Ford SVT Raptor, High-Speed Desert Review

The Smoking Tire heads to the high California desert outside Borrego Springs to finally see what the SVT Raptor can do when things get down and dirty. Host Matt Farah puts the Raptor through its paces in the sand, on the rocks, and even from the air!

[@gsheverything_2716]

Best truck ever created by the Auto Industry, don't care what nobody says!!!

[@TheSmokingTire]

Because of the progressive rate suspension, even over big jumps the Raptor never hit the bump stops when I drove it. And it's low enough that you don't have to climb too high to get in and out of it.

[@Full_Deflection]

So excited to get mine next month.

[@TheSmokingTire]

the 6 speed introduced in 2009 really helps a lot with the performance, the 4 speed wasn't enough gearing. The F150 isn't designed to be a hot rod, and the Raptor can easily get to its 100mph limiter and stay there in 4th through 6th gears on pavement or sand. And FYI, you can swap the heads and drop the blower on there directly off the GT500 and make 540hp all day :)

[@DearMajesty]

definitely one of the better videos from Matt

[@TheSmokingTire]

we aren't making that show anymore, for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, we're just better off on our own. As you can expect, there will be a ramp-up period, but we have some great ideas for the next couple months, and The Smoking Tire will become the biggest car show on the internet!

[@mrkyleabc]

I'm a Chevy guy, but I want this Ford as my daily driver and everything in-between!

[@TheSmokingTire]

It can go faster off road than any other production car, period. And it can do it any time, with any driver, and with no special training necessary. I'd say that's pretty fucking good.

[@TheSmokingTire]

@sportsrules19 I would recommend the 6.2 if you NEED the extra power or if you want to be able to tell your friends that you have the biggest engine possible. But it's far from necessary.

[@calypsobikes]

Matt I hope to see you soon in the desert with my Orange/Black 6.2L SVT Raptor along with yours. Be cool, stay strong, keep doin' what your doin' LOVE AND PEACE! Nathan from Mesa, AZ!!!!!!!!!!

[@adsabine1]

Matt, I asked Ford for this truck around 5-6 years ago, I am not kidding, I like the race version better with 15 inches of front wheel travel.You have the best job!

[@TheSmokingTire]

Email Response from Jamal Hameedi, Chief Design Engineer @ SVT regarding your question: "Raptor will rock it on snow. Do not use off road mode or the locking diff. 4x4 high only. If you want to have some fun in the snow use advancetrac sport mode (single press of the advancetrac button). We made a lot of changes to the tires to get them to work on snow and ice. It paid off. Btw Raptor just won truck of texas!" -Jamal

[@AlexZTuned]

Thumbs up on the soundtrack. Dirt, rocks, and exhaust :)

[@YOSKIE806]

Great review the only one ive seen with the truck actually being put to the test

[@TheSmokingTire]

the best part about the system is that it can be turned off, so inexperienced users can get used to the feeling of off-roading in a safe way, and more experienced users can just use their foot. You have to develop that skill and experience somehow.....

[@TheSmokingTire]

I did hit the bump stops once or twice, but that's what they are there for. Eight inches of extra travel up front would certainly improve the off road performance a bit, but it would also hamper the on-road performance, which is, lets face it, where most people will be driving Raptors. I don't think it would be socially responsible for Ford to allow just anyone to buy a truck and do over 100 off road, either. 100 is plenty fast in dirt.

[@rider56AK907]

so whats the reliability rating on this truck? from what ive read its still basically an f-150 but with better shocks and tires. but if i took my f-150 offroading like this, there would be sooo many more things broken. so what did ford do to make sure no other parts will break. (i know it has skid plates)

[@TheSmokingTire]

@TheMainMan318 I wasn't going crazy over it, simply demonstrating that it works. Hill descent is the least revolutionary technology in that truck, much more impressive that it can do 100 on sand no problem.

[@TheSmokingTire]

Of course a dealer will tell you that, but they are wrong. Building a truck this capable one part at a time would cost at least 20 grand more than the raptor actually costs, and you wouldn't have stuff like the off-road mode that they have spent years working on. As for the 6.2L engine, the truck doesn't need it. It performs fine with the stock 5.4. On the other hand, when people see it, they expect it's got extra power so it would be nice to say its got more than stock.

[@greendayrules11]

This is actually really fricken cool! haha Matt

[@TheSmokingTire]

the truck doesn't need the extra power, but when people ask you what's under the hood, it's worth the extra dough to be able to tell them it's got the biggest engine possible.

[@nexorabolis]

Ford really won me over with this truck. Not only is it very capable in anything that it does, it's also the best looking truck on the road hands down. Good job Ford

[@skoty]

I was heading into work the other day and saw a Raptor on the top of a car carrier, saw the undercarriage of the truck and well, its legit, no just bigger shocks to make it taller. I was impressed by the Raptor when I first saw online details, once I saw it in person, I actually gave a thumbs up to Ford in who knows how long.

[@mmcb10171985]

I REALLY WANT ONE OF THOSE!!! :O WOW

[@Vacre7]

What song is playing in the background? I've heard it in other videos as background music, but I haven't found any info. Thanks.

[@TheSmokingTire]

I think if you're not trying to drive fast, just safely in the snow, then leaving the truck in "standard" mode and not using off-road mode will probably be beneficial. but just to make sure, I've sent your question to Jamal Hameedi, the Chief Design Engineer at SVT, to see what the proper procedure is for driving on snow.

[@TheSmokingTire]

Thanks for subscribing... I'll have to comment on Autoblog more often :)

[@pem1968]

Always been a F150 guy but never really got into the off-road seen but this truck has changed my mind...some nice trails in the Texas Hill Country I'd like to take this on!

[@bigfela69]

Also I haven't seen or heard of any other manufactures doing anything close to this kind of engineering for something for sale to the public! +1 for ford and this truck!

[@bigecanada]

@TheSmokingTire What about aftermarket support? Wouldnt the 6.2 have more power adding aftermarket parts?

[@zie24]

for the value this is the best thing out there

[@TheSmokingTire]

Possibly, Ford has been spotted testing some crew cab prototypes out in the desert. I highly doubt there will be a diesel option though. Americans only buy diesel engines for towing.

[@EatmyDust1311]

where did you go to do thi in the raptor, and is it open to the other raptor owners/ public?

[@insanityawakens]

@FlatwoodsDairyLLC Since when was there a recall for bent frames? I would really like to know where you heard this.

[@TheSmokingTire]

1.6 inches of wheel travel? your information is off, because the Raptor has 11 inches up front and 13 inches rear of wheel travel, far more than the stock F-150

[@Vacre7]

How high and often can you jump a defender?

[@TheSmokingTire]

62% of buyers agree with you, black is the best selling color.

[@TheFireman203]

i would love to have one those things are freakin badass

[@calypsobikes]

Hey Matt, I used to be a chevy guy until I saw your video about the SVT Raptor, I was a bit apprehensive about fords until i saw the svt raptor, but whne I saw your video about the HDC and the SVT Raptor on the 60% hill grade, I AM SOLD, I LOVE YOU MATT, and I'm a straight married guy, Matt you are f*cking AWESOME!!!!!!! All these guys are awesome for buying raptor 5.4L, but we all know the 6.2L is the best one on the market!!!! Lots of love, Nathan Mesa, AZ

[@ilikenarutoalot]

nice video

[@smartepants777]

Sweet truck.

[@kf4tjp]

Hey! can thr Raptor handle the Rubicon Trail?

[@bigecanada]

How bad were the interior rattles while going offroad? Is the interior 'cheap' feeling?

[@juancarloslang]

hi matt....what do you think about the toyota land cruiser?...have you test drive one?

[@TheSmokingTire]

it's very big, and drives well, and is ridiculously expensive. on the road it's a good car, and for "basic" off-roading, meaning dirt roads, it's fine. if you tried to do what I did in that raptor, the suspension would be in pieces within minutes.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@beammark watch that video again. how many hills do you see?

[@TheSmokingTire]

If it had that much wheel travel, you'd need a ladder to get in the thing, and it wouldnt handle for shit on the street. The Raptor pulls .85g on the skidpad AND can go 100mph on dirt. Nothing else out there can do that.

[@TheSmokingTire]

I never did, because I realized I don't really need a pickup truck at all, even a bad ass one like this. If in the next few years I want to buy a "functional" car, I would definitely buy a Raptor in 2 seconds. It's well worth the money, but $40k is a lot of money for me to buy something I don't really need.

[@dayrcrayz]

amazing, i live in Australia and these are 100k plus 😣

[@adsabine1]

Smoking tire, I asked Ford for this truck back in 2003-2004ish, I am not kidding, I e-mailed the top engineer because I wanted something with a real off road package and not just stickers.I would have added more than the 1.6in of additional wheel travel.But I still love this.

[@TakeABreakGetBaked]

@haveacigar420 could you put a manual transmission in the 2011 SVT Raptor

[@TheSmokingTire]

Never. From now on, Tom and I will be making videos over here!

[@Grindman3000]

Did he get a luxury kind? or add something?

[@nojuicewth]

@mutedevil What farmer do you know needs to go 75 mph on sand? Standard 4x4 F-150's can handle a lot, but these are special conditions for special truck.

[@Markbiker21]

very niiiiceeee man y love it, I'm so sad that in my country doesn't sell this truck :(

[@TheSmokingTire]

on snow the system would work just as well as it does in dirt, and shy of having studded/screwed tires, there's no car on earth that can stop on ice.

[@8l1ndman]

hey Mat have you had any problems with the frame bending on your raptor?

[@moparbrent760]

Devil's Slide in Ocotillo Wells?

[@pso142]

Lol, I just saw your post at Autoblog and (yes, my username is the same) so I decided to subscribe! Good stuff Matt, keep it up! By the way, the Raptor is really one of the best off road trucks out there, where else can you get such a nice package? Not to mention that only the suspension (which are Fox racing) can go from more than 300. Definitely a nice package for those who love off-road trucks.

[@TheSmokingTire]

You're more than entitled to your opinion, but I'd do a little more research on the Raptor before calling it "stone age." The off-road driving mode makes driving fast in the dirt as easy as going to the store, the hill descent mode works in forward and reverse, and having an off-road truck designed to be that rugged, yet that can also drive like a regular car on the road is a very tough challenge, but they did it.

[@TheSmokingTire]

The truck has a limiter at 100, which it's easily capable of both on road and off road.

[@lamborgboy]

@ENTRIS1 Not in the UK Where i live and what about the defender

[@soccerkidtrevor]

where is this? it looks like california city

[@utoobpwnsnbs]

while many may think the raptor is pointless, or stupid, or whatever, i agree with matt here...plus!! now the raptor comes iwth a 6.2L 500hp and 500tq engine...the truck that began as sick, just got sicker!!!!! keep the vids coming, only have seen 2 of TheSmokingTire, and am already hooked!!

[@lyndenl5]

is this just a stock raptor or does it have upgrades?

[@Utahraptor2002]

Well I am working on getting one of these for my self within the next 8 months. The only question I have is whether or not the 6.2L engine is worth the lower gas milage, which I have planned on getting. Also the local Ford dealer seems slow in selling me this vehicle. Some car salesmen are telling me to buy a regular F-150 and modify it for offroad use, but I am not interested in any other vehicle right now, otherwise I can wait to get a truck.

[@HDeverythingSD]

i want this truck. how is the mileage?

[@TheSmokingTire]

next year

[@nukeman13]

what's the song you were singing at 0:40?

[@alessiofloridia]

Amazing car..... I want it....

[@WildmanSam]

@EhvenPersinger the 6.2l is a $3k option. a hennessy s/c is like $10-14k.

[@christopherthomas1221]

You foolish fool, hold the traction control button to completely shut it off! :)

[@TheSmokingTire]

The 6.2 doesn't weigh any more than the 5.4 does, at least not noticeably. I've ridden in a 6.2, and although it would beat the 5.4 in a drag race, there is no reason to spend the extra money for it, because it's still not that fast. The only reason to have the bigger engine is so when people ask you which engine you have, you can say the bigger one.

[@CirocObama.94]

finally a good truck from ford after al these years

[@TheSmokingTire]

Nope. The two engines available as of next year will be the standard 5.4L and optional 6.2L "boss" engine .

[@92XJlaredo]

i am a Jeep guy 100% however i give credit where credit is due and this is perhaps the most bad ass truck i have seen in years.....411 horse and insane amounts of travel on top of that it just looks so good compared to the other new pickups on the market.....not useful for much other than what they do in the video (short box, terrible fuel economy) but it would be a very fun toy :) hats off to ford

[@Worm976]

@eyeAMtwinkEE this guy..... do you know what the DNF rate for the baja 1000 is? Just finishing is a hell of an acheivment

[@snowthugs]

wow that review makes me want that truck now. Which is weird since and I live in a city and don't own one thing that needs to be towed, hauled or loaded up.

[@kf4tjp]

It would be nice if it could. I've been waiting for our dealership to get one. Seem like ford is taking there sweet time releasing them. Hope we get a couple by April. Thanks for the reply.

[@ge3edy]

i like this truck

[@sakotaco16]

How do you become a vehicle tester ?

[@SuperDjwhiteboy]

Can we go any faster?

[@SickG6]

My opinion on this truck officially changed after watching this video. I NEEDZ RAPTOR!! Hill descent technology FTMFW!!!

[@TheSmokingTire]

the raptor can't do crazy rock crawling the same way that a built buggy or hugely lifted Wrangler could.... like it couldn't climb a 2 foot vertical boulder, but it's a fully competent off roader for trail situations with moderately sized obstacles.

[@ghosti33t]

crazy asss truck!!!!!!!!! how much hp?

[@vtectilligetmoney]

sick.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@sergechabot58 ford worked with bfg and changed the tires compound because the stock tire didnt work as well on snow/mud as ford would have liked, but the tread is the same

[@Bkknife]

what's disadvantage of this car !!

[@roccopcoltrane2999]

@fenderguitarist05 Just read that hill descent is used because they don't have 4 Low.

[@ruthlessone3k]

I'd love to have one, looks like a blast. But I kinda wonder whats in the fine print of that warranty :) I can just see somebody showing up at the dealer like "hey I was 4 wheel drifting through the whoopdy doos and I blew up my differential. thats covered under warranty right?"

[@DANEMAN5]

God im in love

[@Sledluva213]

oh man,, i want one,, holy

[@metalrain300]

Should I get this truck or get a camaro? You decided I like both to much to decided.

[@SDSakuragi]

Never thought I'd ever say this... but "I want a pickup truck!"

[@eyeAMtwinkEE]

@EatmyDust1311 Forgot bumper. Dixon Bros front-bumper: $500. Dixon Bros bed cage: $450. Installation (90% of it is bolt-on, so you could probably do it yourself) ~$7,500. That still leaves you with about $12,000 for interior and engine upgrades.

[@jrodthegreat1]

you sold me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelxie1978]

I am jealous, and I want one

[@mikerotchburns1622]

whats the point if its so easy?

[@eyeAMtwinkEE]

@EatmyDust1311 Yes, valved. Most companies offer valving when you order the shocks, and for a small fee, you can get them valved by a shop or the manufacturer. Warranties vary on the company. Unless you're running a trophy truck, quality shocks (fox, king, swayaway) will run around $2,000 at most. Check out Dixon Bro's, Camburg, and Brenthel Racing. They all offer longer travel suspensions than the Raptor for under $5000. A long travel f150 can be built for under $30,000.

[@adsabine1]

You are right about race trucks being one offs, I guarantee in the next few years when competition tries to compete with the Rapture they will all be so advanced compared with what the Rapture is now.And Ford could mass produce race trucks if they wanted to, Scrap Metal is $30. a ton. And I love the Rapture.