Ford Ranger Super Duty Brings F-150 Capability To The Midsize Truck Segment

The newest member of the Ford Ranger midsize pickup family has been revealed: the Ranger Super Duty. Designed based on the feedback of heavy-duty industry operators and using insights from the bigger F-Series Super Duty trucks, the Ranger Super Duty is a tough workhorse through and through. And it’s not just about the styling; Ford has done its homework to put the newest Ranger in a league of its own, with capabilities punching above its weight class.

Despite being smaller than America’s favorite truck, the Ford F-150, the Ranger Super Duty has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 9,921 lbs, a gross combined mass (GCM) of 17,637 lbs, and a maximum braked towing of 9,921 lbs. Ford has yet to provide a curb weight figure for the truck, so we can’t calculate its payload capacity. However, based on the F-150’s GVM, GCM, and braked towing (at least in Australia), the Ranger Super Duty can match or even surpass the capacity of the massive Ford trucks.

Tough For Both Work And Play

Ford Ranger Super Duty Quick Specs

The Ranger Super Duty’s toughness can be attributed to its new thicker and stronger frame, with reinforced suspension mounts, box brackets, and tow-bar mounts. It also has a heavy-duty rear axle, claimed to be the strongest used on a Ranger, while the wheels are 8-stud hubs with larger bolts so they can handle higher loads. Its underbelly has also been armored with a series of high-strength steel bash plates, while a sealed snorkel and differential locks (front and rear) ensure this new truck can go anywhere.

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Ford also touts putting the Ranger SD through rigorous tests including simulated mine environments, 1,323-lb mud pack tests, 24/7 corrosion baths, dyno towing, shaker rigs, and low-speed heavy-load driving. The Blue Oval also tested the truck in situations that are “too tough for humans,” which involved autonomous robots testing 24/7 on Ford Australia’s infamous test track on Silver Creek, which simulates driving down a rocky dry riverbed.

Smart Tech To Complement Its High-Load Performance

Apart from the beefed-up body, Ford also integrated advanced technology in the Ranger Super Duty to support its job as a workhorse. It comes with Pro Trailer Backup Assist with yaw rate sensor for trailer angle management, a Smart Hitch that monitors towball load and offers optimal trailer balance suggestions, and onboard scales that use sensors that estimate payload in real-time, displayed on the infotainment system.

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The Ford Ranger Super Duty is powered by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that’s calibrated for EU6.2 emissions compliance and with an enhanced cooling system for high-load performance. Official output hasn’t been provided, but the V6 diesel in other Ranger models Down Under makes 247 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque.

Ford will start deliveries of the Ranger Super Duty in Australia and New Zealand in 2026, while schedules for other markets have yet to be announced. It’s unclear whether the US will also get the Ranger workhorse, though we highly doubt it given its diesel power plant.