AU towing capacity / Ute

Ford Ranger Towing Capacity (Australia)

Recent Ranger configurations are rated up to 3,500 kg braked. The table below breaks down towing capacity, GVM, GCM and ball limit by year and variant, because in Australia the headline number is only one of four limits that must all hold.

Ford Ranger tow ratings by year (kg)

YearsVariantBrakedUnbrakedGVMGCMBall max
2022-2026 Next-Gen Ranger: Diesel 4x4 (2.0 single/bi-turbo, 3.0 V6) 3,500 750 3,230 6,350 350
2025-2026 Next-Gen Ranger: PHEV 2.3T plug-in hybrid 3,500 750 3,500 6,580 350
2023-2026 Next-Gen Ranger: Raptor 3.0TT V6 petrol 2,500 750 3,130 5,370 250
2012-2022 PX1/PX2/PX3: Diesel 4x4 & Hi-Rider (3.2, 2.2, 2.0 BiT) 3,500 750 3,200 6,000 350
2018-2022 PX3: Raptor 2.0 bi-turbo diesel 2,500 750 3,090 5,350 250

Notes by range

2022-2026: GVM spans 3,060-3,350 and GCM 6,200-6,400 by engine and drivetrain (V6 models sit at the top). At 3,500 kg of trailer and 350 kg on the ball, the GCM leaves roughly 600 kg of payload or less.

2025-2026: Headline matches the diesels, but at max tow the GCM leaves only about 203 kg of usable payload.

2023-2026: The coil-sprung rear end cuts both the tow rating and the ball limit: 250 kg max nose weight per the Ford AU owner’s manual (minimum 10% of trailer weight).

2012-2022: The 3,500 kg rating applies to vehicles built from 1 Nov 2012; 2011 to late-2012 builds are rated 3,350 kg. Low-ride 4x2 variants: 2,500 kg.

2018-2022: GVM/GCM per Ford AU 2020.25MY brochure. Ball limit of 250 kg is the platform towbar rating; Ford AU documents do not publish a figure for this model.

The GCM catch on the current model

At the full 3,500 kg tow, the GCM of 6,350 kg allows the loaded vehicle (including ball weight) to weigh at most 2,850 kg. That is 380 kg below its GVM: weight you must leave out of the vehicle to stay legal while towing the maximum.

Ratings vary by engine, transmission, body and build date, and some require genuine tow kits or a brake controller. Treat these as accurate ranges and confirm your exact vehicle's plate, owner's manual or VIN-specific documentation before towing. Check your combination in the caravan towing calculator.

How to read Australian tow ratings

Four numbers govern every legal combination: the braked rating caps the trailer's ATM, the ball limit caps static download on the tow ball, the GVM caps the loaded vehicle (ball weight included), and the GCM caps vehicle and trailer together. Manufacturers advertise the first number; roadworthiness, insurance and the weighbridge care about all four.

Frequently asked questions

Which Ford Ranger tows the most?

Any Next-Gen diesel 4x4 tows 3,500 kg braked, but the real constraint is GCM: at full trailer weight the V6 keeps around 600 kg of payload and the PHEV only about 200 kg. The Raptor is the outlier at 2,500 kg with a 250 kg ball limit.

Can a Ford Ranger legally tow a 3,500 kg caravan?

Recent configurations are rated to 3,500 kg braked, so yes on paper. In practice the caravan's ATM, the 350 kg ball limit and the 6,350 kg GCM all have to check out at once. Run your exact numbers through our caravan towing calculator before committing.

Is the braked rating the same as what I can actually hook up?

Not quite. The trailer's ATM (its maximum loaded mass) must stay under the braked rating, the ball weight must stay under the ball limit, and the loaded vehicle plus loaded trailer must stay under GCM. Any one of the three can be the binding constraint.

Compare with

Toyota HiLux

Up to 3,500 kg braked

Toyota LandCruiser 300 (& 200)

Up to 3,500 kg braked

Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series

Up to 3,500 kg braked

Caravan towing calculator

Check your car + caravan combination against all four legal limits.