Tow test: 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty

The much-anticipated 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty is currently in showrooms. We spent a few days at the event launch and discovered it delivers everything Ford promised.

In brief: 

• 4500kg braked towing capacity
• 8000kg GVM
• Single, crew and double cab chassis — pickup and XLT series coming in 2026
• 3L V6 turbo with 600Nm

Long a go-to choice for tradies and those hauling big loads, the Ford Ranger’s upgrade to a Super Duty has been slowly teased over the last year. Lots of technical details have been published, but the official launch to market was delayed until vehicles were ready to ship to dealerships, who, to all accounts, have been swamped with pre-orders.

Ford invited Caravan World and dozens of motoring journalists and bloggers to the launch at Eagle Ridge Event Park in Tallarook, north of Melbourne, where we learned how the new Ford Ranger Super Duty has evolved. We had access to many of the key management, engineering and product development staff before being handed the keys to a mix of models to drive on a purpose-built torture track. But there was more during the three-day on-road experience, including towing, spirited driving through twisty sealed country roads, sections of motorways and, finally, real-world offroading through the Victorian High Country to the peak of Mount Terrible.

Ford Ranger Super Duty: Born from customer feedback

Before the Ford team set us loose, they explained the origins of the Super Duty. Six years ago, Andrew Birkic, now the CEO for Ford Australia and New Zealand, was the global manager for the Ranger. He spent considerable time reviewing the vehicle with end users, especially in the mining, forestry and agriculture sectors. He kept hearing that using the Ranger effectively often required expensive and time-consuming modifications. The sectors needed a vehicle that could carry more, tow more and still perform well — and also be easy to handle offroad.

Ford Australia had a team of some 1500 engineers, designers and automotive specialists who developed and then refined the Ranger over its model run, so there was strong enthusiasm for bringing the new version to life. The Super Duty name was borrowed from American versions of the larger F-Series models, and, according to Birkic, it was a big deal for the global company to endorse the name.

Testing out the new Ford Ranger Super Duty during the three-day launch event (Credit: Ford Australia)

Upgraded chassis and towing specs

Ford builds the Ranger in Thailand for distribution across 180 markets worldwide. The Super Duty will flow down the same production line, but with significant changes to the engineering. The reinforced chassis has similar overall dimensions but with thicker rails, more cross members and added strengthening in stress areas, which makes it around 100kg heavier.

To accommodate its increased load-carrying capacity, the springs, shock absorbers, control arms, mounting points and brakes are all designed to handle heavier loads. And the payload is an impressive 1982kg for the single cab version and 1825kg for the dual cab. Significantly for the caravanning sector, the integrated towbar now handles a 450kg ball weight and trailers up to 4500kg. The gross combined mass (GCM) is 8000kg, so if we presume a dual-cab version with a tray and basic equipment would be close to 3000kg, if you go up to the maximum tow rating (4500kg), you’ll have a 500kg payload to play with.

Adding further to the appeal for caravanners, the brakes are upgraded to 356x34mm front and 350x24mm rear, being 15mm and 18mm larger in diameter, respectively. The weight-rated steel wheels are now 18in with a eight-stud hubs, and the standard General Grabber all-terrain tyres are 33in. Also standard is the 130L long-range fuel tank, but because of the increased weight rating, AdBlue is mandatory.

Upgraded chassis and suspension (Credit: John Ford)

Cool looks and tough design

A new bold grill, steel front bumper, wider track, bigger wheels and tyres, wider flared guards, taller stance and new sculptured bonnet emblazoned with the Super Duty logo all contribute to a tougher, more aggressive look. It’s the same Ranger, on a similar footprint, but with a more work-focused ideal. It shares the towing capacity and payload of some American imports, but it’s compact enough for you to order a burger at a drive-through and shop at Woolies.

Models include single, super and dual cab versions in cab-chassis configurations. A dual-cab pickup and a premium XLT series (cab-chassis and pickup) are coming in mid-2026. So, currently you need to select a tray that suits, and there’s a list of options for work and leisure. Prices start at $6078 for a heavy-duty steel tray with a toolbox and a water tank, and run through to an Adventure Pack featuring a water tank, toolbox, ARB Summit Bull Bar, high-capacity winch and rock sliders for just over $20k.

The 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty is an offroad beast as well as a capable tow vehicle — but we covered the rough stuff in our Hema Maps review here (Credit: Ford Australia)

Towing capabilities redefined

The Ford Ranger Super Duty is more than just improved towing capacity and cosmetic touches; sophisticated technology makes towing and offroading safer and more enjoyable. You can check out our take on the 4WD and offroad features in the Hema Maps review; here, we focus on the benefits for caravanners.

Naturally, the 4500kg braked towing capacity is a gamechanger for us caravanners who tow a big van. Countless surveys and roadside inspections report that up to 90 per cent of us are overweight, and that kind of towing behaviour is plain wrong and dangerous. We consistently suggest that most dual-cab utes and moderately sized SUVs cannot legally tow a 3500kg caravan while still loaded with passengers, fuel, a bullbar and some tools. Even with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) upgrade, Aussie caravanners often flaunt the law because they exceed the combined weight of the tow vehicle and van.

Technology that makes a big difference

Upgraded towing capacity isn’t the only winning feature of the new Ranger Super Duty, and for me, the Onboard Scales as part of the Smart Hitch technology are a standout, because knowing your towball weight and vehicle payload are essential for safe towing.

Sensors mounted to the suspension at all corners determine the payload and towball weight on the 12in driver display and can even suggest redistributing weight in the van. The system has a step-by-step procedure for hooking up, ensuring a safe connection even for experienced players. A yaw rate sensor is included as standard and attaches to the van’s drawbar to enable Pro-Trailer Backup Assist, where the central gear control becomes a twisting knob that steers the van in reverse. It took me a while to get used to the device as its turning style is the opposite of how you turn the steering wheel; but within a few minutes, even I was backing like a pro between the hay bales set up for the demonstration.

The towing-focused tech is a gamechanger (Credit: John Ford)

Using Pro-Trailer Backup Assist (Credit: John Ford)

The seven selectable drive modes for highway and offroad driving includes Tow/Haul Mode. By setting the caravan dimensions on the main screen, the system optimises gear shifts and torque settings for the best towing experience. The mode changes suspension tuning and steering feel, operates trailer stability control and increases engine braking. You can also lock out higher gears for more control and shift gears manually. Ford recommends towing in cruise control even when carrying heavy loads.

Other drive modes include Normal, Eco, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.

And, of course, the new Super Duty includes all the modern tech you’d expect, including Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality, traffic sign recognition and lane centring, the last of which thankfully kept in its own lane and didn’t feel like it was taking over the driving experience. There’s also a 360-degree and rear camera, parking sensors and cross traffic alerts. Blind-spot monitors were especially relevant when towing.

How did the Ford Ranger Super Duty tow test go?

Getting comfortable behind the wheel should be simple. The seat has eight manually adjustable height settings and a wide forward and backward slide. I found the large 12in centre screen and 8in instrument controls easy to see and fairly intuitive to operate. The centre console includes gear selection, the parking brake and switches for the various 4WD settings, which were logical and within easy reach for quick adjustments.

We tow-tested the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty with a triaxle trailer loaded up to almost 4500kg (Credit: Ford Australia)

A practical, work-focused aesthetic interior (Credit: Ford Australia)

The layout and styling are modern and practical with cloth seats and rubber floor mats, a concession to the ute’s work ethic; leather-accented seats and carpet flooring are coming in the XLT version in mid-26.

Part of our driving experience was navigating an offroad course with an 850mm water crossing, a 29-degree sideways washout and a sharp bend where the Trail Turn Assist proved its worth. Diff locks at both ends and significant traction-control technology prove the Ranger Super Duty will be a real weapon offroad.

The new Ford Ranger Super Duty has a wading depth of 850mm (Credit: John Ford)

Our on-road experience involved driving on sealed roads through the forests around Jamieson, Vic, and the Super Duty’s road holding and comfort were as good as I’ve felt in a 4WD ute. Power delivery was smooth and without any load the ride was unexpectedly soft, unlike many other vehicles in the class. The Ford engineers have successfully got the progressive-rate springs and dampers working well across the load range.

For our towing test, we had a variety of trailers to choose from, and I picked the one that best represented the max caravan experience — a fully loaded triaxle packed with hay and gear, weighing around 4500kg. The Onboard Scales indicated that the Super Duty was at its maximum payload when two of us climbed aboard. So, our combined weight was just under 8000kg as we drove out the gate and up the first of several decent hills. I’m not here to boast that we couldn’t feel the trailer — this isn’t the BS session in the main bar of the Daly Waters Pub at closing time.

What we did experience was very acceptable acceleration with the torquey engine and gearbox combination performing well. Planting my foot or easing into the throttle produced the same outcome. The 3.0L V6 Turbo-Diesel engine entered its power band and accelerated smoothly, without fuss. On a downhill stretch on the country roads, the trailer pushed us slightly, but there was no concern, and we tracked true. The brakes operated smoothly. We had a 10km run on the freeway where the combination felt stable and comfortable at 100km/h.

I wouldn’t recommend loading up to 8000kg GCM for caravanning. While commercial operators might need to do so, recreational travellers should proceed with caution and leave some margin for error. The Super Duty is a good choice for caravanners with vans in the 3000–4000kg aggregate trailer mass (ATM) range, where travel remains legal and safer than it often currently is.

Final thoughts on the 2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty

With the Super Duty, it’s like Ford looked deep into our souls, saw the conflict around weighty vans and decided on a solution. We can’t all afford, nor do many of us want, a big American truck. But here’s a solution to towing that’s cheaper than a Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol or an INEOS, and outguns every whatever-cab ute in existence — the LandCruiser 79 Series included. Big call? I don’t think so, and I’m not saying that just because I’m a Ford.

It’s a smart looking Ranger and its size means it'll be as at home in the Woolies car park as it is in bush camps and offroad tracks (Credit: Ford Australia)

Measuring up

Pros

• Great towing ability
• Modern tech for offroad travel
• Looks tough and has a sharply designed interior

Cons

• AdBlue is a necessity, which some won’t like

2026 FORD RANGER SUPER DUTY RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY — 9/10

A vehicle capable of towing 4500kg for less than $100k is exceptional

TOWING PERFORMANCE — 8/10
A fantastic mid-size ute — it’s not a RAM, though

HITCHING UP — 10/10
The Onboard Scales and Smart Hitch are standout inclusions and gamechangers for safer towing

CREATURE COMFORTS — 7.5/10

Comfy cloth seats, plenty of places to mount devices and big, clear screens for controls and navigation

ACCESSIBILITY OF SPARE PARTS — 8/10

Ford has dealers all over Australia

FUEL ECONOMY — 7/10

Ford claims you’ll get 1000km from the 130L long-range fuel tank

SOLO PERFORMANCE — 7.5/10

It handles and rides well, given the heavy-duty specs

ENGINE POWER — 7.5/10

The Super Duty has only 154kW of power compared to the 184kW of the standard Ranger, but the gutsy 600Nm of torque remains

INNOVATION — 8.5/10

It’s a gamechanger for those who tow heavy caravans or trailers

X-FACTOR — 8/10

Looks cool, and everyone I know will want one

2026 FORD RANGER SUPER DUTY SPECS

(4X4 DOUBLE CAB CHASSIS)

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

DRIVETRAIN 

GENERAL

2026 Ford Ranger Super Duty Double Cab Chassis price from $89,990, plus heavy-duty steel tray from $6000

MORE INFORMATION

Ford Australia
P: 13 3673

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