Dawg4Runner
New member
I have a 2013 Raptor Super Crew (pics in my Garage tab). I absolutely love it! Its the smoothest riding vehicle I own and handles exceptionally well for a 4WD pick up truck with 35" tires. Better than my 4Runner with its current set up. Gas mileage is definitely an issue but at 13.5 mpg it's not much different than the 13.7 mpg that I'm getting on the 4Runner. I've just become accustom to none of my vehicles getting over 14 mpg. The Raptor's 36 gallon fuel tank gives it a nice range but it can be a little bit of a pain to fill up when its under 1/4 tank. The gas pump shuts off at $100.00 so I have to reswipe the card to keep pumping. Luckily with my wife's Chevy Volt with it's 113 mpg, my Household Average Fuel Economy is reasonable.
I have no doubt that Ford has done their homework with the new Raptor and it'll be an awesome truck. I see a lot of nice features in the new truck. For me personally, I like the looks more on the current truck. From the fenders to the hood vents. Im not a fan of how the "FORD" emblem on the new grill and tailgate sticks out like a sore tthumb. I do like the new suspension, keyless start and remote tail gate lock. Regardless of how great the new ecoboost engine is, I gotta have at least a V8 in the truck. I've driven an ecoboost F150 and wasnt impressed. I realize that the Raptor ecoboost is an entirely different animal from the regular F150. But keep in mind that Ford wrenched out every HP and TQ that they could possibly get. So that engine from the start, is tweaked to the max (for safe reliable operation). The current 6.2 comes to you pretty much at it's bottom end where there's plenty of room for you squeeze more HP and TQ out of it should you wish. Then there's the V8 sound that no ecoboost can make. Just my .02 from an old school gear head.
The track width is definitely something to consider. It's around 7" wider than a regular F-150. It usually takes up the entire parking stall. I won't even consider taking it into a cramped parking facility. Turning radius is also affected by the wider track width. But at the same time, that wider track width makes is handle so much better. On road and off road. Depending on what trails I plan on taking in Death Valley and Mojave, I'd favor taking the 4Runner since most of the trails I like going on are narrow goat paths. If it was just straight up open desert running then Raptor all the way. There are plenty of rear bump stop kits on the market to address any frame issues if you're into taking to the air.
As for daily driving, I favor it over the 4Runner. Plus its easier for my dog to get in and out of the Raptor. Parking in the garage is a tight fit but the folding mirrors help. I does fit nicely in my garage next to the 4Runner.
