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Tradie Tips Q&A: Jack Middleton - Builder

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Jack Middleton and his 3.2-litre Ford Ranger XLT. (image credit: Brendan Batty)
Marcus Craft
Contributing Journalist
17 Dec 2019
2 min read

Builder Jack Middleton works alongside Mark Purkiss as part of Purkiss Construction.

The 3.2-litre Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 was purchased new in 2017. 

The Ranger's tray gets a solid workout every day as it's loaded with tools and equipment.(image credit: Brendan Batty)
The Ranger's tray gets a solid workout every day as it's loaded with tools and equipment.(image credit: Brendan Batty)

Crafty: Why did you buy your Ford Ranger?

Jack: It was Mark's old ute [Mark Purkiss and Jack work in Purkiss Construction], so it was only six months old when I got it.

It's mainly a work car, but I do use it for towing my boat.

Crafty: What's a typical work day for your ute?

It gets pretty loaded up, just dropping stuff off to sites for the boys. The tray's really durable – it gets loaded up with rubbish and we don't go easy on it. 

Crafty: Do you use your Ranger outside work?

Jack: We've got a big boat, me and my old man, so it tows that around, that's good. That's about three ton loaded up.

I already had the Ranger before we got the boat, but it was one of the good reasons for getting the boat because it's easy to tow around. It makes a good towing vehicle, 100 percent.
 

The Ranger's roof rack is handy for carrying six-metre lengths of timber to work sites. (image credit: Brendan Batty)
The Ranger's roof rack is handy for carrying six-metre lengths of timber to work sites. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

Crafty: Any mods?

Jack: It has a Rhino rack, ladder rack (because we carry six-metre lengths of timber), and Kings seat covers (to save the seats from getting trashed).

Crafty: Any problems?

Jack: No.

Jack's Ranger usually has a full work week but it tows a boat on weekends. (image credit: Brendan Batty)
Jack's Ranger usually has a full work week but it tows a boat on weekends. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

Crafty: Anything else you'd like to do to it?

Jack: It's good as it is.

Crafty: Would you buy another Ranger – maybe the latest model – next time?

Jack: Yep.

Need a builder? Call Purkiss Construction on 0433 204 827 or visit Purkiss Construction.

Marcus Craft
Contributing Journalist
Raised by dingoes and, later, nuns, Marcus (aka ‘Crafty’) had his first taste of adventure as a cheeky toddler on family 4WD trips to secret fishing spots near Bundaberg, Queensland. He has since worked as a journalist for more than 20 years in Australia, London and Cape Town and has been an automotive journalist for 18 years. This bloke has driven and camped throughout much of Australia – for work and play – and has written yarns for pretty much every mag you can think of. The former editor of 4X4 Australia magazine, Marcus is one of the country’s most respected vehicle reviewers and off-road adventure travel writers.
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