Ford Ranger
About the Ford Ranger
Like Most Dual Cab utes on the australian market - BT50 and Ford Ranger Dual Cab Utes can be complex vehicles to add Roof top tents and Pole Less awnings - Due to their Articulating cab / tray and the small available 2 x roof racks. See our "Dual cab ute set up page here for details...
We have found that Roof top tent and Awning installations over the cabin of all 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.
Why fit rooftop tents over the cab on the Ford Ranger and Other Dual cab Vehicles?
Over-cab mounting of Roof top Loads reduces vehicle body roll. 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 all Cases, Dual Cab Utes on and off-road performance is best maintained by keeping all weight centred in the middle of the vehicle (Over the cab) and as low as possible on the vehicle. More on this here
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Tough Touring Over Cab Roof racks for the Ford Ranger/Mazda BT 50
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Tough Touring Roof racks over the cab give the Ford Ranger/BT50 the foundation required to now fit your rooftop tent. Typically the rooftop tent in turn gives the Ranger a great spot to then mount a pole less wing awning and solar panel. The use of 'Flexing roof rack mounts' can allow 'Bridging' of twin racks also.
The best roof top tent for the Ford Ranger Dual Cab
As per our reccommendations elsewhere on the website - The shortlist of Quality tents leading the way for all different reasons (Pro's and Cons) is:
Tuff Trek Mk 3
Bundutec Bundutop
The Pros and Cons of Roof top tents are seemingly endless: QUick Summary below:
If you want to carry loads (Firewood / extra Fuel etc - The Tuff trek Mk3 and want something you just cant break that doubles as a roof rack and is the lowest fit up on the market that will carry thick bedding.)
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The Tent with the shortest footprint is the Bundutop at just 2.1m - . IIt will carry household size Solar panels on the roof of the tent - and has the most internal storage space for additional bedding,
Other Quality "high Lift" clamshells tents like the Boss, Camp King, Bush Company and Alucab (Great Tents) but not especially suited to these vehicles due to weight and size. can also be fitted , however at 2.4m Long and only 1700mm available fitting space on Over cab Racks or over the Canopy - They start looking big and unsupported with 500-600mm overhang. Requiring fitment of 'Flexing Roof Rack mounts' These Larger tents are also typically over 110KGS..., and that transfers to increased twist and body roll...
FITTING YOUR POLE LESS AWNING DIRECTLY TO YOUR ROOF TOP TENT ON DUAL CAB RANGER
When Fitting Awnings to the Ford Ranger - please note its easiest to fit awnings directly to the tent.
* This Puts them Up High enough to stand under,
* It also gives the Awning the right mounting point widths to mount too . As The FRont Roof Rack at 1200mm and the canopy at 1650mm are too both short for full sized Pole less awnings.
This also Means Fibreglass Tents are Much harder to integrate in with an awning (Because you can't bolt a 30Kg Awning to a plastic tent) Tents with Bevelled Sides are also more difficult to fit awnings too....
FITTING A POLE LESS AWNING TO THE CANOPY, WHILE FITTING A ROOF TOP TENT OVER THE CAB
A complex installation requiring a lot of quality parts and a rack installed fairly level over the cab as well as over the canopy in most cases.
There is a good deal of information on this type of installation here in another page on my site - Including a detailed video showing one being done ...check it out.
WARNING ON FITTING ROOF RACKS TO MODERN DUAL CABS
Later Model Rangers (2012 to 2021) And Probaby BT50 of these years as well) Often have no roof rack mount points built into their roof - probably due to the entire roof pillar being filled with side protrusion air bags.: Newer BT 50 since 2022 we've seen are not affected.
- DO NOT DRILL THROUGH THE ROOF SKIN WITHOUT CAREFULL EXAMINATION FIRST -
Roof rack rails can only be fitted by drilling into the roof and inserting the required bolts.
This must be done with precision, avoiding the internal Air bag Cavity (on any vehicle) - as Piercing an airbag Unit could cause an explosion and or prevent the airbags working in an accident down the track.
In regards to the Ford Ranger, The Roof Lining should be removed and carefull measurements made to find suitable positions for drilling through the rail skin for insertion of "reverse DOME NUT High tensile bolt Kit - (Which prevent Airbags bursting on deployment) can be inserted 'thread out' into tapped blocks to provide the ultimate in rack strength. (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.
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FITTING A POLE LESS AWNING WITHOUT A ROOF TOP TENT TO RANGER CANOPY
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 running a 1650mm Canopy - You can fit them using our '3 point 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 on short canopy Utes without bridging the awning across canopy and Cabin on Dual cab utes - The Choices are limited due to the short mounting lengths available on the Ranger (and all dual cabs). Our Fitting Brackets to mount Pole Less Wing awnings directly to rack or canopy are listed here. Some manufacturers are making smaller / Lighter Specialist Awnings that are built for dual cabs ... At time of writing the one to check out is the 'Ostrich Junior Wing' It is as large as much of the competition at 2.2m span - and can be fitted with mounting points at only 1500mm apart... One shown below on a ford ranger for example below... 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 Be totally portable - you can put them in for trips and take them out again when your back at work -
The RPS are water resistant and Easy to move between vehicles, making your tub tray or canopy a full blown power station when in camping mode, when back at work - slide out the power system and its back to open to use with tools and equipment like the day you bought it. The Benefits of a Plug and Play removable unit (Even in canopies) is limitless.
