The Ford F-600 is Ford’s medium-duty commercial platform — sitting above the F-550 and targeting buyers who need higher GVWR ratings for heavier truck body applications. The F-600 fills a gap for contractors, oilfield operators, and commercial fleet buyers who need more payload than an F-550 but don’t want to jump to a full Class 6 or 7 truck.
At Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we upfit Ford F-600 chassis cabs with flatbeds, service bodies, crane bodies, and more from top brands including CM, Norstar, STI, and RKI.
Ford F-600 Specs: What Sets It Apart
| Spec | Ford F-600 | Ford F-550 (comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| GVWR | Up to 22,000 lb | Up to 19,500 lb |
| Payload | ~12,500–14,000 lb | ~9,000–11,000 lb |
| Engine | 7.3L Godzilla Gas or 6.7L Power Stroke Diesel | 7.3L Gas or 6.7L Diesel |
| Rear Axle | Dual rear wheel (DRW) | Dual rear wheel (DRW) |
| CA Lengths | 60″, 84″, 108″, 132″, 168″ | 60″, 84″, 108″, 132″ |
| Frame | Higher-strength steel, upgraded over F-550 | Standard Super Duty frame |
| Best For | Heavy crane bodies, dump bodies, heavy service | Standard service bodies, flatbeds, moderate crane |
The F-600’s key advantage over the F-550 is the dramatically higher payload rating — nearly 3,000 lb more. This matters most when mounting heavier crane assemblies, full mechanics truck bodies with large cranes, or running fully loaded service bodies with maximum tool and equipment weight.
Ford F-600 Cab-to-Axle (CA) Measurements
The Ford F-600 is offered in a wider range of CA lengths than the F-550, giving body upfitters more flexibility for longer body configurations:
- 60″ CA — Compact service and utility bodies, 7–9 ft flatbeds. Fits in tighter urban environments.
- 84″ CA — The most popular CA for most truck body applications. Accommodates 9–12 ft flatbeds, service bodies, and standard crane bodies.
- 108″ CA — For longer flatbeds (12–16 ft), extended service bodies, and large crane body platforms.
- 132″ CA — Heavy crane body + large crane combinations. Popular for oilfield and pipeline crane truck builds.
- 168″ CA — Maximum CA, available on the F-600. Used for specialty long-reach body applications, extended dump bodies, and flatbeds 18 ft and longer.
Best Flatbeds for Ford F-600
The F-600’s higher GVWR and available long CA lengths make it an excellent flatbed platform for heavy payload work — particularly gooseneck towing and heavy ranch or construction use:
- CM Truck Beds — RD and ER Flatbeds — CM’s heavy-duty steel flatbed platforms. The CM RD model (with hay rails and headache rack) is popular on F-600 chassis cabs for ranch and ag work. Available in lengths from 9 ft to 16 ft.
- Norstar SD and AM Flatbeds — Heavy-gauge steel construction. Norstar AM flatbeds are available in longer configurations that take advantage of the F-600’s extended CA options. Strong choice for oilfield and pipeline hauling.
- Bedrock Granite Series Flatbed — Powder-coated steel, bolt-together construction. The Bedrock Granite’s heavier construction suits the F-600’s payload ratings well.
Best Service Bodies for Ford F-600
The F-600’s higher payload capacity makes it the right chassis when your service body will be heavily loaded with tools, equipment, and materials:
- STI Service Bodies — Heavy-duty service body construction rated for the F-600’s payload. Multiple compartment configurations for oilfield, utility, and construction applications. Available with lube and fuel service options.
- RKI Service Bodies — Houston-made, heavy-duty steel construction. RKI builds service bodies that can handle the F-600’s full payload capacity without flexing or fatigue. Competitive pricing with local manufacturing lead times.
Best Crane Bodies for Ford F-600
This is where the Ford F-600 really shines. The extra payload capacity over the F-550 means you can mount a larger crane without eating into your tool storage and material-hauling capacity:
- STI Crane Bodies with Tiger Cranes — The top combination for heavy crane truck builds in Texas. STI crane bodies are purpose-engineered for Tiger Crane integration, with reinforced subframes and outrigger mounts. On an F-600 108″ or 132″ CA, you can spec a 20,000+ lb-capacity crane with full tool storage — something that would exceed the F-550’s payload ratings.
- RKI Crane Bodies — Houston-made crane body platform. Good fit for F-600 applications where a mid-size crane (10,000–15,000 lb capacity) plus service storage is required.
Ford F-600 vs F-550: Should You Upgrade?
The F-600 commands a price premium over the F-550. Here’s when the upgrade is worth it:
- Upgrade to F-600 if: You’re mounting a large crane (20,000+ lb capacity), running a fully loaded mechanics truck or lube truck, hauling maximum payload on a long flatbed, or need the 132″ or 168″ CA options.
- Stay with F-550 if: Your crane body application uses a mid-size crane under 15,000 lb capacity, you’re running a standard 9–12 ft service body, or you’re primarily using the truck for flatbed and gooseneck towing at moderate payloads.
Build Your Ford F-600 Work Truck in Wharton, TX
Star Truck Equipment is your South Texas source for Ford F-600 chassis cab upfitting. We install flatbeds, service bodies, crane bodies, and mechanics truck bodies on Ford F-600 platforms at our Wharton facility.
Call us at (979) 532-1486 to discuss your F-600 build, get a quote, and schedule installation. We’ll help you spec the right body for your chassis, your payload requirements, and your work.