2023 Ford Ranger: Ford-backed ARB accessories revealed in leaked document

A leaked document, obtained this past weekend by 4X4 Australia, outlines a number of factory-licensed ARB accessories for the next-gen 2023 Ford Ranger.

Ford Australia announced last year it had partnered with ARB 4x4 Accessories to supply the accessories for its Ranger and Everest lines of 4x4s and was already working on the kit for the next-gen models due to start going on sale in June this year.

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This partnership went right back to the prototype vehicle engineering and testing of the new vehicles to ensure that all the accessories would meet Ford’s standards for fit and quality and allow them to be covered by the car’s 5-year factory warranty.

The result is that you can order any ARB accessory to suit the new Ranger and Everest at the time of vehicle purchase from your Ford dealer.

To be covered by Ford’s factory warranty, the accessories must be sold by a Ford dealership, while products bought from an ARB store or reseller are not covered by the Ford warranty.

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“We are very proud to welcome ARB on-board as they are known globally and respected in the off-road community for their state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and stringent quality controls,” said Andrew Birkic, president and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand at the time of the announcement.

“A lot of our customers have told us they’d love to be able to access a wider range of quality off-road accessories through our Ford dealership network, and this collaboration will mean they can head off road safely with access to a range of ARB accessories.”

As expected, the ARB kit for the new car extends to a variety of protection equipment including bullbars, side-steps and rear bar; Nitrocharger and BP51 equipped suspension packages; underbody protection; air compressor fitment; Linx integration; Air Lockers; canopies; roof racks; driving lights; dual-battery systems and even GVM upgrades.

The licensing partnership has created more than 160 products for the new Ranger alone, with more to come for Everest.

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The document also includes links to specific product information to educate both vehicle owners and Ford dealership staff on the ARB products and how they benefit the vehicles.

The ARB accessories also include some product sold by ARB but manufactured by other reputable Australian suppliers including Safari Snorkels and Redarc BCDC chargers for auxiliary batteries.

Four-cylinder and V6 diesel powered Rangers have space in the engine bay for a second battery and the ARB auxiliary kit includes the battery tray, Redarc charger and all required wiring.

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The V6 petrol-powered Ranger Raptor has a bigger airbox to feed its more powerful engine which takes up that space in the engine bay, but ARB is said to be working on a kit to mount the second battery under the rear seat of the Raptor or in the rear of the vehicle.

It’s this co-operative partnership that has allowed ARB to have access to the cars before the official launch so that the accessories will be available from the time the new Fords go on sale.

Other areas where this is evident include ARB accessory wiring harnesses which integrate directly with the car’s factory wiring, and even the mounting kit for the ARB Twin Compressor which has specific mounting points in the rear quarter panel to allow fitting without any additional holes or fixtures required.

The Ford engineers also applied their own calibration to ARB’s flagship BP51 shock absorbers for the Ranger, with one engineer telling us that he believes the new BP-51s perform as well as the Fox Racing dampeners in the current model Ranger Raptor, but not as good as those in the new-generation Ranger Raptor.

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It’s great to see a vehicle manufacturer partnering with a great Australian 4x4 accessories brand to develop and create a range of accessories that will make the vehicles better suited to the individual needs of owners.

Ford and other manufacturers see their cars being bought and sent straight to aftermarket workshops to be fitted out and not only do they want a bit of that action, but they want the products to work better with their vehicles.

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A Ford engineer told 4X4 Australia that some of the biggest problems they see with their vehicles, come from the fitting of aftermarket products and how they interact with the many complex systems in the new cars.

Fitting accessories like driving lights or tow bars which might have been relatively easy DIY jobs in the past, can easily damage a new vehicle’s electrical system if not done properly.

Just like fitting aftermarket suspension or GMV upgrades can affect a vehicle’s dynamics and safety systems. Partnerships like this will allow for better integration and better products for owners.