Every Friggen Time! My Raptor and sand...

[MotuMute]

I have hammered mine in 4WD hard in deep sand a number of times without any issues but it's the venerable 2010 model. On our last outing CAbimmer blew a seal in his 2012 rack (ending his outing with a trip to an area dealer and a big hassle since we were 5 hrs from home).

One bit of info that got established afterwards is that you should not regularly turn hard enough to lock up your wheels while in 4WD in deep sand. That apparently pressurizes the power steering fluid excessively and a seal is the pop-off valve.

Hello RPG? How about a PS pressure-relief valve? I would buy one.

Bottom-line: get tires that work well in the sand, don't bind up your steering and your Raptor is less likely to leave you behind in a bind.

 

[MTUH3]

It is an IFS truck, so the front axles will always be a weaker link. High wheel speed and spin that is often the case in sand is very hard on that set up. if you are running mid perch or bottom perch, I would look into RCV axles. I have been wheeling IFS vehicles for many years. Controlling wheel speed / spin and is usually the difference between broke and not broke. Not saying you are driving like a nut job, just the terrain you are in usually means more wheel spin with hard grip or braking, which puts a lot of stress on the CV axles.

PS pump is more of a design / warranty issue. My started whining, and it was a small leak in the one of the hoses. There was a service bulletin of some sort for it.

 

[Evilmonkey]

I have a 2010 with the 5.4L and have had no problems at the dunes other than bashed in skid plates and blown shocks. I bounce the rev limiter non stop and have a blast!

Good luck finding your gremlins.

 

[LandFill]

I ride dune razorbacks with my ass sliding downhill but always face back up before sliding down. This is a heavy truck and I worry about a hard transition on the rear axle. This is why I'm putting away OT dollars to box the rear and cush the front. I Love my Raptor! I just drive it with a little more caution than I drove my old Tundra and previous Ranger because of the weight.

 

[RAPTORSV]

"that was mechanically related."

Except that your outriggers didn't deploy.

Ouch!

 

[Dane]

That's pretty weird. PSR is a very normal issues we all face. RPG or any aftermarket PSR will fix that issue no problem. The axle... well thats pretty strange for not beating on it. You on stock perch?

Mid-perch.

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 AM ----------

It is an IFS truck, so the front axles will always be a weaker link. High wheel speed and spin that is often the case in sand is very hard on that set up. if you are running mid perch or bottom perch, I would look into RCV axles. I have been wheeling IFS vehicles for many years. Controlling wheel speed / spin and is usually the difference between broke and not broke. Not saying you are driving like a nut job, just the terrain you are in usually means more wheel spin with hard grip or braking, which puts a lot of stress on the CV axles.

PS pump is more of a design / warranty issue. My started whining, and it was a small leak in the one of the hoses. There was a service bulletin of some sort for it.

Yeah, I've looked into the RCV axles, and maybe at some point. Man, those things are pricey, and I still have a long time left on my warranty. I just hate interrupting my trips for broken parts!
The second time my axle broke was while slowly reversing pulling someone out of the sand. No wheel spin, not even much of a pull, he'd just got himself stuck a bit, but FAR from serious. The axle just said *TINK*! The wheels were straight, I was just above idle.

---------- Post added at 10:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 AM ----------

I got the truck back this morning, and all is well. Everything was fixed under warranty, no hassle.

This has me considering that RPG power steering reservoir thing, but I'm unsure as to how that would jive with my warranty. I guess I could just ask the stealership, but I doubt they'll be hip on it. They like warranty work as long as Ford keeps paying them.

 

[MTUH3]

I have seen 3 different types of IFS trucks break axle shafts towing some one else out.

 

[Dane]

I have seen 3 different types of IFS trucks break axle shafts towing some one else out.

Well, I'm never doing that again. Folks actually tried to get me to do this on the trip last weekend - I refused for this very reason and just winched instead.
I've been extremely careful not to be near full lock with the tires spinning, that probably contributed to the first axle breaking experience though again, I was in a very mild situation. I wasn't at full lock, but the wheels were turned.

The truck is just feeling kind of delicate to me now, which is a bummer.

 

[MTUH3]

It really isn't.... just bad luck.

 

[Dane]

It really isn't.... just bad luck.

Well, I'm going back for Labor Day. I sure hope my bad luck streak doesn't continue. It isn't stopping me mind you, just really becoming a pain. I mean seriously, four out of five times at this point???