Articles by Marcus Craft

The 2019 Ford Transit Custom 300S short wheelbase van arrives in an already busy market segment. It has always had a loyal following, however, the Transit has consistently been overshadowed by Toyota's HiAce and the like.

Small or compact four-door SUVs have found favour with those who might usually climb into a hatch but, for whatever reasons, are now looking to a vehicle with the ability, actual or otherwise, of being sporty and even a little bit outdoorsy. The reality is most of these vehicles will spend their time on city and suburban streets, which perfectly suits them, and their owners' lifestyles.

A lockable canopy over the top of your ute’s tray/tub reduces the impact of the elements on anything carried in the back and also cuts down on the possibility of that stuff being damaged or stolen.

A lockable canopy made of a durable material, such as fibreglass, adds a much-needed layer of security and protection to your ute and the equipment or tools you carry in the tub or tray.

Peter Stockton is a painter by trade, and has owned his 2019 Ford Ranger 3.2 for about four months.Crafty: Why did you buy your ute?Peter: My previous vehicle was a Ranger dual-cab 2013 model 3.2-litre turbo-diesel and I absolutely loved it, so I had no hesitation to upgrade to the 2019 model. I liked the power, smooth ride and that it didn't have the diesel rattles – unlike some of its competitors – and also the storage space behind the rear seat was an added bonus. Crafty: What's a typical work day for your ute?Peter: A fair majority of my work is in the Snowy Mountains and all over the Monaro so we normally cover a couple of hundred kms per day.We load the vehicle up in the morning with trestles, planks, stepladders and any other scaffold required for that day and having a large steel tray helps with the loading of all the tools and paint materials for the day.Having a small crew of four tradies, the Ranger has the leg room and comfort (so I am told) for the guys in the back.Crafty: Do you use your ute outside of work?Peter: I spend a lot of time fishing down the coast and also up at Lake Eucumbene, so being able to tow the boat with ease was an important part of the decision to get the Ranger.We also camp in the back of the vehicle with a canopy there's enough room to fit a double mattress and when four-wheel driving it does everything we require of it in the bush and having the diff lockers in this model is a great benefit.Crafty: What modifications have you done to it?Peter: It has an ARB bullbar, towbar and winch; Kings 9-inch driving lights and two small light bars either side of the number plate; Safari snorkel; two under-tray Ironman 4x4 toolboxes; and two flush-mount LED reversing lights. Crafty: Anything else you're planning for it?Peter: Just waiting to get the windows tinted, then sidesteps put on and two 12-volt outlets put in the rear of the tray to run my LED lights in the canopy and charge phones etc when camping in the back.Crafty: Any problems?Peter: Not yet. The Ranger has only 8000km on it, so early days, fingers crossed I don't have any.Crafty: Would you buy another Ranger?Peter: Absolutely. The Ford Ranger has been the best vehicle I have ever owned, so in another five years or so I will definitely upgrade again.If you need a painter, get in touch with Peter Stockton of PDS Painting & Decorating on 0408 236 541.

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We take a city-friendly 2WD 2019 Hyundai Tucson Elite off the bitumen and into the bush. It's a compact SUV more suited to cafe-hopping than creek-crossings. What could possibly go wrong?

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Chris Leak is a builder by trade, and has owned his 2018 Ford Ranger 3.2 for six months.