The 4×4 industry is obsessed with game-changers. The biggest, the best, the most outrageous contraptions known to man, all in an effort to make someone’s products or services stand out from the crowd. The 4x4s are getting more expensive, the egos are getting out of control, and it seems the one thing that isn’t getting bigger is attention to practicality.

That’s where Queensland mob Rambler Vehicles figured it could carve out a niche for themselves. A business owned by genuine 4×4 enthusiasts who have learned the lessons with what does and doesn’t work, and can offer turnkey tourers to customers ready to travel the country without the headache of trying to piece together a build themselves.

While the Queensland company is most familiar with Toyotas, it has taken note of the growing popularity of dual-cab utes as do-it-all tourers and figured it was high time it picked up one to show how versatile its builds can be.

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The recently released D-MAX makes a great platform to showcase just what Rambler can do. The 2021 version brought the Isuzu up to par in comfort and tech with its competitors and would serve as the perfect Rambler platform.

SUSPENSION

Before the Rambler crew could start loading the stock-as-a-rock D-MAX to the gills, they needed to ensure it was riding on a solid foundation. The call was made to TJM to option up a full set of its XGS 4000 Series suspension. Up front, the 40mm big-bore shocks bump the independent suspension set-up 40mm closer to the clouds when paired with the constant-load springs. A pair of ball-joint spacers have been thrown into the mix to allow the stock arms to work with the new ride height.

At the rear, the OEM three- leaf spring packs were binned for a set of TJM leafs, in the pursuit of better comfort and load-carrying ability. They’ve had the full treatment with all-new bushes, shackles and U-bolts. They’re paired up with a second set of big-bore XGS shocks, to bump the rear 40mm over stock to match the front. The new ride-height adjustment allowed the Rambler crew to shoehorn in some meatier rubber on each corner. The 285/65R17 Toyo Open Country AT2s replace OE 255/65R17s, bumping the total ride-height increase up to around 60mm.

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The front end is now up-armoured, thanks to a full suite of TJM steel bar work. Tip of the spear is an Outback bullbar and 63mm tube protecting the radiator and headlights. Nestled inside is a get-out-of-gaol free card with a 9500lb TJM Torq winch with synthetic rope. Helping light up the night are twin LED driving lights mounted inside the bar. The twin Ultima 215 lights are a hybrid spot/spread combo, with 10,500 lumens giving them plenty of punch for their compact size.

Moving back along the flanks, the sides are kept squeaky clean thanks to a combination of 63mm-thick TJM side-rails and side-steps coated in gloss metallic black and capped with alloy side-steps. While the black bar work was being installed, the stock D-MAX chrome accents were coated in a healthy slathering of black paint to tie it all.

Up top, a Yakima flat rack has been installed, providing easy storage options for bulky items without causing wind-noise issues like a traditional cage rack. Holding up the rear is an Xbar set-up from Hayman Reese. Tucked high and tight, the Xbar integrates a variety of recovery points while still giving the full towing capacity.

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CANOPY

That rack leads perfectly back into the focal point of all Rambler builds: the canopy set-up. For this build, the Rambler crew have opted for a healthy mix of in-canopy storage and tray with a ¾-canopy and ¼-tray combo. The tray provides just enough storage space to throw in a swag, firewood or mountain bike, with clever LED work lights mounted directly above.

Inside the Spinifex canopy, the passenger-side houses an electric control panel feeding power to lighting throughout the set-up. Sitting next to it is the trusty MSA drop slide, with an Engel fridge/freezer ensuring there’s always plenty of food and drinks around camp.

Moving around to the driver’s side and Rambler has chosen to leave the canopy predominantly empty, to give the customer versatility in packing; although, an RV Storage Solutions pull-out drawer serves as a handy place to stash smaller items. Underneath, two tool boxes behind the rear wheels provide additional storage; the passenger-side box housing the TJM compressor for on-board air, while the driver-side box stays free for stowing recovery gear.

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ENGINE

Under the bonnet, Isuzu’s renowned 4JJ engine is still providing reliable motoring for the D-MAX faithful; although, in its third generation it’s pushing out more power than ever with 140kW and 450Nm in stock form. The Rambler D-MAX breathes a little easier in dusty conditions thanks to the Airtec snorkel on the cold side, and a Legendex exhaust on the hot side.

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TOTALLY WIRED

The final piece to the puzzle was a simple but effective electrical set-up. With the wire cutters out, the Rambler team did an OE-level wiring job to ensure the lighting and canopy set-up had more than enough power.

A Projecta DCDC charger keeps the 90amp/h deep-cycle battery topped up on the road, while solar inputs allow for expansion if you’re parked up at camp for extended stays. A GME XRS was installed next to the driver’s knee, making for easy comms out in the scrub.

In a sea of extended mega-dollar builds with 37 axles, the Rambler D-MAX is a breath of fresh air. Tastefully modified, capable enough to travel the country, and built once and built right.

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More images of the 2022 Ford Ranger have been published, but this time revealing a number of off-road accessories.

On its website, Ford Australia previewed ARB bull-bars fitted to pre-production versions of the next-generation Ranger, along with tub canopies, snorkels, side rails with steps, skid plates, recovery hooks, roof racks, LED spotlights, bonnet protectors, towing mirrors, and rear drawers with a slide-out kitchen.

At the Ranger’s unveiling last month, the carmaker mentioned it was building on its partnership with Australian four-wheel-drive accessories company ARB to offer dealer-fit products, available to option when the Ranger is being ordered and covered by the factory new-car warranty.

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On the website, the accessories are divided across three categories: camping, touring, and off-roading. The new Ranger can also be seen fitted with generic ARB products, such as a roof-top tent, awning, and 12-volt fridge.

A number of different bull-bar options have been created, all of which appear to be colour-coded to the Ranger’s paint, and integrating fog-lights and parking sensors – as well as the ability to fit a winch.

More details about the 2022 Ford Ranger will be unveiled closer to the ute’s local launch in the middle of next year.

The plug-in hybrid Jeep Gladiator 4xe ute will now arrive in 2023, according to industry rumours – some two years later than planned.

Jeep had originally announced it would offer an electrified version for each of its models by 2022, but a new report from Mopar Insiders says the Gladiator will miss out on a plug-in hybrid powertrain until the dual-cab ute receives its mid-life update in late 2023.

It’s expected the Gladiator will share its powertrain with the Wrangler 4xe, using a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine matched with two electric motors, powered by a 400-volt lithium-ion battery pack.

The first electric motor is mounted on the front of the engine to provide mild-hybrid assistance, while the main electric motor sits between the engine and transmission, allowing the car to run on pure-electric power while still taking advantage of Jeep’s mechanical low-range four-wheel-drive system.

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The total power output for the Wrangler’s 4xe powertrain is 280kW and 637Nm, with up to 34 kilometres of pure-electric driving available, and a combined consumption of 4.8L/100km (EPA cycle).

“Not every new electric model will be seen in every single market or region right away, it will gradually come and how soon will depend on the local market and if governments are willing to promote electrification and greater grid development,” Jeep CEO Christian Meunier told a media roundtable back in July.

“What I am convinced of is what we provide will be appealing to our customers. It will come as soon as possible, as soon as the market is ready for it.”

There are many benefits to fitting an aftermarket exhaust system to a 4×4’s turbo-diesel engine, and no obvious negatives that I can think of. Well, that is unless you purchase a cheaply made exhaust kit, which from experience don’t fit well and tend to fall to pieces faster than a freshly built Sydney apartment.

We took no chances and opted for a quality Australian-made King Brown exhaust from the team at Pacemaker Australia. This unit, like many other parts fitted to our 2020 Isuzu D-MAX, is the first unit to roll off the production line. The good people at Pacemaker were able to help us out and built this kit from scratch.

We had the team at Advanced Installation Service in Emu Heights, NSW, fit the kit. They had it whipped out and assembled quick-smart, commenting that everything was included and it fit-up easily the first time around – can’t argue with that.

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As well as being an Australian-made product (which we always love to see), you can tell this is a top-quality bit of kit – just look at the sturdiness of the exhaust hangers and quality of the welds. The material used is a 409 stainless steel, a metal designed to stretch and flex as your vehicle does. The pipework is then coated in Pacemaker’s unique signature brown finish, which is designed to replicate snake skin. Not only does it look cool, this finish will protect the exhaust from the elements for years to come. Pacemaker has been building exhausts for nearly 50 years in its South Australian facility, which certainly gives peace of mind that this kit will last the distance.So, how does it sound?

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Being a touring vehicle we asked for an exhaust kit with a small muffler, and to keep the vehicle roadworthy we to retained the factory Isuzu DPF (diesel particulate filter). It now makes a nice, deep note, without an excessively loud drone on the highway. You can tell it’s there, especially at idle or when downshifting through tunnels. Another cool point is you can now hear the turbo spool up a bit more, and who doesn’t like turbo noises?

From the seat of the pants, the engine seems to have picked up a little bit of mid-range performance, which is a welcome addition after loading up the D-MAX with accessories.

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With the larger, free-flowing King Brown exhaust fitted, the vehicle’s EGTs (exhaust gas temperatures) have reduced, which is a positive step for engine longevity. It also means if we decide to turn the wick up performance-wise with an ECU remap or aftermarket performance module, there’s room for more safe gains in power. Call it future-proofing.King Brown exhaust systems are available to suit a range of 4x4s including Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50, Toyota Hilux, Prado and LandCruiser, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger.

AVAILABLE FROM: www.pacemaker.com.au RRP: $899 plus $150 fitment (in our case) WHAT WE SAY: A quality Australian-made exhaust upgrade kit that’s easy to install, with every nut and bolt included.

The next-generation 2022 Ford Ranger takes its design cues from not just the F-150, but also the outgoing model that has graced thousands of Australian driveways since 2011.

Not entirely new, the Ranger sits on a ‘third-generation’ version of the current T6 platform, dubbed ‘T6.2’. The big differences between it and the old Ranger include; a new turbocharged V6 diesel, numerous chassis adjustments, greater functionality and a complete redesign inside and out – with a large portrait-orientated 12-inch touchscreen dominating the look of the cabin.

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You can read more about the 2022 Ranger in our in depth story here, or find out all the details surrounding its expanded engine line-up here.

For now though, we’re looking at how the new 2022 Ranger stacks up against the outgoing 2021 model – along with how it compares to its larger, recently revised, F-150 sibling that has inspired the latest ‘family look’ across the brand’s ute line-up – including the not-for-Australia Maverick.

The biggest change between the 2022 Ranger and the current model is up front, with the outgoing sharp and narrow headlights replaced by a set of much-larger units with Ford’s signature C-shaped LED daytime running lamps closely linked to the F-150’s.

A bulkier mesh-design rectangular grille holds a large Ford badge that separates a bar running across the width of the Ranger, replacing the smaller hexagonal grille with body-coloured inserts on the old model.

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The H-shaped lower fascia is also new, and unlike the smoother designs seen in both the old Ranger and the F-150. However, like the F-150, the new Ranger picks up a pair of dual recovery hooks in the front bumper, accompanied by a small bash plate as well as a radar for active safety equipment.

The fog light housing is also connected to the fascia in the Wildtrak, although it maintains a similar design theme to the outgoing Ranger – with a separate configuration for lower-grade XL/XLS/XLT/Sport variants.

The side of the new Ranger features a deeper character line running through both doors, in addition to a straighter belt-line above the carryover door handles.

There is also a redesigned pair of door mirrors with slimmer LED indicators, as well as an elongated fender vent, similar in design to the F-150.

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Ford says nearly every part of the new Ranger is completely new, and claims the existing glass and steel for components such as the exterior doors would not fit – despite the side windows and door frames being seemingly all-but-identical to the old Ranger.

Differences at the rear of the new Ranger are just as large as the front, with a pair of new red halogen or Ranger-first clear LED tail-lights (similar to the Isuzu D-Max), along with stamped Ranger badging in place of stickers – a clear nod to the F-150 and smaller Maverick.

The sloping and contoured design of the tailgate is also inspired by the larger F-150, instead of the largely flat shape of the tailgate on the current 2021 Ranger.

Additionally, a step wedge has been fitted on the side of the rear bumper – a new addition to the Ford pick-up range – to help owners in stepping up to reach into the tub.

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The interior of the new Ranger is where the F-150 inspiration really starts to appear, marking a drastic step up over the previous model.

A more spacious design, the next-gen Ranger cabin is also more premium and sports a host of new technology.

An 8-inch digital instrument cluster will be standard across the range, with a 10.1-inch Sync 4 touchscreen available on entry-level grades with a larger 12-inch unit (as seen above) on higher variants. This portrait-orientated unit is similar to the version found in the full-electric F-150 Lightning, albeit with a bunch of chunky physical controls below to keep drivers happy.

The air vents take inspiration from the design of the front grille, with the dashboard also featuring additional storage space above the glovebox and below the climate/multimedia controls.

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A stubby electronic gear lever is also similar to the latest F-150, although it doesn’t feature the nifty ability to fold away with the flick of a button. The addition of an electronic parking brake has also assisted in modernising the interior design of the Ranger, while also improving practicality.

Perhaps the biggest F-150 inspiration, though, is the Ranger’s new interior door handles.

Rather than the traditional levers found on most vehicles today, the 1970s-style door levers in the Ranger are mounted within the fixed door pull, just like the Blue Oval’s flagship pick-up truck.

Although evolutionary on the mechanical side, the 2022 T6.2 Ranger is drastically separate to its T6 predecessor in the design stakes, with clear influence from the larger F-150.

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The 2022 LDV T60 Bull Demon King has been unveiled to the public, with an emphasis on off-road capability.

Despite the T60’s aggressive concept-car looks, Car News China is reporting the LDV ute will be going into production from next year, with order books already open in its native country.

The Bull Demon King gains a body-kit with black grille, orange highlights, a bonnet scoop, sailplane hoop, and bolt-on wheel arches. The apocalypse-ready scratch-resistant paint and all-terrain tyres complete the look.

To aid off-road driving, the LDV uses nitrogen-filled eight-way adjustable shock absorbers, while a 12,000-pound winch and LED flood lights have also been fitted.

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It’s a different story inside, with a leather interior and a driver-centric dashboard design, with a floating integrated panel encompassing the infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.

Under the bonnet, the ute is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine producing 163kW and 500Nm, paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Pricing for the 2022 LDV T60 Bull Demon King is said to around ¥250,000, or AU$55,000, but there’s no word on whether the off-road ute is being considered for Australia.

We were invited on a snow drive with the crew from Double Black Offroad earlier this year.

Needing a 4×4 vehicle that was properly off-road-capable to get through the expected deep snow on Mount Skene, we hit up Jeep for a Wrangler Rubicon and they made the short-wheelbase Recon we’d previously reviewed available to us.

With its lockers and mud tyres as standard, this was the best possible showroom stock vehicle for the job and, even if it struggled for clearance, its solid recovery points could be put to use. No other new 4×4 comes so well-equipped from the factory.

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DBOR is a Jeep specialist business and there was meant to be around 20 modified Jeeps on this trip, most of them on 35s and 37s, so the stock Recon would be put to the test to keep up with them.

The lockdowns came in to force the day before we were set to leave, and DBOR’s Bill Barbas postponed the trip for a month – Jeep told us to just hang on to the shorty Rubi, I wasn’t complaining.

Limited to local commutes while we waited for lockdowns to lift, the Recon is a lot of fun to drive. With its heated leather seats and well-equipped cabin, it is always comfortable to get behind the wheel, and its short stature makes it easy to drive to the shops and back. And that’s about as far as we were going with it.

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The little Jeep is relatively zippy around town; its short final drive gearing waking the 206kW petrol V6 up and giving it some pep around the suburbs. The Wrangler really is about having fun, and the SWB Recon certainly delivers in that regard.

The closest we got to taking it off-road and making the most of its ability was as a photographer’s car on the G400d shoot, where at least we did see a bit of snow. It was limited to full-time 4×4 use with no real off-roading; but with mud tyres, lockers and the ability to pull the G out if its road tyres lost traction, it made for the perfect support car.

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As lockdowns were extended, the DBOR trip was cancelled and we had to give the Recon back. My time with it convinced me I could live with the shorty. I’d ditch the rear seats and put a cargo barrier behind the front seats to make the rear of the car more spacious and usable. Then I’d take a trip to Double Black for a mild suspension lift to accommodate some 35-inch tyres, and I reckon I’d have a fun little weekend plaything.

It’s great to see Jeep Australia has reintroduced the SWB Rubicon into the local line-up, so that more than the 40 people who scored one of these limited-edition Recons will be able to enjoy driving one.

Nothing is as quintessentially Australian as a campfire baked loaf of damper. This month, learn how to cook this one-time bush staple either as the drover’s ‘classic’ damper or, for extra spice, a ‘savoury’ damper.

Savoury Damper

Ingredients

• 1kg flour • 100g butter • ½ tsp salt • 1 large egg • Approx. 200ml milk • 200g mushrooms • ¼ red, ¼ green and ¼ yellow capsicum • 1 large onion • 3 cloves garlic • ½ cup cheese • 150g bacon pieces

Cookware needed

• Campfire 9 Quart Camp Oven

Method

1. Prepare the campfire or charcoal for cooking. 2. Dice onion, garlic, mushrooms, capsicum and bacon, and add to a medium bowl. Add cheese then put to the side. 3. Rub butter and flour together until smooth, add pinch of salt and mix well. 4. Add 1 egg to your mix and stir through with a wooden spoon. 5. Mix and add milk gradually until flour becomes a dough. 6. Tip flour mix on to a bread board and knead for 3min. 7. Without making it too thin, flatten out dough mix into a rectangle shape. Sprinkle bowl of veggies into the centre (lengthways) of dough then roll to close. 8. Using kitchen scissors (or a sharp knife), snip 8 incisions into the long side of the dough to make ‘pull-apart’ tabs. 9. Place into camp oven and rest for 10mins. 10. Bake until golden brown.

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Classic Damper

Ingredients

• 1kg flour • 100g butter • Pinch of salt • 1 large egg • Approx. 200ml milk

Equipment Needed

• Campfire 9 or 12 Quart Camp Oven

Method

1. Preheat camp oven. 2. Using a large mixing bowl, rub butter and flour together until smooth. Add pinch of salt and mix well. 3. Crack 1 egg into the flour mix and stir through using wooden spoon. 4. Gradually add milk until flour mix turns into dough. 5. Tip out on to a bread board and knead for 3min. form into a round/oval shape and place into camp oven. Rest for 10mins. 6. Place a lid on the camp oven and bake over coals until golden brown.

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UPDATE, February 22, 2022: New Ford Ranger Raptor revealed!

The new 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor has been unveiled at last, and we’ve got a comprehensive rundown on everything you need to know. Catch our stories and big reveal video at the links below.

The story to here

UPDATE, November 26: More renderings of the 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor have been published, this time by Brazilian artist Kleber Silva.

Silva’s version of the Raptor (below) is based on the Wildtrak variant and isn’t as aggressive as the X-Tomi’s (top), but still adopts the F-O-R-D grille spied on prototypes testing recently in the Victorian High Country.

Click the image to see the full gallery, and us know which rendering you prefer. Our original story continues below.

Upgrade your Ranger

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The story to here

November 25: The 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor has been teased in a short video overnight.

Ford previewed the Raptor during the Ranger ute’s main online reveal, with a revving engine in the video sharing a similar tone as found in the US-market Ford Explorer ST.

The 3.0-litre turbo-petrol EcoBoost V6 produces as much as 300kW and 563Nm in the Explorer ST – a favourite of police departments in North America – and would deliver a significant performance bump if fitted to the Ranger.

Rumours of the Ranger Raptor receiving the Explorer ST’s V6 were first reported by US website Ford Authority back in May, with 4X4 Australia hearing similarities to the EcoBoost in a teaser video of the Ranger drifting on snow in New Zealand in September.

The EcoBoost V6 would provide a clear distinction in Ford’s performance pick-up range, with the Blue Oval being seemingly protective of F-150 Raptor sales – itself powered by a 336kW/692Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.

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However, it’s difficult to distinguish exactly which EcoBoost V6 engine we’re hearing in the teaser video from Ford. It’s possible we could be listening to the 2.7-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 fitted to both the F-150 and the Bronco in the US, which produces as much as 242kW and 542Nm.

Artist X-Tomi has released a rendering of what the new Ranger Raptor could look like when the model is unveiled early next year (top).

Whether or not Australia gets the petrol EcoBoost V6, or if we’re left to make do with the twin-turbo diesel Power Stroke V6, will be answered in the coming months, as the Ford Ranger Raptor will be unveiled in February 2022.

4X4 Australia's project builds

Isuzu Ute Australia has fast-tracked the launch of its MY22 D-Max range – originally expected to launch early next year, the updated model line-up will now be in dealerships from December 1.

The revised range will see the addition of a new 4×4 variant in showrooms, with the introduction of the LS-U+ to wedge between the flagship X-Terrain and the LS-U in the D-Max hierarchy.

In essence the LS-U+ is an LS-U with a bit more luxury ─ premium black leather-accented upholstery, variably heated front seats, eight-way electric adjustment and lumbar support for the driver, plus heated door mirrors.

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In more relevant news for off-roaders, the entire 4×4 range is now rated with a GCM of 6000 kilograms, an increase of 50kg on the 2021 model ─ that’s an extra kid in the back.

Plus, LS-U, LS-U+ and X-Terrain models are now equipped with a factory-fitted tow bar receiver as standard, and LS-U Crew Cab, LS-U Space Cab and LS-U+ Crew Cab variants get a factory-fitted tub liner as standard.

In a nod to customer feedback, IUA has also installed a Lane Support System switch on the steering wheel on all models, so that drivers can now toggle it on or off. Anyone who has driven an MY21 model will appreciate this decision, as deep-diving into the menu to scan for settings can be tiresome.

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LS-M Crew Cab models now get rear parking sensors as standard, while all mid-range LS-U variants (Crew Cab ute, Space Cab Chassis and Crew Cab Chassis) ditch the key in lieu of smart keyless entry.

The flagship X-Terrain has received added luxury in 2022 form, with the range-topper now features red stitching throughout the interior, variable heated front seats, a blacked-out instrument cluster, and black finishes on the steering wheel, air vents, centre console and doors.

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Scrapped for MY22 are the SX Space Cab 4×2 ute (auto) and SX Crew Cab 4×4 ute (manual), with the new-look line-up instead broadening its cab-chassis range. On the 4×2 front, Isuzu has introduced the SX Single Cab Chassis in manual and auto transmissions, with the manual variant now the entry point in the D-Max range – priced at $31,200 before on-road costs.

These new entry-level SX Single Cab Chassis variants are powered by the 110kW/350Nm 1.9-litre RZ4E-TC engine ─ debuting in Australia in this iteration. However, dig into the pockets a bit deeper and the venerable 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is still available for the SX Single Cab Chassis. Also new for the 4×2-inclined, is a 3.0-litre-powered SX Space Cab Chassis.

In addition to the LS-U+, new 4×4 variants for MY22 include the mid-spec LS-M and LS-U in Crew Cab Chassis guise (alloy or steel) – all paired with six-speed automatic transmissions and the 3.0-litre powertrain.

The MY22 D-Max range is available in dealerships from December 1.

2022 Isuzu D-Max Australian pricing

4X2

4X4 CAB CHASSIS

4X4 UTE