The Ford Ranger Goes 6x6
Ford is working with General Dynamics Land Systems U.K. to launch a six-wheeled Ranger set up for military duty.
The endeavor comes in an effort to win the bid for the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle Program, and it's the breeding ground for a combination of Australian and extra-wheeled Rangers to find unlikely glory.
The abomination is based on the Ranger Super Duty — a truck we sadly don't get in North America — and comes together as a six-wheeled, six-wheel-drive pickup or flatbed meant for heavy-duty hauling, towing, and other armed forces use cases falling under those needed by the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle Program.
As for the truck itself, it's a cooperative effort with Ford, Ricardo, and General Dynamics Land Systems U.K. that culminates in a vehicle they all hope will win the bid.
The whole ordeal came about as a way to meet the U.K.'s militaristic needs, but it ultimately takes many forms. The trio of companies working on the prototype has everything from a light tactical vehicle to an armored wannabe-Bronco up their sleeve.
Why Ranger (and Bronco) based? Well, the Super Duty version of the former offers a massive 4,370 pounds of payload capacity and can tow 9,921 pounds while still having a small-ish footprint. Ask for anything more, and you'd need a full-size truck, which isn't exactly the U.K.'s mojo. All of this is to say, look for future U.K. armed forces rigs to be slightly more interesting if you're a Ford Ranger (or Bronco) fan.
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Based in Connecticut, Ross hosts The Hooniverse Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast.
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