17/07/2024
Hi, people who scroll!
Question: do you remember someone telling you, "Think before you do," when you were younger?
Well, I can say this is definitely one of those moments; I wrote the following: I almost hit 'post' before reading it back, thinking, "Hey, what's the worst that can happen?"
Well, my friends, we are about to find out; wish us luck!
This was the cheapest dual-cab ute (it's the base model and an almost blank canvas).
Now, here is the kicker: after previously owning a unique 79 dual cab that was the most capable vehicle I have ever owned, like most, I began thinking of ways to better this ute or at least make it user-friendly for us.
Now, it has just over 160K on the clock, so I immediately thought of what needed to be done both as maintenance and due to wear and tear.
But, before I do, let's hear the boring stuff that no one really cares about, but if I don't, people will get upset because I haven't given you all the right or required information.
So here it is, a 2016 Dual Cab Ford Ranger (PX MkII), 3.2l 5 Cyl T Diesel, 6 Spd Man. 163207km. One owner was used to tow the occasional horse float, an owner from the Snowy Mountains area.
Ok, now you're all armed with what we know, oh, other than the fact it smells like a cow s**t inside.
We want to use this ute to tow a caravan up the east coast of Australia from Tom Groggin over Mount Kosciuszko to Cape Howe up the coast and finish in the Daintree.
We haven't purchased a van yet, but it must be the typical 20-odd foot off-grid that's way too heavy and illegal to tow with this vehicle, as 99% of them are.
With about 38 seconds of thought, we devised the following items we felt we needed to have on or in the ute. Some may call the extras and modifications.
They are the following (starting in no order);
-Snorkel
-Winch (maybe both front and rear)
-Sidebars (brush bar into side step)
-Suspension upgrade (possibly airbags in the rear)
-Tune (tow tune to add a little but probably need an intake carbon clean too)
-Exhaust
-Roof Rack
-Car seat covers
-Window tint
-Tow mirrors
-Jack off canopy with dog box
-upright fridge
-pantry
-some fancy pull-out cooking bench with induction cooker
-270 awning
We are undecided; we know the saying a poor man pays twice, but I'm also familiar with budgets. Now, with the 79, I got the best I could.
However, I did become sick of people saying all the time that you don't need to spend all that money; you're paying for the name, which made me think, do I do this ute with everything as cheap as possible?
That's where you guys come into it. Do you think we can do everything on the cheap? Second-hand parts, eBay items, and the works.
Then, when we have finished the build, we will make the trip and see how everything goes! It's time to put money where the mouth is.
Feedback time, tell your keyboard warrior mates this is their moment of glory; we will vote on everything, and what is then voted on will be done.
Let's see if we can do this and make our 5000 km-plus journey without replacing items
