Ford is to introduce a new Ranger chassis cab variant, providing a donor vehicle for a wide range of conversions.
Expected to find favour with specialist operators, including in the construction, utility, blue light and recovery sectors, it’s the first Ranger chassis cab to be offered and will be available in single-cab body style and in the work-orientated XL series. Customers will also be able to draw upon Ford’s network of more than 160 Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) converters in 13 markets, all of which provide a warranty matching that offered on Ford’s standard vehicles.
The Ranger chassis cab uses a body-on-frame construction and features heavy-duty rear leaf spring suspension and a flat rear surface – providing a base for conversions up to a 3,270kg gross vehicle mass.
Maximum conversion length behind the cab stands at 2,518mm while the Ranger chassis cab also provides 3,500kg maximum towing capacity.
It will be offered with selectable four-wheel drive as standard and a 170hp 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel, delivering 420Nm of torque via a six-speed manual gearbox. Its offroad capabilities are also supported by a wading depth of up to 800mm and 237mm of ground clearance before conversion, along with a short front overhang for optimised approach angles.
Options on offer include a trailer tow electrical connector, high-performance batteries for increased electrical loads, and an interface to link conversions and vehicle signals, such as stopping a tipper body from operating unless the vehicle is parked and in neutral.
“We’ve built the Ranger chassis cab for customers who work in the most demanding environments and need a tough, off-road vehicle to carry their specialist kit,” said Paul Baynes, conversions manager, commercial vehicles, Ford of Europe. “Combined with Ford’s extensive QVM converter network, Ranger chassis cab enables our customers to get the job done, wherever they work.”
The Ranger chassis cab will be available to order from January 2021.
