Ford Ranger Super Duty Is So Hardcore Ford Has To Use A Robot As A Test Driver

In Australia, the Ute holds a special place — it’s more than just a truck; it’s a hardworking tool built to endure. These vehicles are expected to survive some of the harshest environments on the planet. If a Ute can’t withstand the rugged terrain and scorching heat of the Outback, the tradespeople who rely on this uniquely Australian version of the pickup truck won’t hesitate to take their hard-earned money elsewhere.

Durability is paramount in the Australian market. When Ford was developing the first Ford Ranger Super Duty, they struggled to find a human driver tough enough to put the truck through its paces. With no Paul Hogan available to take on the challenge, Ford turned to an innovative solution: a robotic test driver. This robot ensured the Ranger Super Duty was built to handle whatever demanding conditions came its way.

Toughest Test Too Rough for Human Drivers

Ford Australia’s most grueling test track, known as Silver Creek, pushes vehicles to their absolute limits. Located at the You Yangs Proving Ground in Victoria, this durability course resembles a dry creek bed—but instead of smooth stones, it’s littered with 300 randomly scattered, bone-jarring bumps of varying shapes and sizes. The relentless terrain is so demanding that even the toughest human drivers struggle to endure it.

“Silver Creek is our most challenging man-made durability track,” said Justin Capicchiano, program manager for the Ranger Super Duty. “It puts the Ranger Super Duty through intense stress from the wheels all the way to the roof, simulating the kind of wear and tear you’d expect from a decade of driving on some of the harshest roads on Earth.”

Every lap on the Silver Creek track generates around 2,000 suspension movements. However, the primary focus is testing the durability of the vehicle’s body mounts and joints, as well as engine mounts and various connectors.

By putting a robot behind the wheel, Ford was able to run tests around the clock. The automaker has used robotic testing before when conditions proved too extreme for human drivers. This approach allowed the truck to be pushed relentlessly for days, pausing only for inspections and refueling. The tests weren’t done on an empty vehicle either—Ford loaded the Ranger Super Duty up to its maximum Gross Vehicle Mass of 9,921 pounds to ensure it was tested under real-world heavy-duty conditions.

“The forces acting on the truck when it’s unladen are already intense, but when loaded to its maximum Gross Vehicle Mass and put through the Silver Creek test, those forces become even more punishing,” said Capicchiano. “This test is crucial for a truck that’s expected to tackle the toughest jobs and the most extreme adventures in the harshest environments.”

Watch The HD Ranger Get Hammered

Naturally, there’s video footage showing the Ranger Super Duty being put through its paces over the brutal, bone-rattling bumps. Watching the truck tackle the relentless terrain is impressive — especially seeing how stable it remains, even when fully loaded to its maximum capacity.

If you’ve ever watched the clip of a previous-generation Toyota Tundra awkwardly bouncing its way across a similar test track, you know just how extreme these conditions can be for trucks. If you haven’t seen that Tundra video yet, get ready — it’s quite the spectacle.

The Ford Ranger Super Duty is a reinforced version of the popular Ranger mid-sized truck available in Australia and select markets worldwide. It offers the compact size of a mid-sized truck but with full-sized capability. Compared to the standard Ranger, it can tow an additional 1,000 pounds and boasts a maximum Gross Vehicle Mass that’s 2,756 pounds heavier. Among the upgrades Ford Australia implemented to create the first Super Duty model outside the F-Series are extra skid plates, a standard long-range fuel tank, and eight-lug hubs.