Ford F150 - raptor performance vs regualr fx4?

so ive been following the raptor for a while now and i have to ask one question. besides the sexy styling of the raptor. what different performance aspects are we talking about vs a regular 09 or even an 08 for that matter with an aftermarket lift kit. what can i do with a raptor that i cant do with an 08 or 09 fx4 that has an aftermarket lift on it?

nothing.

Unless you go to a guy like Greg Fautz and pay him like 10-15k you won't come close to being able to do what the Raptor can. No Rancho, Pro Comp, Tuff Country, etc. etc. aftermarket lift will give you the performance of the Raptor. It's a fact. Can you come close? Yes. Simply buy some Fox, ICON, ProComp, King, or other complete set of coil-overs and piggy back rear shocks for a FX4 or 4x4 and you'll be able to double your speed over rough roads. Still won't do what the Raptor can though.

I think you're overestimating the Raptor a bit. The suspension is different, but what else? Same engine, same tranny, same truck with a different grill and fender flares. You can build an FX4 to do the same as the Raptor for less money if you are so inclined. The Raptor wasn't made to be a revolutionary off-road vehicle, it was made to be a factory-equipped off-road machine.

Either way u look at it, you cant jump a regular F-150 at 70mph, even if u bought those same shocks.

LOL. I'd like to see the video of a STOCK Raptor do a jump at 70mph...

exactly just look at this. can you imagine if he hit bigger stuff than this at a faster speed?

<object width="425" height="344"><param></param><param></param><param></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tQy96_x2F_I&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

though the raptor and a f150 with a lift could do what is in this video all day long. shure a pre runner, while actually taking a "jump" at 70mph can do it but they only expect it to last till the end of the race not for 15-20 years

Other than the "fancy fox suspension" (that I can't find any specifics on...) there is no difference between the FX4 and the Raptor. Same double wishbone in the front and coil over w leaf in the rear. Gear ratios, turning radius, HP, tourque, etc. are all the same as the FX4. I could take my truck to a off road racing shop, and spend about 5-8 grand and be out performing a Raptor in every aspect.

Dream on. You can't out perform something if you don't know what makes it perform in the first place.

Im with anaheim_drew on this one man. The Raptor doesnt have the same gear ratio as the FX4's. The Raptor has a 4.10 locking diff while the FX4's have a 3.73 locking diff. Not saying you couldnt go and put 4.10s in your FX4 though. I've personally riden in a Raptor and the ride is better than any F150 out there. Better than Platinum, harley, 4WD, 2WD, or whatever. Its incredibly smooth around town and on the freeway compared to any other 09 F150 i've riden in. Plus, I would trust a dealer built truck with that type of suspension more than i would a shop putting that same type of suspension on an FX4. And, I would love to see your FX4 with 5-8 grand of suspension work done do 100 mph off road... The Raptor can do it without even breaking a sweat. The Raptor has more wheel travel than your FX4 with 5-8 grand of suspension work could ever have.

andjohn, that makes no sense. Wheel travel is a product of the suspension. You can always buy lifts and other suspension components to ge the same or better performance than a Raptor. I think you guys are making out the Raptor as being this "ultimate off-road truck" that can't be equaled.

That's like saying you can't turn a 97-03 F-150 Regular cab into a Lightning. There aren't that many differences between the FX4 and the Raptor. Any reputable off-road shop should be able to outfit the truck with the right suspension components (lifts, shocks, DS's, whatev) to make it work. Changing out gearing is done all of the time, and I'd want something better than a 4.10 anyway with big meats on it.

Ford didn't make the Raptor "top of the line", they made it as good as they could while keeping the price in check. They could have used better components I'm sure and brought the price up to 60K, but they had limits. The price difference between an FX4 and the Raptor may be enough to where you could equal or better the performance by doing it on your own.

I think 800 dollar a piece FOX shocks are "top of the line" Haulnazz. Two-tone leather and Navigation is "top of the line" to me, too. If Ford would have put Rancho shocks on the truck (i.e. FX4!!!) then they would not have gained anything. Rancho shocks is a good example of Ford not using "top of the line" products. Not saying Rancho shocks are pieces of junk, but FOX shocks are known in the off road world as being "top of the line". Anyone can lift an FX4 and put 4.10's, 35" BFG's, etc. on it. Go ahead and try to copy a Raptor and when you think you have done it, send me a video of you doing 100 mph off road and jumping sand dunes at 70.
And when you're jumping your FX4 and the 800 dollar FOX shocks break or you bust your control arm or whatever, take it back to your off road shop and see if they give you a new one for no charge.

Trust me a stock F150 with Fox shocks, King Shocks, ICON, whatever won't perform like the Raptor. They aren't engineered for it. The Raptor has been modified in many ways. The suspension for 1 has longer control arms. Those alone in the aftermarket would costs at least 1k. The Fox shocks are tuned specifically to the Raptor (i.e. cab, weight, etc.) for high speed and jumping. Those shocks as with any other aftermarket shocks would be around $1,800-$3,000. Also, the shock mounts on the frame of the Raptor use different super-high strength steel as the stock F150 frame, in those areas couldn't cut it. Now for the electronics. According to Greg Fauzt the man who built the Raptor R himself, Ford spent $1 million on the ABS/OffRoad management system the Raptor has. The stock FX4 doesn't have those calibrations. Not to mention the locker on the FX4 can only work up to I think 35mph where as the Raptor's goes up to the governed 100mph.

Now for the cosmetics. Each wheel for the Raptor, from a dealership runs about $386. Those BFG's (315-70-17) usually run around $260 a piece. The fenders up front and on the bed in the aftermarket would run around 3-5k depending on what size, distributor, etc. In no way is a stock FX4 anywhere near the Raptor.

Now I'm not saying the Raptor is the "God" of off road. True Bajas, pre-runners, etc. would destroy a Raptor. You could spend money on a stock FX4 and maybe go faster in the desert (if you spent the 5k on suspension alone) but the fact remains that it doesn't have the all-around package that a Raptor has.

So here you have it. I'll be modest in pricing.
1k- New control arms
1.8k- Shocks
3k- Fenders all around
2.5k- Wheels and tires

A total of 8.3k to make an FX4 into a "Raptor". That doesn't even include labor, computer software the Raptor has, or a manufacturer's warranty. For the money the Raptor is a bargain.

It doesn't matter if you had a V-tech or an LS7. It doesn't matter if you have crocodile skin seats. Ford stated it themselves. It's all in the suspension. That includes everything from the tires to the frame.

Good job RedDragon5.4, andjohn0803