First time Ford/Raptor Owner.. Mixed Feelings

[Mr_Superbia]

Hi all,

Just picked up my "New to me" 2020 Raptor. I was absolutely in love from day one. The price was great, low mileage (12k) and it had some mods that I was already planning on picking up myself. Here's where the mixed feelings come in.. Among the mods were a lift kit and bigger tires. Coming from a HD Truck, modest lifts were not an issue at all for me. I did a cursory online search, and figured that it must be something minor, as it has full factory shocks. Well, that was last Monday. On Sunday I put it up on my friend's lift and we took it apart to install my first official mod (Turbosmart BoV). During that process, I noticed the bracketing for a BDS Lift kit (BDS logo was hiding under the skid plate) (assuming it is the 4 inch kit). My first reaction was "Cool! Those kits were pretty solid when I was looking at them for my 2500HD.".. A heart wrenching evening of google searches later, I am firmly convinced that my truck is completely ruined. Destined not for the vroom vroom jumpy jumpy, but instead to be stuck in a life of parking lots and Starbucks lines. I am not a hardcore off roader by any means, but my company is moving me to Idaho, and it was a dream of mine to drive down to Moab and give it a go. To say this is bittersweet would be an understatement. I have wanted to join the Raptor club for a long time, and now that I have, I just don't know.. I am still holding on to hope that I can undo the previous owner's decisions, but because the frame had to be cut to allow the kit to be installed, I am very limited in options.. Though, at least he didn't seem to cut corners on the kit. It has some hefty relocation brackets to maintain stock suspension travel, and geometry. The weak point, from what I can figure, is the block for the rear leaf. If I can find a way to do away with that, but maintain the lift (so I don't have to try to reverse the frame cutting), I may be able salvage the situation.
I am still holding on to that glimmer of hope! Fingers crossed guys.

 

[DINOZR]

I know the effort that goes into finding just the right vehicle, and you just closed that chapter, so this may not be what you want to hear. If you really did get a good price on it then in this market your easiest and cheapest solution may be to sell it and just restart your search with your new-found knowledge. Even if you burn a couple thousand in the exchange, the headache it saves will likely be worth it.

 

[K223]

Welcome! As mentioned you can turn it over easily today and look for another. Or possibly convert it back to stock. Not familiar with that kit for the Raptor and if any permanent modifications had to be performed. Any pics available?

 

[reptonet]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[PorterW1111]

Hi all,

Just picked up my "New to me" 2020 Raptor. I was absolutely in love from day one. The price was great, low mileage (12k) and it had some mods that I was already planning on picking up myself. Here's where the mixed feelings come in.. Among the mods were a lift kit and bigger tires. Coming from a HD Truck, modest lifts were not an issue at all for me. I did a cursory online search, and figured that it must be something minor, as it has full factory shocks. Well, that was last Monday. On Sunday I put it up on my friend's lift and we took it apart to install my first official mod (Turbosmart BoV). During that process, I noticed the bracketing for a BDS Lift kit (BDS logo was hiding under the skid plate) (assuming it is the 4 inch kit). My first reaction was "Cool! Those kits were pretty solid when I was looking at them for my 2500HD.".. A heart wrenching evening of google searches later, I am firmly convinced that my truck is completely ruined. Destined not for the vroom vroom jumpy jumpy, but instead to be stuck in a life of parking lots and Starbucks lines. I am not a hardcore off roader by any means, but my company is moving me to Idaho, and it was a dream of mine to drive down to Moab and give it a go. To say this is bittersweet would be an understatement. I have wanted to join the Raptor club for a long time, and now that I have, I just don't know.. I am still holding on to hope that I can undo the previous owner's decisions, but because the frame had to be cut to allow the kit to be installed, I am very limited in options.. Though, at least he didn't seem to cut corners on the kit. It has some hefty relocation brackets to maintain stock suspension travel, and geometry. The weak point, from what I can figure, is the block for the rear leaf. If I can find a way to do away with that, but maintain the lift (so I don't have to try to reverse the frame cutting), I may be able salvage the situation.
I am still holding on to that glimmer of hope! Fingers crossed guys.

i dont think your too far off from getting everything youll want out of the truck. the rear is simple swap out to some +4 Deaver springs, prob a custom setup bumpstop and strike plate to compensate the added lift. the front i would get in touch with KHC(Krazy House Customs). they make some lower control arm supports for slot deletes but may be able to do a one off version of their stage 2.5/3 kit which could beef up the crossmembers.

 

[Mr_Superbia]

Welcome! As mentioned you can turn it over easily today and look for another. Or possibly convert it back to stock. Not familiar with that kit for the Raptor and if any permanent modifications had to be performed. Any pics available?

I know the effort that goes into finding just the right vehicle, and you just closed that chapter, so this may not be what you want to hear. If you really did get a good price on it then in this market your easiest and cheapest solution may be to sell it and just restart your search with your new-found knowledge. Even if you burn a couple thousand in the exchange, the headache it saves will likely be worth it.

Thank you both, yes, it was a headache to find one that fit the bill. And aside from the lift, it is glorious. 802 package with the blue recaro seats, form what I can tell it's basically everything except the rear seat heaters. The guy before me spec'd the truck well. I have been going back and forth on the trade option for the past few days. The problem with trading it in is three fold. First, as stated, finding another is exceptionally hard right now. Second, mostly pride on my part, but my fiancée was not thrilled that I got a truck as we had agreed that she was next for a vehicle swap. (Couldn't be helped, my Chevy 2500 was costing me an arm and a leg trying to kill the gremlins. While her car is safe, runs and drives, and is still relatively new: 2018). Admitting that I screwed up, overlooked a critical component that I assumed I knew enough about... That would be rough.. Third, I am being relocated by my company in august, and marrying in July.. I know it would be great to have a truck that I could do anything with, but it might be smarter to keep it and save what I would lose on a trade. Basically just look at it and keep it pretty for a year or so, then swap it when we are fully settled.
That's why I am searching like a mad man for a solution that will allow the truck to be close to what it was meant to be, while not having to shell out to completely reverse the lift (It didn't come with the stock parts either.. so whatever wasn't reused, will need to be replaced. (If fixing the sub frame is even an option..)

I will get some pics as soon as the weather clears around here! It has been nasty out for the past week lol.

 

[Mr_Superbia]

i dont think your too far off from getting everything youll want out of the truck. the rear is simple swap out to some +4 Deaver springs, prob a custom setup bumpstop and strike plate to compensate the added lift. the front i would get in touch with KHC(Krazy House Customs). they make some lower control arm supports for slot deletes but may be able to do a one off version of their stage 2.5/3 kit which could beef up the crossmembers.

Thank you so much! This gives me a direction to look, and a possible solution! I am by no means a mechanic, so I was pretty much beating my head against the wall trying to think of what could be used to replace the blocks.. I will look into this stuff ASAP!

 

[DINOZR]

I too am unfamiliar with the BDS Kit. Maybe we can look at what has to be undone.

You're wise for being honest with yourself about the hesitation to flip it. We all talk like big moves are always friction free, but everybody has different factors at play. If you do want to keep going down that road, I would present it as "This is what we found when we put it on the rack, and it's not acceptable, so I need to try again while I'm not attached and haven't invested much money into it."

Best of luck with whatever route you choose.

 

[PorterW1111]

Thank you so much! This gives me a direction to look, and a possible solution! I am by no means a mechanic, so I was pretty much beating my head against the wall trying to think of what could be used to replace the blocks.. I will look into this stuff ASAP!

rear:

You are being redirected...

-options would be the +3 with the bump pad.

'17-20 Raptor 2.5 Bump Stop Kit

RPG Off-Road's best-selling bump stop kit offers you the most effective and reliable bottom-out control for your 2015+ F150 or 2017-2020 Raptor.

www.rpgoffroad.com

-youll use the bump pad from the above link instead of whats included here.

it looks like the BDS kit has a shock relocation bracket to lower the shock.
-cheap route is to have someone reinforce that bracket with more plating and welding. that should get you to retain oem rear travel.
-you may also need a limit strap so you dont blow out the rear shocks but wont know for sure until you go full droop after deaver install

 

[PorterW1111]

Hi all,

Just picked up my "New to me" 2020 Raptor. I was absolutely in love from day one. The price was great, low mileage (12k) and it had some mods that I was already planning on picking up myself. Here's where the mixed feelings come in.. Among the mods were a lift kit and bigger tires. Coming from a HD Truck, modest lifts were not an issue at all for me. I did a cursory online search, and figured that it must be something minor, as it has full factory shocks. Well, that was last Monday. On Sunday I put it up on my friend's lift and we took it apart to install my first official mod (Turbosmart BoV). During that process, I noticed the bracketing for a BDS Lift kit (BDS logo was hiding under the skid plate) (assuming it is the 4 inch kit). My first reaction was "Cool! Those kits were pretty solid when I was looking at them for my 2500HD.".. A heart wrenching evening of google searches later, I am firmly convinced that my truck is completely ruined. Destined not for the vroom vroom jumpy jumpy, but instead to be stuck in a life of parking lots and Starbucks lines. I am not a hardcore off roader by any means, but my company is moving me to Idaho, and it was a dream of mine to drive down to Moab and give it a go. To say this is bittersweet would be an understatement. I have wanted to join the Raptor club for a long time, and now that I have, I just don't know.. I am still holding on to hope that I can undo the previous owner's decisions, but because the frame had to be cut to allow the kit to be installed, I am very limited in options.. Though, at least he didn't seem to cut corners on the kit. It has some hefty relocation brackets to maintain stock suspension travel, and geometry. The weak point, from what I can figure, is the block for the rear leaf. If I can find a way to do away with that, but maintain the lift (so I don't have to try to reverse the frame cutting), I may be able salvage the situation.
I am still holding on to that glimmer of hope! Fingers crossed guys.

front:

GEN 2 FORD RAPTOR SLOT DELETE KIT

[email protected]

krazyhousecustoms.com

-option stage3.0H

youll basically install the khc parts in the location they intend. likely having to cut it at certain locations and welding it in place.


at the end of the day. it will cost you more money to keep the kit and still not have a garuntee of offroad capability but would be far better than whats currently there. or spend the same amount and remove the lift and be at stock with teh garuntees of oem off-roading. the thing is upfront and in the rear is the skewed geometry of the shocks. basically the compression and rebound points have changed based on the truck center of gravity and force multiplication due to the increased upper fulcrum length... (location/ration of the upper control arm vs the lower) so in all there is more force excerpted on the shock so it will cycle faster and creat a harsher ride.

it may sounds scarey but if you dont planb on jumping it 20ft and going over whoops at 100mph then the mentioned mods should get you to more than capable for the life of the truck while keeping the lift.

there is another option which comes out to close to $15k but would ditch basically the whole current suspension and be better than oem.