Raptor Mods - (Based on Driving Habit)

I'd like this thread to be a spot where Raptor owners can come and get an idea of what mods should ideally be done based on their driving habits. I haven't seen a thread quite like this so here's what I'm thinking.

We have three categories (how hard you push your Raptor off-road):

1. Easy to moderate (probably close to what SVT initially designed the Raptor for).

2. Moderate to hard (pushing the limits of design at times)

3. Hard to Extreme (definitely pushing the Raptor beyond it's initial design).


For those of you that have been driving your Raptors for a while now, please feel free to post what mods you think are necessary based on these categories. I'm hoping this will be a good thread for both newer (and future owners like myself) Raptor owners and even those that have been driving theirs for a while or are thinking about pushing their Raptor harder and into a new category.

Please try to be specific with parts and where you would recommend buying them (and even cost if you can).

Category 1 - Easy to Moderate - (Generally within design limits of the Raptor)

Performance/Off Road Improvement:
Mid Perch (at least consideration) - Alignment afterwards - Couple hundred
Exhaust (modest performance but much better sound!) - Prices vary - ! $500-700 (cat-back)
5 Star Tune or equivalent (at least consideration but not necessary) - $~400
ABS & Vacuum Guards - $60 (SDHQ)
CAI (consideration but is is necessary?)
Lighting (LED) - Certainly will need at some point for night driving - ~$400-1000
VIM lockpick (NAV-TV) Able to use front and rear cameras at any speed in any mode

Protection:
Halotron Fire Extinguisher
D-Bug Screen or equivalent for in front of radiator (protect radiator from bugs/small rocks)
Seal up where the intake is in the inner fender to stop any chance of water ingestion
Line-X (Protection of wheel wells/bed) -
Clearcoat protectant for front minimum - Couple hundred for material
Vinyl wrap (to protect from scratches/small dents) but not cheap - ~ $2000-3000

Recovery Gear:
Extra Spare
Tow rope
D-ring shackles
Tools
Shovel
Better jack

Category 2 - Moderate to Hard (Pushing the limits of the design at times)

Performance/Off-Road Improvement:
Mid Perch (If not already done) - More preload on front shocks for less front end diving and bottoming out
Frame Reinforcement (even on reinforced 2013s) - SDHQ ~$100
After market leaf springs (HD Progressive Leaf Pack/Deaver 2+ (WSI/RPG/other recommendations?) - ~ $1000-1500
5 Star Tune (or equivalent if not done already) - ~ $400
Exhaust (If not done already) - ~ $500-700 (Cat-back)
Long Tube Headers - Stainless Works (~ $1000)
CAI (if not done already)
Lighting (definite if not done already for faster night driving) LED 20-40' bars, et cetera (~ $400-1000)
3.0 Shocks (huge upgrade) - Some would say to do this first over other upgrades like springs - ~ $5000
Bumpers (with better clearance and strength) ~ $1500 each
RPG Stage 4+ ~ $6800
Roll Cage (Something to start considering either now or certainly at Cat 3) WSI - ~ $5100
VIM lockpick (NAV-TV) Able to use front and rear cameras at any speed in any mode (if not already done)
Sway bar disconnect for off-road improvement (not so good on road then, especially for quick moves or hard driving)

Recovery Gear:
Same as Cat 1 plus:
Winch
On-board air

Off-Road Extras
Bed storage rack (things must be tied down at speed!)

Category 3 - Hard to Extreme (Definitely pushing the Raptor beyond it's initial design)

Roll Cage - (Just in case) WSI - ~ $5100
Harness System - (To stay in your seat)
Long Travel Suspension (SDHQ/RPG/Et Cetera) - At least another 5-6 inches of suspension travel
Bump Stops/Heavy Frame Reinforcement (SDHQ/RPG)
Boatec Fiberglass Parts
37 Inch Tires - $1400
Long Range Radio
Lowrance or similar GPS - ~ $300-600
Dovetailed Rear

Catagory 1 I need all the help I can get ...

Category 0.9 I am a wimp but want to be more.

Better than I'm doing right now!

Let's also add in what should be done first or if you think certain mods should be done at the same time, then indicate that.

Catagory 1

Here's my .02

1.) Mid perch $150, Line-X $450, programmer $430 (5 star), exhaust $100 (dumped w/ muffler only) $500-1000 (full system), CAI $320 (AFE Stage 2), lighting (LED) $200+

Total: $1500-$3000+

2.) HD Progressive Leaf pack $1000-1500 (WSI, RPG), light frame reinforcement $100 (SDHQ), bumpers with better clearance and strength $1500 each (WSI, SDHQ, RPG, ADD...etc etc), bed storage (for extra tires, parts, fluids and recovery gear) $1000+ not including gear (WSI, SDHQ, RPG, ADD...etc etc), long tube headers $1000 (Stainless Works), (bolt in roll cage? WSI $5100)

Total: $4000 - $10,000+

3.) Some sort of rollcage and harness system, long range radio, long travel system (SDHG, RPG), bump stops/heavy frame reinforcement (SDHQ, RPG), fiberglass $599 (Boatec), 37's $1400, dovetailed rear, lowrance GPS... this list can go on into infinity.

Total: $10,000+++

That's exactly what I'm looking for! Hopefully we'll get quite a few chiming in and maybe with time we can consolidate them and have some "general" recommendations for each category. In the interim, I'll move a lot of these ideas up to the first post with poster name attached.

Thanks for being the first with recommendations! Next??

I hope so too, I've subscribed to this one. It seems my wishlist never stops growing. I would consider myself a "light" category 2, but I plan on owning this truck for a long time... who knows where it'll take me.

Here's 2 more cents free of charge: Stay away from forced induction (just more stuff to break and leave you stranded), and be careful with bed storage options if you don't want to break your back windshield. The bed shakes all over the place.

I feel the same way. I don't even have my truck yet but I can see myself keeping it for a long, long time! I'm hoping to explore areas I only dreamed about before!