How Pat turned something special, into something amazing
While it’d be hard to find a downside with Pat’s line of work, it’s certainly easy to find more than a few upsides. Where people typically buy and build one 4X4 that’ll do them for most of their travels, Pat gets the unique opportunity to not only try out 2-3 new vehicles a year as his personal tourer and the camera cars, but also to try all the weird and wonderful aftermarket accessories available. If you’ve been eyeing off his latest chariot, a 2021 Ford Ranger in battleship grey, this is your chance to get a little up close and personal with it.
Even before it left the factory, Pat’s new ride was something special. Dubbed FX4 Max, the Ranger slots in somewhere around the top of the line Wildtrak, with a little Raptor DNA thrown in for good measure. It rode both higher and smoother than stock thanks to factory fitted upgraded shocks. It also had a wider stance, bigger offset wheels, taller tyres, and sleek fender flares adding to the look. The inside was spiced up plenty too making it just as good to drive as it is to look at. Front and rear pews were wrapped in tough-as-nails leather, while a trick dash mounted switch panel was designed right from the factory to handle any aftermarket electronics owners wanted to throw at the FX4 Max lineup. But as good from the factory as it is, this is Pat Callinan we’re talking about here, so things were only just getting started.
More bark than bite
Under the bonnet of Pat’s Ranger is an absolute ripper of a turbo-diesel. Who would have thought you’d ever describe a turbo-diesel as a ripper hey? Punching in bang on two litres, the four-cylinder offering makes more torque and horsepower than the larger 3.2L five-cylinder. It’s thanks to not only a clever twin turbo arrangement, but a smooth as butter 10 speed transmission allowing it to always be at the right rpm. Of course Pat hasn’t left good enough alone here and one of the first ports of call was to everybody’s local exhaust shop, Beaudesert Exhaust. There, the team worked their magic fitting up a full DPF back ‘Ultimate’ exhaust system. Hand fabricated out of 304 grade stainless steel and measuring in at a solid 2 3/4in, it’s polished to perfection before being fitted to the Ranger.
Riding on a cloud
When you’re onto a good thing it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to change it. It should come as no surprise then, that after huge success with Outback Armour in last season’s Fords, Pat’s chosen to fit them all over again to this years grey twins. Up front, Outback Armour Adjustable Bypass Expedition HD struts have replaced the factory offerings. They’ve bumped the ride height up 50mm over stock, and they’re upgraded to handle the extra weight of a steel bar, bash plates, and a winch while still giving an unbelievable ride. Up the back, a matching set of Adjustable Bypass Outback Armour shocks have been fitted, this time they’re paired with a set of constant load leaf springs matched perfectly to the extensive touring system Pat’s fitted up. The result is a ride as smooth as butter, while being able to handle touring weights and conditions the factory offering would baulk at.
That increase in ride height not only let’s the Ranger float over terrain that’d catch a stock one out, it also frees up valuable room in the wheel arches. Filling out the guards are now a set of 17x9in Fuel ‘Shok’ alloy wheels. Codenamed the D666, the bronze beauties are wrapped in BFG KM3s measuring in at 285/70r17. The aggressive muddies give traction in all terrains, and give a stronger carcass more able to handle the stresses of proper outback touring.
Barred up
Some things are just meant to go together. Roast pork and apple sauce. Hot days and cold beers. We can now add Pat Callinan and ARB bar work to that list too. The sleek colour coded offering up front looks just as good cruising the outback on Pat’s Ranger as it does in the shiny ARB catalogues, although Pat’s ARB kit is stuffed full of goodies too. Nestled inside the bar is a full suite of Night Hawk driving lights from Aussie company Bushranger. They’re controlled by a clever switch arrangement in the cab that let’s Pat dial in the exact colour temperature of his lights to suit the conditions. It’s not all forward facing lights from Bushranger though. Eagle eyed readers will spot a whole armada of Bushranger camp lighting strewn throughout the Ranger’s roof. Up front a huge Bushranger Night Hawk LED light bar takes pride of place on the front of the Rhino Rack flat rack, while further along the flanks a second Rhino Rack platform above the ARB Ascent colour-coded canopy houses enough LED lighting to turn the darkest campsite into day light.
It’s not all LED lighting either though. Nestled deep inside that front bar is none other than the ever dependable VRS 12,000lb 12V winch giving Pat a much needed get out of gaol free card if a bog hole sneaks up on him. While full underbody ARB bash plates ensure the Ranger comes home in one piece no matter how rocky the outback tracks get. ARB side steps, and an ARB rear bar complete the package up armouring the Ranger from headlight to tail light.
Fit for a king
While Pat’s rigs need to look the goods, it’s more important that they’re nice places to be as well. While the FX4 Max is no slouch to begin with, it’s safe to say Pat’s is leaps and bounds more practical. One of the biggest affects of technology advancing is just how little stuff we need to mount to the dashes these days. There’s no bulky UHF unit filling out a slot in the dash. Instead, the Uniden Xtrak 80 hand piece is conveniently mounted within reach of both driver and passenger, with the control box itself tucked in out of the way. Likewise, the clever Bushranger Night Hawk controller gives a far more elegant solution than the old rows of rocker switches. Even mapping and music selection is all handled smarter, Apple Car Play integration mirroring Pat’s phone with a huge 8in factory screen in the dash. The final, and probably most critical interior modification is a full suite of Black Duck canvas seat covers front to back. They not only protect the factory leather seats from wear and tear that can only be inflicted by fair dinkum outback travel, they absorb heat at a far lower rate making them cooler to sit on in summer months.
Up the back Pat’s made the most of the new interior space provided by the ARB Ascent canopy. A full set of top-shelf storage drawers from 4WD Interiors fills out the Rangers tub, providing mounting solutions for the extensive Redarc Red Vision vehicle management system. There’s an extensive Redarc lithium battery system with roof mounted solar, as well as a Clearview fridge slide chocker block full of Engel fridge/freezer goodies.
