Ranger Super Duty gets down and dirty

FORD Australia has revealed more details of its extensive Ranger Super Duty validation program, this time putting the hardcore model through sloppy conditions to ensure no amount of mud will slow its stride.

The engineering team wanted to get the Super Duty as muddy as possible, to simulate harsh off-road use in industries like mining, leading to the development of an all-new form of vehicular torture dubbed the “mud-pack test”.

“Mud is one of a truck’s greatest enemies,” said Ford Australia product excellence and human factors supervisor Rob Hugo.

“It can add significant weight, prevent airflow, and act as an insulator, causing components to heat up much quicker.

“It’s highly corrosive and can clog up fans and alternators, preventing them from running correctly.”

The Super Duty was weighed before and after the mud-pack test, undertaken at You Yangs Proving Ground in Victoria, as Ford engineers caked the vehicle in more than 600kg of sticky clay mud across a number of days – which can be watched here.

“Our mud-pack testing is a key part of our ‘Built Ford Tough’ validation,” added Mr Hugo.

“So, for the Ranger Super Duty, we knew we had to turn it up to 11.

“We packed more mud onto this vehicle during development than we ever have before.”

Earlier durability testing involved usual tests like corrosion baths, shaker rigs and towing dynos, followed by arduous 24/7 off-road trials undertaken by robots.

The Super Duty is Ford’s answer for fleet and trade customers torn between a dual-cab ute and a light-duty truck, serving up a high-riding, severe-duty Ranger variant that sits in a category of its own – which explains the severe testing protocols.

“The Ranger Super Duty project was about pushing the boundaries of what a mid-size truck can achieve,” said Ford Australia Ranger Super Duty program supervisor Drew O’Shannassy.

“We focused relentlessly on core capability – increasing GVM, GAWR, and towing capacity – while ensuring the truck remains incredibly durable and easy to operate in challenging environments.”

In terms of its game-changing productivity credentials, the Super Duty will be offered in Single, Super, and Double-Cab Chassis configurations, boasting an 8000kg gross combination mass (GCM), 4500kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) and 4500kg braked towing capacity, while also offering a payload nudging 2000kg.

The Ranger Super Duty driveline will be made up of Ford’s now-proven 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, outputting the same 154kW/600Nm as it does in standard Ranger variants, but the powertrain will feature an uprated cooling system that is said to be 25 per cent more efficient.

Further along the driveline, Ford has confirmed the Super Duty will get front and rear differential locks, upgraded axles and suspension, and eight-stud hubs providing drive for beefy 33-inch General Grabber tyres.

Other standard fare includes a 130-litre long-range fuel tank, underbody protection from bumper-to-bumper and even onboard scales that will ensure operators can monitor vehicle weights in real time.

Ford has previously confirmed that sales will commence in early 2026.

2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs and tray fitment.