New Truck - Ford Raptor Or ?

[treillw]

Going to need a new truck eventually. Considering a raptor. Live in Montana, tons of dirt roads, road to my house is a rutted up, washboarded, rocky, mostly unmaintained dirt road - I'm on it every day. We're almost always in the mountains driving rough roads for several hours each weekend too.

My main goal is to have a truck that I can drive on these rough roads with and not feel like the trucks gonna fall apart and my teeth are going to fall out and decrease travel time.

Don't really care about it being fast (would get the 6 cylinder with the 37" tire package and upgraded shocks) - incredibly slow compared to my other toys in reality.

The main question I have is is the raptor worth it? I'm thinking i might be able to buy a $60k truck and add $6k in suspension, winch, bumper, $2k in tires and be far shy of the $90k raptor price tag. Thoughts? I like the GMC half ton with the small diesel engine getting 27 mpg. What alternative truck would you choose and what upgrades? I don't want something small like a Tacoma.


Other considerations:

I'd use the truck in snow, which could be capable of burying it. Would add a which. Generally, how are raptors in the snow with deflated 37s? I don't want any low hanging plastic junk on it to get ripped off when it's buried in the snow.

Sounds like the automotive industry is being deregulated. I'd suspect better gas mileage and more power coming soon. Wonder how long it will take?

Thanks!

 

[DESERT ED]

If you can swing it, go for it. Run 35s in the winter so you don’t sink. Enjoy the smooth ride.

 

[LostWapiti]

A consideration of/against the raptor is width. So many places I go are narrow and being wider is not helpful. Maybe it’s not a factor for you. Another mark against the raptor for me also is the 5.5 foot bed especially for being a massive truck.

One of my friends has a Ranger Raptor and it’s way more spacious and comfortable than a Tacoma while only being about the width of a regular half ton so I’d say look in to it and you may be surprised.

One of my friends also has a Chevy 1500 trail boss with the diesel and he’s been very happy with it except it consumes DEF really fast when towing. He doesn’t off-road it though as he has a Tacoma trail right he beats the piss out of.

Personally I wouldn’t pay the Raptor tax and would probably just get another truck and throw the upgrades on that. Everyone’s financial situation and desires are different though. Been contemplating picking up an old half ton to do this to as a dedicated hunting rig since my F350 is not a good option ever for off road and I prefer to not scratch it if avoidable.

 

[treillw]

If you can swing it, go for it. Run 35s in the winter so you don’t sink. Enjoy the smooth ride.

How would 35s be better than 37s in snow?

 

[treillw]

I like that the at4x has locking front and rear differentials - huge plus for snow. Don't believe the raptor has a locking front diff.

 

[Idaho Mtns]

That’s a tough one for sure and no wrong/right answer treillw. You asked about Raptors, but also non Raptors (which is why I’m chiming in). I’ve always liked the Raptors and a good friend is on his 2nd high end model. I’m more about balance and offroad, and have favored diesels. My last 2 half tons have been a ’21 Ram diesel and a ’23 GMC AT4 w/the inline 6 diesel. Both with the off road packages which softens the ride a bit when off pavement. The diesel platform extends the range by a lot. I’ll grab another pickup in the coming year and it will likely be another GMC small diesel in the AT4 model but I have zero brand loyalty. Just want something that works for me in the mountains. Ram and Ford dropped their fuel efficient diesels so don’t have a lot of interest in their offerings anymore.

My only big knock on the GMC AT4 is the worthless Goodyear 4 ply tires they slapped on an “off road” model. A year into the truck and I went for some proper offroad 3 peak snow rated tires.

Keep us posted on what you purchase, why, and how it worked out. Data points are always good.

The main question I have is is the raptor worth it? I'm thinking i might be able to buy a $60k truck and add $6k in suspension, winch, bumper, $2k in tires and be far shy of the $90k raptor price tag. Thoughts? I like the GMC half ton with the small diesel engine getting 27 mpg. What alternative truck would you choose and what upgrades? I don't want something small like a Tacoma.


Thanks!