Ford has been busy lately, and a surprising amount of that activity involves vehicles designed to do more once the pavement ends.
In the UK, the Ranger Super Duty is being transformed into military vehicles, including 6×6 configurations. Australia and New Zealand are getting a Bronco Basecamp built with camping in mind, while a recently published U.S. patent shows Ford exploring an integrated sleeping system for the Bronco.
The projects aren’t directly connected, but together they offer an interesting look at how broadly Ford is thinking about utility, adventure and vehicle-based travel.
Ranger Reports for Duty
Ford has partnered with Ricardo and General Dynamics Land Systems UK to develop a family of Ranger-based vehicles for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s Light Mobility Vehicle program.
The proposed lineup includes tactical vehicles, troop carriers, armored configurations and even an ambulance, with some versions adding a third axle to turn the Ranger into a 6×6. The heavier-duty models are based on the Ranger Super Duty, a reinforced version of the midsize pickup not currently offered in the United States. In standard form, it can tow up to 9,921 pounds and carry as much as 4,370 pounds of payload.
Military use and recreational overlanding obviously have very different requirements, but durability, payload, and the ability to operate far from traditional infrastructure matter in both worlds. Ford also points to the Ranger’s global footprint as an advantage, with the truck sold in more than 180 markets.
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Bronco Basecamp Heads Down Under
The upcoming Bronco Basecamp heads to Australia and New Zealand in 2027 and takes a much more recreation-focused approach. Unlike the North American Bronco, the Basecamp uses an extended-range electric powertrain with a gasoline engine serving as a range extender. More interesting to overlanders is how much camping functionality Ford has integrated directly into the vehicle.
The seats fold flat to create an interior sleeping platform, with an available full-length inflatable mattress. A utility table is built into the tailgate, while higher trims add a warm/cool storage compartment in the center console. The Outer Banks model goes even further with an electrically operated pop-top roof that creates additional interior space and ventilation at camp.
The Basecamp can also provide up to 6.6 kW of vehicle-to-load power for camp appliances, tools, and electronics. Ford estimates a combined driving range of roughly 800 to 900 kilometers, or about 497 to 559 miles.
For now, there’s no indication the Bronco Basecamp is coming to the United States.
Ford Patents a Bronco Sleeping System
A recently published U.S. patent suggests Ford is at least thinking about similar ideas for the Bronco.
Filed in February 2025 and published in August 2026, the patent outlines a sleeping system that uses the folded rear seats and cargo area to create an interior bed. It also describes a roof-mounted structure that could extend across the top of the vehicle to create a second sleeping platform.
Because the Bronco already uses removable roof panels, the concept could potentially allow access between the cabin and upper sleeping area.
As always, a patent doesn’t guarantee production. Automakers routinely protect ideas that never make it to market. Still, the timing is interesting alongside the camping-focused Bronco Basecamp already headed to Australia and New Zealand.
Different Markets, Similar Thinking
A 6×6 military Ranger, an electrified Bronco camper and a U.S. patent for an integrated sleeping system might seem unrelated, but there’s a common thread.
Ford continues to explore ways its trucks and SUVs can become more useful once they leave conventional roads and infrastructure behind, whether that means carrying equipment, supplying power, or simply giving their occupants somewhere to spend the night.
