Body and Frame: Description and Operation

Body

WARNING:
- Collision damage repair must conform to the instructions contained in this workshop manual. Replacement components must be new, genuine Ford Motor Company parts. Recycled, salvaged, aftermarket or reconditioned parts (including body parts, wheels or safety restraint components) are not authorized by Ford.
- Departure from the instructions provided in this manual, including alternate repair methods or the use of substitute components, risks compromising crash safety. Failure to follow these instructions may adversely affect structural integrity and crash safety performance, which could result in serious personal injury to vehicle occupants in a crash.

The body consists of the following:
- Body on frame design, front frame section constructed of hydro-formed rails
- Cab-forward design
- Unique front structure constructed of hydro-formed, High-Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) 350 steel rails
- A-pillar and cowl side structure integrated with new front structure rails
- Magnesium upper radiator support
- HSLA steel lower radiator support
- Lightweight steel welded panel construction
- Bolted, removable front fenders, hinged doors, tailgate and hood
- A standard 2-door regular cab or optional 4-door SuperCab and 4-door Crew Cab
- Standard 1.98 m (6.5 ft) or optional 2.44 m (8 ft) pickup bed length
- 2.44 m (8 ft) and 1.98 m (6.5 ft) pickup beds available with optional Dual Rear Wheels (DRW) configuration
- DRW pickup box fender flair constructed of polyurethane Reinforced Reaction Injection-Mold Material (RRIM)
- Hood and front fenders constructed of dent resistant high-strength steel
- F-250/450 pickup(s) available with the following wheelbase lengths. Pickups are configured on wide frame platform except as indicated:
- 3,480 mm (137 in) F-250/350 regular cab, long box
- 3,607 mm (142 in) F-250/350 SuperCab, short box
- 3,962 mm (156 in) F-250/350 Crew Cab, short box
- 4,014 mm (158 in) F-250/350 SuperCab, long box
- 4,369 mm (172 in) F-250/350 Crew Cab, long box
- 4,470 mm (176 in) F-450 Crew Cab, narrow frame

- F-350-550 chassis cab(s) available with the following wheelbase lengths:
- 3,581 mm (141 in) F-350/450 chassis cab, narrow frame
- 4,115 mm (162 in) F-350/550 chassis cab, narrow frame
- 4,191 mm (165 in) F-350/550 chassis cab, narrow frame
- 4,470 mm (176 in) F-350/550 chassis cab, narrow frame
- 4,795 mm (189 in) F-350/550 chassis cab, narrow frame
- 5,085 mm (200 in) F-450/550 chassis cab, narrow frame
- 5,105 mm (201 in) F-450/550 chassis cab, narrow frame

- Bolt on front and rear bumpers
- Optional flexgate tailgate with integrated pull-out step
- Structural adhesive used in roof reinforcements, cab back panel and pickup box wheelhouse outer-to-inner panel
- Sound deadener material applied to floor pan(s)
- Pickups available with Tough Bed(R) liner material

The Tough Bed(R) liner material has special service requirements. If repairs are required, refer to Pickup Bed Side Panel in this section.

For dimensional information, refer to the following illustrations.