The Cargo Box - Versatility as a Workspace
Ford’s design team studied the ways customers used the cargo box – be they a tradesman, adventurer or family who needed to carry ‘stuff’ – and developed many innovative ways to help them access and use the space more effectively.
• The rear load box access step makes climbing up into the cargo box much easier. Attached directly to the load box via two steel supports, the box step boasts a strong, durable construction and means you no longer need to climb onto the wheel to access gear, tools or equipment in the back of Ranger.
• Load box lighting means that setting up or packing camp sites or finding gear in the dark is a lot easier.
• Zone lighting can be controlled via the infotainment system inside the vehicle or via the FordPass™ app on your smartphone. A combination of the headlights, puddle lamps, numberplate lamps and box lighting can be set to illuminate a 360-degree area around the truck, or in specific areas. It is perfect for safely inspecting the area around the vehicle at night.[i]
• The easy-lift tailgate, which can be raised and lowered with one hand, doubles as a mobile workbench. The tailgate work surface is designed to help owners with professional or DIY jobs. Two clamp pockets concealed by spring-loaded caps in the tail gate are designed to help secure timber or other project materials, while a built-in ruler with 10mm increments (on models not fitted with a drop-in bedliner) makes measuring convenient.
• Power to the box comes in the form of a combination of either 400W and 12V sockets or just one or the other, meaning customers can power a range of appliances by plugging directly into the Ranger. With a 400W capacity, items including a small oven, smartphone or laptop, a rice cooker and even a 24-inch LED TV and DVD combination and many more can all be run from the bed-mounted 400W outlet.
The Cargo Box - Innovations for Load Carrying
The next-gen Ranger’s cargo box includes several new innovations that help customers customise the load area to suit their needs.
• The new drop-in bedliner incorporates functional divider locators so that owners can create their own compartments to store gear that they might otherwise have to carry in the cabin. Dividers can be custom-made from timber at home and then installed and removed as required. As a bonus, the improved and wider moulded profile on the bedliner is more comfortable on your knees, is much easier to clean and also means items are less likely to slip around.
• Loading and unloading the Ranger has never been easier. At 1,233-litres, the cargo box has best-in-class volume*, meaning customers can carry more. With Ranger now 50mm wider, the cargo box can accommodate a standard European pallet between the wheel arches (up to 1,224mm) while the loadbox length runs from 1,544mm to 2,305mm depending on the variant. [ii]
• An internal rail with spring-loaded, adjustable cleats on either side of the cargo box allows customers to configure their cleats and tie-downs to suit every load. Cleats slide and lock into nine locations along the rail. There are also six fixed tie-down points in the cargo box.
• External tie-down rails create ultimate cargo hauling flexibility and are designed to easily fit ratchet straps and ropes, while Wildtrak models are fitted with aluminium extrusions that double as tie-down rails that run the full length of the cargo box.
• Durable plastic box top and tail gate capping protects the load box edges and tailgate upper edge from damage. That means owners can load equipment into the cargo box without fear of damaging the paint on the top surface of the load box or tail gate.
• Load box access caps are removable plastic caps that cover structural attachment points for aftermarket accessories like canopies and equipment crossbars for camping and adventure gear.
• Roof top platform mounts allow for the easy fitment of roof accessories, like racks or a platform. Next-gen Ranger’s roof load limits are up to 350kg (static) and 85kg (dynamic).
• The available powered roller shutter allows customers to open and close the box cover using their key fob or from a switch inside the cargo box or from the instrument panel. Special accessories channels run down the sides of the roller shutter allowing customers to easily fit accessory mounts for things like bikes, snow boards/skis, kayaks or camping gear. The powered roller shutter boasts features including an ice breaker and anti-pinch, which automatically stops the shutter when it detects an obstruction.