BLACK MAGIC

A FORD RANGER BUILD THAT STRAYS FROM THE USUAL ACCESSORIES AND MODIFICATIONS RESULTING IN THE CREATION OF A UNIQUE TOUGH TOURER

- WORDS MATT RAUDONIKIS PHOTOS CRISTIAN BRUNELLI

You don't have to be Einstein to know that midsize 4x4 utes are hot property in Australia right now. Their blend of capability, versatility, performance and comfort makes them hugely appealing - so much so, they're currently the bestselling vehicles in the country.

Ute buyers are spoilt for choice, with dozens of models on the market and five times as many variants to pick from. Choosing the right one can be heaven or hell, depending on how you look at it.

Once you've decided on and bought your ute, the whole process starts over again - selecting and fitting the accessories and modifications to make it just right for you.

For Melbourne's Arden Packeer, it was a matter of selection, so he tried out as many models as he could before laying down his hard-earned cash.

"I looked at a bunch of different options and test drove a few - including the HiLux, 79 Series, D-MAX and RAM - but kept coming back to the Ranger for its look and the comfort inside the cabin," Arden told us. "I love the look of the big American trucks, but the Ranger hit the sweet spot of size and capability in my opinion."

Early in '24 he took delivery of a shiny black 2024.5 Ranger Wildtrak V6 and set to work building it to suit his needs. Arden might not be Einstein either, but he's smart enough to know a good thing when he drives it, and he put a detailed plan in place to modify it.

“The original concept was to build a ‘tough tourer’ – something capable as well as comfortable for a planned trip around Australia, and to get me to places to take photos and travel with my kids.”