Ford Motor Company has debuted its Ford Ranger Super Duty, built with enhanced versatility, durability and reliability.
The new Ford Ranger Super Duty is inspired by inside knowledge from the heavy-duty industry, creating a vehicle suitable for the ‘toughest jobs’.
“We are taking global mid-size truck capability to a whole new level, straight from the factory,” Ford Australia vice president, advanced product development Jim Baumbick said.
“We listened to what the hardest working fleet operators told us they needed to be more productive, and we’ve developed a Ranger with heavy-duty hardware and enhanced capability to stay on the job longer and help get it done sooner.”
The Ranger Super Duty has set a new industry benchmark with its 4500kg gross vehicle mass (GVM), 4500kg maximum braked towing, and 8000kg gross combined mass.
The vehicle can be purchased in two trim levels: the Ranger Super Duty and Ranger Super Duty XLT (arriving mid-2026).
The Ranger Super Duty XLT caters to long-distance capability demands while levelling up driver experience with unique alloy wheels and touring-focused upgrades.
This original variant features a mid-size pickup segment while also bringing safety, versatility, connectivity, and comfort, with the capacity to drive with up to 600kg of mud stuck to the truck.
The weightlifter
While the chassis dimensions remain the same, the Ford Ranger Super Duty offers a thicker frame than its predecessor to level up strength, performance and load-carrying capacity. This enables the vehicle to unlock its 4500kg GVM rating.
Delivered with EU6.2 compliance and fitted with a three-litre turbo diesel V6 attuned for heavy-duty emissions standards, the vehicle is ready to tackle global markets and difficult terrain.
A 130-litre long-range tank and thick steel shielding ensures full tank protection and an extended off-road range.
The Ranger Super Duty boasts a series of high-strength bash plates that shield the engine, transmission and fuel tank, and a front differential and transfer case.
“With enhanced capability and developed for hard work, we know Ranger Super Duty will be pushed to the limits on some of the toughest terrain on the planet,” Ford Australia chief program engineer Dave Burn said.
Based on Ford’s advanced four-wheel drive (4WD) system, the Ranger Super Duty is fitted with a permanent 4A setting to consistently deliver the greatest amount of torque to provide enhanced traction and control for high- and low-grip surfaces.
“Ranger Super Duty’s two-speed transfer case features larger, stronger components than other Ranger variants for enhanced durability,” Burn said.
“To ensure this truck can handle life in low-range in extreme terrain, the low-range gearset has been upgraded to match the F-Series Super Duty.”
The Super Duty boasts a range of trailblazing features including the SYNC screen that can monitor the weight being loaded into the load box, front and rear locking differentials, six selectable drive modes, improved water wading depth and the option to manually delay the automatic diesel particulate filter (DPF).
“While a DPF is part of the emissions management system, being able to delay and then manually initiate a DPF clean will be a useful feature for those customers who operate in a high fire-risk environment,” Burn said.
The six selectable drive modes: normal, eco, tow/haul, mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl, provide a range of vehicle settings to make it easier to drive off-road.
The all-new rear differential is the most advanced to ever grace a production Ranger, with a stronger front and rear driveshaft and a new heavy-duty rear axle. To help spread the load, the Ranger Super Duty boasts eight-stud wheel hubs with larger bolts.
Rigorous testing
The Ranger Super Duty has undergone relentless simulations on terrain emulating rocky dry riverbeds to ensure it’s driver ready, with autonomous driving robots implanted to run 24–7 tests on Ford Australia’s You Yangs Proving Ground in Victoria.
Numerous other tests took place including 24–7 corrosion baths, towing dynos, shaker rig testing, real-world off-roading, and more low-speed, low-range heavy load driving.
“Our Silver Creek and autonomous driving robots were designed and developed in North America for the testing and development of the original F-Series Super Duty and have been a part of global Built Ford Tough testing ever since,” Baumbick said.
“We torture test our trucks to earn the name Super Duty. For instance, to make sure Ranger Super Duty is ready for almost any work environment, we created an even tougher mud pack test to simulate mine work.”
Towing made easier
The Ford Ranger Super Duty claims to tow more than any other factory-built mid-size pickup, with the latest version boasting a yaw rate sensor to help automatically manage trailer angle.
The Super Duty is installed with Pro-Trailer Backup Assist, a recalibrated integrated trailer brake controller which makes reversing easier than ever.
“Using a yaw rate sensor to guide Pro-Trailer Backup Assist makes for faster set up and running of the system, which we felt was important given Ranger Super Duty is all about work,” Burn said.
“Able to store up to 10 trailers and only requiring calibration once per trailer, Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes manoeuvring heavy trailers much easier.”
The vehicle introduces Ford’s Smart Hitch and onboard scales, making it easy for drivers to understand weight on their tow ball and give directions on how to best adjust trailer load in the trailer, ensuring optimal load distribution.
Additionally, the truck has sensors in the wheel suspension, assisting drivers to estimate their payload and specify additional load for inclusion in payload estimation.
The Ranger Super Duty has been created to combat extreme locations such as remote mine sites, with stronger components and fuel, and differential, transmission and transfer case breathers mounted high.
“Extensive testing in controlled and real-world situations proved Ranger Super Duty has the capability needed for all manner of users from emergency services to farmers and recreational off-roaders,” Burn said.
“We’ve tested Ranger Super Duty in extreme conditions where a vehicle with open differentials would have become stuck and unable to proceed. Thanks to a locking front and rear differential and an enhanced low-range gearset and a host of other off-road improvements, Ranger Super Duty performed flawlessly.
“The capability of Ranger Super Duty is unmatched in the mid-sized truck segment. It really is the sum of all its parts and we’re confident that whether your job is extreme or you’re an adventurer who likes to go a long way off the beaten track, Ranger Super Duty will get you there and back again.”
Sales in Australia and New Zealand are set to open in late 2025 with the Ranger Super Duty to arrive in dealerships in 2026.
This feature appeared in the May 2025 issue of Australian Mining.
