Ford devises punishing mud test for Ranger Super Duty

Engineers validating the Ranger Super Duty had to devise a test that would simulate the type of extreme conditions a customer might face.

That resulted in the mud-pack test, a challenge developed specifically for the Ranger Super Duty. The goal? To pack on as much performance-sapping mud as possible.

Rob Hugo from Ford Australia explains: “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. 

So Rob and his team had to replicate and exaggerate the threat.

They developed a specially designed track at Ford’s You Yangs Proving Ground. It is a purpose-built mud bath featuring a torturous variety of terrain. That includes deep ruts and bog holes as well as long, open sections of thick, sticky clay. 

And a single pass was nothing like enough. They subjected the ute to a multi-day ordeal. The team repeatedly drove the Ranger Super Duty through the muck, intentionally allowing it to build up, layer by layer. Eventually, it carried more than 600 kilogrammes of packed-on mud. That’s like having a full-grown steer on the tray.

This suffocating blanket of mud should find the breaking point of every component. It’s a test of durability that goes beyond what most owners will ever experience.

“Our mud-pack testing is a key part of our ‘Built Ford Tough’ validation” Hugo says with a grin. 

“So, for the Ranger Super Duty, we knew we had to turn it up to 11. We packed more mud onto this vehicle during development than we ever have before.”

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 truly tough, this trial by mud is a promise their vehicle is built to endure.