2022 Ford Ranger technical details: roof load, tray capacity, Nissan Navara-style adjustable hooks
Ford appears determined to continue to drip-feed information on the new Ranger before it releases final specifications in the coming weeks. Here’s the latest instalment.
The 2022 Ford Ranger ute is on track to arrive in Australian showrooms in the middle of this year, after the vehicle was unveiled late last year.
While Ford is yet to share technical details on the new range of diesel engines – single-turbo and twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder, and single-turbo 3.0-litre V6 – and other basic information such as the overall dimensions, we now have more information of interest to buyers who plan to use the new Ranger for work and play.
A press release out of Ford in Germany has gone into detail about the ute tray, which will have sliding and adjustable hooks on rails, similar to those on the Nissan Navara.
Photos show limited storage space under the back seats, as per today’s model.
There is the promise of better ute tub lighting, as well as “zone lighting” to illuminate the surrounding area of the vehicle when camping.
“Zone lighting can be controlled via the touchscreen infotainment system inside the vehicle or via the FordPass 2 app on your smartphone,” says Ford.
“A combination of the headlights, puddle lamps, numberplate lamps and box lighting can be set to illuminate a 360-degree area around the truck, or just specific zones, to help safely inspect the area around the vehicle at night.”
The tailgate is spring loaded – and damped – so it can be raised and lowered with one hand, says Ford.
The tailgate also doubles as a workbench, with two clamp pockets concealed by spring-loaded caps.
“A built-in ruler with 10 mm increments (on models not fitted with a drop-in bed-liner) makes measuring convenient,” says Ford.
Optional power to the ute’s rear tray comes in the form of two 12-volt sockets (versus one in today’s model) and a 400-watt inverter, to power appliances such as a fridge or laptop. It is unclear if the 400W inverter will have enough grunt to operate a power tool.
A spray-in tub liner is available on some models, and a drop-in liner is available on others.
As with today’s Ranger, the drop-in bed-liner incorporates divider locators – but there are more of them.
Although we are yet to try it, Ford says the new wider ridges in the moulded bed-liner are more comfortable on your knees when crawling to load and unload material.
Ford says this design make it “much easier to clean and also means items are less likely to slip around.”
Ford says the new Ranger’s cargo box has best-in-class volume of more than 1200 litres.
“With the new Ford Ranger now 50mm wider than before, the cargo box can accommodate a standard European pallet between the wheel arches (up to 1224mm), while the load box length runs from 1638mm to 2305mm, depending on the variant,” says Ford.
“An internal rail – with spring-loaded, adjustable cleats on either side of the cargo box – allows customers to configure their cleats and tie-downs to suit every load,” says Ford.
The cleats slide and lock into nine locations along the rail. There are also six fixed tie-down points in the cargo box.
External tie-down rails are fitted to low-grade workhorse models, designed for ratchet straps and ropes.
New Ford Ranger Wildtrak models are fitted with aluminium extrusions that double as tie-down rails that run the full length of the cargo box.
Heavy-duty plastic capping are designed to protect the load box edges and tailgate upper edge from damage.
“That means owners can load equipment into the cargo box without fear of damaging the paint on the top surface of the load box or tailgate,” says Ford.
The plastic caps can be removed to fit accessories such as canopies and equipment crossbars.
The new Ford Ranger has roof-top channel mounts, for roof racks and platforms. The roof load limits are up to 350kg while the vehicle is parked and 85kg when the vehicle is moving.
As with the current Ford Ranger Wildtrak, the powered roller shutter opens and closes using the key fob, or from a switch inside the cargo box. But the new model will also have a switch on the instrument panel on the dashboard.
“Accessories channels down the sides of the roller shutter allow customers to easily fit mounts for bikes, kayaks, snowboards/skis, or camping gear,” says Ford. “The powered roller shutter includes ice-break and anti-pinch functions for additional convenience and protection.”
As reported earlier, the new Ford Ranger will be available with more than 150 factory-backed accessories from launch.
Given the likelihood of accessories being fitted, Ford took a leaf out of the Toyota HiLux playbook and allowed space under the bonnet for a second battery to be fitted by aftermarket suppliers.
“Engineers added space for a second battery under the bonnet and a pre-wired overhead auxiliary switch panel to facilitate fitment of light bars, winches, or more complex conversions such as tipper bodies and towing equipment,” said Ford.
Meantime, all our previous coverage is linked below.
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