ford ranger tub chop

A Ford Ranger tub chop looks tough, sounds simple, and is exactly the sort of job that turns a Saturday arvo into a three-week odyssey. In Australia it’s doable, but you’re altering body structure, so expect an engineer sign-off under the NCOP/VSB 14 and the right mod plate for your state. Lighting, number plate, reflectors, reverse camera and parking sensors still need to meet ADR rules after the chop, and deleting bumpers or tow gear can land you on the wrong side of compliance faster than you can say “angle grinder.”

There’s also the unglamorous stuff: fuel filler routing, spare-tyre clearance, tie-down points, and sealing those fresh cuts properly or you’ll discover new shades of rust. Insurance, warranty and resale may take a dim view of DIY surgery, and your GVM/towing ratings don’t magically improve just because you removed a bit of steel. If you want shorter overhang without the paperwork tango, consider a purpose-built tray and, before any cutting, talk to a licensed engineer and your state authority—your future self (and wallet) will thank you.