PLAY THING
AARON Brown’s 2015 Ranger is the result of years of hard work, with plenty of trial and error thrown in the mix in his attempt to build the perfect work toy for the 9 to 5, and the adventure machine when he’s off the clock. Supporting the whole affair is a tricked-up chassis with some wild suspension components front to rear. Leading the charge up front is a 2.5-inch lift without affecting ride quality or handling. To achieve the new height, a set of Fox 2.0 struts have been fitted to either side.
Huge G.O.A.T. Offroad tie-rod ends have beefed up the steering, a common weak point for people pushing the T6 platform to its limit. A full suite of Bendix brake upgrades also got the nod.
Moving rearwards and Aaron completely ditched the factory leaf-spring suspension; in its place, a Superior Engineering coil conversion has been welded in. The new set-up uses four heavyduty adjustable link arms holding the diff fore and aft, while a matching Panhard rod keeps it moving down in a straight line.
Aaron settled on a set of springs from Lovells for the perfect combination of ride quality and handling, while a set of Fox remote-res 2.0 shocks keep the whole arrangement behaving itself. The combination provides ample room to shoehorn in 315/75R16 Maxxis RAZR tyres wrapped around steel wheels.
Ford’s 3.2 Duratorq five-cylinder turbo-diesel breathes a little easier, thanks to an Airtec snorkel by TJM. A spicy tune from the guys at Legendex has ramped up the power output, before its three-inch turbo-back exhaust has gases rocketing backwards.
Sending drive to both axles, the 6R80 six-speed transmission has an external cooler kit from Wyong Automatics fitted, while both driveshafts are mated to lockers at each end.
There’s a prerunner-style Chaser bullbar from TJM, which houses a matching TJM Torq 9500lb winch. Moving backwards and a full set of TJM bash plates protect the Ranger’s soft undercarriage components. Legendex rock sliders protect the sills and doors, while a Front Runner rack provides storage up top.
A sleek MITS Alloy canopy rounds out the package and is a twopiece combination. The canopy and tray package is perfect for the worksite or touring, while the canopy lifts off leaving just the tray to cop a hiding if the Ranger’s twin-locked capabilities are tested.
A huge Enerdrive electrical set-up is the brain of the beast; powered by a Kickass lithium battery, the set-up provides ample power for the water tank, inverter, on-board air and fridge.
The passenger side of the canopy is decked out with a heap of Crashpad soft storage solutions, as well as a pull-out pantry, prep table, and a trundle tray. To increase storage room further, Aaron yanked the back seats out and fitted a false-floor section with slide-out tubs underneath.