2011 Ford F-59 Super Duty Chassis
The revamped 2011 F-59 Super Duty commercial stripped chassis was introduced at the National Truck Equipment Association show in Chicago earlier this year.
More demanding commercial duties might better be undertaken with the revised F-59 Super Duty chassis. It's based on the current F-53 Super Duty motorhome underpinnings, but is made significantly stronger for commercial form and offers three new gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) for improved versatility. E-Series vehicles today feature a maximum 14,000 lbs GWVR rating, but the buffer F-59 Super Duty units can be ordered with 16,000 lbs; 19,500 lbs; or 22,000 lbs spec.
Pulling the load is the lineup's proven 6.8L Triton V-10 with five-speed automatic TorqShift gearbox. It's a five-year old combo, but still seems to do the job quite well, Ford claims. Bigger stabilizer bars along with smoother riding Bilstein shocks provide a suppler, yet capable, suspension setup. Additionally, variable-rate jounce bumpers were installed to further help dissipate road vibrations. Standard four-wheel ABS brings the whole package to a standstill confidently when the situation calls for it. Pricing has yet to be announced, but it's expected nearer to the platform's January 2010 introduction.