Not every truck job calls for the same truck. A quick grocery run and a gooseneck trailer full of livestock demand very different equipment, and Ford builds a truck for both ends of that spectrum. If you’re trying to figure out where you land, thinking through Ford trucks by size, from smallest to largest, is the fastest way to narrow your search before you ever set foot on a lot.
We work with Bakersfield drivers every day who need help matching a truck to their actual routine. Maybe that’s a commute on Highway 99, hauling equipment for ag work, or towing a camper up to the Sierras. This guide walks through Ford’s pickup lineup, the Maverick, Ranger, F-150, and Super Duty models, with the specs that matter and the local use cases where each one shines. When you’re ready to see what’s on the lot, you can browse new Ford trucks at Jim Burke Ford.
How to Think About Truck Size: Length, Cab, and Bed Configurations, Towing, and Drivability
Ford’s lineup spans four size classes: compact, midsize, full-size, and heavy-duty. Each class trades off differently between maneuverability, cargo room, and capability, so the right size depends on what you’re hauling and where you’re driving.
Overall Length, Cab, and Bed Configurations
Overall length comes down to wheelbase, cab style, and bed length working together. A Regular Cab with a long bed stretches out for maximum cargo room, while a Crew Cab prioritizes passenger space, often at the cost of bed length. Ford offers Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew configurations across its lineup, and matching cab size to how many people you haul regularly matters as much as matching bed length to your cargo needs.
Payload and Towing Capacity Basics
Payload is the combined weight of cargo and passengers a truck can carry, while towing capacity, rated to SAE standards, measures what it can pull behind it. Both numbers shift depending on trim, engine, and installed options, which is why Ford publishes ranges rather than single figures for most models. Trucks with single rear wheels (SRW) favor maneuverability and light-to-moderate towing, while dual rear wheel (DRW) configurations trade some of that agility for heavier hauling capability.
Parking Ease and Daily Drivability
A shorter wheelbase and tighter turning radius make a real difference in downtown Bakersfield parking lots or narrow driveways. Super Duty trucks give up some of that day-to-day ease in exchange for towing and payload capability smaller trucks simply can’t match. If most of your driving happens around town, that trade-off is worth weighing before you size up.
Ford Maverick: The Compact Truck for City and Commute
The Maverick is Ford’s compact truck, built for buyers who want pickup utility without the bulk of a larger vehicle.
Size, Bed, and Maneuverability
The Maverick runs about 199.8 inches long on a 121.1-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight around 3,674 pounds in hybrid trim. Its 4’5″ bed offers 33.3 cubic feet of total cargo volume, with 42.6 inches between the wheel wells and 53.3 inches of bed width, enough to handle plywood sheets or weekend gear without feeling oversized on the road. Ford equips the Maverick standard with a 2.5L full hybrid FWD powertrain, with AWD available on XL and XLT and standard on Lariat; Lobo and Tremor trims add Advanced 4WD. Towing runs 2,000 pounds standard, up to 4,000 pounds with the available 4K Tow Package, and payload tops out at 1,500 pounds properly equipped, with only the XLT’s 2.5L hybrid AWD configuration dropping to 1,400 pounds.
Best Uses in Bakersfield: Commuting and Errands
For anyone commuting on Highway 99 or running errands around town, the Maverick’s compact footprint and hybrid efficiency make it an easy fit. Job-site duty isn’t really its lane, but for city driving, tight parking, and the occasional home project, it covers a lot of ground without the size of a full-size pickup.
Ford Ranger: The Midsize Truck for Everyday Capability
Stepping up from the Maverick, the Ranger is Ford’s midsize truck, aimed at drivers who need more muscle without moving into full-size territory.
Size, Bed, and Cab Options
The Ranger measures 210.6 inches overall on a 128.7-inch wheelbase, and it comes in a SuperCrew body style. The bed offers 43.5 cubic feet of cargo volume, with a floor length of 59.6 inches, 48.2 inches of width at the wheelhouse, and 62.4 inches of max width inside the box. Ford’s base engine is a 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder producing 270 hp. Max payload lands at 1,788 pounds, and towing reaches 7,500 pounds on XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, while Raptor is rated for 5,510 pounds. Four-wheel drive is available across the lineup, standard as 4×2 on XL, XLT, and Lariat with 4×4 optional, and standard on Raptor.
Best Uses in Bakersfield: Jobsite Hauling and Weekend Trips
The Ranger’s payload and towing numbers make it a solid pick for jobsite hauling around Bakersfield, whether you’re loading tools, materials, or a small trailer. On weekends, it shifts easily into camping trips or towing a boat without missing a beat.
Ford F-150: The Full-Size Truck for Versatility
Ford’s full-size F-150 remains the centerpiece of the entire pickup lineup, built with a wide range of engine choices and configurations for nearly any use case.
Size, Configurations, and Towing Range
In SuperCrew form, the F-150 measures 232.0 inches overall, though the lineup ranges from 209.4 to 243.9 inches depending on whether you choose Regular Cab, SuperCab, or SuperCrew, paired with a 5.5-, 6.5-, or 8-foot box. Engine choice drives capability significantly: the 5.0L V8 offers up to 2,225 pounds of payload and 12,900 pounds of max towing, while the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 produces 400 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, with towing up to 13,500 pounds and payload up to 2,440 pounds. Across the engine lineup, max towing spans roughly 8,200 to 13,500 pounds.
Best Uses in Bakersfield: Towing, Hauling, and Highway Driving
Whether you’re towing a camper to the Sierras, hauling equipment across the Central Valley, or logging highway miles on 99, the F-150’s range of towing and payload figures gives Bakersfield drivers room to match a configuration to the job. It’s the size class most people land on when they need genuine towing capability but still want a comfortable daily driver. If you’re weighing financing on a full-size pickup, our team can help you get pre-approved before you shop.
Ford Super Duty: The Heavy-Duty Choice for Towing and Work
When payload and towing needs go beyond what the F-150 offers, the Super Duty lineup, including the F-250, F-350, and F-450, steps in as Ford’s biggest and most capable trucks.
F-250, F-350, and F-450 Size and Capability Differences
The F-250 Regular Cab XL measures 231.8 inches overall on a 141.6-inch wheelbase with an 8.00-foot bed and a curb weight around 5,697 pounds; fifth-wheel and gooseneck ratings run from roughly 14,600 pounds with the 6.8L gas V8 up to 23,000 pounds with the High-Output diesel and the High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package, properly equipped.
Moving up, the F-350 and F-450 Crew Cab XL stretch to 250.0 and 266.2 inches respectively, on wheelbases of 159.8 and 176.0 inches. The F-350 Regular Cab 4×2 DRW gas configuration, equipped with the Heavy-Duty Payload Package, offers up to 8,000 pounds of payload, while the 6.7L HO Power Stroke diesel version can tow up to 38,000 pounds on a gooseneck setup, and SRW F-350 models reach up to 27,600 pounds towing with 4,706 pounds of payload.
The F-450 XL, equipped with Ford’s 6.7L High Output Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel, can reach a 40,000-pound gooseneck rating on a Regular Cab 4×2 DRW configuration, with payload up to 6,482 pounds. Ford also markets its Super Duty diesel lineup as offering best-in-class maximum available diesel 500 hp. Certain F-350 DRW gas setups can actually out-payload the F-450, while the F-450 generally out-tows the F-350 on gooseneck and fifth-wheel setups, so matching trim to task matters more than picking the biggest badge.
Best Uses in Bakersfield: Agriculture, Commercial, and Heavy Towing
For Central Valley ag operations, commercial fleets, or anyone regularly pulling heavy trailers, the Super Duty lineup handles loads the F-150 isn’t rated for. Whether it’s moving equipment between fields or running a work fleet across Bakersfield, these trucks are built for jobs where capability comes first and maneuverability takes a back seat.
Ford Truck Size Comparison: Length, Bed, and Towing at a Glance
Below is a pickup truck length comparison covering the full lineup, useful for a quick reference before you decide which class fits your needs.
| Model | Overall Length | Bed Lengths | Max Payload | Max Towing |
| Maverick | 199.8 in | 4’5″ | 1,500 lbs | 4,000 lbs w/ 4K Tow Package |
| Ranger | 210.6 in | 59.6 in at floor | 1,788 lbs | 7,500 lbs |
| F-150 | 209.4–243.9 in | 5.5, 6.5, or 8.0 ft | 2,440 lbs | 13,500 lbs |
| F-250 | 231.8 in (Regular Cab) | 6.75 or 8.0 ft | 4,246 lbs | 23,000 lbs gooseneck |
| F-350 | 231.8–250.0 in | 6.75 or 8.0 ft | 8,000 lbs DRW gas | 38,000 lbs gooseneck DRW |
| F-450 | 266.2 in (Crew Cab) | 8.0 ft | 6,842 lbs | 40,000 lbs gooseneck DRW |
Length reflects the configuration shown. Payload and towing figures are maximums for the best-equipped configuration of each model, which is often a different cab and bed than the one listed.
Which Ford Truck Size Fits Your Bakersfield Lifestyle?
Weighing Ford Maverick vs Ranger vs F-150, or F-150 vs Super Duty size, really comes down to how you spend your week.
- If your driving is mostly city streets and a commute on 99, the compact Maverick keeps things simple and efficient.
- Need more payload for jobsite work or weekend towing without stepping into full-size territory? The Ranger sits comfortably in that middle ground.
- For drivers who tow regularly, whether that’s a boat, camper, or utility trailer, the F-150’s range of engines and towing capacities covers most personal and light-commercial needs.
- If your work involves agriculture, heavy equipment, or towing loads that push past 20,000 pounds, the Super Duty lineup, spanning the F-250, F-350, and F-450, is where you’ll find the capability to match.
The right choice is simply whichever one fits what you actually do behind the wheel.
Explore Ford Trucks in Every Size at Jim Burke Ford
Visit Us in Bakersfield
Our Ford pickup lineup covers the compact Maverick, the midsize Ranger, the full-size F-150, and the heavy-duty Super Duty models, every size class and use case in the Central Valley. Stop by our downtown showroom at 2001 Oak St., Bakersfield, CA 93301, or visit our Automall location at 5300 Gasoline Alley Dr., Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93313, to see the lineup in person.
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You can also browse new Ford trucks online right now, or contact us to schedule a test drive and let our team help you find the right size for your next truck.
