One other thing, with the EB I have a hunch that if you add 33's or 35's to it the mileage will not see much more than 20 and the power will not be as snappy as stock. Kinda like when you have your truck on a stock tune(=33's,35's) vs your truck on a custom tune(=stock tire size) for power.

 

I thought about that too, especially with Ford getting touchy on the warranty issue as it will be harder to mod the EcoBoosts (and keep the warranty). I would think adding 35s will drop the mileage down from 14-15 mpg to low 13s or even high 12s which is not that far removed from the Raptor's 6.2L at 11 mog (with 35s already mounted). And as you said, there will be a noticeable drop in power compared to the 6.2L.

But dang, you had me thinking about your idea with the F350 and Carli suspension upgrade. I keep staring at this aweome rig and think to myself, "I can do that"....lol.





Actually, I don't have any heavy towing needs anymore since I got rid of our TV production trailer and everything else (motor bikes, etc.) can be handled fine by a 1/2 ton. Still, I keep playing with that idea but can't really justify the added cost of the diesel engine that I would never really use verus having that money dumped into an offroad vehicle that I would (occassionally) use. Kind of cool that we have so many options!

 

If you add bigger/ larger tire rim setup go with the 6.2. As no replacement for displacement. Been reading and guys with raptors are getting 18MPG which isn't bad at all. Sure EB guys may get 20 MPG yet they take a huge drop in mileage towing or with winter fuel blend, 5mpg. The 6.2 I say 2-3mpg with winter fuel.

My thing is I tow a toy hauler and a decent one is 28ft long and than a fifth gets you more bang for your buck so now you are in the 35-40ft range. No 1/2 ton will be able to tow that or heck a 28ft toy hauler with the toys in it either. Sure they have a 11,000 max tow package and I may come in at 8/9,000 pounds. Than towing gas mileage is down the tubes and power to safely maintain the speed limit forget it. A diesel fits the bill for me. Plus they are getting 20MPG and towing those loads 12-13MPG. Than the price of the truck isn't much more to a 1/2 ton just makes it easier on which on to pick.

 

Your situation totally makes sense. If I still had to tow that much, I would opt for the Powerstroke too. I want to see how your setup looks if you do go with the Carli upgrade! Not sure if they have come out for the 2011 models yet. The entry level systems seem reasonable considering what you get but can get pretty expensive for the top range Coilover system (but what fun that would be!).

 

I am not 100% sold on the new 6.7 PSD yet. I am hoping by the end of the year they will have the bugs worked out and a few good tunes for them by than. I may wait a few more months if they are close for the tuning and bugs being worked out. If the 2011/2012 do not have the bugs worked than a low mileage clean 6.4 is in order or a new dodge 25/3500 with the diesel option.

The carli suspension on dodges and fords are awesome! Just watch some YouTube videos and you may switch your mind on the raptor, LOL. Yes the $5k price tag is a steep one yet with for a good lift you are going to be $2-3K+ so what is a few more bucks for a system that will function as good as it looks? I can not wait and extremely happy and like I said 99.9% sure I am going with a diesel. Heck even if I did not tow that much I still would pick the 3/4, one ton diesel over a 1/2 ton. For the power, MPG, lift, all around more of a truck, for the few bucks more they are asking anymore for the 1/2 tons.

 

I am more undecided than ever... You guys have not mentioned one thing that had not already crossed my mind at one point :o I like having choices, but it only makes things that much harder for me in the decision process...

At times I wish I had never dropped over 40k in mods on my current truck and saved some of it... If I had a 10-20k down payment available I'd be in a raptor right now, it is really what is holding me back the danged 8-900 a month truck payment. I have excellent credit so that really isn't an issue, its my aversion to saving a bit here and there over the past 6 years..

 

Wow...didn't know the new 2011s were that buggy. One of the reaons I got rid of my 2008 6.4L PSD was because of the awful mileage (and diesel was hitting near $5/gal so really bad timing too).

Yeah, you're right about the fact that a good lift is already in the $2-3K range so might as well go all out. I still would feel a bit nervous beating up on such a heavy vehicle; sure give everyone a shock at the dunes....lol. I dunno, all this talk about options is making my head spin with ideas.



hehe...we're three peas in a pod although I think Desert Racer is closer to his decision than I am.

Yeah, that's a lot of mulla to dump in mods but I am in the same boat. I don't think that I ever spent more than $10-12K in mods on any one vehicle, but when I add up all my vehicles up I know I have spent well over $150K in aftermarket after buying some 60+ different cars and trucks. Heck, for that money, I could have a Ferrari in my garage.....oh wait, I do but it's not mine....lol. Seriously though, I think I am going with what others keep saying....."you only live once".....so might as well get what you want! I just like too many things to decide.

 

Thank you America! I swear though in the past 4-5 years the aftermarket scene has exploded.

I am with you there on spending way to much money on the truck and not saving some. I was headed down that path than after paying people each month and them getting more money than the should. I am going to save and pay cash for majoirity of things. On vehicles cover 30% of the note for the first payment for the next vehicle. I have a system setup now where in 4 years or less I will have a $40-50k truck paid off in full. Plus I do not plan to do much to any mods to the truck while I have a payment. Just tint the windows and a few other things until the title is free and clear. I am kicking around the idea of buying a new Volkswagon TDI Jetta ($20k)instead of a new truck have it paid off in two years or less than save for my next vehicle. As it will get me 50MPG+ and I can save a ton of money for my next truck and hopefully be paid off in full when I buy one.

 

Not so much bugs, just it is the first year and I want to give it some time before I drop the cash on one is all. If I get a 6.4 I am going to delete the DPF on it. A guy I work with did and is getting 23MPG on the highway leveled with 35's plus the added 225 horsepower is a nice touch too.

LOL, I would not launch the truck or beat it to hell. Just for the money being spent I would go with a Carli setup and know if I do play with it, the truck will not break.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvLMwAImyIs

 

^^^^ that is just insane!

I thought about doing the DPF delete too, but my F250 was brand new and was told that if I did that, I would be voiding my warranty. Since that was the first year for the 6.4L, I was not about to risk doing that.

 

It has, but its starting to trend down. SEMA last year was a mixed bag.. depending on who you talked to they forecast an increasing trend, some said the economy was starting to catch up. I have been seeing both sides.. Really those that can afford to do heavy modifications still are; but those who are 'fence-sitters' and teetered on the thoughts of modifying a bit at a time, saving the dough or struggled to pay for gas in the first place have all but quit (obviously). Inflation is going to slowly creep in, and then we will see what happens

If you asked me, places like Rize industries seem to be hanging in the balance for whatever reason on a day to day existence. Their customer service has plummeted, demand rose and they lost their a$$es in production and then people are starting to trend away from huge lifts. They don't seem to care, and are still making it somehow, it must be the PSD lifts because its my understanding the Dodge and Chevy lifts have both been reluctant to take off.

However places like Fuel wheels and BDS suspension have just started to hit a sweet spot. Autospring will also profit nicely from the move to smaller, more economical lifts.



This is what makes the raptor so great, to me at least, is that I could buy it and be perfectly happy with the stance (sure I have mods in mind ) and it gets mileage on par with the setup it has; not to mention it also has NO loss of performance like slapping bigger wheels/tires on an EB/5.0 would without a proper tune. It literally could be the perfect production truck ! I have to hit up Barnes and Noble tomorrow to see what the latest issue of truck trend has to report on the 2012 raptors...

If I reluctantly go with a regular F150 I'd just opt for the FX4 with the 5.0 likely (I still love the EB, but want the freedom for some mods). Change out the pirellis, tint, LED's, maybe a modest cat-back exhaust, 5-star tune and 5-star intake. Just a few mods to increase the enjoyment and drive-ability.


I'll probably be the last of us 3 to purchase.. after the kid comes probably. This will increase the likely hood of a raptor, hopefully... I hear kids are expensive

 

you have no idea, worth every penny though

 

Amen on both accounts!

My kid's pet rat just died today, so had a formal process of gingerly wrapping it up, sealing in a water tight container with a note, and burying it in the backyard....priceless. Now we are down to just 1 rat left, a gecko, parrot, and 3 dogs. Lot's of funnerals still.

 

Yeah, you'll be ready after you get settled with the new baby....great times but get use to a lot of sleepless nights.

Getting the FX4 with the 5.0 and being able to mod it does sound good. If I had not just gotten rid of my FX4 I might consider that too, but I do want to go with something a little bit different.

So I am in a business meeting at my office today, and low and behold a white 2011 Raptor Supercrew pulls up outside my window. I sooooooooooooo wanted to jump out of my chair and go talk to the guy about his truck, but couldn't excuse myself. I could see it now: "um, excuse me gentlemen, but this multi-million opportunity with the Air Force sounds great but I really need to go check out that truck you see parked outside my window.....keep talking, I'll be back"! <hehe> Anyway, whoever it was didn't stay long and drove off so missed my chance.

I just bought the latest issue of Motor Trend from Barnes and Noble yesterday. Was kind of disappointed that they really didn't have much that I didn't already read. Bascially had a brief article with one picture of a Raptor and talked about the new LED lights wedged into the ends of the front bumper (I think it makes it look more unfinished). Also mentioned that it may get the electronic front locking differential, and the 6.2L will continue as the sole engine choice. So not much in changes.

There was a much longer article about running the Dakar Rally 2011 with the Raptor with some good photos but really the article was about the experience versus the truck.

Also, Truck Trend listed the Raptor as Best Hardcore 4x4 (over the Dodge Power Wagon) and the F150 (2WD) as Best Crew Cab truck.

 

I am right there with you on the mods. I have been helping people picking the irght choice for lights and ect. more and more people with average incomes are spending less and going with a levleing kit, rims, and tires. Some say screw it, it is only money and go all out. Where others it is their lifestyle and they could carelss about cost. I doub it is a end to huge lifts though, just the current market with the companies that offering the lift kits will get slimmer and slimmer each year. Just dealing with certain companies, I can tell that they have had enough and want out. They are just trying to find a voice of reason to get out, yet collect money in the mean time. Sucks, yet it is what it is. However more companies are in the works for lift kits, going a different direction. Making the money spent on the kit a whole lot more than what is currently out on the market.

On the Raptor, I say save for a few more months. As I can tell you seem you will not be happy with anything other than that. I know you mention the other models and trims. You have your heart set ona raptor, you waited this long, what is a few more weeks or months of waiting for getting what you really want?

On the kid, they are the best thing ever! Play your cards right and you may get more mod money with the misses. Saying it is for the "safety" of out child. Or how it will benefit him by being in a better enviroment, list goes on

Sometimes in meetings I am surprised with how many "mod" friendly people are in the room. I went to a meeting last week and "we" talked more about trucks and such than we got buisness done! The upper bosses where not happy. So we have to have a follow up meeting in a more "resort" place to check out each other trucks, I mean to conduct a better business atmosphere.

I am not to keen on the auto magazines as after a while they end up to be all the same and with the internet they become obsolete it seems like. Plus nothing is better than jumping behind the wheel of the truck and doing your own "test" on it.