From F150 Raptor to Ranger Raptor

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share some thoughts on the Ranger Raptor after previously owning a modified Land Cruiser 200 (LC200) and a stock Gen 3 Raptor. Here’s my take:

Land Cruiser 200
My LC200, with its modifications, excelled in technical terrain and offered decent comfort on long trips.

2022 Raptor
The Gen 3 Raptor took comfort to another level for cross-country travel. It’s unmatched in this regard. Despite its large size and limited breakover angle, it managed some Moab trails. Last year, I covered 4,500 miles, including a fun trip to the Raptor Assault School—though I’ve heard they’ve toned it down for the Ranger Raptor.

Why I Sold the LC200
I sold my LC200 a few years back after my catalytic converters were stolen. Given I was only doing a few trips each year, it didn’t make sense to keep it. Moving states gave me the chance to get the Raptor I always wanted, but living in California and street parking made it impractical.

2022 Raptor Ownership
The Raptor was the most comfortable vehicle I’ve ever owned, but its size made parking challenging. By May 2024, I traded my F150 Raptor for the more compact Ranger Raptor, which I’m really enjoying. With just 500 miles from the dealer, it’s already proving its worth. It’s much smaller, handles corners better, fits into parking spots with ease, and almost matches the power of the F150.

Things I Miss in the Ranger Raptor

1. The spacious second row (great for storage).
2. Cooled seats.
3. A grab handle for the driver.

These aren’t deal breakers for me, and I appreciate having a truck I can drive almost anywhere. So far, I’ve removed the Raptor sticker, added a Lomax cover, and installed a Bedrug. I had a Diamondback HD on the F150, which felt secure but was overkill for my needs.

F150 Raptor Owners: What You Might Miss

• Larger truck bed.
• 35 or 37-inch tires (though you can fit 35s on the Ranger with modifications).
• The 36-gallon fuel tank.
• Its distinctive look.
• The aluminum body (especially relevant in rust-prone areas).
• More spacious seats.
• The moonroof (a plus for me not having to clean and maintain it).
• Built-in tailgate ladder.
• Higher towing capacity.

What You Might Prefer in the Ranger Raptor

• Its smaller, more manageable size.
• Nimble handling, possibly due to its smaller tires, size, or watts linkage.
• Top-accessible oil filter.
• Front locker.
• Lower price point.

Final Thoughts
The LC200 still holds a special place in my heart, and I recently bought a 100 Series to build for Colorado and Moab trails.

I hope you’re all enjoying your new Ranger Raptors, and I look forward to seeing you on the trails!

Welcome! I bet Ford brings cooled/ventilated seats to the Ranger for 2025 accompanied by a hefty price increase. Gotta keep up with Toyota!

Actually, not missing much, pano roof would be it!

I miss the huge bottomless pit center console my F150 Raptor had. But otherwise I love my Ranger Raptor.

Arsenall11 said:

Actually, not missing much, pano roof would be it!

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Totally wish the Ranger Raptor had a pano sunroof.

What was your typical road trip milage in the LC and F150 Raptor? And what are you getting on the Ranger Raptor?

I'd been coveting a real 4x4 for a while, after driving a lightly modified Subaru Outback Touring XT for a few years. The subie was luxurious and pretty fast (not Raptor fast though) but limited off road. I bought a Ranger XLT with FX4, which is meeting my needs, but I keep wondering about a Raptor someday.

markal49 said:

What was your typical road trip milage in the LC and F150 Raptor? And what are you getting on the Ranger Raptor?

I'd been coveting a real 4x4 for a while, after driving a lightly modified Subaru Outback Touring XT for a few years. The subie was luxurious and pretty fast (not Raptor fast though) but limited off road. I bought a Ranger XLT with FX4, which is meeting my needs, but I keep wondering about a Raptor someday.

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I was getting around 13-14 on the heavy modified LC and around 15-17 on the F150. So far the Ranger R got around 17.5 mpg.

Dubfound said:

Totally wish the Ranger Raptor had a pano sunroof.

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For me the moonroof is more of a headache that ai would avoid if I could.

NASSTY said:

I miss the huge bottomless pit center console my F150 Raptor had. But otherwise I love my Ranger Raptor.

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Yes, that was a good one, I forgot about the armrest. I think you could fit a good size fridge in that space.

I have arrived at the RR myself, albeit from a different route. I live in Florida and I truly NEVER want a sun or moon-roof ever again. I just don't want the sun on me at all. I get plenty of that outside. I do get when mid-westerners or our friends up north want these features, but for most of us from the sunshine state it's just not a thing. Rear seat room is the other thing that is missed for my full size passengers, along with rear vents. Right now I'm getting about 17.5 MPG which is not bad.

Dubfound said:

Totally wish the Ranger Raptor had a pano sunroof.

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I would like a glass roof like on Tesla. If you're out overlanding you're in beautiful countryside but you're kind of looking out from a bunker. By and large lighter, narrower, and shorter trucks do better offroad, although less macho. Truck nuts look better on F150 Raptors.

Thanks for the review.

I'm in a 21f150 V8 and there are times I wish it wasn't so big. But I love the long distance comfy armchairs.

I made the mistake years ago downsizing from a large three row suv to a smaller one. Don't want to repeat that mistake.

Yet I have to admit the 2.7 Ranger has me intrigued. Small gas tank would suck towing. I have the 36 gallon tank now and can cover 350 miles between fill ups. But that's pushing it a bit as I like to have plenty in reserve just in case.