Watch the Ford Ranger Super Duty's wading capability get pushed to the limit

In case you missed it, the Blue Oval brand is keen to promote the extensive level of durability testing its upcoming Ford Ranger Super Dutyhas been subjected to.

A month after showing how it put the toughest Ranger ever through trial by mud, Ford has published footage from the next step of the vehicle’s validation process – this time proving that its water-fording capabilities are up to scratch.

Going into this testing, Ford says it set itself a wading depth target of 850mm, which builds on the standard 4×4 Ranger’s 800mm creek-crossing capability.

Ford began this test at its You Yangs Proving Ground near Geelong, where engineers had constructed a 50-metre concrete basin that “can go from bone dry to more than a metre deep in minutes”. This provided a controlled environment for “systematic testing”.

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Interestingly, the team began at a depth of just 50mm, as Ranger Super Duty program engineer Drew O’Shannassy says “each depth tells a different engineering story”.

This depth primarily facilitated high-speed testing, to confirm how well crucial components like the alternator, anciliary belts, turbo housings and exhaust system were protected from water splashing its way past wheel-arch liners. As the water got deeper, controlled-speed crossings allowed engineers to assess intake sealing and overall water intrusion protection.

“Our controlled water bath allows us to repeat our tests for accurate validations, but the real proof comes when conditions become unpredictable,” Mr O’Shannassy said.

Months after the controlled testing, Ford’s team took the Super Duty to the Crooked River Track near Dargo in Victoria’s High Country, a real-world test with 27 consecutive river crossings. This track was chosen for its rainfall-affected water levels, inconsistencies from crossing to crossing, and variations in river bed material.

Ranger Super Duty vehicle integration engineer Tim Postgate explained the thrill of testing a vehicle in such conditions, saying “you’ve done all the maths, run all the controlled tests, but there’s something about watching the nose of the truck disappear into rushing water that makes engineering very real”.

The Super Duty is said to have performed well here. Ford says the 850mm depth “sits roughly halfway between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the wheel arch”, and so breathers for transmission, transfer case, differentials, fuel and AdBlue tanks are all fitted “safely” above the 850mm mark.

Ford also tested the functionality of the Super Duty’s integrated snorkel system, which was developed in collaboration with Safari 4×4. Extensive design and engineering work resulted in a snorkel that fits with the vehicle’s design and manufacturing processes, while also optimising airflow.

Once development, testing and refinement were completed, Ford returned to Crooked River for final validation runs. The brand claims the Super Duty performed exceptionally well, rewarding the efforts of all involved.

“For customers who need to get from A to B, even when B is on the other side of the river, Ranger Super Duty’s snorkel and 850mm wading capability aren’t for show,” Mr Postgate said. “They’re peace of mind for the unexpected realities of nature.”

Priced from $82,990 before on-road costs – before a tray is fitted – the Ranger Super Duty will be available for first Australian customer deliveries in early 2026.

It’ll offer the highest towing and payload capabilities of any Ranger to date, giving Ford a uniquely capable option alongside key rivals including the Toyota HiLux and newcomers like the Kia Tasman and BYD Shark 6. 

Under the bonnet will be a version of the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine already offered in other model grades, making 154kW of power at 3250rpm and 600Nm of torque at 1750rpm – the same torque figure, but down 30kW in power.

Ford announced pricing in June for the Single Cab-Chassis, Super Cab-Chassis and Double Cab-Chassis body styles, which will be the first Super Duty variants available. 

Ranger Super Duty Pickup and XLT Super Duty variants have also been confirmed by Ford. They will join the initial cab/chassis models in Australian showrooms from late 2026. 

The cab/chassis pricing doesn’t include a tray, with Ford offering three different types: a galvanised steel tray, body colour steel tray or a matte black steel tray. Depending on the tray type and variant, costs range between $5966 to $9376 including fitment.

That brings the Super Duty Double Cab-Chassis price to $98,156 before on-road costs with the most expensive tray option. Additionally, it’ll offer a ground clearance figure of 295mm and a payload of up to 1825kg, along with the 850mm wading depth shown here. 

All three Super Duty variants have a 1710mm track width – matching that of the Ranger Raptor, which is 90mm wider than the rest of the Ranger lineup – and a braked towing capacity of 4500kg.

They also have a front axle load rating of 1900kg and a rear axle load rating of 2800kg – compared to a best of 1450kg front and 1959kg rear for other model grades including the more work-ready Ranger XLT dual-cab. 

Ford says it has upgraded the cooling system for the Super Duty to improve performance and reliability when handling not only its increased towing capacity, but also its higher 4500kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) and 8000kg gross combined mass (GCM).

Pricing

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