Lol same paragraph not wanting to mod vehicles beyond their capabilities while contemplating bumping power by what, 100-200 ponies on an antique vehicle you intend to drive to & from off-roading on public roads? Lol- I get that it’s a bit different than modding a raptor slightly to accommodate a higher tow limit, but then again- no Bronco was ever made to handle that power, & there are directly related F150s w/ higher tow ratings- only difference? The Raptor has a more powerful/torquier engine, better gearing, & a stronger more reinforced frame (all things that should equate to higher tow rating) vs the regular F150 w/ a higher tow rating- main reason for the lower rating on The Raptor as I understood it had to do w/ a combo of the soft suspension & the adjusted GVWR.
I would think adding stouter leaf springs, bump stops, stiffer front springs & a weight distribution hitch to a raptor would allow you to tow the car hauler fine. I dunno if there’s any way to get some kind of DOT approval for a higher tow rating (I imagine there could be) - but while I understand your concern I also see TONS of trucks - raptors included- that are modified in terms of lifts, wider wheel offsets, much bigger wheel/tire combos than factory & then towing what may be under the max tow rating for their trucks in STOCK form - however once you modify a truck like that it’ll obviously have an impact on all of its performance/work ratings too right?
But from sounds of it you seem to be in the position where it makes sense to trim down the toy list a bit simply due to time constraints/practicality. If you’re OK w/ giving up the mpg from the VW as a DD & I also agree an LS engine swap (w/ good cooling) would make for a reliable bronco- however you may find yourself wishing it was the Raptor you were taking the 325 mile trek out for off-roading not the Bronco.
Could you flat - tow the Bronco behind the raptor? I know you can flat tow an f150 behind something else but not sure bout vice versa, but w/ non-enclosed AL trailer should be able to haul Bronco no prob.
You got me on the modding the Bronco beyond design specs. It’s been a toy since 2002 and is heavily modified with a full cage, 9” rear axle, long travel (16” travel front and rear) suspension, ARB lockers, etc. The 302 is probably 185hp, so I’d be adding at least 100hp to it with the LS. It’s a manual T-18 trans, so it isn’t any faster than I can shift it. I’m only considering LS for simplicity, Coyote won’t fit between my coilover towers. In defense of my statement about not exceeding specs, overloading a truck with too much trailer seems like a great way to get sued when it causes an accident. I’m not aware of anyone being ticketed or sued because their vehicle had more power than stock, but I get your point.
I wouldn’t be interested in modifying the Raptor to do something it wasn’t built for. My current car hauler is 3200#, my Bronco is 5500#. Flat towing could be an option, but the Bronco weighs about the same as a Raptor so it wouldn’t be ideal without a braking device in the Bronco. Even with a 1600# aluminum open trailer I’m at 7100#. The wife’s VW Touareg TDI is rated for 7732# or towing, but with a tongue weight restriction of about 630#. I might be better off with a Screw, but it’s certainly not what I want. The resale discussion is also a factor if the Scab is significantly lower. I’ll have to look for that thread. If I kept the Raptor for the 8 years/125K I could warranty it for the resale probably wouldn’t matter much.
Giving up the 41 mpg of the Passat TDI daily driver will be a rude awakening, but her Touareg still gets 28 mpg highway. Prior to the Passat I daily drove my Dodge 2500 for 8 years, probably 16-17 mpg. I’d be saving $100 monthly on insurance by getting down to one vehicle instead of two. I need to look at the spreadsheet again, but I think the overall fuel cost difference at ~16 mpg won’t be too terrible. The Raptor is pure want for me, I don’t need to drive a truck daily, but I’m cramped in my sedan. I could go with a standard F-150, but for not that much more than a Lariat I can have a badass truck. I’m still torn on which Raptor trim to get. I need 801a to get power pedals for my short wife, so for another $5-6K I should probably just get the 802a. For just my wants the 800a would be fine.
