bstoner59
does it come in shmedium?
So I have decided that it is time to share all of my different setups and what I have found that works and doesn't work...maybe I can help someone not spend as much money testing the water. I have reached the point that if I was to buy a new Raptor tomorrow I would know exactly what I would do to make it fit me and my use for the truck.
For a little background...I got this truck with the intention of never having to do anything to it. If that is you let me warn you now, you probably will end up spending more than you want!!! My goal from the beginning was to make it a complete bolt-on truck that I have the ability to put back to stock if I don't like something or need to trade it in one day. I want the ability to use my entire bed for motorcycles, camping gear or work. I have to be able to tow 6,000 lbs short distances. I need to be able to carry 500+ lbs in gear while camping and not have an ill affect on handling off-road. So with that being said here is the many different setups I have tried...
I would also like the thanks the guys at RGP, Deaver and ADD for helping me out and teaching me all this stuff along the way!
Light bar - I thought this would be my only mod...(12,000 miles)
Middle perch - needed a little more clearance up front and wanted to level out the front. (15,000 miles)
Middle Perch w/ stock springs
The added clearance helped quite a bit. I ended up blowing out the front shocks (35,000 miles) and having Ford replace them under warranty. When Ford replaced them they were put back on the stock setting. By that time I had Deaver +1 pack installed which lowered the rear. I liked the feel and decided to leave it.
Stock rear springs
+1 Deaver pack (18,000 miles)
Bump w/ no stike pad
Middle w/ Deaver +1
ADD Bumpers/Sliders (Middle Perch/+1 Deavers) (32,000 miles)
RGP Frame/Bumpstop Kit w/ +1 Deavers (55,000 miles)
Upon install I discovered (with the help of RGP)
-Too much uptravel w/out the strike pad for stock jounce bump. Led to dirt being forced into seal of rear shock. Caused a few issues that required me to replace the rear shocks.
-The shock was acting as the bumpstop.
This setup worked OK but the +1 Deavers didn't allow for much up travel.
RGP UCA (56,000 miles)
stock arm:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this but the front end is so solid now!! All the slop in the steering wheel is gone and there is no violence on hard braking that I had learned to expect. By far one of the best mods! If I could do one thing on a new truck I would have this at the top of the list. Not only that but that thing looks beautiful!! Like all the stuff RGP has!!!
Just had Deaver rework the spring pack to get me some more lift (pics to come) (57,000 miles)
Next on the list
RGP spacer kit to raise the front end and retain the stock ride in the front. Help keep the front end up on rebound.
RGP Tie Rods
more to come...
For a little background...I got this truck with the intention of never having to do anything to it. If that is you let me warn you now, you probably will end up spending more than you want!!! My goal from the beginning was to make it a complete bolt-on truck that I have the ability to put back to stock if I don't like something or need to trade it in one day. I want the ability to use my entire bed for motorcycles, camping gear or work. I have to be able to tow 6,000 lbs short distances. I need to be able to carry 500+ lbs in gear while camping and not have an ill affect on handling off-road. So with that being said here is the many different setups I have tried...
I would also like the thanks the guys at RGP, Deaver and ADD for helping me out and teaching me all this stuff along the way!
Light bar - I thought this would be my only mod...(12,000 miles)
Middle perch - needed a little more clearance up front and wanted to level out the front. (15,000 miles)
Middle Perch w/ stock springs
The added clearance helped quite a bit. I ended up blowing out the front shocks (35,000 miles) and having Ford replace them under warranty. When Ford replaced them they were put back on the stock setting. By that time I had Deaver +1 pack installed which lowered the rear. I liked the feel and decided to leave it.
Stock rear springs
+1 Deaver pack (18,000 miles)
Bump w/ no stike pad
Middle w/ Deaver +1
ADD Bumpers/Sliders (Middle Perch/+1 Deavers) (32,000 miles)
RGP Frame/Bumpstop Kit w/ +1 Deavers (55,000 miles)
Upon install I discovered (with the help of RGP)
-Too much uptravel w/out the strike pad for stock jounce bump. Led to dirt being forced into seal of rear shock. Caused a few issues that required me to replace the rear shocks.
-The shock was acting as the bumpstop.
This setup worked OK but the +1 Deavers didn't allow for much up travel.
RGP UCA (56,000 miles)
stock arm:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this but the front end is so solid now!! All the slop in the steering wheel is gone and there is no violence on hard braking that I had learned to expect. By far one of the best mods! If I could do one thing on a new truck I would have this at the top of the list. Not only that but that thing looks beautiful!! Like all the stuff RGP has!!!
Just had Deaver rework the spring pack to get me some more lift (pics to come) (57,000 miles)
Next on the list
RGP spacer kit to raise the front end and retain the stock ride in the front. Help keep the front end up on rebound.
RGP Tie Rods
more to come...
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