Aside from its ultra-affordable price tag and excellent fuel economy, one of the biggest selling points of the 2022 Ford Maverick is its Flexbed, which allows owners to create various storage and organization solutions using Ford accessories or 2×4 or 2×6-inch boards, as well as a number of tie-downs, threaded holes, D-rings, and a standard 12-volt outlet in the bed, plus a 110-volt, 400-watt outlet – perfect for DIY projects. As it turns out, the next-generation international market 2023 Ford Ranger will be just as DIY-friendly, thanks to many of the same features.
The next-gen 2023 Ford Ranger has a wider bed than the current-gen model, for starters, but it also offers an array of organization and storage solutions for securing and hauling cargo, fitting accessories, or completing DIY projects such as segmenting the bed into different cargo spaces or building a bike rack. The new Ranger’s bed features multiple tie-downs, sliding cleats, external tie-down rails, a newly designed rear load box access step, and six structural attachment points for adding accessories such as a canopy, crossbars, or a tent.
Load box lighting and zone lighting are capable of illuminating up to 360 degrees around the truck, making loading and unloading gear in the dark much easier. The Ranger’s new easy-lift tailgate is designed for one-hand operation and also doubles as a workbench thanks to the tailgate work surface – which is similar to the one present on the Ford F-150. The tailgate features two clamp pockets and a built-in ruler, while a power outlet in the bed can provide juice for any number of tools.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Ranger’s drop-in bed liner features functional divider locators, while an optional power rolling tonneau cover can be operated using the key fob, a switch inside the pickup, or via the infotainment screen. It’s worth noting that these features are all present in the global version of the next-gen Ranger, and may differ on the North American version of the mid-size pickup, which hasn’t been revealed yet. Regardless, the new Ranger looks like it’ll be just as adept at using its bed space to its maximum potential as the Maverick.
As Ford Authority exclusively reported last year, the next-generation Ford Ranger will represent the first of an eight-year production run. The new Ranger – assigned the P703 designation internally – will enter production in Thailand and South Africa in 2022, and at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in the spring of 2023.
We’ll have more on the new Ranger very soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Ranger news and ongoing Ford news coverage.
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More maverick. Less bronco or ranger. You see what the public wants ! I wanted one. Too late!