2019 Ford F-550

You may see the family resemblance between the Ford F-550 and the brand's lesser F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks, but this is a much different beast than those heavy-duty pickups

The main distinction? The F-550 is offered strictly in chassis-cab form, meaning you get a two- or four-door cabin for you and your passengers, but before you can much work with the truck, you'll need to visit an upfitter to have some sort of body bolted to the back.

You'll see some F-550 models with a pickup bed, but more often these dual rear wheel chassis-cab models get turned into mini dumpers for landscaping companies or hydro utility trucks with a "cherry picker" lift to help line workers reach power lines.

The F-550 is all about utility, so its powertrain choices are geared toward torque rather than exciting performance. Standard power is from a 6.8L V10 engine that makes 288 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque, and the option is a 6.7L turbodiesel good for 330 hp and 750 lb-ft. You get a choice of two- or four-wheel drive, but a six-speed automatic transmission is the only one available.

Amenities in XL trim are pretty basic: there's air conditioning with manual controls, and diesel trucks get a supplemental electric cabin heater to get things warmed up while the engine comes up to temperature. The floors are vinyl, the steering wheel polyurethane and entertainment is limited to whatever AM or FM radio stations are available to play through the four-speaker stereo. The F-550 is also one of the only places you'll find a three-place front bench seat in a new vehicle.

XLT puts carpet on the floors (vinyl is an option, though) and adds a five- (regular cab) or seven-speaker (Super- and Crew Cab) stereo with satellite radio and the Sync infotainment system. Navigation is an option, too.

Lariat trim comes only in four-door Super- and Crew Cab configurations and brings niceties like dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals, a branded sound system with Sync 3 infotainment, leather upholstery and 10-way power front seats with heat and ventilation. If your crew really likes to live large, option your truck with front captain's chairs and heated rear seats.

Natural Resources Canada doesn't require automakers to publish fuel consumption estimates for commercial vehicles, so Ford doesn't provide any for the F-550. However, this truck comes standard with a 151L gas tank or, in diesel models, dual reservoirs that hold a combined 252L.