Righto, let’s talk heavy hitters. Ford’s Ranger Super Duty ute has been a bit of a dream machine for anyone doing serious work, but let’s be honest, the initial offerings were pretty squarely aimed at the blokes with the hi-vis vests and the seriously big toys. Now, it looks like the Blue Oval crew has cottoned on that there’s a whole lot of us out here who need that epic capability but still want a rig that can handle the school run, the long-haul tour, and look the part doing it. The MY26.5 update, rocking up mid-2026, is serving up a couple of critical additions: a factory-fitted tub and a schmick new XLT trim level. This isn’t just good news; it’s the sign that proper, heavy-duty capability is finally getting the flexibility it needed to genuinely appeal to the everyday punter.
We’ve been impressed by the Super Duty’s headline figures since it was first announced. We’re talking a hefty 4500kg towing capacity, a 4500kg GVM, and a stonking 8000kg GCM. That’s enough grunt to haul just about any van, boat, or work trailer you can throw at it. But until now, you were stuck with a cab-chassis setup. Great for a custom tray, sure, but a bit of a drama if you just wanted a proper, factory-finished dual cab ute you could chuck gear into straight away. The new Pick-Up body style changes that entirely. Now, you get all the big numbers but with the convenience of a tub out the back, perfect for weekend gear, recovery kit, or just the tin lids pushbikes. It basically bridges that gap between a dedicated workhorse and a premium tourer, meaning you can knock off the week’s hard yakka and then load up the family for a getaway without having to think about compromise.
Tubs and Toorak Tractor Touches: The XLT Arrives
The real game changer, we reckon, is the introduction of the XLT series. Let’s face it, when you’re spending the better part of a hundred grand on a ute, you don’t just want a comfy driver’s seat; you want something that feels like you can live in it for a few weeks on the road. The XLT badge here dials up the refinement a couple of notches. We’re talking leather-accented, heated, and ventilated front seats (that last bit is a godsend for tackling the top end in summer). Plus, you get proper carpet flooring, which is a nice touch over the hard-wearing vinyl of the more stripped-out models.
It’s clear Ford knows a good chunk of these rigs are going to be used for extended touring. You need the rugged durability for the dirt roads and the tough spots, but the sheer comfort of the XLT will make the thousand-kilometre haul just that bit easier on the old backside. It even rolls on a set of ‘Super Duty’ branded 18-inch, eight-stud alloy wheels, which is a decent flex, too. This move takes the Super Duty out of the pure commercial space and into the aspirational tourer market, making it a genuine rival for some of the biggest Yank trucks if you don’t need the full-fat, gargantuan footprint they bring.
Serious Capability Remains The Core Business
Even with the added polish and the factory tub, the core DNA of the Super Duty is still intact. The engine still spits out a healthy 154kW and a solid 600Nm of torque, and importantly, the heavy-duty specs remain locked in. That 4500kg GVM and 8000kg GCM are the crucial details here. This isn’t a sticker pack; it’s a structural and mechanical upgrade that allows for serious loads and serious towing. It retains the wider track width of 1710mm, which makes a big difference to stability when you’re hauling a boat or a massive van on a twisty stretch of blacktop. And, importantly for us dirt-track dwellers, the 850mm wading depth sticks around too, meaning you’re still well-equipped for those tricky river crossings, provided you know what you’re doing.
What we’re really curious about, and what we’ll be keeping an eye on, is how these new options affect the final payload and ground clearance. Ford has flagged that those details are coming closer to the mid-2026 arrival, and they’ll be critical numbers for the serious off-road community. We’re hoping the factory tub doesn’t chew up too much of the payload, because every kilo counts when you’re building a tourer.
Options Galore: Thinking About the Build
The other smart move Ford is making here is ramping up the factory-fit options. For the new Pick-Up body style, they’re straight out of the gate offering some genuinely useful accessories that make the initial build process a whole lot simpler. You can now tick a box in-bed drawers and various canopy options, from stylish ones with lift and slide sides to a more commercial setup. Crucially, if you grab a canopy, you can also option an 8.9-inch Digital Rear View Mirror, which is a ripper idea for when you’ve got the tub loaded up or you’re towing a big box that blocks the traditional mirror.
You can also opt for handy things like rock sliders, a dual battery system preparation pack, and even carpet flooring on the base models if you’re speccing up a work-and-play rig. The new Traction Green exterior colour also joins the palette as a Prestige Paint option, a nice change from the usual black, white, and grey parade. For the serious traveller, getting these sorts of quality, integrated accessories sorted at the factory streamlines the build and helps maintain a clean, warranty-friendly setup. The fact that Ford is offering to tick these boxes for us shows they understand that the Super Duty isn’t just a work horse; it’s a platform for big adventures.
The Final Say
The Ranger Super Duty was already a force to be reckoned with, but with the introduction of the Pick-Up and XLT options, it’s become a much more compelling all-rounder. It takes that epic 4500kg capability and opens it up to a far wider audience who want the creature comforts and the flexibility of a factory ute. This is Ford delivering what the market was actually asking for. It shows a forward-thinking attitude that prioritises the end user’s real-world needs, be that towing a big ‘van across the Nullarbor or just making a massive trailer connection a little bit easier. Order books are open now, and while mid-2026 feels like a bit of a wait, we reckon these rigs are going to be worth hanging out for.
