Kaiser's Blue Flame Build / Journal

My family got bigger, so I decided it was time to get something with a real back seat. I decided on the Raptor as it was a do anything truck in the off-road sense (as long as it fits on the trail...) and I have always been a truck guy and was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to haul enough stuff in a Jeep.

I ordered a 2010 Blue Flame Super Cab 6.2 (no graphics) on 3/9 with the luxury package, trailer brake controller and rear view camera. My delivery date was June 1st. I picked it up on June 3rd.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/someone-picking-up-his-raptor-friday-6295/




Here is my "big" truck, my Jeep Kaiser M715:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f42/m715-5437/

Getting the Raptor meant I would have to sell my beloved Ranger, which had served me faithfully for over 10 years, and lots of adventures. I was sad to see it go
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f29/2000-ford-ranger-4x4-sold-6259/







The first thing I did was add an AgriCover Lorado bed cover. This truck will see a lot of road-trips and I wanted a bed cover to keep everything in the bed dry and out of sight. I chose this one due to cost and that it would roll up (getting it out of the way for big loads) and was easy to remove by myself.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/agricover-lorado-5391/
It has been a pretty good cover, but some of the fasteners that hold the velcro strips to the cover rails have been corroding.

Then I added a Line-X spray-in bedliner. I opted for the Line-X as it had a lifetime warranty that is covered by dealers nationwide. Plus, the cost was almost the same as the other options available to me locally.


In July, I did my first big road trip, which also included some off-roading, to Red River, NM and the Canadian River, north of Amarillo.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/canadian-river-red-river-nm-6760/




(This pic was featured as a Reader's Ride in Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-road)


I decided a fire extinguisher would be a good idea and settled on an Amerex 2.5lb Halotron unit.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f67/fire-extinguishers-5779/index2.html#post106726


October brought another off-road trip with some work buddies to Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area. I learned some good lessons about the size of my truck on this trip...
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/barnwell-mountain-gilmer-tx-988/





My next off-road adventure was to the Outback Adventure Track in Stanton, with frogslinger.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/outback-adventure-track-stanton-tx-989/




I had put off getting recovery gear for WAY too long, so I picked up some essentials to get me and / or someone else unstuck.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f67/recovery-gear-8143/
(lots of good info from others in that thread as well)


Fixed a door panel rattle:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/door-panel-rattle-fixed-8449/


Bought some NATO gas cans for extended range (which worked great at the Texas Raptor Run):
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f29/scepter-gas-cans-expedition-portal-8193/


Relocated the wiring harness on the driver's side of the frame to get it out of harms path:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/wiring-harness-re-route-9648/


I had wanted some cargo rails in the bed similar to the Nissan Utilitrack system to strap down cargo, luggage and / or trail gear. This system worked great on the Texas Run.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/cargo-rail-install-12218/
I have a few tweaks in mind, however...



And, I went to the Texas Raptor Run!!
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/texas-raptor-run-picture-thread-12733/

I did the door seal mod on 4/21. I did this in hopes of curing some of the door rattling I experienced during the TRR.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/door-seal-fix-surgical-tubing-11515/
I was not sure that I liked this mod, initially. You definitely have to have a firm follow through when you shut the door, which is very unusual for any newer car these days. I have gotten used to shutting the door firmly now. I still need to get it off-road to see if it helps with the squeaks / rattles.


I also had the purge canister TSB completed on my truck by a local dealer.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f39/tsb-11-1-5-canister-purge-valve-1347/


Got my Ham tech license on 6/2.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/become-ham-radio-operator-11756/


Moved to the mid perch on 6/2. The primary reason I wanted to do this was to increase ground clearance for the front end. I, and many others, have drug the front skid plate in a variety of situations and would like to avoid it in the future.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/perch-mod-shocks-truck-14082/
I have noticed that the additional preload in the springs has firmed up the front end. This has also changed the coupling with the rear suspension, as I have noticed on some speed bumps.


Alignment and camber / caster kits installed 6/4:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/your-raptor-its-alignment-539/index7.html#post212270


Rigid 20" E-Series LED lightbar installed 6/22:
Here is the post on my install:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/...tion-instructions-6499/index7.html#post220547
Here are the reference threads I used:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f45/aux-switches-wiring-diagram-2794/
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/rigid-20-lightbar-duallys-installation-instructions-6499/
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/pass-thru-wires-155/


Adjusted my headlights post perchmod 6/22:
www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/headlight-elevation-adjustment-12820/


Had an LED front marker light replaced under warranty 6/29:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f39/condensation-front-marker-light-14558/


Went on the Old Red River Pass Trail in NM 8/22:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/old-red-river-pass-nm-16284/


Some notes:

• I am still really liking the bed rails I installed. They have worked great at keeping things tied down.
• Returning from the Panhandle, I saw 18.4 mpg, @ 70 mph w/ no headwind - this is the best I have seen.
• On this trip I have seen the best overall fuel economy to date. My on highway average was about 16.5 mpg.

I finally got my ham radio installed. 9/16
www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/kenwood-ham-radio-install-pic-heavy-16777/

Bought a CO2 tank and built a bracket. 9/29
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f67/co2-tank-17465/


RallyArmor Mudflaps installed 3/9:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/rally-armor-mud-flaps-10764/#post385556



Texas Raptor Run 2013 4/18:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f112/2013-texas-raptor-run-picture-video-thread-12842/

I added a set of KC LZR LED Dual Cube lights 5/18:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/kc-lzr-led-dual-cube-install-24260/#post445183



I finally had time to do a few little things this past month:

• I wasn't happy with my mudflap attachment, so I added larger washers and a few more screws.
• Add worm type hose clamps to my power steering system
• Tightened up the door strikers with tape
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/1%...le-fixes-6046/

I also relocated my trailer plug receptacle, ala PropDr.
Relocated my trailer plug receptacle
My post:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/relocated-my-trailer-plug-receptacle-21439/index2.html#post518145


10/2013
I upgraded my power steering with the PSS reservoir and cooler:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/power-steering-solutions-reservoir-cooler-installation-28106/


1/4/14 Installed Baja Designs Squadron XLs on Alternative Offroad hod mounts:
www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/install-baja-designs-squadron-xls-alternative-hood-mounts-30542/


I replaced my battery with a DieHard Platinum AGM battery:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/930-cca-die-hard-platinum-more-power-6803/

2/2014
I installed the SDHQ ABS and vacuum line guards that I won in October at Raptoberfest:
-http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f152/sdhq-abs-guards-7924/
-Ford Raptor ABS & Vacuum Guards

Repaired my fuel door hinge pin:
-http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/fuel-door-spring-hinge-pin-repair-31705/

6/2014
Installed ReadyLift UCAs and tie-rods:
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/readylift-ucas-tie-rods-35633/


9/2014
Added a larger auxilary transmission cooler
-http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f52/upgrading-stock-oem-trans-cooler-16255/index5.html#post759761
Replaced my A/C condenser
-http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/c-condenser-replacement-37830/
Added a Stahlbus oil drain valve
-http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f7/solution-oil-change-skid-plate-37810/

10/2014
Installed a Dee Zee DZ43200 Tailgate Assist
-http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/ezdown-tailgate-mod-720/

3/2015
Installed my LGE/CTS front bumper and KC Hilites Flex LEDs
www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/lge-cts-front-bumper-install-41813/
www.fordraptorforum.com/f81/kc-hilites-flex-led-install-41816/


7/2015
Installed Revolver X2 bed cover:
www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/revolver-x2-install-review-43691/

So, what's next?

Out in the future:

• New tires (back burner for now, I got a set of new take-off BFG ATs) - KO2s are the leading candidate
• Home built bed rack
• Dust light
• National HD springs - I really want to get more into the touring type camping like J does...
• Hefty Fab Works Rock Sliders
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f87/rocker-panel-protection-3667/#post79231
• Skid plates
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/sliders-skid-plates-oh-my-warning-pic-heavy-9665/
• Some sort of new rear bumper
• Transmission dipstick
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f7/aftermarket-tranny-dipstick-40552/
• http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pma-pa68404
• http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/performanceautomaticlockingtransmissiondipsticksandfillertubes.aspx
• Door detent mod
• http://northlightlabs.com/
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f65/gs-raptor-14639/index19.html#post793420
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/better-door-detent-location-mod-25091/?highlight=detent
• DIY version: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/better-door-detent-location-mod-25091/index10.html#post751252
• DIY version: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f10/better-door-detent-location-mod-25091/index3.html#post530737
• Fuses for my off-road kit
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f12/lets-talk-fuses-youre-going-want-know-before-you-need-know-7417/
• Jimmy Jammers
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/door-handle-security-23800/
• http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/jimmi-jammers-26515/
• Bike Rack for my bed cover: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/raptor-rollx-bike-mounts-23175/
• Might do the resistor mod on the AC: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/how-cold-your-air-42994/index2.html#post885215
• Maybe some IWE system beef-up: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f170/weak-vacuum-line-grinding-noise-fix-24281/
• Upgraded alignment cams from SDHQ: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f40/sdhq-new-alignment-cam-kits-38829/

As you can see, I am taking a lot of notes from J...

Reserved #1

Reserved #2

Great writeup Kaiser! Its been a lot of fun watching your rig evolve, and I'm looking forward to see what comes next.

looking good so far!
nice Ranger you had as well!

Nice mods, & your write ups are Top Notch as well!

already jumpin it