LINE-X Feature | Ford Ranger | 4x4 Total Off-road 2017 Pick-up of the Year

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62 IJANUARY2018







Above left: Dean had an Old Man Emu suspension kit on his Ll00, and clearly liked it as he used the Aussie company's
springs and shocks on the Ranger too. But he likes it even more now , saying he can't believe how much better it is
second time round. The suspension up front was specced with the weight of a winch in mind, which will help settle it
once the next phase of the project is complete. Oh, and note the raised white lettering on the inside of the tyres ••• it
wouldn't do to interfere with the moody all-black look, now, would it?

Above centre, right: It's Old Man Emu at the back, too, with aftermarket wheelarches keeping the big Coopers honest.
Some people have gone to coils when modding double-cabs , but really there's no need so long as you fit a good set
of leaf springs - such as the 600kg constant load jobs under here, which stabilise the bed and make the ride more
comfortable for the Llne-X covered cooler in the back

I had to get a garage You may have noticed the reference to the
and a ramp involved to 'first phase ' of Dean 's plan earlier: It's currently
fit those : the only phase to have been completed - there
are three in tota l, between them designed to
Dean 's used the turn Dean 's Ranger into a rugged globetrotter:
same Old Man Emu
lift kit as the one he Next on the agenda is building on the
put on his Mitsubishi groundwork already in place.This phase will
- and is somewhat ensure that the vehicle is capable of making its
mystified, as he prefers way though, round or over anything Moro cco has
it on the Ford. 'The to throw at it.And Bridgend, too. The next set
OME kit is so much of kit he's looking at includes a fro nt winch and
better on this tru ck a dual-battery system, as well as rock sliders and
than the L200.I don't a snorkel. Obviously, in true Dean Jones fashion,
know what it is, but all external mods are scheduled to be given th e
even though the ride dependable Line-X treatment at some point.
is st iffer with the
heavy-duty springs on , In the final stages before the tr ip, some areas
it still rides better .' of the Ranger will be re-modded for their African
adventure. The long-term plan for the suspension

66 IJANUARY 2018 Inside, we come upon a rare deviation from the whole
black on black on black theme. Those brown seats look
pretty sharp - though you might shed a tear or three if
you owned a truck like this and a day's off-road action
got out of hand to the point where the cabin ended up as
muddy as the body panels. It happens .••

4x4

Above left: The winch isn't in place yet, but the Ranger is ready for it. Replacing the front crossmember is a Front
Runner hidden winch plate - which, naturally, has been coated in Line-X

Above right: One day, this view of the Ranger will be filled with lots of canvas and who knows what else in the way of
exotic overlanding equipment. For now , though, what you see is the Front Runner roof rack whose job is going to be to
carry it all

is to replicate that of the Ford Raptor, the mainly been because he doesn 't need to , but also being entwined along the way in what really is an
biggest and baddest of the Ford pick-up family. to ens ur e that he doesn't hamper their reliability. exciting build - very capable , but very st ylish too.
Th is will entail Dean looking at the set-up of However. having plenty of time to research and By the time it's ready for that trip to Morocco ,
the Raptor and simply fitting the same gear to execute any modifications , the Ranger is likely to this Ranger is going to be even more of an eyeful
his own Ranger.There are then plans to upgrade be an exception. than it already is now.
the tyres again for the trip to a more rugged ,
no-compromise set of rubber and add a roof- The attention to detail in this Ranger is We photographedAndy'sRangerat Whitecliff4x4,
mounted tent and awnings to turn the Ranger evident throughout. Those four months in limbo whichoffersdrivertrainingfor everyonefromjuniors
into expedition HQ . were used to plan every detail. Everything has to professionalisn a superbsite nearthe Forestof
been thought about, from the parts bought Deanin GloucestershirTeo. find out more, pay a visit
Despite all his spanner work, Dean has seldom to the re-spraying of the Line-X to match the to www.whitecliff4x4.co.uk
done much to the engines of his trucks.This has bodywo rk.Aesthetics and performance are