TASSIE TIGER

THE RANGER COMPLETES ITS LAP OF TASMANIA.

- DEAN MELLOR

The Ranger scored several upgrades prior to its Tassie trip, and when I picked it up in Melbourne from Editor Matt Raudonikis it looked resplendent in its new 4X4 Australia wrap, applied just in time by the team at Fleeting Image.

As well as the gear already fitted to the Ranger, new stuff for the Tassie trip included a set of Goodyear MT/R tyres, four new Narva Ultima 180s, MSA 4X4 towing mirrors and upgraded 500kg constant-load Ironman 4x4 springs in the rear. These upgrades added to the Ranger’s existing arsenal of 4x4 touring gear which includes an aluminium AMVE canopy with a built-in water tank, Revolution Power lithium batteries, Redarc battery management system including a Red-Vision controller and 2000W inverter, a myCoolman 60L fridge, an MSA 4X4 drop slide and Rola roof racks with Narva work lights.

Having not driven the 4X4 Australia Ranger before, I knew that all this kit would take some getting used to, but the first thing I learnt about was an OE Ford feature: the vehicle’s perimeter alarm with motion sensor. The Spirit of Tasmania I had barely got underway when I heard a car alarm sounding from the bowels of the boat, and then the call came over the loudspeaker system: “Would the driver of Ford Ranger registration number 1NU-5TJ please head down to Deck 5 to turn off their alarm?”

I went below decks and one of the ship’s staff guided me through the Ranger’s menu system so I could quickly turn off the motion sensor. Over the next 30 minutes or so another half-dozen Ranger/BT-50 owners were called downstairs to perform the same task.