The Ford Ranger – Europas iconic pick-up
The Ford Ranger has been one of the most popular pick-ups in Europe for years. Its combination of robust engineering, high towing capacity, suitability for everyday use and off-road capability makes it extremely attractive to both business owners and private users. Its versatility, reliability and striking design are particularly highly regarded.
Phil Urban, an automotive mechatronics engineer and technical manager at Marquart Germany, has been driving the Ford Ranger Wildtrack for 18 months in everyday use and has gained a thorough understanding of the Ranger’s handling characteristics.
The Ranger’s strengths include high towing capacity and payload, as well as good off-road capabilities. The interior is comfortable and features robust engineering. The Ranger’s weaknesses, however, include limited driving stability, insufficient ground clearance, reduced ride comfort when fully loaded, and limited articulation when off-road.
“When unladen, the Ranger actually handled quite well. But that changed significantly as the load increased. The Ranger’s rear end sagged, and its handling became noticeably less stable,” said Phil Urban.
It is important to bear in mind the Ranger’s intended use. Many people use it as an off-road pick-up: hunting grounds, construction sites or simply difficult road and track conditions make it a reliable companion. For motorhome enthusiasts, on the other hand, the Ranger serves as a base vehicle for a pop-up cab.
To improve off-road capability and ground clearance, we have raised the rear axle of the Ranger pick-up using shims and have fitted and tested various reinforced Marquart shock absorbers with different rebound and compression settings. We offer 30 mm and 60 mm lift kits. A new spring is fitted to the front axle. This also requires the tie rods to be lengthened. And the tow bar must be lowered.
“The 30-millimetre lift alone improves off-road capability and is less labour-intensive to fit. Visually, the 60-millimetre lift makes more sense, but it involves replacing far more parts,” says Phil Urban.
With the right suspension components, a targeted lift kit and the fitting of larger tyres, the Ford Ranger can be optimally adapted to individual requirements. The result is significantly improved driving stability, greater ground clearance, better off-road capability and, consequently, a more harmonious overall appearance, both on the road and off-road.
Read here for an example of the successful suspension optimisation carried out on the Ranger with a drop-on cab. In this case, even stiffer shock absorbers are fitted to compensate for the vehicle’s greater height and prevent lateral sway and roll.
Phil found it quite hard to say goodbye to the Wildtrack. The Ranger performed really well – especially after we’d finished tweaking the suspension. Let’s see which vehicle will be the next long-term test car.
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