With SEMA just around the corner, ‘tis the season to be modding. Automakers are already getting into the spirit. Ford recently unveiled several Ranger and F-Series Super Duty trucks prepared for the show. Many, unsurprisingly, skew towards off-road capability. Ford’s performance parts division has started expanding into the off-road market more and more.

For example, many of the SEMA trucks come with the factory-offered Ford Performance leveling kit. And now, Blue Oval fans will have even more parts to look forward to. Ford Performance and off-road accessory manufacturer ARB 4×4 have announced a joint collaboration. The first fruit of this partnership? A winch-ready bumper for the Ford Ranger that any Ford dealer can install; unique for the mid-size truck segment.

Ford Ranger Winch-Ready Bumper Specs

The new front bumper is made of welded sheet steel, up to 3/16″ thick in places. The metal is powder-coated for durability and corrosion protection. To make sure the bumper stays in place, and that it can handle winching large loads, it’s mounted directly to the chassis.

But the new ARB bumper isn’t just for winching. In addition to its compatibility with a wide range of Warn winches, it can accommodate other off-road accessories. These include Rigid LED light bars, as well as extended radio antennas and sand flags.  

Collaborating directly with Ford Performance also had benefits beyond the Ranger-specific fit. The new bumper is compatible with all the Ranger’s sensors and safety tech. Meaning, features like forward-collision warning, emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring will all work. In addition, Ford claims this is the only aftermarket steel bumper for the Ranger that meets current crash test standards.

The winch-ready bumper, with a Ford Performance limited warranty, will be available starting next year at an MSRP of $1,495. This price does not include installation.

What Makes the ARB Ranger Winch-Ready Bumper Unique?

Several other trucks offer winch-compatible bumpers. But, none of them are Ford models. In fact, the F-150 can’t be ordered with a winch-ready bumper at the moment. Not even the desert-racer Raptor. Although, this ARB collaboration may change that.

Some other full-size heavy-duty trucks, such as the Ram 2500 Power Wagon and AEV Prospector, do have integrated Warn winches. But the Ranger is mid-size.

There are mid-size trucks with winch-ready bumpers, such as the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison and Jeep Gladiator. However, both are significantly more expensive than the Ranger. The base Gladiator has an MSRP of $33,545, and many dealers have been marking them up from there. The ZR2 Bison is even more expensive. The AEV modifications add $5,750 on top of the base ZR2’s $46,345 asking price. In contrast, the base Ranger has a sticker price starting at $24,300—and even it can get the ARB bumper. Neither Nissan nor Toyota offer a winch-ready bumper for their mid-size trucks.

The winch-ready bumper is the first product of Ford’s and ARB’s partnership. Hopefully, we’ll see some more accessories soon.