Do you like adventures? Hiking through a forest? Riding your bicycle along the riverbank? Kayaking down a mountain stream? How about camping in the wilderness?
There is a larger percentage of the population who enjoy one or even all of these activities, but getting to where you can partake in them can be a challenge.
Transporting a kayak can be difficult on many vehicles and loading a couple of bikes into some requires dismantling them or limiting the seating in your vehicle.
With the introduction of the 2019 Ford Ranger, a whole new bunch of options are available for those who seek the adventurous life.
Available as a SuperCab or Crew cab, the Ranger is set to haul not only your gear but also passengers to enjoy the adventure with you no matter where you go.
The 4x4 models even have available terrain management control and trail control if your adventures take you well off the beaten path.
Terrain management enables the driver to adjust the traction, transmission shifting and engine power to match it to the type of surface you are driving on.
One knob controls it all and lets you change from normal for good road surfaces to mud, snow and sand modes.
For the real tough going, an electronic locking rear axle provides maximum torque to both rear wheels.
Think of trail control and low speed off-road cruise control, where you can adjust the speed with the cruise control buttons from a bare crawl to about 16 km/h.
In close quarters or very challenging terrain, this lets the driver concentrate on steering while the electronics keep the vehicle speed constant. This system is smooth in operation and easy to use so it makes covering rough terrain much more fun.
Hauling the gear even with a truck can be challenging, but Ford has a partnership with Yakima to supply adventure gear for the Ranger through Ford dealerships the same as other options from Ford.
In Canada, a few options will be available right away with more available at the dealership as the year progresses.
One of the first will be the BedRock Heavy Duty truck bed rack. This low-height rack system is capable of carrying bikes, skis, boats or boxes above the truck box while still maintaining storage in the truck box.
Later this year, the SkyRise medium rooftop tent (room for two) will be available which mounts on the BedRock rack system so you can camp high and dry even when the weather turns wet.
Other Yakima options include the BaseLine cab rack that fits securely on the Ranger’s roof and a GateKeeper Tailgate Pad that protects up to six bikes from the truck’s tailgate while protecting the vehicle paint at the same time. A tuck-away cover opens to let the rear view camera still function.
For the home renovator, the LongArm truck bed extender rack mounts to the Ranger’s hitch to extend the carrying length of the truck bed in three positions up to four feet in length. Carrying paddle boards, ladders, lumber and more is easily achieved with the rack’s 136-kilogram load capacity.
The list of Yakima options available in the future is extensive, including an awning, several bike racks, canoe and kayak racks, cargo boxes, load stops and tool holders. These options are in addition to the 35 dealer installed options already offered by Ford for the Ranger.
With all the features and options available for the Ranger, this truck is a destination vehicle. It can be configured to fit all your needs, with no desire to trade it for something else.
Smaller than a full-size pickup, it is easier to get in and out of and it fits in a regular garage.
Smaller makes it easier to park in the city but it still has passenger space to carry five comfortably and, for those with active lifestyles, it has the gear to make participating in adventures even more fun.
