Ford announced it is re-entering a critical commercial vehicle market with the 2011 F-59 Super Duty commercial stripped chassis, unveiled this week at the National Truck Equipment Association Work Truck Show.

"The F-59 Super Duty chassis brings significant Ford commercial vehicle expertise to a unique commercial segment," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "These three new offerings expand our stripped chassis portfolio, helping more customers address their task-specific applications."

The 2011 F-59 Super Duty commercial stripped chassis is based on a ladder-type, single channel frame constructed from 36,000 pounds per square inch steel. This solid foundation is available in 158-, 178- and 208-inch wheelbase lengths, at respective 16,000, 19,500 and 22,000 pound Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR).

These size and cargo capabilities allow body manufacturers and operators to tailor the
F-59 stripped chassis to specific application and subsequent needs. This chassis will be ideal for multi-stop couriers and expeditors, linen and commercial laundry services, printed media delivery, carpet delivery and installation, parcel portage, mobile machine shops, portable medical units and food/beverage delivery, among others.

The F-59 Super Duty commercial stripped chassis is powered by the 6.8-liter, three-valve per cylinder, Triton V-10 gasoline powered engine, delivering 362 horsepower and 457 pounds-feet. of torque. This advanced engine features a single overhead camshaft and electronic fuel injection for responsive power and precise fuel metering for enhanced fuel economy. It also meets all applicable 2012 emissions standards.

The Triton V-10 engine is mated to the TorqShift five-speed automatic overdrive transmission. Developed specifically for service in tough, commercial truck duty cycles, the TorqShift transmission features a rugged torque converter and large capacity fluid pump for optimized cooling and durability. A fifth-gear overdrive ratio of 0.71 enhances overall vehicle efficiency while use of a low-viscosity transmission fluid helps improve fuel economy.

The TorqShift transmission also features the Ford exclusive tow-haul mode to delay upshifts and help reduce the frequency of "gear hunting" when under extreme loads. This mode also allows engine braking in all forward gears when the transmission selector is in the 'D" position. The Dana rear axles feature "lubed for life" synthetic lubrication for reduced maintenance and a 5.38 to 1 final drive ratio for enhanced pulling power.

The robust F-59 frame is supported by a rugged suspension system, developed to F-Series Super Duty toughness standards, while providing both operator and cargo with a smooth ride. Developed from the successful F-53 motor home platform, the F-59 dramatically expands the Ford portfolio of stripped commercial chassis above 14,500 GVWR.

The monobeam front axle has an 8,000 pound capacity. It's located by a pair of 63-inch taper-leaf springs and premium gas-pressurized Bilstein® shock absorbers and a sturdy stabilizer bar. The 22,000 GVWR chassis also is equipped with heavy-duty front track bar - unique to Ford -that contributes to enhanced steering, ride and vehicle handling.

Low operator step-in and an optimized H-point make for easy ingress and egress. Drivers are provided with a full complement of gauges including speedometer, tachometer, trip odometer, oil pressure, engine hour meter, coolant temperature, fuel and transmission temperature gauges. A message center with outside air temperature, distance to empty and average fuel consumption is also included.