F-150 Build vs New Raptor: Which Is Cheaper?
For most of us, owning a new Raptor is just a pipe dream. But what if there’s another (cheaper) solution?
Let’s face it. Many of us would love to own a Ford Raptor. We read all the reviews and watch all the videos of Ford’s ultimate truck conquering everything in its path. We watch enviously as countless magazine guys rag them out on desert trails. But then cold, harsh reality sets in, because the Raptor’s lofty price tag makes buying one a pipe dream for many folks.
But what if there was another way? What if you could just buy a regular old F-150 instead, and build it into the ultimate off road vehicle? There are several benefits to this approach, obviously. Depending on which model you start with, you can buy a truck with a much lower initial price tag than that of a new Raptor. You could also go used and save even more money. Plus, the aftermarket carries everything you need to build the truck of your dreams.
What if you could just buy a regular old F-150 instead, and build it into the ultimate off road vehicle? You could also go used and save even more money.
It’s a viable question, and one that Off Road Xtreme set out to answer. So they sat down and listed everything you’ll need to turn a plain-Jane F-150 into a proper Raptor substitute. It all starts, of course, with a long travel suspension that can provide around 16 inches of travel. A quality kit for the front and rear comes with a steep price, however, of around $14,000 ($16,000 installed).
Now that you’ve installed a long travel suspension, you need to make clearance for the extra wheel travel. So you’ll need a set of fiberglass fenders and bedsides ($1,200 or $2,000 installed) to clear up to 37″ tires. Wheel and tire prices vary greatly, but expect to spend an additional $2,000 or so.
Surprisingly, the easiest gap to close comes in the form of power. If you opt for the 3.5 liter Ecoboost, you’re down 75 hp and 40 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the wonders of modern electronics, a $750 tune is good enough to get you up to 445 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque on premium gas. That’s 5 less hp but 45 more lb-ft of torque than a stock Raptor.
The total cost for all these goodies comes to $20,750. As Off Road Extreme points out, if you add that to the $43,625 base price of a four wheel drive, 3.5 Ecoboost equipped, SuperCrew XLT, it adds up to $64,375. That’s more than $12,000 over the cost of a Raptor.
No matter how you configure it, buying a new F-150 and building it up doesn’t seem like a feasible alternative to buying a new Raptor. Ford offers a heck of a lot of truck for the price, and unlike a custom build, it retains the factory warranty. Unless you want to start with a used F-150, it looks like saving your pennies for a Raptor is still the best way to go.
