Carrying large and long items on your vehicle’s roof hasn’t always been the easiest feat. Long items like ladders or timber have proven challenging in the past, especially for tradesmen who use their vehicles at work. The brand new Ford-exclusive Flexible Rack System aims to bridge this gap.
Easily transport long items
Making its market debut on select Ranger models in 2023, the Ford-exclusive Flexible Rack System will allow carrying long items to become a breeze. Utilising the length of the vehicle’s roof and load box, ladder, timber, a door, canoe, surfboards or bicycles can be safely carried. It’s been developed by Ford Australia’s Special Vehicle Engineers, in collaboration with JAC Products.
Quickly positioned and stabilised
The Sliding Load Rack can be easily positioned in one of the five defined locking points. Ideal for solo adventurers, it can be operated by just one person. Designed to be rock solid and reliable, four roller bearings angled at a precise 37-degrees, retractable stabilisers and locks prevent it from moving when locked in position. Once you unlock the Sliding Load Rack on one side, it will automatically release on the other side. It couldn’t be simpler for a single traveller.
It has been engineered with a degree of compliance. The 80-kilogram dynamic load limit applies on and off-road, while the static capacity is rated at up to 250-kilograms.
Another great feature of the system is the pop-up crossbar. It increases the height of the loading platform to match the Folding Roof Racks. These crossbars can be adjusted into two positions.
Has undergone rigorous testing
Of course, when you’re buying gear for the off-road scene, you want to know you can rely on it. Suitable for tough terrains, the system has been tested with bulldust, red dirt, salt and water, to replicate real-world grit. Part of Ford’s durability test included the Silver Creek Road test track. It’s so torturous autonomous driving robots have to be used to complete it. The Flexible Rack System was tested at full load and completed 77 runs on the track. Amazingly, it passed with flying colours.
Easy to clean
After a big off-road trip, the last thing you want to do is spend hours cleaning. After all, most of the time every inch of your vehicle is covered in dirt! The saving grace for The Flexible Rack System are drainage holes in the track. This feature allows vehicle owners to easily wash the channel with a hose.
In the showrooms for 2023
Ford Ranger owners can mark their calendars for 2023, where we expect to see these in showrooms for select models.
