New here

[John M BUNMAN]

Lmao! Yeah dude da gas is no joke. Ma bradda I stay back in da islands right now closing up some loose ends but as soon as I get back up to Vegas I will definitely hit u up. Quick question though. I like do something with this truck. I like keepem 100% stock but i feel like it's needs something . help!

Check out the thread I posted Off-Roading Essentials, under Off-Roading your Raptor. There is some great ideas in there of what some other folks carry. My list is from 30+ yrs on the Trail and many things I have learned from people more knowledgeable than I. Keeping in mind I am usually solo and must be able to self-rescue. I do mostly Scenic Trails with some challenges. Discretion is the better part of Valor, especially when this is my only daily driver.
As far as your Raptor goes...All 3 of mine have been totally stock other than my CargoGlide, Lights & bed cover. A stock Raptor will do any and everything I will ever ask of it. I have walk through Basketball sized Bouders, Tested the limits of her Approach and Departure angles and run across Death Valley at 107mph. Not once did I think, man I need to fxuk with the suspension, Tune etc. A lot of folks on here seem to have Verrrry Deeeep Pockets..LOL with all of their Mods. I have to save for 2 yrs to get my BD lights.
My main reason of course is my ESP. I keep mine well past 3/36 and can't afford to be replacing stuff on this Rolling Computer out of my pocket.
There isn't another Factory Truck with give you the Raptor's Capability, ride on the road and Fun Factor. I have had a Raptor since 2010 when I ordered my first loaded one for around $52k.
Once you have one you can NEVER Go Back..

 

[9th Island raptor]

@John M Ma bradda! You are officially my new best friend! Just da way I like it, 100% brutal honesty. I agree 100% with everything you said. This truck is also my daily driver and my weekend adrenaline fix. I need to make this truck last also, My pockets aint deep either in fact after this raptor purchase I have no pants. The most expensive upgrade to the truck so far was a raptor key chain and a phone holder and bruhhhh let me tell you I felt the pinch. I'm gonna check out those threads.

 

[K223]

Welcome aboard! If that isnt the big red machine, thenI don’t know what is! Everything’s expensive, everything is scarce today ugh. But you have a Raptor, so it certainly isn’t all too too bad! Yeah gas was like 2 bucks a gallon for 93 octane when I got mine lol. But I ain’t selling. I still think this truck for what it is gets damn good MPG. Yeah I’ve burned a lot of gas in my time and enjoyed it lol

This is a great truck out of the box, but you can further enhance it if you choose. You have bumper pocket lights already so that’s good. You can do a light bar or pillar lights if you need more lumens off-road later. Some like to tune and get more power out of the truck and some like better stereo sound. Use it as stock and then see what appeals to you. It may be perfect as is.

I still maybe one day would like to check out Hawaii. No shortage of heat and water where I am. Just very flat lol

Enjoy that new beast.

 

[9th Island raptor]

@K223 Haha, yeah my bradda when I went in to buy it the first thing that came to mind was WOW! pics and videos do not do this truck justice. I was floored standing next to it. Then had to wipe the drool from my mouth when I sat in it. Yeah I'm actually surprised with the mpg on this truck it burns about what I expected. It's not as bad as I thought. but it's worth every penny to feed. LoL. I'm looking into the light bars and other lights. Is there specific areas where these need to be placed? I also need to look into the trail and off road etiquette threads I got a lot to read up on. Yeah Hawaii is beautiful if you ever do go and have questions hit me up I'll be glad to answer it.

 

[Dr Racecraft]

Best color!! Welcome

 

[EccentricRaptor]

@EccentricRaptor what's up ma bradda. Well there's a long answer and short answer I'll give the short and quick. Both me and wife are born and raised here on the island of Oahu. Hawaii is beautiful no doubt but we both decided that it's not worth the cost of living. There is other major factors on why we left but cost of living is amongst one of them. From what we have seen the cost has gone up everywhere but still Hawaii is next level rediculios. I can fill you in with a lot more on why we are leaving our home here but then it'll turn into a huge rant. But why we chose Vegas was because I felt that was a happy medium 6 months of flesh frying heat and then 6 months of sitting in a ice box. Win win I'm clueless on what to do here though in Hawaii I was a professional kayakfisherman for Hobie. But here there's no fish. But Now this is where the raptor comes in. I have been eyeing up the raptor since 2010 but I could never come to pulling the trigger on it. I felt it would have been a total waste of money buying something so capable and just using it to drop of kids and pick up groceries which is absolutely fine theres nothing wrong with that. but it's not what I wanted it for So I put that dream on the side for the time being and bought a Tacoma. I felt the Tacoma was right for the job. But now that I'm in the desert the dream resurfaced and it was time to replace the Tacoma with an ecobeast raptor. Now here the truck can be used to it's full potential if I'm capable. LoL Now it's worth it. I gotta say though the timing of buying itcouldnt be anymore fked up

Sounds like you had good, logical reasons for leaving Hawaii. I've always wondered what life in a desert would be like. Most people around me find them hideous. I think they have a lot of beauty (a lot of places do if you know where/how to look - maybe that's the mobile photographer in me). Going on vacations to Florida and seeing the jump in costs down there is unpleasant enough. If Hawaii is as expensive as I hear, then it'd be hard to live there.

Flesh frying heat made me think of what people around where I'm at say, "But it's a dry heat." I say, "We may have humid summers, and humidity makes things worse, but heat is heat!" I think winter in the desert would be gorgeous -is it? Snow with the sandy soils and the beautiful skies in the evening/morning.

Hopefully you find new hobbies with your Raptor. That'd certainly be hard to adjust like that - doable though.

Yeah, I bought when the market was wild too. Define sticker shock. But, I knew I wanted one and I know what I like. I have no regrets. I'm sure I'll be sick of the loan payment towards the end, but no regrets hopefully you enjoy your gorgeous Raptor!!