Australia’s main four-wheel-drive equipment producer, ARB, has rolled out its catalogue of kit for the new-generation Ford Ranger. Listed below are the highlights from an inventory of greater than 100 choices.
4-wheel-drive equipment producer ARB has issued a listing of newly-developed components for the 2023 Ford Ranger – and it has virtually the whole lot lined, together with a kitchen sink.
An in depth record of greater than 100 factory-backed ARB equipment for the 2023 Ford Ranger has been distributed to Ford sellers, however is but to be printed on-line.
ARB may have bounce begin on the remainder of the aftermarket business with the new-generation ute, after being embedded within the car improvement program for the previous few years and incomes official factory-backing from Ford.
Below the deal – introduced this time final yr – the tie-up between Ford and ARB is designed to streamline among the extra standard choices, in addition to give Ford sellers a higher likelihood to intercept among the revenue from 4WD equipment.
Anecdotally, a rising proportion of patrons of utes and four-wheel-drives spend $10,000 to $20,000 on aftermarket equipment – and the revenue margin on such parts is usually higher than the revenue margin on the car itself (although maybe not in the intervening time, given the extreme vendor supply expenses being utilized by many Ford sellers).
Clients can in fact nonetheless ask sellers to suit equipment from different aftermarket suppliers – or take their automobiles elsewhere for fitout.
Nonetheless, ARB equipment put in by a Ford vendor when the car is new will even be lined by the identical five-year/limitless kilometre guarantee as the remainder of the car.
As beforehand reported, Ford has confirmed ARB equipment offered by its dealerships won’t have Ford branding, however may have the backing of Ford.
Ford sellers have acquired the primary ARB catalogues for the new-generation Ford Ranger, as they put together to obtain their first shipments of the ute – and obtain their first deliveries of factory-backed, locally-engineered ARB equipment – from June onwards.
Headlining the record of Ford-approved ARB choices are not less than 5 bullbars, named Summit Bar MKII, Summit Sahara Bar MKII, Spartan Bar, Stealth Bar and Industrial Bar.
Bull bar costs supplied by ARB to Ford sellers to date vary from $2925 to $3275 plus becoming, which is estimated to be 5 hours labour. Some bull bars had been but to have pricing.
All ARB bull bars for the brand new Ford Ranger are designed to not intervene with the car’s radar cruise management, the front-facing digital camera (on fashions so geared up), lane-keeping help, pace signal recognition, and entrance parking sensors. Some bull bars accommodate 4 parking sensors, whereas others accomodate six parking sensors.
There are two choices for underbody safety, each ranging from the identical worth: $1195 plus becoming.
One choice referred to as Below Car Safety (UVP) – created from laser-cut and press-formed and folded 3mm sheet metal – is the longer of the 2 choices and designed to guard steering parts, the engine sump, in addition to the transmission and switch case.
The opposite choice – referred to as Below Car Armour (UVA) – is an entire substitute for authentic skid pan, manufactured from “UV stablilised crosslink polymer” which is “non-corrosive and provides superior warmth resistance.”
ARB additionally notes this selection is appropriate with authentic Ford Ranger bumpers in addition to ARB bull bars.
Each underbody safety choices declare to require one hour becoming time.
One other standard choice is more likely to be the rear sidestep-compatible metal bumper. It’s priced from $1835 (plus one hour becoming time).
ARB says the metal rear bar is created from 3mm laser minimize and folded sheet metallic, accommodates the unique Ford registration plate lights, and is appropriate with manufacturing unit rear parking sensors and leaves room for the sidesteps on the decrease rear fenders.
The heavy-duty bar additionally has excessive carry jack factors and an anodised aluminium high tread plate.
It provides roughly 20mm to the size of the car.
The metal rear bar is completed in matte black paint ex-ARB; colour-matching to the car is non-compulsory.
ARB facet rails and steps are created from 60.3mm diameter tubing and can be found as three separate parts or bundled collectively.
ARB cast restoration factors – rated as much as 8000kg on the utmost flip angle of the entrance wheels – are $252 every, plus half-hour becoming time.
There are not less than three canopies obtainable, ranging in worth from $2640 to $4772. Becoming value estimates vary from $520 to $585.
When geared up with further and non-compulsory ARB inner bars, the dynamic roof load of some ARB canopies is rated at a most of 100kg, whereas the static roof load on this guise is rated at a most of 350kg.
ARB notes all roof masses have to be evenly weighted and correctly secured.
The identical guidelines apply to the ARB roof rack choices for the cabin of the car.
The ARB base rack mount equipment prices from $495, whereas the bottom roof racks platform is listed at $695. The brochure says 2.5 hours becoming time is required.
The utmost load per base rack beam is 25kg and, as per earlier ARB roof load warnings, the cargo weight have to be evenly distributed and correctly secured.
Accessible to order now – with first arrivals due from July – is a brand new arduous tonneau ARB Sport Lid, priced from $2855 plus $260 for becoming.
A premium improve equipment choice provides a wiring loom, central locking, and an inside mild (although it’s battery operated fairly than operating off the automobile battery). The value of this selection is to be confirmed.
A useful function obtainable as an choice on immediately’s Volkswagen Amarok, ARB will supply on the brand new Ford Ranger a “Tailgate Help” damper.
Priced from $155 for the pair, these dampers sluggish the opening pace of the tailgate and cut back the trouble to shut.
A ready-to-go modular drawer housing for the rear tray – which is created from galvanised metal – prices from $490 (plus $97.50 fitment), and is the start line earlier than extra drawers and different equipment equivalent to a fridge or kitchen sink are added.
ARB additionally has plug-and-play wiring looms, second battery kits, and different electrical add-ons. Costs are but to be confirmed.
There’s additionally a Ford and ARB-backed Safari snorkel, ranging from $638 please becoming prices.
An ARB-supported Frontier Lengthy Vary Diesel Tank (140 litres) is due from June onwards priced from $1360 plus fitment.
As with earlier ARB/Frontier Lengthy Vary gas tanks, this one is created from affect resistant polymer (crosslink) materials, is a one piece building, and has been designed to fill the voids within the underbody to maximise gas capability.
The plastic building (the identical materials used for the usual tank) means there is no such thing as a rusting of the tank itself, and permits for flexibility of the car’s chassis.
The ARB lengthy vary tank accepts the unique Ford Ranger’s gas pump module, is provided with a strap mounting equipment, and each is individually stress examined earlier than being despatched for fitment.
There’s additionally an unlimited vary of ARB/Outdated Man Emu suspension improve kits – together with GVM upgrades.
ARB provides new shock and comes (coil fronts and leaf rears) in an unlimited vary of capabilities. Costs are but to be introduced.
When Ford introduced its partnership with ARB final yr, the corporate stated: “Real Ford equipment bear years of rigorous security and sturdiness testing … that means they combine completely with the design and security options on (the) car.
“Ford-licensed equipment are rigorously chosen merchandise, manufactured to very top quality requirements, from respected third occasion suppliers.
“These merchandise bear a rigorous analysis course of by Ford, and consequently, many (Ford-licensed) merchandise function distinctive elements in comparison with related merchandise offered within the aftermarket to make sure optimum integration and efficiency.”