The Ranger Super Duty is undergoing extreme testing in Australia ahead of it launch.
Rob Hugo, product excellence and human factors supervisor at Ford Australia, says the mud-pack test, a challenge developed specifically for the Ranger Super Duty, had a simple goal: to pack on as much performance-sapping mud as possible.
“Mud is one of a truck’s greatest enemies. It can add significant weight, prevent airflow, and act as an insulator, causing components to heat up much quicker. It’s highly corrosive and can clog up fans and alternators, preventing them from running correctly.”
For workers on remote mine sites or off-road enthusiasts tackling extreme trails, this is an occupational hazard.
The laboratory was a specially-designed track at Ford’s You Yangs Proving Ground – a purpose-built mud hell featuring a torturous variety of terrain, from deep ruts and bog holes to long, open sections of thick, sticky clay.
The result is more than just a dirty truck. It’s a validation that the Ranger Super Duty has been designed, developed, and tested to thrive in the most extreme locations.
"For the people who need to rely on their truck when the going gets toughest, this trial by mud isn't just an engineering exercise – it's a promise their vehicle is built to endure."
