The Ford Ranger Super Duty – a heavier version of the best-selling ute – will benefit from parts shared with the larger F-series family to handle the improved payload capabilities.
Ford has confirmed that the Ranger Super Duty will be fitted with eight-stud hubs – sourced from the North American F-250 Super Duty – to which 18-inch steel wheels and 33-inch all-terrain tires will be attached.
In the US, the F-250 is a step above the F-150, with the Ranger Super Duty expected to surpass the latter with its target gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4500kg, and a towing capacity of 4500kg.
“The eight-stud configuration provides a significant advantage in terms of payload and ensures even weight distribution across the handlebars,” said Drew O’Shannassy, supervisor of Ford’s Ranger Super Duty engineering program.
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“This is important for a vehicle like the Ranger Super Duty, which is expected to regularly carry and tow heavy loads. The wheel and tire we selected provide a great combination of strength, grip and reliability that our hard-working customers need.
“Our testing pushes this vehicle to its limits so customers can have confidence in its capabilities.”
As previously reported, the Ford Ranger Super Duty will arrive in Australia in 2026, with figures that rival not only the F-150, but other full-size American pickups like the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Toyota Tundra.
This includes the aforementioned braked towing capacity of 4500kg (when fitted with a 70mm towbar), a GVM of 4500kg and a Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of 8000kg, which determines the maximum recommended weight of what’s in the car sits and what it drags.
Although the Ford F-150 already has a braked towing capacity of 10,000 lbs (or 3,500 lbs with an optional 50mm tow bar), it doesn’t match the GVM or GCM figures of the Ranger Super Duty.
Payload capacity has yet to be announced, but the Super Duty’s GVM and GCM figures guarantee it will exceed the Ranger’s current crew cab maximum (2,500 lbs.) and further outpace the F-150’s (878 lbs.) .
Flagship versions of the Ranger for the Australian market are powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel producing 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque.
The Ranger Raptor’s performance-oriented 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine produces 292kW and 583Nm, but as the Super Duty focuses on freight transport it’s more likely to run on diesel.
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Ford Super Duty family
A shadowy teaser of the Ranger Super Duty gave a taste of what could be an upcoming facelift for the wider ute range, with a different grille, bonnet lines and wider wheel arches than the current model.
Ford also won’t detail what’s under the hood of the Ranger Super Duty, but it could be an engine with more power and torque than what’s in the current lineup.
It will be built in Thailand alongside other Rangers in the Australian market, but local engineering input comes courtesy of Ford’s 1,500-strong IMG Product Development team based in Melbourne.
Ford Australia says it has also been working with fleet customers, with the Ranger Super Duty aimed at farmers, emergency services, utilities and forestry workers.
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