Once you outgrow a one-ton, the two chassis we get asked about most are the Ford F-600 and the Ram 5500. They look similar on paper and they are not. Choosing between them comes down to how much you actually need to carry, whether your drivers hold a CDL, and how tight the sites you work on are.

The headline difference: GVWR and licensing

Spec	Ford F-600	Ram 5500
GVWR range	22,000 lb	19,500 lb
Typical payload (chassis)	12,000–14,000 lb	10,000–12,500 lb
Cab & chassis CA lengths	60″, 84″, 108″, 120″	60″, 84″, 108″, 120″
Wheel size	19.5″	19.5″
Non-CDL friendly	Under 26,001 lb combined — yes	Under 26,001 lb combined — yes

The F-600 gives you a 22,000 lb GVWR on a chassis that still drives much like an F-550. The Ram 5500 tops out lower but has a meaningfully tighter turning radius, which real crews notice every single day on residential and downtown jobs. Both stay under the 26,001 lb threshold that triggers a CDL when solo, but watch your combined rating once a trailer is behind you.

Pick the F-600 if…

• You mount a service crane over about 6,000 lb of capacity.
• You run a lube truck, a fuel/lube body, or a large mechanics body with a compressor and welder.
• You want headroom on GVWR so you never worry about a scale ticket.
• Your fleet is already Ford and you want one parts and service relationship.

Pick the Ram 5500 if…

• You work in tight urban or residential areas — the turning circle is the best in the class.
• Your load is under about 10,000 lb and you want the better daily driving experience.
• You value the Cummins drivetrain and its long-haul service reputation.
• You want the lower purchase price of the two in most spec comparisons.

Bodies that go on either chassis

Both accept the same body classes; what changes is what you can safely put in them.

• RKI mechanics and service bodies — 11 to 14 foot bodies built in Houston, ideal for a crane build with local support.
• Crane bodies — the F-600 is the safer chassis for anything above a 6,000 lb crane once you add outriggers and a compressor.
• Norstar and Pronghorn flatbeds and hay beds in 11′ and longer for medium-duty chassis.

CA length guidance for medium duty

• 84″ CA — 11′ service or flatbed body. Most common medium-duty spec.
• 108″ CA — 12′ to 14′ body. Mechanics trucks with cranes and compressors.
• 120″ CA — 14’+ body. Lube trucks and large-capacity crane builds.

Our take

If the truck is a mechanics or crane truck, buy the F-600 and stop worrying about weight. If it is a service or flatbed truck that has to live in traffic and driveways, the Ram 5500 is the better daily machine. Either way, spec the body before you order the chassis so the CA length is right the first time.

Talk to Someone Who Installs These Every Week

We install medium-duty bodies on both chassis every month. We stock, spec, and install these bodies at our shop in Wharton, TX, and we serve buyers across Texas and Louisiana. Call us to discuss which is right for your truck — we’ll go over cab-to-axle, wheel configuration, hitch rating, and total installed cost before you commit.

📞 Call (979) 532-1486 — Star Truck Equipment, 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488. Most in-stock bodies are installed in one business day.