The all-new Ford Ranger Super Duty debuted back in early April as a supremely capable version of the mid-size pickup for select markets, including Australia. It comes equipped with loads of upgrades that make it capable of towing and hauling heavy loads, as well as traversing all sorts of rugged terrain, which is precisely what a lot of consumers are looking for. We’ve already seen the Ford Ranger Super Duty make easy work of deep mud, and now, we get to see how it handles a decent sized body of water, too.
In this new video from Ford Australia, we get a look at the development process for the Ford Ranger Super Duty as it specifically pertains to the pickup’s water-fording capability. Drew O’Shannassy, Ranger Super Duty program engineer at Ford Australia, explains that the team wanted the beefier model to be capable of traversing up to 850mm (nearly 2.8 feet) of water, which seemed like a proper goal for its target consumers.
Thus, Ford Australia set out to test the Ford Ranger Super Duty at its proving ground in that country, using a lab-style 60m concrete basin, as well as in the Victorian High Country at Crooks River Track. The team ran the pickup through several water crossings, and it proved that it was more than capable of handling that 850mm goal, time and time again – a specific depth that resides roughly halfway between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel arch, and 50mm more than the regular Ranger, to boot.
To make this impressive capability possible, a number of key components reside above the 850mm mark – including system breathers for transmission, transfer case, differentials, fuel and AdBlue tanks. The Ranger Super Duty’s snorkel also helps aid in that task, preventing water from getting into the engine.
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Is that the stench of yet another recall that I smell!