Ford proudly claims that the brand new Ranger is essentially the most versatile ever and to assist make it attraction to as many individuals as attainable, Ford Australia has developed a brand new roof rack for it.

Dubbed the Versatile Rack System (FRS), it slides inside a C-shaped channel positioned on the high of the load field sidewalls and may be locked in 5 completely different positions, that means it will possibly safe objects of various lengths.

Ford Australia says it spoke with pickup homeowners in the course of the growth of the latest-generation Ranger to find out how they used their vans. The Versatile Rack System was the answer it got here up with.

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“We discovered from our clients that they’d load issues like canoes into the load field after which lean them up in opposition to the sports activities hoop earlier than tying them down. This was awkward and meant the load field couldn’t actually be used for storing anything a buyer may need to take with them,” Ford Ranger software specialist Danny Trentin described. “We additionally discovered of their frustrations when it got here to carrying objects of longer lengths. With an 80-kilogram dynamic load restrict, the Versatile Rack System eliminates these frustrations.”

Forming a part of the FRS is the Sliding Load Rack. It was designed to be operated shortly and simply by one individual. The ring slides into the rails and sports activities a system of 4 curler bearings angled at 37-degrees, retractable stabilizers and locks to make sure the rack received’t transfer when locked in place.

Ford torture-tested the system at its native testing facility, making certain that the FRS may help 80 kg (176 lbs) no matter whether or not it was being pushed on the tarmac or off-road.

“A part of our sturdiness check entails our notorious Silver Creek Highway check observe which is so torturous we use autonomous driving robots to finish this part of the testing,” mentioned Particular Car Engineering senior engineer Kin Tribhuvan. “The FRS was examined at full load and accomplished 77 runs on the observe, passing with flying colours. It accomplished 400 runs with no load.”

Whereas pricing particulars for the Versatile Rack System usually are not but recognized, Ford has confirmed it is going to be obtainable on choose 2023 Ranger fashions.