FORD RANGER
Like Most Dual Cab utes on the Australian market - Ford Ranger Dual Cab Utes can be complex vehicles to add Roof top tents and Pole Less awnings - Due to their Articulating cab / tray.
We have found that Roof top tent and Awning installations over the cabin of most Dual Cab utes is the best way to keep the vehicles body roll minimal - and maintain the vehicles climbing and handling capabilities on and off road. There are benefits too with Forward mounted roof top tents in regard to walk up access to the tent via the Tub or tray...
Why fit rooftop tents over the cab on the Ranger and Other Dual cab Vehicles?
Over-cab mounting of Roof top tents balances weight between front and rear suspension evenly while cornering - which in turn reduces vehicle body roll and chassis twist problems. Fitting a Roof Top Tent over the Dual Cab Cabin can also create a bit of room on the rear canopy to help you access the ladder, or if customised - Have WALK UP ENTRY into the tent... (See more on this here on Canopy Tray vehicles link here ) In most cases, keeping any weight on top of the vehicle as low as possible is a major Plus to handling allround.
More on this here on our Dual Cab Roof top tent racks page. ​
The best roof top tent for the Ford Ranger
As per our reccommendations elsewhere on the website - The shortlist of Quality tents leading the way for all different reasons (Pro's and Cons) are all listed here :
The Roof top tents at the top of our list would be the
Tuff Trek Mk3
Bundutec Bundutop...
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Both for different reasons of course... There is no 'best tent' for everyone, but these tow get the most Pro's and least cons out of a very long list.​
FITTING YOUR POLE LESS AWNING DIRECTLY TO YOUR ROOF TOP TENT ON DUAL CAB FORD RANGER
When Fitting Awnings to the Ford Ranger - please note its easiest to fit awnings directly to the tent to get the height you need to stand under the awning.
* It also gives the Awning a long object to mount an awning too. Not all roof top tents can support a pole less awning, Tough Touring Makes Brackets to do just this - see the tents you can do this on here - Awning to Tent brackets
This also Means Fibreglass and plastic Tents are Much harder to integrate with an awning (Because you can't bolt a 30Kg Awning to a plastic tent)
FITTING ROOF RACKS TO FORD RANGER
Ford Rangers (2012 to 2021) can often have no roof rack bolt points built into their roof - probably due to the entire roof pillar being filled with side protrusion air bags. Newer Models since 2022 we've seen are not affected as far as we've seen they have factory M8 Bolt inserts which is great.
-IF YOUR FITTING A ROOF RACK TO A FORD RANGER - DO NOT DRILL THROUGH THE ROOF SKIN WITHOUT CAREFULL EXAMINATION TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO AIRBAGS UNDER YOUR DRILL - THIS USUALLY MEANS DROPPING THE HEAD LINING.
Piercing an airbag Unit could cause an explosion and or prevent the airbags working in an accident down the track.
In The event of no factory mounting points in the roof - Tough Touring manufactures its own "REVERSE DOME NUT KIT " - to Allow the fitting of Roof racks to Ford Ranger (2012 -2021). The Reverse Dome nut kit is installed Bolt 'thread out' to provide the ultimate in rack strength, whilst not providing anything sharp on the inside of the roof cavity that could pop an airbag on deployment (Example on our shop page here )
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Of course if there are already 4 x M8 Bolt holes already visibile each side. Excellent - You can mount rack feet straight to the provided bolt holes and then our 1750mm roof rail roof rack.
FITTING A POLE LESS AWNING TO A SHORTER DUAL CAB WITHOUT A ROOF TOP TENT
FULL SIZE 270 AWNING OPTIONS:
If you want to fit a full size wing awning Like the Ostrich 270 Wing awning directly to any Dual Cab Ute - they are all too long to mount to just the canopy. (They flop around).
They need to be fitted to the canopy first, then to a rack on the cabin as well using our 'Flexing Awning mounts' - More on these Mounting Brackets here.
We have listed our picks of top performing awnings (For Victorian/SA weather conditions) here.
SHORT /SMALL 270 AWNING OPTIONS
If you wish to run a Pole Less Wing awning JUST ON THE canopy - without bridging the awning across canopy and Cabin - The Choices are limited... At time of writing the one to check out is the 'Ostrich Junior Wing' It is a shorter/ smaller 270 Degree awning, with a 2.2m span - It can be fitted with mounting points at only 1500mm apart... See more on these here - https://www.toughtouring.com.au/product-page/ostrich-junior-270-pole-less-wing-awning
SLIDE IN PORTABLE EASY INSTALL AND REMOVAL OF DUAL BATTERY SYSTEMS
Tough Touring Builds a Range of Renewable Power Stations for Dual Cab Utes and Canopies
Designed to to power caravans - off Grid
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Truck Bed Campers - Probably the next Big Thing for Ford Ranger
The American 'Truck Camper' Scene has moved away from Roof top tents, and gone headlong into Truck Bed campers - For Australian Dual Cab Utes, Truck bed camping may just be the next big thing... Weve started experimenting on installing the Bundutop SUPER KING - a 3m Long Straight Lifting RTT with a floor cavity at the rear. These can be installed on the Cab, right back to the rear tailgate, Keeping the Tub, Giving Campers a full on walk in stand up truck bed camper.
Tub canopies like the 'Smart Cap' can have simple mods (Cut out a partial roof section) and you have a full on walk in camper.
Watch this space and if your a Ford Ranger Owner wanting to do this we'd love to hear from you.