Towing with a Raptor
08-14-2016, 10:15 AM
#21
I am worried about towing as well, as I am really feeling the need to buy a toy hauler. I know what I "should" do..........which is, be practical, buy a 3/4 diesel and get a 5th wheel. But my desire is burning for a Raptor!
If I knew for certain, I could tow a bumper pull, 25-28 footish tow hauler "occasionally", I could get this craziness out of my head.
08-14-2016, 11:36 AM
#22
Senior Member
Originally Posted by baxzilla
If you put air bags on the rear of a raptor would this fix the whole suspension issue with towing?
08-14-2016, 12:15 PM
#24
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Trailbreak74
It ain't the towing capacity, it's the payload. Last gen Raptor had a much lower payload than a similar F150. I'd think the new model will be similar.
The Raptor is essentially an air conditioned side by side. You give up some utility for the off road performance. All F150s have garbage leaf springs from the factory, it's just more pronounced on the Raptor. A set of Deavers / Nationals / etc... is night and day different that the factory pack.
08-15-2016, 09:11 PM
#25
Solved by a multi-leaf pack as mentioned above.
The Raptor is essentially an air conditioned side by side. You give up some utility for the off road performance. All F150s have garbage leaf springs from the factory, it's just more pronounced on the Raptor. A set of Deavers / Nationals / etc... is night and day different that the factory pack.
The Raptor is essentially an air conditioned side by side. You give up some utility for the off road performance. All F150s have garbage leaf springs from the factory, it's just more pronounced on the Raptor. A set of Deavers / Nationals / etc... is night and day different that the factory pack.
No Raptor bashing, just one drawback that people should be aware of if they are buying a Raptor. It can tow, but only relatively light loads.
Very few people NEED the off road capability of a Raptor. Lots of people who buy a half ton truck NEED it to be able to handle a certain amount of payload. Not an issue if the Raptor is your weekend toy. If it's your only truck you might have buyers remorse.
08-15-2016, 09:34 PM
#26
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Trailbreak74
That will make it tow better, I'm sure, but does that legally increase the payload? AFAIK the answer is no.
No Raptor bashing, just one drawback that people should be aware of if they are buying a Raptor. It can tow, but only relatively light loads.
Very few people NEED the off road capability of a Raptor. Lots of people who buy a half ton truck NEED it to be able to handle a certain amount of payload. Not an issue if the Raptor is your weekend toy. If it's your only truck you might have buyers remorse.
No Raptor bashing, just one drawback that people should be aware of if they are buying a Raptor. It can tow, but only relatively light loads.
Very few people NEED the off road capability of a Raptor. Lots of people who buy a half ton truck NEED it to be able to handle a certain amount of payload. Not an issue if the Raptor is your weekend toy. If it's your only truck you might have buyers remorse.
08-16-2016, 05:45 AM
#28
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Trailbreak74
I guess that's one way to look at it.
08-16-2016, 05:19 PM
#29
It's the only way to look at it. The factory leaf pack sucks. A set of Deavers will outperform the factory set in all aspects and be safer doing it. IF you need the capability increase (want a Raptor but need a truck) then it's a viable option. Folks violate the towing / payload restrictions all the time. I'm only suggesting that if you are going to do it anyway, do it with the right gear.
You post a lot of really good info about the Raptor, and just in general. I have to say I think you are wrong on this one. Payload doesn't increase by changing spring packs or doing any other mod. Full stop. Do people do it anyway? Probably, but that doesn't mean we, as a community of truck enthusiasts, should go around telling them it's OK to do it. We can add whatever we want to our trucks to make them tow better, but that rated payload can't be changed that easily.
The Raptor is a great truck. There is no need to do anything to prop it up or hide any faults it may have. Telling people they can increase the payload after they buy a $50,000 truck is just giving out wrong information.
08-16-2016, 06:09 PM
#30
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Trailbreak74
You post a lot of really good info about the Raptor, and just in general. I have to say I think you are wrong on this one. Payload doesn't increase by changing spring packs or doing any other mod. Full stop. Do people do it anyway? Probably, but that doesn't mean we, as a community of truck enthusiasts, should go around telling them it's OK to do it. We can add whatever we want to our trucks to make them tow better, but that rated payload can't be changed that easily.
The Raptor is a great truck. There is no need to do anything to prop it up or hide any faults it may have. Telling people they can increase the payload after they buy a $50,000 truck is just giving out wrong information.
The Raptor is a great truck. There is no need to do anything to prop it up or hide any faults it may have. Telling people they can increase the payload after they buy a $50,000 truck is just giving out wrong information.
The transmissions are the same, the brakes are the same, frames were the same (SCREWs anyway), up until '15, the rear diff was the same. The only variant really is gearing, engine and spring rate. Gearing helps towing more than payload and given that the base n/a 6cyl produces more power and torque than most v8s of the 80's - I'd say the engine is irrelevant, esp given the Raptor has the most power and lowest payload.
It comes back to the leaf pack. The reason the Raptor has both a lower payload and lower tow rating is because of the very compliant factory leaf pack - it's a compromise between lift, off road flexibility and on road ride. It does none of those well.
I wasn't trying to be an ***, I was trying to say that IF you wanted a Raptor but had concerns about payload and towing - the only way to address it is by replacing the leaf pack. I completely agree that this doesn't absolve anyone of the legal ramifications of exceeding factory ratings. Just that if you want better payload and towing characteristics (within the given ratings of an F150 - whatever that is) your best bet is a better pack - for any F150 but especially the Raptor.
Yes, the squishy front suspension also plays a role in safely carrying a load or towing - which if you are planning to go that heavy I would recommend a non-Raptor or even moving up to a 250 at that point.
Edit:
The Heavy-Duty Payload Package increases the truck's payload and towing capabilities with an eight-foot cargo box, upgraded springs, tires, and wheels, as well as a heavier duty leaf supension.
If you look at the numbers, you'll see the above validated here:
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...F150_Specs.pdf
Given that the Raptor doesn't have 'weak' wheels or tires, it is a least as capable as a non Raptor from a towing and payload capacity if you upgrade the leaf pack. I'm not claiming you'll get into the max tow or max payload arena but you can at minimum erase the 'Raptor deficit' vs a normal F150.
Last edited by WarSurfer; 08-16-2016 at 07:03 PM.