Never will be a trophy truck. It is already a bang up prerunner. Id say full prerunner comes when the frame behind the cab comes off and a 4 link goes in. Best to start with a wrecked f150 at that point though.
Well either way with a spring under kit or a 4 link set up the Raptor is the only way to start the build. Most have said just start with a F150 but you forget what makes the Raptor so good to begun with. So here is a list.
1. 6.2 letter motor. vroom vroom
2. Off road mode.
3. Traction control options.
4. Heavy duty construction of the cab.
5. Steering rack is awesome.
6. Elct gear shifting.
7. Down Hill Mode. if you use it.
8. 4:10 gearing stock
9 WARRANTEE
Now when it come to upgrading to long travel kits and caging the entire truck with 4 link system or spring under the cost is about the same BUT with a F150 you still have to upgrade the motor, trans, gears and lot of other stock items that you would not have to touch on a Raptor. So with that said the factory warrantee on motor trans and most of the entire truck in still fine. The Raptor is also a new truck so give it a few years and you can pick one up for the price of a old F150 and then do all the mods. Their is a reason why most all the big race teams are now using Raptors to pre run in instead of the big $$$$ pre runners.... Trey no punt intended on you but I have crossed this bridge about 20 so far. We currently have deposits to start building 5 full trucks some with 4 link and some with under spring rears. 3 of them are for off road racers who are tires of the cost of their pre runners.
O yea the cost:
Raptor $45,000.00 with power warrantee.
Upgrades on a full build 15k to 50k depending how much pimp gucci goodies you want....