Added Deaver +3HD leaf springs today!

 The Raptor tends to 'squat' a bit with the travel trailer, so after many days of research I bottomed out (sic) on the Deaver +3HD leafs with the Offroad Alliance raised bump stops!  Why?  They'll add 1" of clearance in the back, they offer an amazing ride, and this will give us more oomph with the Raptor suspension.  

They're seriously BEEFY leaf springs.  The OEM springs are 4 leafs, the Deaver +3HD are 12 leafs!  But the ride is incredibly compliant!  Love this update!!

The truck is a totally new beast when towing now, before you could 'feel' the trailer much more - but now it feels like it was meant to do this!  Two big thumbs up for this addition!

Got a travel trailer - finally!

My wife and I have wanted to get a travel trailer ever since we got the Raptor 7 years ago!  We finally bit the bullet(haha) and got a used 2016 Keystone Bullet Ultra-Lite 220RBIWE - we love it!  Obviously, Raptors are not really 'towing' vehicles for daily use, but this trailer is 4600lbs, and GWVR of 6400 lbs and 480lb tongue weight.  For a 25.5' trailer it comes nicely setup with dual slides and a center island.  We got a weight distribution hitch (WDH) with the trailer as well which made a HUGE difference in ride quality while towing.

Here are some pics!  

A few videos with my GoPro and the Whipple Stage1 Kit with SPD trombone and Flowmaster Flow-FX Muffler!

For your viewing (and audible) pleasure... 💀

Rebuilt the shocks at a local shop - Forged Offroad

 I have about 57k miles on the Raptor now, and given my driving style it's suggested to have the stock Fox shocks rebuilt around 50k miles.  If you're a major off-roader, you may have to do this every 10-30k miles depending on the daily beatings.  Fortunately, Forged Offroad is about 11 miles away and they do the majority of shock rebuilds for these trucks and are part of an avid off-road community as well!

For local customers, we can bring to the shop in the morning and it's done by end of day.  In my case, I got there about 8:45am and they called me to pickup around 2:30pm - great time! 

Here's how they look after the rebuild - great team, and great work!

Cold Start - 2017-2020 Ford Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost Trombone Equal Length Resonator Delete, RDFR20EL

 Here's a cold start video of my Whipple Tuned 2017 Ford Raptor with the SPD Performance 3.5L  EcoBoost Trombone Equal Length Resonator Delete, RDFR20EL

Definitely louder on cold-startup than with the Flowmaster Flow-FX.  The truck sounds like a race car when you floor it, and really screams!  There is some drone from 1,800-2,200 rpm so I'm not happy with that as that is cruising RPM around town.

new shoes for the Raptor - Pirelli Scorpions!

 After 36k miles on the BFG KO2s they were getting rather lumpy, noisy and down to about 4-5/32nds so it was time.  Did a lot of research and found the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus in the stock size 315/70R17 - and decided they were a good choice for my driving style.

   

Pirelli’s new SCORPION™ ALL TERRAIN PLUS offers light truck and SUV drivers a durable, high performance driving experience in a wide range of challenging on or off road conditions. The product feature a self cleaning pattern aimed at increasing integrity while delivering excellent wet, snow, and mud traction.

These are E-rated tires, so heavier duty sidewalls - not the best for MUD and crawling, but then again my truck is 90% road so I won't be that concerned.  The tire comes with a 50k warranty as well, as compared to the BFG KO2 - with no warranty.

The feel on the highway is excellent, and these tires are nearly silent.  Maybe it was just the wear on the KO2 but it was like riding in a 747 - you had that constant drone of the tires...

A little cheaper than the KO2, and 50k warranty - plus all the features - time will tell if these were a good switch!

Finally upgraded to Husky Liners in the Raptor

 A few months back I was rather disappointed that my front driver side floor mat hasn't lasted 32k miles.  I mean, yeah they're rubber floor mats - but I usually wear soft soled shoes, no boots (or heels). As you can see it was torn the whole way through on the driver side.  The passenger side isn't as worn, but it's a horrible fit for being stock.  

Ugh, lets see that driver side again...

Bring on the Husky Liners!

I found some reviews of some floor mats that I posted on Ford Raptor Forum  

https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/top-10-floor-mats-which-do-you-have.69317/#post-1373988

The Husky liners came out on top, so I finally broke down and got a set for the front.  The rear seat gets marginal traffic, so I opted to leave the stock one alone there.

Pretty happy with the setup, the driver side snaps into the mat holders so they don't slide around. The passenger side looks to fit much better than OEM as well.  Both sides extend a bit over the door sill, which doesn't bother me one bit.  What are your thoughts?  Not complaining for $83!

BuiltRight Industries Rear Seat Release review

BuiltRight Industries has made this rear seat release for some time now.  This is the new version that fits newer +19 F150s too!  Plus they're cheaper now!  They used to be $35!

• CNC Laser Cut Brackets
• Brackets are precision CNC laser cut and CNC bent for perfect fitment every time. They are then black zinc plated, NOT painted, for corrosion protection.
• Modern Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite
• Unlike the knockoffs, our new brackets are injection molded from a fiberglass reinforced composite, which leaves smooth edges and allows for tight, 'click fit' tolerances. The result is no rattling and no risk of cut straps.
• Fits Newest Ford latch
• The latest version of the stock latch from Ford uses a square head rather than a round featureless pin. Around half of the new trucks built use this latch. Only the newest BuiltRight revision accommodates these new latches.

2 T-30 Torx bolts need to be removed, and slide the existing bracket toward the top of the seat

Next you loop the composite part over the pin, and slide the metal bracket into place.

Re-attach with the same T-30 torx bolts and voila!  It's done!

so much extra space back here for 'stuff' :)

They were out of stock for a few months during the black friday sale 2019 - now they're back in stock!  Very simple install!

Added some more patriotism to the Raptoad!

This time of year is always fun, black friday and cyber monday really promote some great sales!  I was able to get a great deal from http://rappygraphics.com again to add some more love to the Raptor...

First I got the tailgate all cleaned up!

First sticker is the F-150 overlay in Avalanche to match the truck's paint...

Next, was the Raptor overlay, still in Avalanche... 

Looks awesome with the Raptor Assault sticker that I got from the event back in April 2018.

Lastly, the Thin Blue Line American Flag FORD Tailgate Applique Set with reflective material... 

Gosh she looks good eh?

Thanks Rappy Graphics!!

A little off-roading today

If you're in the Sacramento area, you've probably heard of Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA)   It's 836 acres of off road access, a big chunk is for motorcycles, ATVs, etc.  But there is a great 4x4 section as well!  There are sections from mild to wild...

You probably won't do this in your daily driver...

Prairie City is situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento and three miles south of U.S. 50. The area offers off-highway vehicle enthusiasts a variety of interesting terrain and trails for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and 4-wheel drive vehicles. There are flat, open grasslands, rolling hills with native blue oak trees, and acres of cobbled mine tailings left after gold dredges combed ancient river beds in search of gold during the late 1800s. Beginners, as well as experts, find a variety of terrain both challenging and enjoyable.

My buddy and I went out, honestly it was my first time there, but he's been a couple times.  I need to sync up with the 4x4 groups more!  Like NorCal 4x4 that does a lot of stuff!

I didn't get to Prairie City until about 1:15 so a lot of the mud was gone, but I did get a good coating - my buddy with his new Ram Rebel was the first guy in the mud - can you tell?  LOL He didn't have any mudflaps, but I did - man does it save your paint!!! Had a great time, here are a few videos...

 

the last video, you probably heard that nice "CLUNK" well - that was my passenger side running board LOL.  It's a little squished now...

Definitely recommend the trip to the OHV, it's $5/day or $50/season - worth the mud!

 

pick your choice of floor mats... Top 10 here!

My floor mats are starting to wear at 24k miles (seriously?!)

here's a list of the Top 10 replacement mats - what do you think?

Top 10 Best Floor Mats: Top Rated Floor Liners for Car, Truck or SUV

10.  Lund Catch-It Floor Mats $80-$199

The all new Lund Catch-It line is custom-molded for a perfect one-piece fit in your specific vehicle, providing the widest coverage for your floors. The mats are molded from tough Vyram material, which resists all the mud, snow, and chemicals you can dish out while still looking great. The Lund Catch-It Floor Liner is designed for premium convenience and function as well.

9. Avery's Touring Floor Mats $74-183 (ugh fabric?)

Avery's Touring Floor Mats bring modern style to your aging interior. Built of tough nylon, these custom mats come in a variety of colors to revitalize your car’s look and cover up pre-existing stains.

8. Intro-Tech Hexomat Rubber Floor Mats $45-99

Intro-Tech molds your Hexomat Floor Mats from an advanced composite rubber material that will never crack, fade, or fall apart. The mats are durable enough to handle a lifetime of kicking, yet flexible enough to handle and sit nicely on your floor. They're custom-molded to your exact vehicle, ensuring a perfect fit and great looks. Plus, the honeycombs hold so much liquid there's no need for clumsy high-walled outer trim.

7. Aries StyleGuard Floor Liners $193

Your Aries StyleGuard XD Floor Liners are built with three durable layers to offer unmatched protection and performance. A flexible, TPR top-layer is completely waterproof and designed to withstand both time and UV-rays – no cracking or fading here. This thermoplastic top-level also features raised edges and channels to completely contain any muck, mud, or spilled drinks. A polyethylene foam center brings cushion and comfort to these mats, as well as climate insulation and reduced road noise. Finally, a tough-grasping underside features thousands of OmniGrip™ fibers which keep your mats fiercely in place.

6. 3D Maxpider Kagu Floor Liners $183

Maxpider Kagu Floor Liners boast a 3-layered design that offers protection, convenience, and comfort. The top layer is crafted from a textured thermoplastic that resists cracking and deforming, while the middle cross-linked polyethylene (XPE) layer offers shock absorbency and insulation from outside noise and temperatures. The bottom layer boasts unique MAXpider fibers, which grip onto your factory carpets without damaging them and hold the liners tightly in place. These mats are easy to clean, even easier to install, and complement any interior beautifully.

5. Lloyd Ultimat Floor Mats $79-170 (no F150) boo!

4. Northern Frontier ToughLiner Floor Liners $89-178

Forged from a form-fitting thermos-plastic, the raised edges and ribbed top texture of Northern Frontier ToughLiner Floor Liners are enough to handle the filthiest of work boots. These durable mats are designed specifically truck and SUV drivers in mind. The results are a tremendously tough liner that’s made in the USA and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

3. Maxliner MaxFloormats $145

Using computer technology to measure the exact specifications of your make and model, Maxliner MaxFloormats will cover every inch of your “danger-zone” with durable polyethylene. This low-density material is both flexible and durable – give you a mat that’s both functional and fashionable. With reinforced edges and textured for traction, these mats are definitely tough enough for the job.

2. WeatherTech DigitalFit Floor Liners $196

First off, one of the biggest names in the industry, WeatherTech. Their DigitalFit floor liners get their name from the precise, laser-measured process through which WeatherTech attains such a perfect fit. Designed for vehicles with factory carpet, this high-density tri-extruded semi-flexible material is simply as good as it gets for many. After all, the reputation didn’t come from nowhere.

1. Husky Liners WeatherBeater Floor Liners $146

Also available in a cargo liner, the WeatherBeater line from Husky Liners is always a top seller. With a thermoplastic construction and extra-tall exterior walls, these mats will stand up to any weather and any climate for years and years to come. Each set comes custom-made to cover every inch of your interior carpet, and Husky backs these with a Lifetime Warranty. Plus, cleanup is as easy as can be - just remove the mats and hose them off in your front yard.