Ford: A heavy duty benchmark

Born from intel received from heavy-duty industries, the Ford Ranger Super Duty provides enhanced capability, durability and productivity.

The first-ever Ford Ranger Super Duty in Australia has been revealed, a machine uncompromising in its ability to help those who do the toughest jobs, thanks to the Ranger’s Driver Assist Technology, safety features, incredible versatility and immense capability.

Jim Baumbick, Vice President, Advanced Product Development, Cycle Planning and Programs – Ford Motor Company says the company is taking the global mid-size truck capability to a whole new level.

“We listened to what the hardest working fleet operators told us, that 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,” he says.

The Ranger Super Duty will be available in Australia as either a Single, Super or Double Cab Chassis from launch in 2026, and as a Double Cab with style-side box in mid-2026.

It will be available in two trim levels, Ranger Super Duty and Ranger Super Duty XLT (arriving mid-2026) for those who need refined long-distance capability. This variant will boast unique alloy wheels and touring-focused upgrades and will be exclusively available on Double Cab chassis and pick-up variants.

Redefining the heavy-duty, mid-size pick-up segment, Ranger Super Duty will deliver safety, versatility, connectivity, and creature comforts.

From its available Integrated Device Mounting System to its onboard scales, sealed snorkel, front and rear differential locks, heavy-duty axles, suspension and chassis, the Ford engineering team has developed a new kind of Ranger that’s commercial grade but consumer friendly.

Built to carry more

While its overall chassis dimensions might be the same as the Ranger, the Ranger Super Duty runs a unique frame, engineered to provide increased strength, performance and load carrying capacity. The frame is thicker, while suspension mounts, box mount brackets and tow bar mounts have been reinforced, allowing the Ranger Super Duty to achieve its 4500-kilogram GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) rating.

For enhanced durability, the Ranger Super Duty runs a stronger front and rear driveshaft, while a new heavy-duty rear axle provides enhanced load carrying capacity. The new rear differential is the biggest and strongest to ever be fitted to a production Ranger. To help spread the load, the Ranger Super Duty also has eight-stud wheel hubs with larger bolts.

Ranger Super Duty has been developed with upfitting in mind. The reinforced frame and readily accessible mounting points make it easy to integrate a variety of aftermarket accessories and specialised equipment. This versatility means that the Ranger Super Duty arrives from the factory ready to work.

“These enhancements are key to Ranger Super Duty being able to carry and tow bigger loads than any other factory-built mid-size pick-up,” Burn says. “These larger, stronger components improve vehicle durability and reliability which is something we know our customers will appreciate.”

Proven powertrain

Under Ranger Super Duty’s sculpted bonnet is Ford’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, calibrated for heavy-duty emissions standards. Improved cooling ensures optimum temperature management under load and during sustained off-roading in difficult terrain.

“This drivetrain will be delivered with EU6.2 compliance for global markets, meaning the Ranger Super Duty is ready to work for years to come,” Burn says.

Ranger Super Duty also offers customers the option of delaying the automatic diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration and then manually initiating the clean at a time that suits.

“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 high fire risk environments,” Burn says.

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Extreme terrain capability

Knowing the Ranger Super Duty will be pushed harder than most off-road vehicles and driven in more extreme locations, Ford engineers have ensured that the differential, transmission, fuel and transfer case breathers are all mounted up high. The Ranger Super Duty also boasts an improved water wading depth compared to other diesel Ranger variants.

“Extensive testing in controlled and real-world situations proved that the Ranger Super Duty has the capability needed for all manner of use, from emergency services to farmers and recreational off-roaders,” Burn says.

The Ranger Super Duty offers six selectable drive modes (Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl). These modes tailor a range of vehicle settings, from throttle and transmission response to stability control, further aiding drivers when going off-road.

Equipped with Ford’s advanced four-wheel drive system, the Ranger Super Duty comes with 4A (Automatic 4WD) as the permanent setting to ensure the vehicle always delivers the maximum amount of torque, to provide enhanced traction and control on both high and low grip surfaces and under load.

“The Ranger Super Duty’s two-speed transfer case features larger, stronger components than other Ranger variants for enhanced durability,” Burn says. “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.”

Boasting front and rear locking differentials as standard on all variants, The Ranger Super Duty has been set up to perform in the toughest terrain. The front differential is a modified version of the differential in the Bronco Raptor, updated for enhanced load capacity.

“We’ve tested the Ranger Super Duty in extreme conditions where a vehicle with open differentials would have become stuck and unable to proceed,” Burn says. “Thanks to a locking front and rear differential and an enhanced low-range gearset and a host of other off-road capability improvements, the Ranger Super Duty performed flawlessly.”

Tough tests

Developing a truck like the Ranger Super Duty and ensuring it could live up to the toughest jobs in the most extreme locations required an extensive durability program, as Baumbick explains.

“We torture test our trucks to earn the name Super Duty,” he says. “For instance, to make sure the Ranger Super Duty is ready for almost any work environment, we created an even tougher mud pack test to simulate mine work. The Ranger Super Duty had to continue working, even with 600 kilograms of mud stuck to the bottom of the truck.”

Some Ranger Super Duty testing was too tough for humans, with autonomous driving robots used to run 24/7 tests on Ford Australia’s infamous test track at its You Yangs Proving Ground and Silver Creek, both in Victoria, which simulates driving down a rocky dry riverbed.

“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 says.

The truck also ran the usual durability tests including 24/7 corrosion baths, towing dynos, shaker rig testing, extreme real-world off-roading, and more low-speed, low-range heavy load driving.

Smarter towing

Being able to tow more than any other factory-built mid-size pick-up is just part of Ranger Super Duty’s story.

Starting with a recalibrated integrated trailer brake controller, the Ranger Super Duty also has Ranger’s Pro-Trailer Backup Assist™ that makes backing up as easy as turning a dial.

Dave Burn, Chief Program Engineer – Ford Australia says the latest version uses a yaw rate sensor to help automatically manage trailer angle.

“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 the Ranger Super Duty is all about work,” he says. “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 Ranger Super Duty also debuts Ford’s Smart Hitch and Onboard Scales on a Ranger. Smart Hitch helps drivers to better understand the weight on their vehicle’s tow ball. This allows them to adjust the load in the trailer to ensure optimum load distribution and avoid under or overloading the tow ball.

Sensors mounted in the suspension on all four wheels means that Ford’s Onboard Scales can help customers estimate their payload as they add items to their vehicle, it also allows for drivers to specify additional load for inclusion in payload estimation. Drivers can monitor the weight being loaded into the load box via the SYNC screen.

Ready to go further

To ensure extended off-road range, a 130-litre long-range fuel tank is standard, while thick steel shielding is designed to protect the tank from damage caused by impact when driving off-road.

The Ranger Super Duty’s underbelly is also armoured with a series of high-strength steel bash plates. Everything from the engine, front differential and transfer case, transmission and fuel tank are shielded.

“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,” Burn says. “That’s why we made sure the underneath had high strength protection.

“The capability of the 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, the Ranger Super Duty will get you there and back again.”

Ordering for Ranger Super Duty in Australia and New Zealand opens later this year with arrivals in dealerships expected in 2026. Details about model line-up and on-sale dates for Thailand and other markets through Global Fleet Sales will be confirmed at a later date.

For more information, visit ford.com.au