NAIAS: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is The Bulldozer for Your Sandcastle

Big Al Why the need to denigrate something you disagree with? The Raptor might not be your kind of off-road truck but it is indeed an off road truck and it performs the role it was designed for well. Would you take it on a multi-day/week/month overland excursion? I don't know but if that was your usage, I'd figure you'd pick something more appropriate from jump.that aligns with the type of activities you want to perform. Take a SXS (side by side), a Wrangler, a Power Wagon, an Earth Roamer and an HEMTT. All designed to go off-road. All have their strengths and weaknesses. The Raptor and other off-road vehicles are no different.

@hubcap Simply disregard the BAFO. He thinks every off road situation, adventure or weekend activity is exactly like his. Yes trekking 1000's of miles across The Outback's forest, jungle, bushwhack, rock crawl.

@BigAl - “I’d say the Titan will carry a lot more weight, have better and more usable traction off road with the diesel than this Raptor.” The previous crew Raptor was around 1100-1200 lbs cargo IIRC. Titan XD is 1500-2000lbs. The Titan XD is too heavy as the foundation for an off-road long distance tool. It has a 3/4 or 1 ton tare weight with none of the cargo capacity. It doesn't even have full floating axles. Every truck has strong and weak points. The Raptor isn't meant to carry heavy but then again, neither is the Titan XD. The Titan Warrior is a concept. If it is built it will compete directly with the Power Wagon. Both have similar capacities. The Power Wagon cries out for a light weight diesel.

These Rapters are bought by posers that somehow have a good credit rating in spite of obviously poor judgement.

@Add Lightness Sweeping unsourceable generalizations accomplish nothing.

Drzhivago138 - But hey, "unsourceable generalizations" are the bread and butter of any discussion about pickups and their operators.

hubcap, I do believe if you read my comment it states (cut and paste) "The Raptor has done well for Ford and you can see why. It is designed as an accessory for those who can afford to own and operate one. It has some incredible off road creed, but that is quite limited to quite open country." That to me is a really good comment, so I don't know how you can state I denigrate the Raptor. I do make mention of the types who buy the Raptor. Yes I do believe they are mainly people with little clue on what vehicle to drive on the hardtop. A Raptor is not a vehicle I would buy for a pose at Lowes or taking the kids to school in. At least with the low payload Ram you will have a better ride and handling. The Raptor on the hardtop would be quite a terrible drive.

@Lou_BC The Raptor has also done well for itself selling to the Border Patrol, some of the biggest posers on earth.

@Big Al from Oz "At least with the low payload Ram you will have a better ride and handling. The Raptor on the hardtop would be quite a terrible drive." This statement alone proves that you've never driven one. It actually handles quite well on-road. Yes, there's body roll in tight corners but what do you expect from a high performance pick-up with a long travel suspension. I'm on my second Raptor since 2010 and it's my DD. I haul dirt bikes in the Summer and snowblowers and ski-doos in the Winter. We take it from Eastern Ontario Canada to Cape Cod/Boston every Summer....it's comfortable and smooth on the highway and gobbles up a lot of cargo and people. It's a very versatile vehicle on top of being a blast to drive on and off road. I'm going to take a look at the '17s when come out but I'm still smitten with my V8 in my '12 SCrew. So bite me.

@Add Lightness "These Rapters are bought by posers that somehow have a good credit rating in spite of obviously poor judgement." At least we can spell...

@IHateCars Rapter, be pure Take a tour, through the sewer Don't strain your brain, paint a train You'll be singin' in the rain I said don't stop, to punk rock

@VoGo She's so dull, rip her to shreds!

IHateCars, A vehicles we purchase are a compromise. The Raptor is a massive compromise vehicle so most who buy them can look cool. As I've mentioned the Raptor does well in open, fast operation. But the drawbacks this vehicle has far outweighs it's positive attributes; 1. Poor on road manners, 2. Poor payload, 3. Limited off road attributes, ie, the Raptor is quite narrow in where it shines off road, 4. Poor FE, 5. Poor long distance touring, restricted range of independent operation. 6. Expensive due to the compromises required. The largest benefit for those who buy them is the facade it created for themselves. The Raptor is sells on image and percieved off road prowess. A 70 odd Series Landcruiser V8 diesel pickup is a far better vehicle for off roading and versatility. It is even far more durable than a Raptor, and I'm not even a Toyota phan.

IHateCars, don't bother with the haters. Jealousy is an ugly and mostly incurable disease.

IHateCars - nice to hear from a guy who actually owns a Raptor. Wizard of oz - did you actually read his comments?

@IHateCars Spelling must be important to get those good credit ratings :) LOL

@IHateCars I plan on getting a 17 but more likely an 18 or 19 for finacial reasons the only decision is whether or not to stay extended cab or go up to the crew cab. Every time I'm off roading in the mountains or driving in a city I'm glad that I don't have the longer truck, but whenever I'm at the grocery store and find that someone has parked in a way that i cannot get the rear suicide doors opened and access the shopping cart at the same time or when i have people and have to let the rear passenger get out come towards the front as they become trapped between the doors.