load. There is a distance of 33.3 inches from the ground to the top of the frame on the Pro Loader model, so they are perfect for vehicles like ambulances, where you need to be able to get in and out of the back of it easily.
- F-650 SD Diesel Pro Loader – This is a similar model to the first one, but it features a diesel engine rather than a gas one. This is a 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel tuned between 270 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque or 330 hp and 750 lb-ft of torque, depending on what kind of power you need. This is a Pro Loader model with the same kick-up frame that is lower to the ground at the top, just with a diesel engine.
- F-650 SD Gas Straight Frame – You can also choose the same 7.3L V8 gas engine in a straight frame model, rather than a kick-up frame that the Pro Loader version features. This frame measures 38 inches from the ground to the top of it, which you can see is nearly 5 inches higher than the Pro Loader. While that can make it a bit harder to get in and out of the back, it makes it ideal for loading docks and similar setups.
- F-650 SD Diesel Straight Frame – Just like the Pro Loader models, you can get the Straight Frame version of the F-650 with either the gas engine or the 6.7L V8 Turbo Diesel engine, tuned for the level of performance you want. With these four different options, you can get the perfect combination of frame height and engine.
- F-650 SD Diesel Tractor – Finally, there is a tractor frame model available for the Ford F-650, featuring the powerful Turbo Diesel engine for really impressive performance. The Tractor model comes with an air brake system and an engine exhaust brake standard, with available rear air suspension and additional front fender-mounted mirrors for optimal visibility. And with an available Driver Assist Technology Package, you can get safety features like automatic emergency braking and a lane departure warning.
So if you are interested in the Ford F-650, you have a lot of possible configurations available.
2021 Ford F-750
Much like the Ford F-650, the F-750 has several different configurations to choose from, though you’ll likely notice there are a few missing compared to the F-650. There are no Pro Loader models for the F-750, only Straight Frame ones. So these are not quite as ideal for something like an ambulance and are designed more for heavy delivery vehicles and similar applications.
- F-750 SD Gas Straight Frame – If you are interested in an F-750 model with a standard gas engine, then this is the way to go. It features a 7.3L V8 engine, much like the F-650, with impressive power and performance and a huge displacement. There’s also an available CNG/Propane Gaseous Engine Prep Package, which is perfect if you’re interested in using compressed natural gas or propane with your engine. Although this certainly isn’t for everyone, it’s a great option to see.
- F-750 SD Diesel Straight Frame – The first of two choices for a diesel engine, this model features the same 6.7L V8 Turbo Diesel as the F-650 and lets you choose from three different amounts of horsepower and torque. From 270 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque to 330 hp and 750 lb-ft of torque, you have the freedom to get the amount of power you really need.
- F-750 SD Diesel Tractor – Finally, much like the F-650, there’s a Tractor frame model available for very large vehicles. Just like with the F-650, the F-750 SD Diesel Tractor model features a standard air brake system and engine exhaust brake, with a rear air suspension and numerous safety features available. You don’t tend to see a lot of extra safety features on many commercial vehicles, so seeing them from Ford is very nice.
As you can see, there are two fewer models for the F-750 than the F-650, so that’s an important consideration to keep in mind when looking at your options. If you want a kick-up frame model, then the F-650 Pro Loader is going to be the way to go; but if a straight frame works for you, then you have a bit more flexibility.
GVWRs by Model and Engine
One final thing to consider, which I didn’t mention earlier, is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on these different models. Listing them with each one would’ve made it difficult to compare them, so let’s take a quick look at the minimum and maximum GVWRs for each of these models and configurations:
- F-650 Pro Loader Gas: 22,000/26,000
- F-650 Pro Loader Diesel: 22,000/26,000
- F-650 Straight Frame Gas: 26,000/29,000
- F-650 Straight Frame Diesel: 26,000/29,000
- F-650 Tractor Diesel: 27,500/29,000
- F-750 Straight Frame Gas: 31,000/33,000
- F-750 Straight Frame Diesel: 31,000/37,000
- F-750 Tractor Diesel: 31,000/37,000
So, as you can see, Most of the models are pretty similar regardless of engine, though there are a few things to point out. The Pro Loader models of the F-650 can give you a higher GVWR with the gas engine if you are looking at the lowest possible maximum but the same amount at the greatest maximum. With the F-650 Straight Frame models, however, the numbers are identical. The F-750 has a higher GVWR across the board on every model, and its minimum value is greater than any of the F-650 maximum values, which shows you just how much weight they can handle. And finally, diesel engines for the F-750 yield the greatest possible GVWR for these Super Duty trucks.
No matter which 2021 Ford commercial vehicles you’re interested in, it’s definitely worth taking the time to look at the specs, numbers, and possible configurations to understand your options. Then reach out to a Ford Commercial Vehicle Center to learn more and find the right truck for your fleet.
