Ford Ranger Super Duty is a mighty midsize… that we’re not set to get

I am truly happy that a Ford Ranger Raptor is offered here in the U.S. It’s an amazing pickup offered at a price that aims to undercut its so-called competition. Also, smaller trucks are a good thing, as not everyone wants or needs these oversized, over-priced monster machines. Most of which have capabilities far exceeding anything the average owner will ever put the truck through. That’s not to say they’re not great, but I appreciate a more diverse pickup truck marketplace. Ford just introduced a new great option in the space; the Ford Ranger Super Duty. Sadly, however, it’s not destined for our local dealer lots.

This truck is designed for the working person in Australia. They don’t want an F-Series truck but still need something up to the task of towing, hauling, off-pavement activities, and the general wear and tear that comes with a truck actually being put to work. As opposed to one being adorned with King Ranch leather and shiny wheels that only see dirt if it rains at a Whole Foods in Austin.

According to Ford, the Ranger Super Duty was developed after fleet managers requested heavy-duty solutions in smaller, more affordable packages. The Australian market will see the truck arrive with a single, super, or double-cab setup. There are pickup and chassis-cab models, as well. Buyers can spec serious upgrades too, depending on their use cases. This Ranger Super Duty can be outfitted with a sealed snorkel, upgraded axles, beefier suspension, and more. Even better? Front and Rear lockers are standard kit.

Ford fits a 34-gallon fuel tank as standard, too. It’s also protected with steel plating. In fact, the engine, front diff, transfer case, and transmission are also armored up. Also, the frame is stronger, which allows the Ranger Super Duty to arrive with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 9,920 pounds. Quite a jump over the sub-7k figure for the standard Ranger.

Power arrives courtesy of the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, and the maxed braked tow rating sits just under 10k pounds. That’s pretty incredible for a midsize pickup truck. But it’s a truck that’s serious about being a workhorse. That makes it a bit of a shame that we can’t get it here.

In fact, I could see this being a darling of the off-road crowd. It’s already running on 33″ all-terrain tires with a dual-locked setup. Add in the actually payload capacity and this Ranger Super Duty is a truck that would actually fair well once laden with all the crap Overlanders overload onto their Tacomas.

Ford plans to launch the Ranger Super Duty in Australia and New Zealand. Then it will head to Thailand, and on out into other global markets where an F-Series truck doesn’t make as much sense.