Six-wheeled Ford Ranger Super Duty emerges in military proposal
Words: Andrew Sluys
A six-wheeled version of the Ford Ranger Super Duty has emerged online, but you aren’t going to see it at your local dealership anytime soon.
This is because it is part of a proposal Ford has put together for the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.
The six-wheeled Ranger Super Duty in question was built by Ricardo, and is known officially as the HEX 6×6.
While six-wheel ute conversions aren’t an uncommon sight in our part of the world, Ricardo has gone about it in a different way.
This HEX 6×6 reportedly uses a “overlay bolt-on system” which means the chassis of the donor vehicle doesn’t have to be altered.
It is based on the Ranger Super Duty cab chassis, so no modification of any tray is needed. The De Dion rear suspension system also means the rear wheels can be de-coupled from the drivetrain to improve economy.
While this conversion ups the Super Duty’s payload to a hefty 3.8-tonnes, a maximum braked towing figure hasn’t been listed.
This HEX 6×6 is just one of the vehicles Ford is using in its military proposal, which includes a variety of Ranger fit outs.
While the Battlefield ambulance is arguably the most interesting-looking proposal of the bunch, we can’t help but feel like the Light Tactical Vehicle would be a sales hit in New Zealand.
We’re also convinced there’s an argument to be made that the Enhanced Protection Vehicle deserves a spot in Ford’s local line-up.
