After watching these videos, I'm surprised you guys didn't end up with more damage than you did. That was an extremely hard hit at the kicker. I would think that the frame damage is what you can see, at first glance. To me the impact was hard enough, I would not be driving the truck until the entire rear section had been properly disassemble and inspected by a professional. Your playing with fire, axles, axle housing, spring hangers, bearings, aluminum wheels and so on, could have unseen cracks that could result in catastrophic failure, and death!.
The cattle crossing looks as if it bottomed out the truck hard, which I think the truck probably handled it without any structural damage. But as seen in the video and you could clearly here the alarms going, why didn’t they stop to check for damage?
Please understand, it is not my intent to insult or point fingers at anyone. I’m trying to understand the facts, and the root cause. The facts will hopefully allow myself and other avoid this type of situation. I feel bad for the guys that have the frame damage. All these guys went to this run, in the anticipation of having fun, doing thing most people don’t get a chance to do, they didn’t go there with the thought of being irresponsible and damaging their trucks, they where just having fun.
They may have gotten a little out of control, but that’s human nature, to push the limits, get that adrenaline flowing, it’s the perfect legal high. They also felt the events organizers had their backs, covered all the bases and had it squared away! I guess in a way I am pointing fingers, it’s hard not too. I’m really bent out of shape, over this whole thing. This creates a situation for all of us, that own Raptors. I feel for the guys with the damage and pissed-off at the organizers for not having their act together. This could all have been avoided with proper planning.
1. Poorly planned and executed on the part of the event organizers. I keep seeing the statement “Lessons Learned” at the expense of 10, $40,000.00 trucks, Unacceptable!
2. I have to side with Ford, this does not have anything to do with the trucks design; it was terrain related and event planning error.
3. I would have a very deep discussion with the person who preran the route, and didn't mark these areas. Their route prerun is Unacceptable!
