The all-new 2026Â Ford Ranger Super Duty broke cover just this past April, bringing a heavy duty version of the midsize pickup to Australia, where the heavy duty Ford Super Duty is not sold. The ultra-capable pickup is touted as being one tough customer, so naturally, The Blue Oval set out to prove that statement, testing the limits of the Ranger Super Duty by loading it up with mud and putting it through its paces.
Let's be clear: The Blue Oval didn't load the bed of the Ford Ranger Super Duty with mud. Rather, the Ranger Super Duty team literally ran it through mud to gather performance data regarding the pickup's ability to withstand dirt and grime caked in places where it could pose a danger. The team packed 600 kg (roughly 1,322 pounds) of thick mud, caking it onto critical components to find out how it held up.
The voiceover on the video outlines that mud can act as an insulator, which, in turn, can cause parts to overheat. It can also fill up wheels, springs, and brakes, dampening their performance. Ford understood what buyers of the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty would likely do with the beefy pickup - and hence, the endurance test seen here.
While the video doesn't discuss the results of the mud tests, it's safe to assume that the Ford Ranger Super Duty held up just fine. After all, the heavy duty midsize pickup packs a stronger chassis than its "regular" counterparts, along with a locking front and rear differentials, and the turbocharged 3.0L V6 diesel mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission and a fortified transfer case with a low range.
In terms of capability, the Ranger Super Duty touts 4,500 kilograms (9,920 pounds) of towing capacity, a 4,500 kilogram (9,920 pound) gross vehicle mass (GVM), and 8,000 kilograms (17,636 pounds) of gross combined mass (GCM). Pricing for the tough pickup starts at $82,990 AUD - equivalent to $54,217 USD.
Comments
Ford should offer this Ranger in North America. They’d sell. I’d rather have one over my F250 for the smaller footprint. It would be better on narrow woods roads and fit better in a garage.
Agreed, this should be offered in the NA market. I doubt this would canibalise any sales from full-sized SDs. But would in fact bolster sales from those who need a more capable vehicle with a smaller footprint.