There is one very vocal owner who went on this trip who is pushing all of the publicity. Ford has denied his warranty claim as "abuse" and he is going to do whatever he can to get back at them by claiming a "design flaw". Others who went on this admit that they over-drove the trucks. On this trip, there was lots of other carnage: one truck bent BOTH front spindles, blown power steering pumps, etc. This group was running at speeds of 80+ mph for quite a bit of the trip and did not have GPS or any notes of obstacles. There is video out there of guys cruising along and high speed and are surprised by hitting cattle guards and a "kicker" (where a lot the "frame bending" occurred).
The root cause is simply going way too fast on unknown terrain - a recipe for disaster every time. There are only a handful of folks who have this issue and the vast majority of them were on this trip. Every vehicle has its limit and these guys found it for the Raptor. It is NOT A TROPHY TRUCK.
Here is what the Raptor Supplement says (emphasis added is mine):
"WARNING: Off-roading can be extremely dangerous and carries inherent risks that may not be preventable even with the best precautions. Ford strongly recommends driving within your ability and taking every safety precaution, including those found here and at other off-road driving organizations such as the Best in the Desert Racing (
www.bitd.com) and SCORE International Off Road Racing."
"...High speed off-roading presents a unique challenge, but extra care and caution should be taken before engaging in this type of driving. If you plan on using the truck for severe, high speed off-road use, the following is recommended:
• Equip your truck with the safety equipment used for the Stock-Full Class as defined in the rule books for the Best in the Desert Racing (
www.bitd.com) and SCORE International Off Road Racing (
www.score-international.com).
• Use personal safety equipment including a SNELL SA certified helmet and approved neck restraint device.
• Before venturing off-road in unfamiliar areas at high speeds, do a low speed reconnaissance run (“prerun”
to become aware of any obstacles that you will encounter.
[Snip]
•Build up speed slowly. Initially, drive at a pace which allows ample time to fully assess the terrain around you and to understand how the vehicle is responding to both the terrain and driver inputs. Increase pace as comfort increases while always being mindful of how the vehicle is responding to various events at different speeds.
•Also remember to "drive what you can see". This refers to not driving faster than you are able to negotiate unforeseen upcoming obstacles. This could refer to obstacles over a brow, in a ravine, in brush, in dusty conditions, and in the darkness among others."
Warranty info:
"Damage to skid plates, shock guards, running boards and exterior finishes as well as bent, cracked or broken body, frame and chassis components may not be covered by warranty."
