Ranger Mods

Hi All,

Sold my Patrol last week in preparation for my new rig - she is almost here!!! ARB have completed bullbar, brake controller and snorkel, now I am just waiting on GVM upgrade to be installed (lovells) before I can pick her up. - There will still be a 14 week wait for my custom tray and canopy (setup for camping).

Why is the wait so hard??? I am literally climbing the walls in anticipation. So... what am I getting? - 2017 XLT auto in frozen white, Custom Leather interior (Massive shout out to CAM at www.leatherseats.com.au or Cams-Customs) - he has been an absolute champ to deal with and his work has come up trumps - thoroughly recommended! see the pics below (not the best quality photos in this miserable weather) - ARB summit 3 hoop Bullbar, Safari Snorkel, Tow Pro Elite EBC. Lovells 3500kg GVM upgrade with 2" lift front and rear. - This is being fitted by Spicers Springs in Bayswater Victoria - another massive shoutout - their communication and customer focus is inspirational. Finally a complete custom Boss Aluminium HD alloy tray and canopy, with GenZ lifepo4 100ah battery, Redarc BCDC 25a charger, power management and outlets, Clearview easyslide 220 plus fridge slide. Again another Australian Company that I truely cannot fault - I have been dealing with Mick, his attention to detail, patience and knowledge is simply the best I have ever come across. I am so proud to be supporting Australian manufacturing and companies and I have been made to feel like a real customer by each of them. I will provide more details and pics as the build progresses, I am looking at a delivery date of the 19th June for the car - the canopy and tray will be another 12 weeks from that date. Anyway here are some pics to hopefully spark some interest!

I'm sure the wait will be worth it Dan, it's always a time consuming process to get what you you want.

Do you mind me asking what types of dollars the leather work cost. I always thought about doing my front pews but was hoping that one day some Wildtrak seats may appear, not holding my breath though.

Hi Stewart,

The leather was $2200.00, this includes front and rear seats, door trims and the centre console. - I believe the supercab should be less than 1/2 this cost. Cam also offers a heated seat option too at around $250 per chair. I did not opt for this on mine. In relation to the wildtrak leather I have not bee too impressed with the durability I have seen in a couple of 2014 models at work which made me shy away from the wildtrak.

on a side note, I have also been told by ford (only verbal at this stage )that later this year they will be offering the XLT with a leather option from factory, additionally the redarc towpro elite will be plug and play module available from ford.

Thanks Dan,

I'm not going to buy a new car for leather so that's out. Half the cost would be nice but it will wait for now.

Should be pretty easy for them to make them plug and play, all the loom is in the vehicle except the Redarc so I will assume they will unplug a plug or 2 from the trailer model and plug in plug out etc with the Redarc. Good thinking on there behalf.

Thanks for the heads up.

Congrats Dan

Im in the waiting room with you (july)... aparantly

The factory Wildtrak seats arent Leather at all but a Pleather...I was at a trimer that stripped a brand new one and replaced it with real leather.($2,500)

Car looks Great

Well finally the wait is over, last Thursday I picked up my new baby. What an upgrade from the Patrol.... Have an issue with Adaptive cruise control and also with pre-collision assist and lane guidance being unavailable - rang ford today and they have said that the issue may not be covered by warranty as the vehicle has after market accessories TowPro elite fitted (via ARB Kilsyth before delivery to me). now waiting for them to investigate next week. anyway a very very nice car that I am very impressed with, the leather, power and comfort really are something else!

Congratulations Dan, enjoy your new ride, but don't let the dealer worm their way out of their responsibilities!

There are plenty here with Redarc Tow Pros, including me. They are totally compatible with all of the systems you are having issues with, providing they are properly wired.

Good luck mate.

Dan,
Just wondering how you like the Lovell's GVM upgrade. Mine is booked in to do. Being done middle of month before 1st Rego so I get the Federal VIN plate rather than the State one. Is your Lovell's VIN plate noted that the GCM is now 7000 kg's in lieu of 6000kg? If not was this noted when you registered it? Thanks.

Dan,
Also interested in the feel of the Lovell's GVM upgrade. Look forward to reading an update from you as well on this.

Thanks

Hi PTnLinda and Craig,

I have been offline for a few weeks and missed your posts.

@PTnLinda, I am so far very very impressed with the GVM upgrade, and suspension handling. I can confirm that with the upgrade the ride is absolutely fantastic if you have it loaded. I have a fixed Aluminium tray, canopy and underbody toolboxes with fridge, battery, internal towers and camping gear.
The car eats up onroad and offroad bumps extremely well, thus far I cannot complain at all.

The Lovells Upgrade is second stage manufacture, the second stage manufacture plate is affixed to the vehicle and does not state GCM, nor does the original compliance plate it only states GVM upgrade. I have been in touch with Dragen at Lovells and he has confirmed that the Lovells GVM upgrade Increases GVM to 3500KG whilst still retaining the original Towing Capacity of 3500KG which gives aGCM of 7000KGs As I purchased my car through Fleet I do not have the original rego papers which may or may not state GCM. Please take a look at the PDF in the link http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=71493 this will give you an exact clear picture of the current state. Lovells is the ONLY upgrade which offers a Second Stage Manufacture Upgrade which retains the original Towing Capacity.

I am located near Scoresby in Victoria and am happy for you to come take a look, have a chat and have a test drive if you would like?

Anyway I hope I have been of some assistance and good luck and happy motoring.

Thanks Dan appreciate the comments. Our Ranger is in Brisbane and we are in Darwin. Purchased it and Caravan whilst down there just having a look at the Caravan Camping Show in June. Best thing we did was leave it there as we found out about this GVM Upgrade etc. Also getting other accessories fitted as it's much cheaper than here in Darwin. Won't register it till just before we go down to Brisbane at Xmas. Can do so from here and take plates down with me. Will then drive home after new year.
We are keeping the original tub but have added ARB Acsent Canopy, Drawer system etc so will have a bit of weight in there. Will be towing a van with ATM of approx 3200kg.

saeb wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:49 pm Thanks Dan,

I'm not going to buy a new car for leather so that's out. Half the cost would be nice but it will wait for now.

Should be pretty easy for them to make them plug and play, all the loom is in the vehicle except the Redarc so I will assume they will unplug a plug or 2 from the trailer model and plug in plug out etc with the Redarc. Good thinking on there behalf.

Thanks for the heads up.

I did not know that as Im looking for a tow pro in the future hope it is just a plug and play with just the dial to fit into dash?
how dose the loom run from under seat to tow bar plug?
thanks

GerryP wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:59 pm Congratulations Dan, enjoy your new ride, but don't let the dealer worm their way out of their responsibilities!

There are plenty here with Redarc Tow Pros, including me. They are totally compatible with all of the systems you are having issues with, providing they are properly wired.

Good luck mate.

did you do it yourself Gerry is there much to it?:

subzero747 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2018 5:49 pm

GerryP wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:59 pm Congratulations Dan, enjoy your new ride, but don't let the dealer worm their way out of their responsibilities!

There are plenty here with Redarc Tow Pros, including me. They are totally compatible with all of the systems you are having issues with, providing they are properly wired.

Good luck mate.

did you do it yourself Gerry is there much to it?:

Yes I did Greg. A bit of messing around, but nothing too difficult if you're used to doing things yourself. Basically need to work out where you're going to mount the control and the main unit, then run and connect the wires. Alternatively, you can buy their wiring kit specifically for the Ranger, which should make the job a lot easier.

I did mine before that kit was available, so did it all from scratch... directions come with the unit, but just make sure you connect the trigger to the brake pedal switch and not the tail lights. The blue wire to the trailer plug is already there from factory, but finishes somewhere near the rear wheel arch as a cut end, so you can either try and find it, or run a new wire all the way to the plug.

All in all, fiddly, but not too bad. Give yourself a spare half day or so and you should be fine.

maybe a whole day for me IM OCD with installs as i like them perfect.

I read somewhere that there is a harness ready for tow pro under driver seat and RedArc are going to make kit just for Ranger installs? I cant see them having a 25A circuit just sitting there under seat but who knows.