Ranger Super Duty Confirmed for 2026

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I mean, I have two 500hp V8's in my garage with far more performance than is needed on Australian roads. Following the same mentality, that should mean I'd need a special license or training as well.

When one of my clients bought a sizable caravan last year, due to her husband's failing eyesight, she is the one doing the driving. To her credit, she went and did a trailer towing coarse.

I personally think something like that should be mandatory over a certain size and weight. There are far too many first time caravan owners on the road towing MASSIVE rigs that are bigger than some trucks. The truck driver needs a special license and is required to provide a logbook, and yet there is nothing to stop someone going out and buying a massive caravan and towing it around the country with an equally massive 4WD. I'd wager that is more risky than the truck driver.

I think we’re in agreement, particularly when towing loads get up there,
especially when our older citizens may be behind the wheel.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I mean, I have two 500hp V8's in my garage with far more performance than is needed on Australian roads. Following the same mentality, that should mean I'd need a special license or training as well.

No, it’s not the same logic because the situations are very different,
exactly for the reasoning you go on to give below

When one of my clients bought a sizable caravan last year, due to her husband's failing eyesight, she is the one doing the driving. To her credit, she went and did a trailer towing coarse.

I personally think something like that should be mandatory over a certain size and weight. There are far too many first time caravan owners on the road towing MASSIVE rigs that are bigger than some trucks. The truck driver needs a special license and is required to provide a logbook, and yet there is nothing to stop someone going out and buying a massive caravan and towing it around the country with an equally massive 4WD. I'd wager that is more risky than the truck driver.

I think we’re in agreement, particularly when towing loads get up there,
especially when our older citizens may be behind the wheel.

[Warrenk]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The truck driver needs a special license and is required to provide a logbook, and yet there is nothing to stop someone going out and buying a massive caravan and towing it around the country with an equally massive 4WD.

A truck driver needs the "special licence" because of the the GVM of the vehicle they will be driving, nothing to if they are towing or not. All vehicles below a 4500kg GVM only need a car license, so unless there is a change in the law nothing will change, and I don't think politicians have the b*lls to do this. I completely agree with what people are saying about anyone who has never driven anything bigger than a Corrolla and only towed a box trailer(and never backed it) buying a 3t plus caravan(or boat) and a dual cab ute and off on there holiday to scared to drive over 80kph.

[whynot]

I think it is counter productive to get fixated on large car-caravan combos and to selectively pick out certain examples as representative of the entire population. There is also an undercurrent of ageism in the discussion that again the selected examples are not representative of the entire population.

Like most things in life, the 80/20 rule is a good rule of thumb. 80% of the population is sensible and reasonable. The remaining 20% are not and never will be. This applies to interstate truck drivers in charge of a Quad as well as Pop 'n Nana towing that 3t caravan.

Would I say 'no' to some type of exam? Philosophically, I don't have a problem with it. But, if we are going down that particular road, what I would prefer to see is an online test of road rules every five years for all drivers when the licence is renewed, with additional sections for those who hold other licence classes.

Does specific caravan training help? Definitely does. But so too does advanced driver training for all automobile drivers. Spending a day or so on the skid pan is quite instructive. The accident statistics suggest that better outcomes would be achieved by uplifting the base skill off all drivers, and not just focusing on caravan towing.

What is missing from the thread is how purchasing a Ranger Super Duty will de-risk caravan towing.

For starters, the tow rating is engineered into the vehicle from the factory. This is unlike the aftermarket GVM upgrades that just replace springs, dampeners, and maybe rim/tyres. There is beefing up the frame, upgraded brakes, completely revised front suspension, upgraded hubs (8 nuts), upgraded differential, etc, etc. One should be able to drive the RSD out of the yard and put it immediately to work.

The second point with the Ranger Super Duty is how more weight can be placed in the RSD, improving the ratio between the towing vehicle and towed caravan. It is possible to have 4.5t GVM in the Ranger and 3.5t in the caravan, fitting in with the rule of thumb that the van should weigh less than its towing vehicle. Again, these weights are engineered by Ford into the RSD, and like a heavy vehicle weight limit, should be OK to run within the weight limits.

Finally, the RSD appears more targeted at the mining and government fleets in the first instance. For sure, Ford will be happy to sell to anyone. I don't think it is the Pop 'n Nana caravan folk they are after.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by whynot

I don't think it is the Pop 'n Nana caravan folk they are after.

Let's wait and see how long til higher trim levels are offered. I'd be surprised if we didnt see a Sport/Wildtrak offering down the track.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by b0son

Let's wait and see how long til higher trim levels are offered. I'd be surprised if we didnt see a Sport/Wildtrak offering down the track.

Only the Thai Ford plant makes those models, the SuperDuty is not being made there.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by b0son

Let's wait and see how long til higher trim levels are offered. I'd be surprised if we didnt see a Sport/Wildtrak offering down the track.

Won’t happen

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by b0son

Let's wait and see how long til higher trim levels are offered. I'd be surprised if we didnt see a Sport/Wildtrak offering down the track.

the business case for this program is based on commercial high GVM needs. Forestry, Mining, SES etc. Any retails sales are a bonus. I expect in fact retail to be quite limited at the start, so as to prioritise fleet deliveries (see post #90 )

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by whynot

I think it is counter productive to get fixated on large car-caravan combos

Considering how many different vehicles are getting approved for GVM upgrades just to tow a Taj Mahal on wheels?

Originally Posted by whynot

There is also an undercurrent of ageism in the discussion that again the selected examples are not representative of the entire population.

Wanna bet? Try having to deal with the geriatrics on a regular basis, the kind who cant comprehend that something needs greasing just because nobody yet had told them to do it!
Or todays example, leaving the local dump, the campervan driving fossil who bailed me up wanting to know where the dump office was because they wanted to buy a 2nd hand pushbike
Answer 1: You need to go to the recycling centre over there, they're open XX hours on XX days, thats where you can buy one
"But I want to buy one here"
Answer 2: Yes, but the recycling centre is the outlet for anything that can be recovered and re-used from the dump, so you need to go there.
"But I want to buy one HERE"
Answer 3: The dump is contractually obliged to supply the recycling centre, they have no capacity to process sales, so they CAN NOT sell you ANYTHING. GO TO THE RECYCLING CENTRE

I'd love to know why the fossil was allowed to drive on public roads if he cant understand that simple bloody concept. Should be off in a nursing home somewhere.

Originally Posted by whynot

Like most things in life, the 80/20 rule is a good rule of thumb. 80% of the population is sensible and reasonable. The remaining 20% are not and never will be.

So how do you explain why it seems every caravan dragging person seems to have less intelligence than the average dish sponge?

Originally Posted by whynot

What is missing from the thread is how purchasing a Ranger Super Duty will de-risk caravan towing.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely ZERO ford can do to mitigate the risk of the average caravan draggers IQ being lower than the temperature of a penguins pecker. in degrees Farenheit.

Originally Posted by whynot

Finally, the RSD appears more targeted at the mining and government fleets in the first instance. For sure, Ford will be happy to sell to anyone. I don't think it is the Pop 'n Nana caravan folk they are after.

You havent noticed how many happy little recipients of total lobotomies buy 79 series Landcruisers, drop a small fortune on kitting them up for "touring" then whinge when the end product is still only a tarted up COMMERCIAL vehicle?

As I've said before..... the caravanning and touring crowd arent that bright.

[b0son]

Will there be a LHD for the US market? The Super ImportDuty?

[Travesty]

Duty free?

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by b0son

Will there be a LHD for the US market? The Super ImportDuty?

Technically, there already is.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Considering how many different vehicles are getting approved for GVM upgrades just to tow a Taj Mahal on wheels?

Wanna bet? Try having to deal with the geriatrics on a regular basis, the kind who cant comprehend that something needs greasing just because nobody yet had told them to do it!
Or todays example, leaving the local dump, the campervan driving fossil who bailed me up wanting to know where the dump office was because they wanted to buy a 2nd hand pushbike
Answer 1: You need to go to the recycling centre over there, they're open XX hours on XX days, thats where you can buy one
"But I want to buy one here"
Answer 2: Yes, but the recycling centre is the outlet for anything that can be recovered and re-used from the dump, so you need to go there.
"But I want to buy one HERE"
Answer 3: The dump is contractually obliged to supply the recycling centre, they have no capacity to process sales, so they CAN NOT sell you ANYTHING. GO TO THE RECYCLING CENTRE

I'd love to know why the fossil was allowed to drive on public roads if he cant understand that simple bloody concept. Should be off in a nursing home somewhere.

So how do you explain why it seems every caravan dragging person seems to have less intelligence than the average dish sponge?

Unfortunately, there is absolutely ZERO ford can do to mitigate the risk of the average caravan draggers IQ being lower than the temperature of a penguins pecker. in degrees Farenheit.


You havent noticed how many happy little recipients of total lobotomies buy 79 series Landcruisers, drop a small fortune on kitting them up for "touring" then whinge when the end product is still only a tarted up COMMERCIAL vehicle?

As I've said before..... the caravanning and touring crowd arent that bright.

You are correct, not much brighter than most useless dimwitted truckies who think is it their given right that they own the roads, you want to look at your own kind before pointing the finger at others.
Your industry is also rife with dullwits on the roads.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Itsme

You are correct, not much brighter than most useless dimwitted truckies who think is it their given right that they own the roads, you want to look at your own kind before pointing the finger at others.
Your industry is also rife with fckwits on the roads.

Ooof.
I think we found the 85kmh caravaner who rides the centre line and doesn’t know what the mirrors are for.

[kypez]

Do you think they'd do as version with the Raptor engine instead? I like this vehicle but not a huge fan of the diesel. It's slow in the regular Ranger and think it will be slower still with the extra weight and bigger tyres.

Never mind, missed these posts initially

Originally Posted by XR Martin

The Thai plant where these will be made only make XL, XLS and XLT models. (Auto Alliance)
Someone on another forum tried to order one and was told they can only be ordered via Ford Fleet.

Originally Posted by simon varley

the business case for this program is based on commercial high GVM needs. Forestry, Mining, SES etc. Any retails sales are a bonus. I expect in fact retail to be quite limited at the start, so as to prioritise fleet deliveries (see post #90 )

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by kypez

Do you think they'd do as version with the Raptor engine instead? I like this vehicle but not a huge fan of the diesel. It's slow in the regular Ranger and think it will be slower still with the extra weight and bigger tyres.

Never mind, missed these posts initially

Was actually wondering the same!

I'd probably say that what makes it a Super Duty wouldn't translate well to a high performance model. Having said that, they could perhaps take a different path instead of what Raptor has traditionally meant.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Was actually wondering the same!



I'd probably say that what makes it a Super Duty wouldn't translate well to a high performance model. Having said that, they could perhaps take a different path instead of what Raptor has traditionally meant.

Super duty in the states had big petrol engines (but they all have big petrol engines) hence my question.

But in this country, no point especially if their target market are the ones mentioned though emissions targets could be met easier with petrol engines.

[CyberWasp]

Ford should really give it to Toyota.

Presenting the Ford Ranger Super Duty Troopy.



I didn't nail it, but you get the idea.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Ford should really give it to Toyota.



Presenting the Ford Ranger Super Duty Troopy.



image



I didn't nail it, but you get the idea.

Burn it with fire

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by smoo

Ooof.
I think we found the 85kmh caravaner who rides the centre line and doesn’t know what the mirrors are for.

Looks like I found another impatient truckie who think he owns the roads.

You can sit behind me when I go travelling, you won't get up enough steam to pass me.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Try having to deal with the geriatrics on a regular basis,

You and John Cadogan should get together for a 'cry in thy beer' at the local pub. In his (begrudging) article, he kept complaining about 'any muppet 20-year-old (with a big head and buckets of over-confidence)' being allowed to drive a Ranger Super Duty.

Obviously, we can infer from these comments that the RSD is only reserved for certain folk, not too young and not too old.

Maybe we should get serious about vehicle safety. You know. Ban the Ranger Super Duty, ban V8, ban turbo 6, and ban all forms of ricers. Stop selling Commodores and Falcons to P-plater's.

Heck, lets do what the Greens want and catch public transport everywhere.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Ford should really give it to Toyota.

Presenting the Ford Ranger Super Duty Troopy.

image

I didn't nail it, but you get the idea.

Or...................................just give us the Bronco already!

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Itsme

You are correct, not much brighter than most useless dimwitted truckies who think is it their given right that they own the roads, you want to look at your own kind before pointing the finger at others.
Your industry is also rife with fckwits on the roads.

And geriatrics are angels I suppose?

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Jeez, you might have a case if it wasn’t for the fact that plenty of folks have been towing heavy loads
with the older.smaller Landcruiser and Patrols for decades. So while some think that this will open
the floodgates to a tow ratings war, I think prices of SD Ranger will keep this to a reasonable few sales.

And yes,
Training people to tow responsibly should have been part of a drivers licence endorsement years ago
for anything more than a light box trailer. It wouldn’t have to be anything more than a few hours with
an instructor and a decent practical and written test.

True, I suppose what else can you do..... Most licenses. And courses are. Just a tick in the box, most people get very little knowledge out of it

Scares the hell out of me when I see. The level of industry/mechanical knowledge that heavy transport operators have, and. General understanding of vehicle stability, load proportioning etc..... You see it over here all the time when some Muppet doesn't even know what the diff lock is and blocks a main highway going over a mountain range in the wet or has a truck shut down in the middle of the lane in a windy gorge and can't figure out to get it to the side. Of the road when the warning comes up..... Just crazy

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Ford are investing in more service points, particularly in rural and remote areas. This will address one of the areas where Toyota have excelled.

Meanwhile I've just had a transit come back from spending a month at the local dealer for a side step retractor, and the bosses Ranger is looking to be out of action for a couple of weeks more just for a sensor!

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Another interesting feature, Super Duty has an inbuild load scale that displays weight in the tray via the Sync screen.

Originally Posted by beach_FGX

They look impressive, particularly the onboard mounted scales incorporated into the SYNC system, for payload and ball weight.

Wonder how well its going to work given how many people opt for a suspension lift with HD springs....

Originally Posted by XR Martin

Be interesting what the tare weight is.
Standard Ranger is ~2300kg, Superduty must be a good 300kg heavier.

Tare weight of a standard Ranger 4wd single cab is 1829kg and the dual cab is 1975kg plus the tray, with GVM's of 3230 & 3250 respectively.

To achieve a reliable GVM of 4500kg and not to be overloading the chassis or suspension and reduce the service life of the suspension, I would expect tare weights to be at least 2600-2800kg.
[QUOTE=Travesty;6958375]the aftermarket GVM upgrade outfits are toast, this makes a mockery of "GVM upgrades" that are underdone and overpriced[/
QUOTE]
This is the one thing I do support, the "GVM Upgrades" focus heavily on *only* the suspension upgrade side of things, leaving a heavier spec ute with marginal chassis & braking and a miserable unladen ride.

Originally Posted by Travesty

there will be a wholesale dumping of 79 series and "standard" Rangers on the used market

Not really, its a horses for courses thing, not everyone *needs* a heavy spec 4wd ute, heck, most of that market is used by soccer mums ferrying their crotch goblins to school.

Originally Posted by Travesty

- Toyota will have something soon enough as a counter, but Nissan and Bitsareshiti are done

Toyota are arguably not far off the mark with their 70 series, something like the bastard inbred child of a 79 series and a megacruiser would tick the box. Nissan and Mitsubishi have demonstrated that they're not interested in the heavy 4wd ute segment in Australia, otherwise nissan wouldnt have dropped the Patrol ute, and Mitsubishi would have had something bigger than the triton 30 years ago.

Originally Posted by Rastas

Careful what you wish for -
A Shark version based on Bao 5/8 running gear with over 4.5t towing and 500 to 600kw power at say 15k to 20k less is coming. The other Chinese brands if they see this is the market will follow suit.

Be it Chinese or EV, I dont regard them to be serious contenders, poor build quality, an absence of longevity, and in the case of EV's, lack of range makes them less of a serious contender

Originally Posted by Sprintey

The only downside I can see is weight

It seems that today, 2500kg is the new 1600kg

You dont buy a lightweight vehicle to do a trucks job.

if you want to carry a tonne every day and expect it to do so for years on end, you dont do it with a hilux, you do it with a landcruiser or a light truck.

Also, all the mod cons like climate contril, power windows, reduced in cab noise & vibrations, all that infotainment crap.... it all adds weight

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The truck driver needs a special license and is required to provide a logbook, and yet there is nothing to stop someone going out and buying a massive caravan and towing it around the country with an equally massive 4WD. I'd wager that is more risky than the truck driver.

Then you remember that truck drivers are considered as professional drivers and are regulated and hounded by police and transport inspectors like hawks, they're required to know how to reverse their prime mover/trailer combinations, they get fined damn near to bankruptcy for anything and everything, yet ma and pa kettle can sell up their suburban quarter acre, upgrade from their corolla to a shiny new 8-9 tonne silverado & towable taj mahal and putter around the country with damn near impunity!

Just look how often the authorities set up "weigh stations" for caravanners saying they're only doing it to educate & advise..... yet the moment they do it to the truckies, the fines fly thick and fast!

Originally Posted by b0son

Let's wait and see how long til higher trim levels are offered. I'd be surprised if we didnt see a Sport/Wildtrak offering down the track.

Theres already mention of "touring" oriented XLT's

Originally Posted by simon varley

the business case for this program is based on commercial high GVM needs. Forestry, Mining, SES etc. Any retails sales are a bonus. I expect in fact retail to be quite limited at the start, so as to prioritise fleet deliveries (see post #90 )

In many potential industries where the SD would be good, towing is already a dirty word.
Also, in those industries, anyone doing heavy work is either expected or trained to drive LR or MR weight class vehicles, so a GVM of 4500 KG and 4500kg towing/8000kg GVM makes me incredibly skeptical about claims of "aimed at commercial users" as those numbers put the SD squarely in the realm of the imported F250/2500 silverado/ram market, all of which are suspiciously downgraded and sneakily aimed at the large caravan dragging market.

Originally Posted by Itsme

You are correct

Yep, I am

Originally Posted by Itsme

not much brighter than most useless dimwitted truckies who think is it their given right that they own the roads, you want to look at your own kind before pointing the finger at others.
Your industry is also rife with fckwits on the roads.

Yet one group are considered professional drivers, and the other are simply abusing the system that allows them to do things they have no experience and limited ability in doing, all the while compromised by declining health, physical ability and mental acuity.
And thats before we question their grasp of road rules considering how many things have changed since they passed their license tests....

Originally Posted by whynot

You and John Cadogan should get together for a 'cry in thy beer' at the local pub.

Nope, I'm not interested in what would certainly lead to, at best an assault charge, at worst, a court appearance for crimes against humanity.

Originally Posted by whynot

In his (begrudging) article, he kept complaining about 'any muppet 20-year-old (with a big head and buckets of over-confidence)' being allowed to drive a Ranger Super Duty.

Just the same as the bowling hate and blue rinse brigade doing the exact same.

Originally Posted by whynot

Obviously, we can infer from these comments that the RSD is only reserved for certain folk, not too young and not too old.

My issue is the RSD being aimed right on the edge straddling regular car license drivers, and what really should be light truck territory, its allowing people with limited experience & ability to drive a combination that may well beyond them.

Originally Posted by whynot

Maybe we should get serious about vehicle safety. You know. Ban the Ranger Super Duty, ban V8, ban turbo 6, and ban all forms of ricers. Stop selling Commodores and Falcons to P-plater's.

Just about Australia wide there are already laws in place limiting inexperienced drivers from driving V8's and turbocharged cars in the interests of safety.
Ricers? Suggesting banning them for what reason? Appearance would mean admitting to bigotry and saying they've got unsafe mods without a crackdown on the average suburban ****box would be hypocrisy.....
Stop selling commodores and falcons to P platers? Young drivers are going to find a way to self nominate for a Darwin award regardless of what theyre driving.

Originally Posted by PooDog

True, I suppose what else can you do..... Most licenses. And courses are. Just a tick in the box, most people get very little knowledge out of it

And the situation gets worse over time with drivers oblivious to new rules & rule changes because they never find out about them.

Originally Posted by PooDog

Scares the hell out of me when I see. The level of industry/mechanical knowledge that heavy transport operators have, and. General understanding of vehicle stability, load proportioning etc..... You see it over here all the time when some Muppet doesn't even know what the diff lock is and blocks a main highway going over a mountain range in the wet or has a truck shut down in the middle of the lane in a windy gorge and can't figure out to get it to the side. Of the road when the warning comes up..... Just crazy

And then you have ma and pa kettle who are oblivious to all the extra needs of towing because all they've ever done is driven their corolla around suburbia.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Wonder how well its going to work given how many people opt for a suspension lift with HD springs....

I thought that the F150 has a "onboard scales calibration" option within the Ford FDRS software that the dealer could do after a suspension change.

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Also, all the mod cons like climate contril, power windows, reduced in cab noise & vibrations, all that infotainment crap.... it all adds weight

Don't 70 series come with AC as factory fit these days?

Back in the 90's, nearly all motoring groups were pushing factory AC as an essential safety feature. Especially in the tropics where during a summer storm, no amount of demisting heat will clear the inside of a front windshield.

Likewise, AC helps reduce heat related fatigue on long drives in summer. See Driver fatigue and safety margins. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39(1), 113-129 and Physiological and psychological responses to different room temperatures. Applied Ergonomics, 42(6), 865-871 and Hydration and cognitive performance. British Journal of Nutrition, 89(Suppl 2), S159-S166 for starters.

Ditto, the reduction in cabin noise and vibrations has a positive impact on reducing driver fatigue.

See The Effect of Low-Frequency Road Noise on Driver Sleepiness and Performance (Anund et al., 2015), and Evaluation of Exposure to Noise and Vibration and Its Effect on Work-related Fatigue (Pourabdian et al., 2023)

I don't follow your logic in the use of fact-less based opinions to support a nebulous argument.

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Ricers? Suggesting banning them for what reason? Appearance would mean admitting to bigotry

Wow, you have gone off on a tangent there ... I was thinking of highly over boosted turbocharged four cylinder that specialises in flame throwing and back firing. There is a rash of them doing circle work in our suburb at 2AM in the morning of late.

Originally Posted by Interceptor

... you do it with a landcruiser ...
... Toyota are arguably not far off the mark with their 70 series ...

Ahhh, so now the game plan comes to light. Truly frustrated Toyota fans are now arguing that the Ranger Super Duty is "too heavy" and implying that it is dangerous, so best restrict drivers to what a 70 series is rated for.

Originally Posted by Interceptor

My issue is the RSD being aimed right on the edge straddling regular car license drivers, and what really should be light truck territory, its allowing people with limited experience & ability to drive a combination that may well beyond them.

Well, the C-class licence with its 4.5t weight limit has been around for nearly 30 years. Hasn't seemed to be a problem until the Ranger Super Duty made an appearance.


(Just for the record. I do have a HR licence and held it for over 35 years. I don't own a caravan. Don't tow a caravan. Don't intend to tow a caravan.)

Edit: I would be much, much happier towing a caravan in an SDR that a NLR N-Series. When the bean counters at work took our F250 V8 line trucks off us, the replacement to drive around town was an anaemic Ford Traders, and that was five years too long.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by whynot

When the bean counters at work took our F250 V8 line trucks off us, the replacement to drive around town was an anaemic Ford Traders, and that was five years too long.

What, you needed a F250 V8 just to drive around town, no wonder they took them off you.
Nothing wrong with the Mazda T series full box chassis compared to rubbish they build today.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Nothing wrong with the Mazda T series full box chassis compared to rubbish they build today.

We blew a number of engines (just outside the warranty period) due to split lower coolant hoses. The temperature gauge was isolated high and dry in auxiliary pipework, so that didn't bark once the water dribbled out of the top of the coolant loop. During the first year, my Trader spent an inordinate time at the dealer getting random stuff fixed. And didn't end up being as cost effective over the V8 as forecast. Ride quality was crap when compared to the F250. Cold barely hold 100 kph on the highway (were as the F250 would cruise along). Seat were uncomfortable. A much unloved work vehicle.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by whynot

Well, the C-class licence with its 4.5t weight limit has been around for nearly 30 years. Hasn't seemed to be a problem until the Ranger Super Duty made an appearance.

Nope, some of us have been saying this for years.
Perhaps time to revisit weights around that license. 35 years ago was a completely different time and the lifetsyle based on large vans, boats and loaded up modified touring/tarmac princess Thai specials weren’t a thing.

I recently come across the Eyre Highway. The amount of caravans on that road is staggeringly huge.
Admittedly the larger SUVs like 200 Series and Y62, and american pick ups are ok.
It’s the smaller Thai special and SUV derivatives that are the nuisance, loaded right up, dragging their **** on the ground, drivers too scared to go faster than 90knh. If it all went pear shaped they have no chance.

[prydey]

This thread has turned... So much anger and shaking fists at the sky, all over opinions and stereotypes with very few facts making an appearance.

It's a human trait to put others down, which in reality is just a way of elevating one's self above another.

It's irrational to hate someone based on their choice of vehicle or lifestyle.