There is no way the new Ranger will have a solid front axle. When was the last time a small or mid sized truck had a solid front axle? And what is the market for a mid-sized truck with a solid front axle in the US? I am going with “very small” on that one.

To be honest, the people that hardcore would probably have changed out most of the stock bits anyway.

Not gonna happen. The aftermarket will cover it though.

This seems like a better business plan.

You’re missing out on a big thing, which is the pschology of the people buying Wranglers and other “off road” vehicles. They’re not so much buying them with specific intent to use them to the extremes that they are able to, but rather because they could maybe do that some day. The vehicle projects an image more than…

The main reason they are still used is because:

My understanding is that solid fornt axles would be necessary/desirable/ superior, you pick the correct word, in only extreme off-road conditions that will account for only an extremely small percentage of the miles driven by these vehicles.

Yes, Ford’s Twin Traction beam revolutionized the offroading scene with it’s solid axle strength and articulation but IFS comfort.

I’m not much into off-roading, but I understand the idea behind solid axles.

Not going to happen. Ford knows these are going to be sold as mall crawlers and only very few will buy them for real offroading. And those that do will sink a small fortune into them and convert them.

The key is right there in Dana’s statement - AdvanTEK is Dana’s marketing name for passenger car gears. Saying Ranger/Bronco will come with beam axles because they have “AdvanTEK” is like saying the Miata comes with a diesel engine because its “SkyACTIVE”

Solid front axles on anything less than 8501 GVWR are going to become even more rare than they are now...they aint coming back. sorry anyone who thinks so. Even the new G-wagon is rumored to be ditching them.