Is your truck a chassis cab, pickup, or box delete? How can you tell? What are the differences? What can you do to enhance the varying original suspension systems?
Definitions
Chassis Cab
Chassis Cab trucks can also be known as a cab chassis, or cab and chassis. This type of vehicle construction is built to allow customized assembly with aftermarket equipment. These vehicles, primarily light and medium-duty commercial vans, and trucks, are specialized for certain capabilities and service functions. The vehicle, as it is delivered to an upfitter for customization, is typically the chassis, drive train, and cab.
Pickup
A pickup truck is considered a standard light-duty truck and is equipped with an enclosed cab and a pickup box or bed. Pickup trucks are commonly used in recreational applications, but may also be designed with the versatility to accommodate some service-related duties.
Box Delete
A box delete can often be confused with a chassis cab, which is understandable. Box delete trucks have all of the characteristics of a pickup, but it is sold without the bed (also referred to as a box). These builds can also be referred to as a “wide frame,” because the frame is almost as wide as the truck body. If you already have, or plan to purchase, a box delete, treat it as a pickup when considering aftermarket products such as suspension enhancements.
What are some differences?
Chassis Cab
- Most chassis cab trucks feature straight frame rails (a standard to accommodate aftermarket product manufacturers and truck/van upfitters)
- The frame rails are 37 inches apart from one another
- The cab to the center of the axle (CA) is 60 inches
- Can have 5 – 12 leaf springs in the rear, which is more than a pickup and a factory top or bottom overload spring depending on the vehicle make and GVWR
- Shorter leaf springs compared to a pickup (shorter springs are stiffer providing more capacity)
Pickup & Box Delete
- Pickups tend to have curved frame rails for increased ride quality and weight distribution
- The frame rails are 34 inches apart from one another
- The cab to the center of the axle (CA) is 56 inches
- Can have 2 – 4 leaf springs in the rear, which is fewer than a chassis cab, depending on the vehicle make and GVWR
- Longer leaf springs compared to a chassis cab (longer springs flex easier providing a smoother ride)
A Suspension Solution for Your Truck
No matter which one of these truck styles you have, the suspension is fairly similar and may need an upgrade.
SuperSprings are a simple, bolt-on, steel helper spring that eliminates rear-end sag and stabilizes sway & body roll. Built from high-grade shot-peened steel, this suspension solution allows you to load up without sacrificing your ride quality.
The SuperSpring design includes a patented roller shackle on each end that allows for self-adjustment as the weight changes. And this setup can be particularly helpful as you add tools or heavy gear to your truck.
Use our application guide to see what we have for your vehicle.
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Comments 5
I’m looking to get a new truck. Of the options you listed here, I think I’d go with the box delete. The main reason why is that I would be able to customize it to my liking.
Hey there,
I am curious as to who typically is buying the chassis? is it mostly people who work on construction sites? Are they buying it for themselves or for employees? Just a bit confused over whether the CC is used recreationally. Thanks so much for the article!
Hi Sadie,
Great question! Here is what our engineer Chad had to say:
“The majority of the Cab and Chassis (or Chassis Cab) trucks are purchased by “Upfitters”. Upfitters are companies that build the final trucks. They will purchase the Cab and Chassis, and then add their own body and equipment to it. These trucks will be built with service bodies, flat beds, dump beds, and so forth. Some of them have cranes or booms added. They are usually built as fleets for construction, service, and utility companies.”
Hope this answers your question, thanks for reading!
Lindsey,
Thank you for the post, and for letting us know we were able to play a part in helping you and your husband make a decision! Let us know when you are ready to enhance your new truck’s suspension!
My husband and I have been looking for a truck for a while and this list of definitions is definitely going to help us. We’ve narrowed down to a chassis cab and a pickup and we couldn’t figure out the difference between the two. We found our answer here and will definitely use this information to help us make a better decision. Thanks!