A truck can be an amazing vehicle for getting a lot of work done, and the right pickup is the cornerstone of many industries. Something like the Ford F-150 can be the perfect option for carpenters, plumbers, painters, and a lot of other people in trades. But for a professional vehicle that can handle more work, or serve as a platform to build upon and really customize, then you need something else. That’s when the 2021 Ford Chassis Cab models really show off what they can do.
But is one of these trucks, with its incredible size and power, the right option for you and your business? That’s a tough question to answer, and it ultimately will come down to what you’re looking for and need from a truck. Unfortunately, I can’t really answer that for you – but I can give you some information to help you understand what a chassis cab has to offer.
What is the 2021 Ford Chassis Cab?
Before I get into all the specifics and details about the 2021 Ford Chassis Cab and what it can do, let’s take a moment to talk about what it is exactly. Because the Chassis Cab, or Super Duty Chassis Cab as you’ll also see it called, isn’t just like other trucks from Ford, like the F-150 or Ranger. This is an important distinction because it will have a huge impact on whether something like the Chassis Cab is the right option for you.
Essentially, the 2021 Ford Chassis Cab is a Super Duty model that only comes with the front cab and the rear frame. There’s no bed or box behind the cab like you see with a standard F-150 or F-Series Super Duty pickup. This open frame gives you a platform to build upon with the upfit of your choosing – so you can customize it to be exactly the right model for what you need.
So if you’re looking to start a landscaping business and you want to have a truck with a massive dump bin on the rear for hauling soil and compost, or loading up with debris when you’re clearing out a site, then you can get a Ford Chassis Cab and have a bin installed onto it. Similarly, a lot of electricians and people in similar trades will upfit a Chassis Cab with numerous compartments for storing tools and equipment that’s more specialized than tossing everything into the bed of a Ford F-150. There are limits to how much weight and size a Chassis Cab can handle, but otherwise, it gives you tremendous potential for customization.
Ford Chassis Cab Model Options
There are four different models of 2021 Ford Chassis Cabs available, each providing you with a different amount of towing capacity and support for upfit weight. Some of these also have trim restrictions on them, as well as some limits for customization, such as having only certain sizes of cabs available on them. Overall, however, there are a lot of options to choose from.
The Ford Chassis Cab starts with an F-350 model, similar in performance to the standard Ford F-350 Super Duty, but without the rear box or bed. An F-350 Chassis Cab can have up to 17,500 lbs of conventional towing capacity, up to 24,700 lbs of 5th-wheel towing capacity, and a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of up to 16,500 lbs with dual-rear wheels. There’s also an F-450 model available, which offers up to 17,500 lbs of conventional towing, up to 26,600 lbs of 5th-wheel towing, and a GVWR of up to 16,500 lbs.
If you need something even more powerful, then there’s a Ford F-550 Chassis Cab available, which can handle up to 18,500 lbs of conventional towing, up to 31,600 lbs of 5th-wheel towing, and has a GVWR of up to 19,500 lbs. Finally, the 2021 F-600 Chassis Cab also offers up to 18,500 lbs of conventional towing, with up to 34,500 lbs of 5th-wheel towing, and a maximum GVWR of up to 22,000 lbs. As you can see, the difference in conventional towing between these four isn’t huge, but there are significant improvements in 5th-wheel towing and the amount of weight you can load onto them.
Different Engine Options
Three engines are offered on the various 2021 Ford Chassis Cab models, though there are some restrictions on which ones can utilize certain engines. The F-350 Chassis Cab starts with a 6.2L V8 engine that delivers up to 385 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. A 7.3L V8 engine is available for the F-350, though it comes standard on the other models, and it provides up to 350 hp and up to 468 lb-ft of torque. If you’re interested in one of these models, then it’s worth noting which engine it comes with.
All four models have an available 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel engine if that’s something you’re interested in, which provides up to 330 hp and a massive 825 lb-ft of torque for truly incredible performance. This thing is an absolute beast and really works well even under tough conditions. Of course, if a standard gas engine is a better option for what you need, then either of the other two choices is a terrific pick.
Ford Chassis Cab or Conventional Pickup?
As I said before, I can’t tell you precisely which truck is right for you or your business because I don’t know your specific needs, and that is ultimately what’s going to decide which truck is right for you. What you need from a pickup and how much you want to customize your work truck are the deciding factors here. I can, however, provide you with some final points to help give you a sense of which sort of truck is right for you.
Perhaps the easiest thing to consider is what kind of design you want, what sort of style would really work best for you. If a standard truck with a bed or box behind the cab is definitely what would work well for you or your business, then that’s probably the right call. Depending on the sort of power and performance you need, consider either the standard Ford F-150 or one of the Super Duty options: the F-250 and F-350. Any of these three trucks are a great choice for a workhorse that keeps going all week long and can really help you get your work done.
However, if that kind of design just isn’t right or would only sort of work and leave you wishing you had something else to use, then perhaps a Ford Chassis Cab is the right option. The freedom provided by this type of truck, to be able to install or build the right upfit onto its open platform, really lets you customize it to perfectly meet your needs. Work trucks in a company fleet often include at least one chassis cab model since you can then have standard pickups for certain uses and a Super Duty truck with a massive dump bin or crane and bucket for specific jobs where you need just the right equipment.
Need More Help?
There’s only so much I can do to help you figure out which sort of truck is right for you. And this is really more of a general introduction to what the 2021 Ford Chassis Cab has to offer, rather than a buyer’s guide to tell you which to choose. So if you still have questions and you could use more help, then your best bet is to head to your local Ford dealership, and they’ll work with you to find just the right truck to meet your needs.
