Details about the new Ford Ranger Super Duty have been revealed, with payload and gross combination mass (GCM) rivalling larger American trucks such as the GMSV Chevrolet Silverado, RAM 1500 and even Ford’s own F-150.
Developed in Australia and tested at Ford’s You Yangs Proving Ground in Lara, Victoria, the Super Duty is, according to Ford, the result of customer feedback indicating the desire for a more capable Ranger. Ford’s president for advanced product development, Jim Baumbick, had the following to say:
“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 and get it done sooner. We are taking global mid-size truck capability to a whole new level, straight from the factory.”
A best-in-class 4500kg maximum towing capacity meets big American pickup trucks. Impressively, the gross combined mass is 8000kg – up from 6400kg, with a GVM of 4500kg. That means you could theoretically tow a 4500kg trailer and still have around 1000kg of payload left over, depending on the kerb weight.
Arriving in mid-2026, two configurations will be available in the form of the standard 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty and 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty XLT. Impressively, single cab, super and double cab will be available, so you can have a single-cab ute capable of towing 4.5 tonnes.
This would give Ford a product for which Toyota, Mitsubishi and other key rivals have no answer to. If it proves popular, it could spark development of similar upgrades for future HiLux, Triton and other rivals.
Combined with Ford’s Pro-Trailer Backup Assist and Smart Hitch and Onboard Scales, customers will be able to negotiate turning with a trailer attached more easily and can even see the payload estimates from inside the cabin. Smart Hitch can alert drivers to potential down ball overload.
Another interesting feature is a 130-litre fuel tank with extra steel protection for hardcore off-roading. There’s also large side mirrors as part of the regulations. At this stage, the 3.0-lite turbo-diesel V6 is the powertrain, albeit with a unique calibration compared with the regular Ranger V6.
Other highlights include 8-stud wheel hubs, upgraded front and rear axles, available front and rear diff locks, and strengthened chassis and suspension.
What do you think of the new Ranger Super Duty? Could it be enough to tempt you out of a HiLux/D-Max or American pickup?
