Read what others are saying about the Ford Raptor (and frame bending)

[SVTRay]

Anybody can go out and buy a motorcycle, which is a device that can lead to or up to instant death or major property damage in the hands of the uninitiated. There is no "driving class" for these vehicles.Dealers, manufacturers, etc are under no obligation to provide a hand holding or training course at all nor should they.Gun manufacturers don't do this either.Some things are just common ****ing sense. Know your limits and the equipment limits and environmental limits.I'm tired of the "warning label generating generation", you know, the folks that are responsible for this crap and the warnings on products like "Do not use iron to iron clothes while wearing them" and the fact I have DIRECTIONS on how to use my trash cans. Seriously, WTF?Unfortunately we live in a society that finds it easier to point fingers and place blame vs. looking in the mirror and admitting that it was YOUR FAULT!Additionally, I do not see any other OEM putting together Truck or Car Roundup's like Ford SVT does with the Raptor.

Although I agree with you, the only way of knowing your limits or your vehicle's limits, is reaching or going past those limits. Now with that said, I believe there is ways of reaching these limits in a safe and some what controlled environment. As for the track day for new owners, that comes from SRT who gives a free Richard Petty track day with the purchase of a new SRT...which may happen when the wife buys her a new 2012 SRT 300

 

[MagicMtnDan]

I believe there is ways of reaching these limits in a safe and some what controlled environment.

Many (almost all) Raptor owners have found their own personal limits of driving their $40-$50,000 trucks offroad without bending their frames.

Driving beyond the limits of the truck involves (1) not caring about yourself and/or your truck, (2) not pre-running the route, (3) being stupid or (4) two or more of these items.

I know Outlaw Raptor did all he could to ensure the participants didn't **** up their Raptors but those who bent their frames didn't pay attention and/or weren't equipped with radios and/or GPS and/or they were stupid.

 

[Highroller]

Many (almost all) Raptor owners have found their own personal limits of driving their $40-$50,000 trucks offroad without bending their frames.

Driving beyond the limits of the truck involves (1) not caring about yourself and/or your truck, (2) not pre-running the route, (3) being stupid or (4) two or more of these items.

I know Outlaw Raptor did all he could to ensure the participants didn't **** up their Raptors but those who bent their frames didn't pay attention and/or weren't equipped with radios and/or GPS and/or they were stupid.

One thing you missed in your to the point post! The outlaw Raptor Guys bent thier frame also! They were also unprepared!

 

[BigJ]

Something that probably needs to be said...

I'm not too proud to admit that I might have fallen susceptible to the peer pressure (implied or otherwise) involved here. I mean, think about it guys. You've spent $300+, traveled XXXmiles, you've met up with 14 other Raptors, you're there to go fast and USE your truck in the desert like we've all seen on TV... its not out of line to think that when everyone else falls into the pack mentality, I would too.

Dan, something you have done before each Raptor run is you set a clear expectation. You come prepared, and you make it very clear that while we're all there to have fun, we're also there to be responsible, safe and most importantly, relaxed. Joy and I both commented on that after that first meeting while following you 'out there'. You made no speed claims and you set no timetable, but instead you set the tone for a mellow yet spirited event. You basically said that we were only going to travel as fast as our slowest driver, and that that was perfectly ok. And within that context we were able to relax and enjoy the safe and sane pace and ultimately avoid any damage because of it.

I don't think that happened here. The Outlaw Raptor guys CLEARLY said that each driver must take responsibility for themselves and only travel at the speed they're comfortable with, but so too was this advertised as a 100+ MPH type run with time constraints set. (Please be very clear I'm not passing any blame Outlaw Raptor's way. Quite the opposite; I commend them for constantly reminding everyone that they need to drive to their skill and comfort level and to hell with whatever everyone else is doing).

So keep all this in perspective guys. While I know for damn sure I would NOT have claimed any warranty issues (no excuse for that ridiculousness IMHO), my point is the tone of this run from the outset was very different than any Raptor Run I've been on. I'm just not positive that had I been part of the Outlaw group, I wouldn't have bent my frame too. I like to think not, but I'm too much of a realist to say so for sure.

 

[bstoner59]

I'm almost certain I would have bent my frame...I also would have had it fixed by now and none of you would have known. I have much better things to do with my time than argue with numerous Ford employees about a $765.00 issue...like work!!! I have a monthly payment and a long list of expensive things my truck needs!!! Excuse me while I go get some paper...

 

[GRT4DRT]

Kudos BIGJ on your well-balanced, intelligent assessment of running a Raptor in the desert. Its a breath of fresh air that this thread sorely needed.

 

[Highroller]

Something that probably needs to be said...

I'm not too proud to admit that I might have fallen susceptible to the peer pressure (implied or otherwise) involved here. I mean, think about it guys. You've spent $300+, traveled XXXmiles, you've met up with 14 other Raptors, you're there to go fast and USE your truck in the desert like we've all seen on TV... its not out of line to think that when everyone else falls into the pack mentality, I would too.

Dan, something you have done before each Raptor run is you set a clear expectation. You come prepared, and you make it very clear that while we're all there to have fun, we're also there to be responsible, safe and most importantly, relaxed. Joy and I both commented on that after that first meeting while following you 'out there'. You made no speed claims and you set no timetable, but instead you set the tone for a mellow yet spirited event. You basically said that we were only going to travel as fast as our slowest driver, and that that was perfectly ok. And within that context we were able to relax and enjoy the safe and sane pace and ultimately avoid any damage because of it.

I don't think that happened here. The Outlaw Raptor guys CLEARLY said that each driver must take responsibility for themselves and only travel at the speed they're comfortable with, but so too was this advertised as a 100+ MPH type run with time constraints set. (Please be very clear I'm not passing any blame Outlaw Raptor's way. Quite the opposite; I commend them for constantly reminding everyone that they need to drive to their skill and comfort level and to hell with whatever everyone else is doing).

So keep all this in perspective guys. While I know for damn sure I would NOT have claimed any warranty issues (no excuse for that ridiculousness IMHO), my point is the tone of this run from the outset was very different than any Raptor Run I've been on. I'm just not positive that had I been part of the Outlaw group, I wouldn't have bent my frame too. I like to think not, but I'm too much of a realist to say so for sure.

Excellent!

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Something that probably needs to be said...

I'm not too proud to admit that I might have fallen susceptible to the peer pressure (implied or otherwise) involved here. I mean, think about it guys. You've spent $300+, traveled XXXmiles, you've met up with 14 other Raptors, you're there to go fast and USE your truck in the desert like we've all seen on TV... its not out of line to think that when everyone else falls into the pack mentality, I would too.

Dan, something you have done before each Raptor run is you set a clear expectation. You come prepared, and you make it very clear that while we're all there to have fun, we're also there to be responsible, safe and most importantly, relaxed. Joy and I both commented on that after that first meeting while following you 'out there'. You made no speed claims and you set no timetable, but instead you set the tone for a mellow yet spirited event. You basically said that we were only going to travel as fast as our slowest driver, and that that was perfectly ok. And within that context we were able to relax and enjoy the safe and sane pace and ultimately avoid any damage because of it.

I don't think that happened here. The Outlaw Raptor guys CLEARLY said that each driver must take responsibility for themselves and only travel at the speed they're comfortable with, but so too was this advertised as a 100+ MPH type run with time constraints set. (Please be very clear I'm not passing any blame Outlaw Raptor's way. Quite the opposite; I commend them for constantly reminding everyone that they need to drive to their skill and comfort level and to hell with whatever everyone else is doing).

So keep all this in perspective guys. While I know for damn sure I would NOT have claimed any warranty issues (no excuse for that ridiculousness IMHO), my point is the tone of this run from the outset was very different than any Raptor Run I've been on. I'm just not positive that had I been part of the Outlaw group, I wouldn't have bent my frame too. I like to think not, but I'm too much of a realist to say so for sure.

Very kind of you to say that Jason and, well, it is true. It's because I feel responsible for the group and each person in it. The last thing I want is someone to get hurt and while I know it's not my responsibility I wouldn't feel good about anything bad happening whether it's damage to a truck or something much worse.

I've set myself up for criticism by having pre-run discussions about safety, driving within one's limits, not taking chances, etc. and I've even taught/emphasized to everyone how they are responsible for the person behind them so no one gets lost or left behind. It's all worth it because every run we've done (whether or not I was the organizer or leader) has resulted in good times for everyone.

I've even gotten out of my truck and ridden with a new-to-offroading Raptor owner to help him "see the light" and ensure he got off to a good start offroad.

I am somewhat surprised at the lack of public criticism of Outlaw Raptor not so much for how they handled their run but simply because of all the carnage that happened during the run.

One thing I admit to not understanding is why they were able to get 10 participants (at some hundreds of dollars each) to participate and talk about how great the run was when there was all that damage. We've done many runs, never charged a dime and well, I find it rather strange but more power to Outlaw Raptor.

(Maybe I need to start charging for the runs I organize! :mrgreen: )

 

[The Tank]

I asked a friend of the mine(he's from SoCal) about Outlaw Off-Road and he compared them to 4Wheel Parts saying they about the same.

 

[Xjrguy]

Very kind of you to say that Jason and, well, it is true. It's because I feel responsible for the group and each person in it. The last thing I want is someone to get hurt and while I know it's not my responsibility I wouldn't feel good about anything bad happening whether it's damage to a truck or something much worse.

I've set myself up for criticism by having pre-run discussions about safety, driving within one's limits, not taking chances, etc. and I've even taught/emphasized to everyone how they are responsible for the person behind them so no one gets lost or left behind. It's all worth it because every run we've done (whether or not I was the organizer or leader) has resulted in good times for everyone.

I've even gotten out of my truck and ridden with a new-to-offroading Raptor owner to help him "see the light" and ensure he got off to a good start offroad.

I am somewhat surprised at the lack of public criticism of Outlaw Raptor not so much for how they handled their run but simply because of all the carnage that happened during the run.

One thing I admit to not understanding is why they were able to get 10 participants (at some hundreds of dollars each) to participate and talk about how great the run was when there was all that damage. We've done many runs, never charged a dime and well, I find it rather strange but more power to Outlaw Raptor.

(Maybe I need to start charging for the runs I organize! :mrgreen: )

That noob was me. Coming from Mustangs and Vipers and everything else I had no clue about offloading and trucks. Didn't know what all those crazy bashing noises or squeaks etc were when traversing the rocks. Was pretty freaked out to bring my brand new truck out to run so Dan jumped out of his truck and basically helped me out. Also prevented me from destroying my Raptor in Gorman along with Stoner who was ballast on the back of the truck as it was tipping over at an extreme angle.

I don't think there is a better group to go out and run the trucks with that we had on Mojave Run and the bunch of Ocotillo Wells trips and camping trips that happened last year.