Why a GASOLINE Ford F550?

The nuanced discourse (strong opinions!) surrounding the selection of chassis for overlanding rigs prompted our careful consideration before settling on the 2022 Ford F550 crew cab. The choice of a crew cab configuration was driven by our desire to facilitate collective travel for our family of four who share a genuine enjoyment of each other's company (weird, right?). Safety concerns further propelled our decision, and we considered the advancements in vehicle safety and the inadequacies of lap belts in many RVs.

Acquiring a new vehicle offered the opportunity to integrate factory upgrades, including a limited-slip axle, payload plus upgrade, and an extra-heavy-duty front-end suspension enhancement. Despite subsequently replacing the suspension with LiquidSpring (discussed later), this decision resulted in a heavier duty factory axle.

The decision to opt for a gasoline engine was informed by our aspiration to traverse global terrains (like South America!), including regions lacking Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). While an older diesel model was a conceivable option, the advantages of a new vehicle, coupled with a comparative analysis of specifications, revealed the viability of the 7.3L Godzilla V8 gas engine. The modest differentials in torque and horsepower, in addition to the gasoline engine's lighter weight (700 pounds), factored into our decision. Potential future towing needs, not exceeding 10,000 pounds, further justified the choice. We don’t have plans to tow anything - much less anything weighing over 10K.

Additional reasons for selecting a gasoline engine included its lower cost, absence of cold start issues, reduced maintenance expenses, more economical repairs not requiring a diesel mechanic, and the current cost advantage of gasoline.

Exploring the F650 as an alternative, we dismissed it due to the necessity of adding 4WD, its utilitarian cab design, and a higher cab roof height, which would compromise the comfort (height) of the cabover area intended for our daughters. The F550, with its refreshed cab design and modern aesthetics (touchscreen!), emerged as the superior choice despite tempting attributes of the F650 - especially the C-channel frame.

An essential component of our configuration is the adoption of LiquidSpring suspension, addressing the deficiencies of the stock spring pack's stiffness. The stock spring pack has ONE inch of deflection from 0-12,000 lbs - that is stiff. LiquidSpring offers dynamic spring rate adjustments, as swift as 40 milliseconds, providing superior control over body roll, especially on uneven surfaces. Its capability to raise and lower by 4 inches, along with the imminent self-leveling feature (Jake would like to add this at some point), enhances the overall driving experience.

Anyway, that is why we went with the 2022 gasoline F550 crew cab with LiquidSpring.  I hope that our reasons at least helped inform your own decisions and whichever way you decided to go – good luck!!  Please leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts or questions – I am sure that there is a lot I missed!