At CarnivoreWeb.com, we independently review products and outfitters. However, we may earn a commission when you purchase products through links on our site. Read our affiliate policy. Read about how we test products.
Hellwig’s 2019 Ford Ranger Offers Fully Appointed Backcountry Lodging for Overland Adventures.
Anyone who has attempted to plan a family outing knows all too well that the term “camping” can represent a wide range of experiences, depending on who you ask. To some, it means hiking to a remote campsite with nothing but a backpack, and sleeping in a bivvy bag under the stars (or possibly a tarp, if you’re feeling fancy). For others, camping signifies a much more comfortable experience in the great outdoors — access to a roomy tent, electricity, full-size stove, and plenty of storage for recreational gear, food, and cold beverages. There will always be purists who decry the latter activity as “glamping,” but even if you’re a die-hard ultralight backpacker, it’s hard to deny the occasional appeal of this form of travel. Plus, it’s rather difficult to drag your mountain bikes, kayaks, or hard cases full of guns up a rutted mountain trail on foot. This is where overland truck builds excel.
2019 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew FX4 Specs
- Engine: 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder: 270 hp at 5,500 rpm, 310 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm
- Transmission: 10-speed SelectShift automatic
- Driveline: 2WD/4WD with two-speed transfer case
- Suspension: CON Vehicle Dynamics 3.5-inch suspension system, Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar and steel helper springs
- Wheels & Tires: 17×8.5 ICON Compression wheels, 285/75R17 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires
- Bed Rack & Tent: Yakima Overhaul HD rack with Tepui HyBox rooftop tent and Yakima SlimShady awning
- Mobile Kitchen: Trail Kitchens bed-mounted kitchen and accessories, BedSlide 1000 Classic, Expedition Essentials ExO Table Lite, ARB Elements freezer/fridge
- Lighting & Electrical: Rigid Industries LED lights; Goal Zero Yeti 1400 power station, Boulder 100 solar panels, and Yeti Link car charging kit
- Mountain Bikes: Specialized Levo Turbo bikes on Yakima HoldUp EVO bike rack attached to RIGd UltraSwing hitch carrier
- Created By: Hellwig Products hellwigproducts.com
- Built By: Old Steel Hotrods and Sickles – Leona Valley, CA
Hellwig Products has a long history of upgrading trucks. The company was founded in 1946 by Rudy Hellwig, a postwar entrepreneur who noticed a common problem on American highways: vehicles carrying heavy loads often limped along with sagging, bottomed-out suspension. This resulted in a nose-high stance, poor handling, and potentially dangerous instability at speed. At his shop in central California, Rudy produced “Helper Springs” that allowed customers to bolster their vehicles’ rear suspension and carry heavy loads more safely. Three generations later, the company is still owned and operated by the Hellwig family and still manufactures its suspension components in the USA.
The team at Hellwig recently set out to create an overland-style truck based on the new-body-style Ford Ranger. The build began with a 2019 four-door SuperCrew model with the FX4 off-road package. Its turbocharged 2.3L motor provides plenty of low-end torque to overcome rough terrain, and the 10-speed automatic transmission makes it equally proficient at long stints on the highway. However, Hellwig had no intention of leaving this truck in stock form.
Unsurprisingly, the first area addressed was the Ranger’s suspension. It received a 3.5-inch lift kit from ICON Vehicle Dynamics, as well as Hellwig’s own helper springs and rear sway bar — the latter items help the truck comfortably carry all the additional gear we’ll discuss below. ICON also provided 17-inch wheels, which were wrapped in 34-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires. Bushwacker fender flares and Addictive Desert Designs (ADD) Venom R bumpers make room for these larger tires; ADD rock sliders protect the door sills from impacts. Rigid Industries light bars offer clear visibility for dark trails or remote campsites.
The Ranger’s exterior received a custom paint job with blue and yellow accents at LGE-CTS Motorsports in California. A T-Rex grille and custom Billet Badges add a little extra visual flair. Inside the cab, the seats and door panels were reupholstered with upscale Katzkin leather, and Rockford Fosgate speakers were installed for clearer sound quality.
At this stage, the Hellwig Ranger was substantially improved over its stock form, but it wasn’t yet a true adventure rig. For that, attention had to be focused on the bed. A Yakima Overhaul HD bed rack was installed, as well as a Yakima SlimShady roll-up awning and HoldUp EVO bike rack. The latter item is used to carry two matching mountain bikes, namely a pair of Specialized Levo Turbos. The bikes and carrier are attached to a RIGd UltraSwing hitch carrier, which swings conveniently out of the way to allow unrestricted access to the tailgate.
A Tepui HyBox rooftop tent was mounted atop the bed rack. Unlatching its hard shell reveals a roomy two-person sleeping area. Beneath it, the sides of the rack were fitted with various accessories — Daystar Cam Cans for fuel and water, a Krazy Beaver shovel, more Rigid Industries LED lights, and a Rockford Fosgate exterior sound system with four speakers and a weatherproof head unit. These electronics are powered by a Goal Zero Yeti 1400 power station, which can be recharged via Goal Zero Boulder 100 solar panels or from the truck’s engine using a Yeti Link car charging kit. Additional gear can be stored in the nine Pelican hard cases arranged throughout the bed. An array of single-key BOLT locks were installed to ensure all this expensive equipment doesn’t grow legs and disappear.
Lastly, whether it’s used for processing game after a hunt or grilling burgers at a tailgate party, a good kitchen setup is a must for any adventure vehicle. Trail Kitchens provided a complete system with flip-down work surfaces, cookware storage compartments, a camp sink, and a Camp Chef two-burner stove. An Expedition Essentials table is mounted on the inside of the UltraSwing carrier for additional prep space. Drinks and perishable items can be stored in the ARB Elements freezer/fridge, which is mounted on a BedSlide platform for easy, slide-out access.
Hellwig’s 2019 Ranger serves as an optimal platform for cross-country trips filled with mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and exploring the roads less traveled. Whether your family thinks staying at the Holiday Inn constitutes “roughing it” or they sneer at the idea of using an established campsite, this truck offers a middle ground that everyone can enjoy.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Carnivore Magazine Issue 5.
Why You Can Trust CARNIVORE
Since its launch, CarnivoreWeb.com has been a trusted authority on hunting, fishing and wild food, delivering expert insight for outdoorsmen who live the field-to-table lifestyle. More than a hunting and fishing site, CarnivoreWeb.com covers the full spectrum of the modern outdoors—from rifles, bows, and fishing gear to cooking, conservation and adventure.
Our contributors are drawn from across the hunting and angling world, including seasoned guides, lifelong hunters, competitive shooters and outdoor writers with decades of field experience. Every review, article and feature is built on firsthand testing, deep research, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy.
Commitment to Journalistic Principles
At CarnivoreWeb.com, upholding journalistic integrity is our top priority. We follow strict editorial standards to ensure all content is accurate, transparent, and unbiased. Our editors and writers operate independently, free from outside influence, advertisers or stakeholders. We adhere to established journalistic codes of ethics, holding ourselves accountable for the information we publish, correcting errors when they occur and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
This commitment ensures that our readers can trust CarnivoreWeb.com to provide reliable, honest coverage that helps them make informed decisions—whether selecting gear, honing outdoor skills or preparing wild game.
Find out more about our Editorial Standards and Evaluation Process
