Ford Problems

The Ranger, and its cousin from Mazda, is a tough, durable and reliable truck. Neither have any major problems that should concern you. Buy on condition, look for one that has been used privately rather than for work, and make sure it’s been well serviced.

The EGR cooler can develop a crack and the resultant loss of coolant could lead to a cracked cylinder head. I would recommend that you press Ford for a goodwill gesture to cover the cost of repairs. At the very least you deserve an explanation for the rejection of your claim. If ultimately Ford doesn’t come to the party with a satisfactory resolution you could go to the consumer affairs people (ACCC) and ask for their help.

You could visually check the transfer case and CV joints, but I doubt you’ll see anything that might tell there’s a problem with them. It could also be a diff. Get it to a specialist mechanic and have them check it for you.

You could drive it on the beach, but it depends on the condition of the sand. If it’s hard packed you shouldn’t have any trouble, but if it’s soft you’re almost certain to get bogged. Best talk to the locals and get their opinion.

I assume you bought it from a dealer, so try and negotiate some form of good will payment to at least cover part of the cost of replacing the engine.

The demand for manual gearboxes is so low today that it’s not worth car companies doing all the compliance work needed when they know they would only sell a handful of cars. You might have to loo at something like a Holden Commodore.

It's hard to give you a definite recommendation, as most cargo measurements are in litres rather than floor length, but I reckon most mid-size wagons and large SUVs would do the job for you. 

Most of these have a flat boot floor with the seats folded, and likely have ample body length for sleeping. 

So Mazda6, Skoda Superb or Ford Mondeo wagons are worth a look, plus large SUVs like the Mazda CX-9, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. 

Don't be afraid to try them out for size at the dealers either. You'd certainly test out a mattress before buying right?!

No, we haven't had other complaints of this issue. There shouldn't be anything like that amount of movement, makes me wonder if the tongue is the correct one for the bar. Take the car to a towing place, like Hayman-Reece, and have them assess it.

They should be pressed out; bashing them out will most likely damage the control arms. Take the arms to a local mechanic and have him press them out.​​