Used Ford F-650 and F-750 for Sale: Which One Fits Your Job?

When you’re comparing Used Ford F-650 and F-750 trucks, you are not shopping a “bigger pickup.” You are shopping a medium-duty tool—built to carry weight, run PTO-driven gear, and survive real job-site abuse. So the real question is not just “F-650 vs F-750.” It’s which spec keeps you legal, profitable, and out of the shop while still matching your payload, body, and route.

Below is a straight, work-focused breakdown of what changes between the two, what the numbers actually say, and how drivers talk about them when it’s their money on the line.

Quick spec reality: what you’re actually buying

At a high level, both trucks sit in the Ford Super Duty medium-duty world with configurations that typically span 22,000–37,000 lbs GVWR depending on how they’re set up.

On current-model trucks, Ford lists these engine options for the F-650/F-750 lineup:

7.3L gas V8 rated at 335 hp / 468 lb-ft
6.7L Power Stroke diesel V8 rated at 330 hp / 850 lb-ft

And that leads to the first practical rule:

If the body and GVWR push you over CDL thresholds, the “best deal” can become a paperwork problem. FMCSA’s CDL definition includes vehicles with GVWR/GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more (and other criteria depending on configuration and use).

F-650 vs F-750 in plain terms

Choose the F-650 when…

The F-650 is typically the more comfortable fit when you want medium-duty strength without automatically living at the top of the weight class.

It makes sense for:

16–26 ft box/straight truck builds (local delivery, regional work)
Landscaping / equipment hauling where payload is real but not extreme
Tow and recovery setups where chassis strength matters, but you’re not maxing GVWR every day
Municipal / contractor rigs that need PTO capability and durability, but still want maneuverability

In other words, a properly spec’d F-650 can be the “do-most-things” truck—especially if your routes include tighter streets, frequent stops, or smaller yards.

Choose the F-750 when…

The F-750 is the move when the job is weight-first, or the body/upfit is going to be heavy no matter what you do.

It makes sense for:

Dump, plow, and severe-duty municipal work
Heavier tow builds
Bigger vocational bodies (crane/service body, sewer/septic, roll-off—depending on local regs and spec)
Operations where the truck is expected to carry, not just move

A Reddit fleet owner summed up the real-world appeal this way: “Well I own 40 2015 F-750 6.7s and have done nothing but routine maintenance. Great trucks.”
That is not a lab test, but it is a useful data point: fleets do not buy forty of anything if it cannot earn.

The decision that actually matters: chassis rating vs duty cycle

This is where a lot of Used Ford F-650 and F-750 buyers get burned: they shop “year and miles” and forget the duty cycle.

High idle hours + stop-and-go + heavy load can beat up a truck faster than highway miles.
A “clean looking” unit can still be a money pit if it lived its life overloaded, overheated, or neglected.

So, before you fall in love with a listing, force yourself to answer:

Was it a city stop truck or an open-road runner?
Did it pull PTO equipment daily?
Was it loaded near max GVWR most of the time?

If you want a hard-nosed inspection mindset that applies to every class of truck, keep this ShareRig post handy: Used Truck Buying Guide: No-BS Advice from the Road.

Gas vs diesel: the choice that changes your cost curve

Ford’s current engine numbers are clear: the diesel brings serious torque (850 lb-ft), while the 7.3 gas brings straightforward power with a simpler fuel/aftertreatment story.

7.3L gas: why some work fleets like it

If your operation is:

lower annual miles,
more predictable routes,
or you want simpler ownership,

the gas option can be attractive because you are not buying diesel complexity if you do not truly need it.

6.7L diesel: why heavy work leans this way

If you are:

hauling heavier,
towing more,
running hills,
or staying loaded,

diesel torque is not a luxury. It is what keeps the truck from feeling like it is working at the edge of its lungs all day.

One Reddit commenter also noted a common practical advantage for Ford in many areas: parts and dealer access can be easier to source compared to some competitors because of how widespread Ford service networks are (still depends heavily on location and shop quality).

Licensing and “legal weight” is not optional math

A lot of F-650/F-750 builds end up crossing key thresholds depending on configuration. FMCSA’s CDL framework includes the 26,001 lbs GVWR/GCWR threshold (plus other factors such as passenger count and hazmat).

So, when you are evaluating Used Ford F-650 and F-750 units:

confirm the door sticker ratings,
confirm how the truck is registered in your state,
and confirm whether your operation triggers CDL requirements.

This is especially important when a seller says “no CDL needed” like it is a feature. Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it’s just a sales line.

What improves as you move up the ladder (F-650 to F-750, and older to newer)

Even without getting lost in marketing language, there are real “upgrade patterns” buyers notice as they move up in spec:

1) More room for the body you actually need

The F-750 generally gives you more headroom to spec heavier bodies and still stay within the chassis limits. That matters when you are building a truck that must carry equipment every single day.

2) More torque on tap (when diesel is spec’d)

With Ford listing 850 lb-ft torque for the 6.7 diesel in this lineup, the modern diesel spec is built for sustained vocational work, not just occasional heavy days.

3) Better “fit” for vocational gear depending on configuration

Medium-duty buyers often care less about cosmetics and more about:

upfit compatibility,
PTO support,
service access,
and cooling capacity for sustained load.

Those are not always “model year” improvements, but they are very often spec improvements, which is the point: the best used truck is usually the best spec, not the newest badge.

Used-buyer checklist: what separates a clean work truck from a problem child

When you are looking at Used Ford F-650 and F-750 listings, do not let the body distract you from the chassis fundamentals.

Prioritize these checks:

VIN + recall check (fast, free): NHTSA recall lookup
Maintenance proof: invoices beat promises, always
Idle hours and duty cycle clues: wear on pedals, steering, seat base, PTO components
Transmission behavior under load (not just a parking-lot creep test)
Brake and tire condition: medium-duty rubber and brakes are not “half-ton cheap”
Frame and suspension: look for cracks, patches, bent crossmembers, corrosion
Upfit integrity: wiring, hydraulics, liftgate/PTO operation, body mounting points

If you’re coming from pickups and want a “step-up” mindset, this ShareRig comparison is a solid bridge: Ford 1 Ton Trucks for Sale: F-350 vs F-450 for Real Work.

So which one makes sense?

Here’s the cleanest decision frame that works in the field:

F-650 is the smarter buy when you want medium-duty strength, better maneuverability, and enough rating to carry a work body without forcing an “always max GVWR” lifestyle.
F-750 is the smarter buy when the work is heavy by default (dump/tow/vocational), the body will be substantial, and you want rating headroom so you are not living one bad load away from regret.

Either way, the best unit is the one with:

verified ratings,
clean paperwork,
honest maintenance history,
and a spec that matches what you actually haul.

Bottom line and next step

If you are shopping used Ford F-650 and F-750, do not pick based on badge or vibes. Pick based on GVWR, duty cycle, engine choice, and maintenance evidence. That is how you keep the truck earning instead of draining.

Ready to shop? Check out Ford listings for sale or rent on ShareRig — verified users, direct chat, and deal closing with the owner.