SHED: 2018 PXII FORD RANGER XLS
THE RANGER GETS NEW LEAF SPRINGS AND SHOCKS FOR THE BACK END.
NO ACTION for our Ranger over the New Year period as it was parked up for the holidays, but no sooner than we were back in town and it was in the shop getting new parts fitted.
First stop was back to Ironman 4x4 HQ in Dandenong to get the rear leaf springs replaced. When we first had the Ironman suspension fitted it was set up with the standard tub on the back, not the AMVE aluminium canopy. With the canopy on and loaded the medium rate (200kg to 400kg) leafs were at their limit so they’ve been replaced with Ironman’s Constant Load springs rated to 400kg+.
The team at Ironman 4x4 also upgraded the rear shocks to match the higher-rated springs, again using the company’s Foam Cell Pro shocks, but with the new Professional Valving which offers improved performance under heavier loads. Released late in 2019, the Professional Valving shocks are designed for those who use their vehicle as a fully loaded workshop on wheels or regular tourers who load up for extended off-road adventures. The Professional Valving Series dampers are available across Ironman’s Nitro Gas, Foam Cell and Foam Cell Pro ranges.
Our tenure with the Maxxis RAZR muddies is up and after a little more than 15,000km on them I’ve got to say we have been very impressed. They’re relatively quiet on road, never struggled off road, and suffered no punctures or signs of damage after some torturous rocky tracks in the Flinders; they’re right up there with my favourite mud-terrain tyres, and at a price that comes in a fair bit cheaper than the competition.
We have replaced the RAZRS with Goodyear’s MT/RS, again in the 285/70R17 size. I’ve had great service out of the oldstyle MT/RS going back a few years so I’ll be keen to see how these newer ones perform on and off the road.
Initial impressions of the new rear suspension and Goodyear tyres has only been from ferrying it around town, but so far so good. We’ll have to wait until we load it up for a few more off-road kays before we can give a full report.
Before we head off again we’ll fit a set of MSA 4x4 adjustable towing mirrors and we’ll swap out the driving lights with a new setup.
WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE IRONMAN SUSPENSION FITTED IT WAS SET UP WITH THE STANDARD TUB ON THE BACK, NOT THE AMVE ALUMINIUM CANOPY