Houston we have a problem! (the bent frame thread)

[pirate air]

Going to total mine somewhere..then make it a trophy truck while buying a new Raptor to abuse the shit out of.

You sir are my hero

 

[Truck Wolf]

Don't care, I'm keeping my flawed Raptor forever.

Yeah, I probably will too, or maybe trade up to a newer model...

 

[AZ SVT]

Yeah, I probably will too, or maybe trade up to a newer model...

x2 as soon as the EcoBoost is offered!

 

[iceman302]

I am on the fence along with Truck Wolf. I think there is some shared responsibility.

What I find distressing is that there is no early warning. As I have said before, the Raptor works great until you reach it's limits- then things get bent.
With ATV's if you start over driving the suspension you know it, things get rough & you either slow down or crash.
It doesnt seem that if you hit the bumpstops, your ass gets rattled enough so you slow down. The impression I am getting is that if you hit the bumpstops & the frame gets bent.
This is like a parachute that opens on impact.

Maybe Ford should install an idiot light that comes on every time the bumpstop is bottomed out. That way it's obvious to anybody that they're overdriving the truck.

I think its crystal clear at this point that it was a combination of factors that ultimately led to the frame damage for some trucks. The wrong combination of any one of these (or too many) factors resulted in the damage: 1) simply overdriving the truck into a hard impact, especially the kickers 2) overheated shocks from hours of hard running 3) extra payload in the bed 4) softer aftermarket springs

I put those in the most likely order of importance.

 

[SOCOMech]

10 trucks with bent frames + 1 from the so called pre-run (by my count), that really proved to be not much of a pre-run at all. The aspect of this that keeps getting lost is that if they had of done a good pre-run and marked the trouble spots, slowed down and maneuvered around the problem areas, all of this could have been prevented. Whole thing reminds me of the urban legend about lemmings jumping off the cliff….in this case, outlaw is the first one off and all the chuckleheads just follow suit.

Now, in the threads and discussion, you see potential newbie’s saying they are no longer interested in the Raptor and will cancel orders, some questioning their purchase decisions, some wondering if they should even take their Raptors off-road. It is ridiculous. All the hype is leading people to believe there is a massive issue with all Raptors….not good folks. 11 trucks, same course, same obstacles, same speeds - out of the 1000’s that are out there, many being ridden hard and jumped.

Hyping a “weak link” or “design flaw” to generate revenue for site vendors and create more site traffic may lead to a short-term financial gain, but in the long-term, it is a bad strategy decision if the number of Raptor owners go down due to all the bad press.

If this issue was more widespread and happening with more frequency, I would be concerned. But, it seems to be a self-serving endeavor to get a a few trucks fixed without paying. My Raptor is the best auto decision I have made. Best truck I have ever owned and would never hesitate to recommend it to others.

X1,000,000

There has been another reported bent frame with cracks in the frame. This guy wasn't part of the Outlaw run, instead he bought his Raptot used. He got the idea of checking his frame when he ran across the Z thread on the Internet.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn of more out there. All it takes is to watch just some of the vids on youtube to see that some people just think they can push it a little further. But this I do know, the number of people who have driven these things with a fury and still have no damage FAAARRRRRR outnumbers the people who have experienced this issue.

When I talked to SDHQ they said they have been seeing rear raptor frames bending for months... so they did not say it was an isolated incident. When I asked what they saw was causing the bends... they said " mostly when the truck hits jumps too big and comes down too hard " I did not ask about hitting kickers... but I am sure the same principle applies. Hit a bump to hard, you bend the back frame.

They're good guys over at SDHQ but I must say, why have they not said anything of this before now? I would at least think a heads up would help some brotha's out ya know? But then again, that particular statement says alot.

Wow...
Those asshats are out of control! If nothing else all they are doing is driving down all of their reader's (ie SUPPORTERS) resale values! All for what? The cost of fixing a few trucks that inexperienced owners obviously broke on a vendor's sponsored run!? Its no accident the only guy who didn't bend his frame (who did manage to break his seatbelt!) is the one with the most driving experience. If I were out to get someone I would be going after Outlaw for not properly informing its inexperienced drivers, not Ford. Plus you have to question a company willing to put its name on the line for a run full of essentially stock vehicles with green drivers.

This is the #1 reason why the auto industry doesn't build cool cars anymore... Supid people who can't take responsibility for their actions and hide behind the internet and lawyers...

Agreed.

I was just commenting on the fact any time someone criticizes Ford there are throngs of Ford apologists who pile on and tell the person with the clunk/bent frame/leaky sunroof that it's somehow their fault.

I'm still on the fence about this frame situation; I sympathize with the "victims", but I also wonder if this is simply an indication of where the truck's limitations begin. I have little doubt that we will see more bent frames, though.

Then I retract my smart-assness sir. However, there's always going to be opposite sides of a view and some (like people who make a living by working on these very vehicles) will use what they know to come to a realistic and educated answer (not a knock on you). The clunk, I admitted that it was an issue and that it had been for a long time but never said it was an owners fault. I'm aware of some leaky sunroofs but haven't seen any "arguments" about it. If these things were perfect, there would be no need for us mechanics...and that goes for EVERY car manufacturer. Some like to portray Ford has almost doing this on purpose to people. As for the frame, there's what people are saying and then there's the video proof of the driving style in question. Every vehicle has limits and yes, I agree with you that I believe we found where this truck's limitations begin. But there are different routes to get to that limit. Jumping it and utilizing the full travel of the suspension is one way and a less harsh one at that, taking the hit to that area with an overheated shock and from a much closer distance is much more violent.

The impression I am getting is that if you hit the bumpstops & the frame gets bent.

That's exactly what's being preached over there and around the internet and it's simply not like that. Like Bstoner, a ton of us have jumped, hit whoops and driven like maniacs, hitting the bump stops numerous times and yet none of us have this damage. Like I explained to Truck Wolf above, there's different ways and levels of harshness to bottoming out on the bumpstop's, you just have learn to be careful and not over do it. One of the greatest drivers in history, Ivan "Ironman" Stewart said it best..."In order to be fast, you have to know when to go slow".

I actually read your thread before doing the Raptor Run. It helped me. I still broke my truck and will admit that it was MY FAULT. (destroyed the front A Arm mounts, cracked the frame where the rear A Arm mount was and had 0 bushings left in the A Arm). I can blame the stupid computer all I want, but again, "I" went over something that snagged an ABS line and sent the computer into haywire. Drivers fault. I still think it comes down to this: You gotta pay to play. Expect to break something if you are going to go play. Prepare for it, plan on it and pay for the fix.

Going to total mine somewhere..then make it a trophy truck while buying a new Raptor to abuse the shit out of.

***** F'n SPRSNK for PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robmax72]

Ok, I know I haven't posted in a while, basically since I tore the shock mount from the axle. But this thread has brought me out of the shadows. As most of you know, I run my Raptor hard. I always have and always will. It's why I bought the truck in the first place. For any of you that have NOT purchased the truck and are planning on doing so, BE AWARE, the warranty nor the extended warranty will fix anything you do to the truck off-roading with exception of the motor and transmission and sometimes the drive shaft! This is really important to know, since the dealer will tell you that the extended protection plan WILL cover these things! IT WILL NOT!!

Now with that being said, if you are going to ride your new raptor hard, then please reach out to us that have done so and learned the lessons. There are parts you can buy from our sponsors! Or do have I and some others have done, and make your own. I have a local welder that has done some things for me, until I bought my own welding machine and have been doing them my self. IT WILL TAKE MONEY to run these trucks off road with ANY sort of agressive driving. Things will break, bend, etc. It's just part of the REAL raptor experience.

Now that being said, I LOVE my truck, and would think of getting another type. FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THE OFF-ROADING of your raptor. I know the dealer says they will, but they don't. If you have ANY scratches ANY where under your truck, they are not going to cover the damage you went in for. Frames, Axles, shock mounts, etc.

If you remember this and can accept it, then you will have a blast in your new raptor. Otherwise, don't spend the money, and expect FORD to cover your ASS. They won't!

Now that being said, if you want to have fun, Look me up, i'm always out and about showing the world what this truck can do!!

 

[robmax72]

And for the record, my frame bend in the same spot, from only the impact and not overheated shocks or anything else. If you "FIX" the frame you will void your warranty simply because you are removing the "safety" feature of the collapsable frame in a rear end accident.

IMO this is a design flaw because the frame is NOT bending from a horizontal impact but rather from a vertical impact. but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[robmax72]

I would be interested to know just how many raptor owners on here have this issue. I honestly didn't know it was a bent frame until this issue came up. I thought I had a bed out of alignment.

 

[SVTRay]

And for the record, my frame bend in the same spot, from only the impact and not overheated shocks or anything else. If you "FIX" the frame you will void your warranty simply because you are removing the "safety" feature of the collapsable frame in a rear end accident.

IMO this is a design flaw because the frame is NOT bending from a horizontal impact but rather from a vertical impact. but that's just my 2 cents.

Thanks for posting,

Although I believe a lot of the damage being reported is due to people pushing their Raptors beyond it's limits. I also believe the frame or bump stop is a design flaw. This area is designed by Ford to give or absorb energy during a crash. We can argue all we want about aggressive driving but that is a fact. So why install a device designed to take the impact of a crash in the same area? In simple, it was either over looked or ignored by Ford. Ford or SVT should have put a little more thought into this area in my opinion.

We can argue and analyze this issue till we're blue in the face but I see this ruining things for the rest of us Raptor owners as well as the Raptor project. Why would a person buy a Raptor now knowing Ford will deny warrantee work if the vehicle is damaged while off roading...something in which the vehicle was designed and advertised to do.

 

[robmax72]

Maybe Ford should install an idiot light that comes on every time the bumpstop is bottomed out. That way it's obvious to anybody that they're overdriving the truck.

I think its crystal clear at this point that it was a combination of factors that ultimately led to the frame damage for some trucks. The wrong combination of any one of these (or too many) factors resulted in the damage: 1) simply overdriving the truck into a hard impact, especially the kickers 2) overheated shocks from hours of hard running 3) extra payload in the bed 4) softer aftermarket springs

I put those in the most likely order of importance.

Ok, I'm thinking that is an idiot idea, i'm not even complaining about the bent frame on mine, and am not going to. But answer me this with you obvious expertise in the frame arena.
If you have a frame with a crumple zone in it, which this obviously has, and the crumple zone is supposed to be enacted from an impact from the front or rear of the vehicle, which would be a horizontal impact to the vehicle. Then why would I expect the same crumple zone to be enacted because of vertical forces?

To me this is an obvious "flaw" I have 13 inches of travel on the rear suspension and approx 4" of clearance between the bump-stop and the axle bracket. that math does NOT make sense to me. Hell I would be interested, and will most likely test, what would happen if the bump-stop where removed, allowing approx. 8" of travel instead of the factory 4" I would guess that the suspension system would actually work better. it's just a thought, but if it were to work wouldn't that hand evidence as to a design flaw in the system that should be addressed?