Ready for Duty

A beefed-up Ford Ranger takes on the Americans.

Story Bruce McMahon  Photo Ford

It took seven years, from the spark of an idea to the showroom floor, to create Ford’s Super Duty Ranger – a taller, broader and tougher version of a well-regarded vehicle. Time was spent listening to customers from Pilbara mines to Channel Country stations to forest managers to caravanners. And Ford found, yes, there was a need and market space for a mid-sized pickup that could do the heavy lifting of American full-sized utes and light trucks.

This is only the second Super Duty after Ford’s F Series to have Super Duty stamped into the leading edge – Detroit had to be convinced this ‘kangaroo-chaser’ was worthy of the badge.

While work numbers are impressive – Super Duty Rangers can tow up to 4,500kg, have a GVM of 4,500kg and some payloads up to 1,982kg – there is also a wealth of attention to detail: mudguard plastic linings bolted in rather than held with plastic rivets; auto stop-start deleted so operators of autonomous mine trucks don’t lose track of other vehicles; on-board scales for safer loading and towing; steel bumpers with pre-drilled holes for lights and antennas; eight-stud steel wheels easily knocked back into shape.

Basics include a thicker, reinforced chassis, heavy duty differentials, thicker lower control arms, wider track, front and rear differential locks, recalibrated 3L V6 and 10-speed transmission, bigger wheels and disc brakes. Emphasising the workability, with a load the Ford’s rear tyres should run at a serious 65psi.

Reworked bodies come in three styles – single, super and double cab, the latter the only version available with a tub. All Supers run with 33-inch tyres on 18-inch wheels, allowing up to 299mm of ground clearance, guard flares to cover the 90mm wider track (which allows for wider trays) and an exclusive snorkel that’ll take a Donaldson air cleaner. A range of trays and service bodies are fit-for-purpose, with the choice of Farm Pack, Work Pack or Adventure Pack trays ready to go.

Based around the top-selling ‘civilian’ Ranger, the Super Duty carries a raft of comfort and convenience features, from cupholders to a 12-inch centre screen, wireless phone charging and a 360-degree camera. Plus, there’s a suite of driver convenience and safety features, including off-road drive modes, driver alerts, adaptive cruise control and lane entering assist.

It’s a bigger climb into a familiar cabin, but the extra height and width are never confronting. An unladen drive down the bitumen is close to Ford Ranger’s high standards, allowing for the Super’s extra 500kg and that higher ride height, which leads to a tad more understeer. Considering its workhorse capabilities, this is quite a civilised tourer, allowing for a little more wind and road noise from bluffer body and all-terrain tyres. Vanners will welcome the ride, handling and comforts and, while this Ranger may not take off – especially when loaded up and hauling – with the grunt of an American pickup, it will hold its own on highways and byways.

Loaded up with around 500kg, the 154kW V6 should return around 11L/100km for a mixed town and country run with a little off-roading thrown in. The 3L diesel, which needs AdBlue, puts out 600Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, powering through auto transmission and a two-speed transfer case with full-time 4WD.

Off the road, in paddocks, outback tracks and mine sites, the Super Duty is most likely to be fully appreciated, with extra underbody protection, better approach and departure angles, locking front and rear differentials, high-mounted differential breathers, snorkel and serious General Grabber tyres. The chassis and suspension have good flex and feel in the rough, helping wheels find traction. All this is topped by a swag of off-road technology, such as off-road cruise mode Trail Control and Trail Turn Assist, which brakes a back wheel for tight turns.

The handsome Ford Ranger Super Duty is a high-achieving, built-for-purpose worker packed with today’s comforts and modern tech. It is more comfortable as an every-day vehicle, with higher capacities, than a standard LandCruiser. The Ford is also more compact, less expensive and less likely to be concerned about dings and scratches than flashy American mates. Now to see if it lives up to the iconic Built Ford Tough slogan.