Ford Ranger or alternatives for family with bicycles

CalmLemons on 09/06/2020 - 20:32

Need to lug around 3 adult size and 2 kids size bicycles.

Putting everything on the roof or on the back on a rack of a SUV/wagon is going to be ridiculous and time consuming.

I'm thinking of getting Ford Ranger just as a spare family car. Would go a Hilux but companies I work for have them and the suspension is just too hard. The Rangers suspensions seems to be tuned better with no load.

Will 5 bicycles fit in the PICKUP BED of a Ranger? This way I can just whack them all in and do it with one strap.
Or should I get a custom tray built for the twin cabin ute tray version?

I'm a consultant so I 'used to' travel a lot lol. How reliable is Ford now if I'm not going to be towing anything? I'm used to normal wear and tear of euro cars but I would be pretty shitfaced if like the transmission failed after a year or something?

Automotive

Comments

  • Hybroid on 09/06/2020 - 20:37

    Will 5 bicycles fit in the PICKUP BED of a Ranger?

    No.

  • TheBilly on 09/06/2020 - 20:48

    Have you considered the BT-50? they have a deal at the moment for $37,990 for the 4 door auto 4x4 without sat nav. It's almost a re-badged ford ranger with same engine but different body panels. I currently have a hilux but in about 1 year I will need to replace it, I absolutely loved every aspect of owning it and would definitely buy one again, but I'm thinking of trying something different just for the sake of trying something different. If you test drive a BT-50 report back here !

    Edit:

    https://www.mazda.com.au/offers?nst=0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI36zo…

    It's the BT-50 4x4 utility XT - that is great value I don't think any other brand is at that mark financially. It's 10k under the hilux I got for $48k and it is effectively a ford ranger, just slightly uglier.

    https://autoexpert.com.au/posts/mazda-bt-50-review-buyers-gu…

    Edit 2:

    Would go a Hilux but companies I work for have them and the suspension is just too hard.

    I upgraded to the ARB OME entry weight leaf pack and it changed the drive significantly.

    • Snake 4 on 09/06/2020 - 21:34
      -1

      Yep. Spend $60,000 on a Hilux and than have to spend another $1,500 to $2,000 to have it drive comfortably!

      • TheBilly on 09/06/2020 - 22:42

        Mine was $48k but I was upgrading the suspension anyway, not because of ride comfort - the plush ride was just a bonus. Just something to note, if somebody is looking to upgrade the suspension anyway ride comfort will dramatically improve.

  • frondono on 09/06/2020 - 20:53

    https://www.pushys.com.au/accessories/carriers-racks/ute-tai…

    https://www.pushys.com.au/accessories/carriers-racks/hitch.h…

    You can get bike racks that go into the hitch that carry 5 bikes. There's tailgate protector pads available too. I don't think you'll have too much trouble fitting them in.

  • BBear53 on 09/06/2020 - 21:18
    +9

    Maybe have a trailer customised to hold all 5 bikes and just tow it with your current vehicle.

  • elgrande on 09/06/2020 - 21:39

    Maybe just lug around the ranger on the five bikes.

  • netjock on 09/06/2020 - 22:21

    I'm thinking of getting Ford Ranger just as a spare family car.

    If Ranger is a spare then what is your family car? Maybe don't answer that.

    • CalmLemons on 09/06/2020 - 22:30

      Yeah. Wife likes prestige. I would just go a Tarago, but no. Miserable life but happy wife.

      • Hybroid on 09/06/2020 - 22:47
        +2

        Huh, what's prestigious about the smallest model Ford pick up truck?

        • Euphemistic on 10/06/2020 - 07:49

          Not prestigious, but apparently indicates increase size of …

      • brendanm on 10/06/2020 - 06:28

        Get a runout x350 then, a an AMG g wagon.

  • kingsville on 09/06/2020 - 22:35
    +3

    how about a specific trailer to carry the bikes?

    $3.5K is a lot cheaper than buying and running another car!

    https://www.gripsport.com.au/product/bike-trailer/

    • CalmLemons on 09/06/2020 - 22:41

      i'm sorta using the bikes as an excuse to buy the macho ute, as this is straya.

      trailers are a pain in themselves. good suggestion though.

      • kingsville on 09/06/2020 - 22:43
        +2

        you lost me at 'macho'!

        • CalmLemons on 09/06/2020 - 22:44

          utility, i mean.

    • Euphemistic on 10/06/2020 - 10:44

      Trailers are easy to load, and a lot cheaper than a new car but they are a pain in the butt to park at times. Most carparks do not cater for trailers. Makes it difficult to stop for milk and bread on the way home.

  • Euphemistic on 10/06/2020 - 05:35

    I have a twin cab ute, D40 Navara, and cart bikes a lot. Bought the ute largely for this reason, although it’s pretty handy for other stuff. The tray isn’t secure or waterproof though, because if I wanted it secure with a canopy or hard lid it would need to be removed every time to fit bikes in.

    The only way you’ll fit five bikes in is to hang the back wheel over the tailgate. I did this a few times, but the wheels hung down too far and obscured the rego plate, not to mention the rubbed on each other and were difficult to tie down, especially with smaller kids bikes. If you don’t care about the bikes you can just throw them on top of each other and one strap over the lot, but you’ll get plenty of scratches and damage.

    I normally drop the tailgate and stand them up now if carrying 4 or less. Still need to tie them down which is a bit fiddly. I loop a strap around the head tube and strap the edge bikes down and the dice tee bikes to each other to stop them falling over. It’s a bit tight with 4 bikes, three is pretty easy. Taking a kids bike increases the level of difficulty as they are short and harder to strap.

    To cart 5 I use a rack on to towbar, four on the rack, one in the tray.

    Have a look at the shingleback racks. They can cart five bikes and load really easily. Not cheap though.

  • CheapandUsed on 10/06/2020 - 08:49

    Is this a thought where if you buy the right car to carry the bikes everyone will suddenly want to start riding more often?
    How often are you taking the bikes now is probably the best question to get detailed data on, and let that guide your decision.

    If the bikes thing is a cover because you really want a Ranger, don't let ozbargain forum posters stop you. If it is a genuine use case then the link from kingsville for a bike trailer might be best… Or go for a van, vans are cool enough for dirt bikes so why not for pushy's. They are also able to be far more luxurious than any German car in the same price range.

    • CalmLemons on 12/06/2020 - 21:14

      hmmmm. vw van. good suggestion.

      was watching the YouTube videos and a lot of guys seem to just dismantle their bikes and put it in the back of a van.

      • Euphemistic on 12/06/2020 - 22:23

        Our of interest what type of bikes? Basic family bikes or full on serious jobbies? It doesn’t really matter if they stack and rub a bit for cheap bikes, but you need to be a lot more careful to avoid rubbing and scratching the more the bikes are worth.

        The more they are worth, the more it is worth really setting up to cart them quickly, safely and efficiently. Lately I’ve been loading up 3 bikes every second weekend with 3or4 good mountain bikes and starting to think about how to make it quicker to load by building some sort of support frame that will sit in the tray and hold the bikes so I can Reduce the amount of tie down time.

  • spackbace on 10/06/2020 - 11:34

    Cab chassis rather than well-body? That'll give you the extra width required, more tie-down spots etc

  • ronald barndoor on 05/07/2023 - 09:28

    Hi All, came across this post, as I'm basically in the same position as the OP. So I'm interested in opinions and how the op is doing.

    I'm looking to buy a Ranger Wildtrack as a spare car that I can leave permanently hooked up to my boat. I live in inner Sydney so boat parking is a bit of a PITA. Having a car hooked up to it all times would save quite a bit of time every time I go out and give me more parking options a bit further from my house where I'm not annoying people taking up parking spaces. Would also use it for family holidays etc.

    OP how did you go in the end - did you buy the ranger? How did it go with the family of bikes?

    cheers
    Barndoor

    • Euphemistic on 05/07/2023 - 10:49

      permanently hooked up to my boat

      What? Doesn’t seem sensible unless you use your boat twice a week.

      comments are 3yo and will apply to the older Ranger.

  • ronald barndoor on 05/07/2023 - 10:59

    yeah once or twice per week. definitely not sensible but certainly less hassle

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