SVT Boss goes on record About Raptor frame dammage

[SOCOMech]

I just hope my vid helps the rest know where the "line" is. I'm looking forward to a second run at that kicker!!

You've definitely put out one of the more famous Raptor vids now, lol. But the fact that you even want to go back out and make another run at it in confidence is enough to earn kudos from me!

 

[gotSVT]

You've definitely put out one of the more famous Raptor vids now, lol. But the fact that you even want to go back out and make another run at it in confidence is enough to earn kudos from me!

I won't be going with out "reinforcements" though!

 

[SOCOMech]

I won't be going with out "reinforcements" though!

What's with the blocks welded on top of the frame? I know there's a little bit of room between the bed and frame but they look to be of decent size. More reinforcement to prevent the frame bending down?

 

[gotSVT]

What's with the blocks welded on top of the frame? I know there's a little bit of room between the bed and frame but they look to be of decent size. More reinforcement to prevent the frame bending down?

Yes, that and a location to mount brackets for the hydro bump stops.

 

[Hockster]

Yes, that and a location to mount brackets for the hydro bump stops.

Have ya thought about adding some kind of protection for the fuel tank in-case of a rear end crash? Or do you not drive this truck on the road...

 

[gotSVT]

Have ya thought about adding some kind of protection for the fuel tank in-case of a rear end crash? Or do you not drive this truck on the road...

Like a skid plate or something more? I haven't thought about it. Why would it need more protection?

 

[Hockster]

Like a skid plate or something more? I haven't thought about it. Why would it need more protection?

Something to help stop or try to divert the things you added from penetrating the fuel tank in a rear crash... if you dont drive on the road I wouldnt care but if you use your truck for your daily driver also its a simple way to add some more safety... not that you can crash it to see how much protection you had but, something to help some... Sorry, I am a bit **** about rear crash's since Ive seen to many and had a friend get hurt bad...

 

[hungerforraptor]

I won't be going with out "reinforcements" though!

That looks like some badass reinforcements.

But, (and I may be wrong on this), doesn't welding to or drilling into the frame weaken it? I've seen stickers on many vehicles frame saying do not weld or drill frame.

 

[DubbsFaris]

Well, I wasnt there, so I cant speak of what the culprit was. That said, I have met Jamaal, and many others at SVT, consider a couple good friends, and I think if there was room for them to grant a warranty repair, they would have done it.

If you read between the lines, its more a question of where do you draw the line if not here. At what point does it become abuse, and not failure under "normal" conditions. I think everyone should agree that there is a line "somewhere" that should be drawn. Going over speed bumps in your office parking lot and having a failure should be covered and this side of the line. Surely everyone would agree that a Evel Kneivel style 50 ft jump over 3 buses would probably be over the line, but even if you start to wittle that gray area down, I would imagine a consensus would never be reached. Offroading is a broad definition. In 2008 I did a Bullrun event in Texas where I drove my GT500 at 160+ mph for very long periods of time. Had I blown my engine, would that have been a normal condition for that car? I bet some would say yes and some would say no. I guess my point is this whole ordeal is a no win situation for Ford. I have taken my Raptor to some pretty gnarly places already, 10 days into ownership. I love it, and regardless of "if" there indeed is a weakpoint in the frame, the solution is to find a way to fix it and make it better ourselves for the application WE intend. Its Fords job to give us a base vehicle that can be tuned into whatever we can dream up, and honestly, just like the GT500 program, I think the SVT group has given us something our fathers and grandfathers never even could have comprehended in a truck.

I dont intend to come off as a homer here, but guys, 500-1000 in repairs is a weekend at the track for me. Why sweat the small stuff. Really, if you total your truck doing one of these events, you arent getting insurance to cover it, so if you cant afford to fix it, you shouldnt be doing it anyway. I had a cam sensor on a brand new GT350 tripping codes due to a faulty harness last year. Since I bought the 624 package, warranty voided. I had to drop 1400.00 on a car with 43 miles on it for something that had ZERO to do with a supercharger being added to a brand new 2011 GT. It sucks, I agree, and Ive been there done that, but most of us have aready done something to void the warranty on these trucks anyway, so isnt it moot?

 

[debate]

It sucks, I agree, and Ive been there done that, but most of us have aready done something to void the warranty on these trucks anyway, so isnt it moot?

The word "moot" has multiple definitions. If you mean "hypothetical, of no practical value", I disagree. The deflections in Raptor frames reflect on all new F150s. If you meant "subject to discussion", I agree; more so after reading Mr. Hameedi's interview.

He mentioned the "jounce bumper cups" should yield before the frame yields. Did the cups on the bent Raptors yield before the frames? Apparently, no.

Even more puzzling, to me, is how a very heavy impact from below can deform the F150 frame in a direction that pulls the top of the bed away from the passenger cabin. Seemed counter-intutive until I learned about the modular F150 frame.

The middle and rear main frame rails only overlap an inch or so. The connections look reinforced on the bottom, not on the top. Seems the leaf-springs arched the rear frame section away from the cabin, creating a V margin in the F150 Raptors.

The current frame was not designed for offroad performance.