When it comes to midsize trucks in the overlanding communityIt seems like the Toyota Tacoma has stolen all the attention. Don’t get us wrong – it’s a great truck, especially the current generation, but it’s far from the only game in town.
Take the Ford Ranger, for example. It’s highly capable, it’s great to live with, and it makes a great base to build on land. This is especially true now that ARB has introduced the new Ranger for 2024 with its Ascent truck cap and 5-foot bed.
Powder-coated metal bed toppers for trucks are definitely in vogue now, but they leave a lot on the table when it comes to driving your truck every day. In contrast, old-time fiberglass bed caps are heavy, look bad, and often lack the features overlanders want.
The ARB Ascent appears to bridge the gap between the two with very little sacrifice.
How is it different
ARB manufactures the Ascent Cap with ABS plastic. While plastic seems somewhat of a cop-out, especially when it comes to how sturdy the cap will be in the long term, it’s not. The Ascent uses a powder-coated metal frame with a painted ABS shell. This provides stiffness and enough strength to give the Ascent a static load rating of 770 pounds and a dynamic rating of 275 pounds.
If you pair it with the ARB Base Rack it has enough capacity for all the gear you want to throw on top of it.
The ABS shell is lighter than an all-metal or fiberglass bed cap, and because ARB built this version specifically for the Ranger, it’s really well integrated from an aerodynamic standpoint. Gas was priced at $6 at the time of publication in Southern California, so the low pressure is actually a nice bonus.
The rear glass is 5 mm thick, tinted and frameless. It has also been tweaked at the rear and sides to further aid aerodynamics. There is a clear window in the front that lets you access the bed through the sliding rear cab window as well. The side windows pop up on gas struts for easy access to the bed and there’s an optional vent-catch setting to improve air flow and make it easier to route electrical cords when using a portable power station.
Smart quality of life features
As you’d expect from a company like ARB that’s been building hardcore off-road gear for decades, the Ascent includes some really nice quality-of-life features. For example, a low-profile, high-flow vent creates a positive pressure environment in the bed area, which significantly reduces dust ingress. It’s great to have anywhere, but it’s especially useful in desert environments.
We also discovered an electronic central locking feature that works with the vehicle’s built-in central locking system – no additional fob required. It also has three-mode LED interior lighting and a knob that lets you lock and unlock the cap from the inside – especially nice if you’re camping in bed.
The Ascent Cap is available in three colors – grey, white, or black – although other colors may become available later. The retail price isn’t considerable at $5,000, but it’s a bit high compared to, for example, the aluminum Alu-Cab Contour Truck Cap, which costs $4,800. The Ascent should be available to order later this year.
