Gowheelwithjonlarson
Member
- First Name
- jon
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2025
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 13
- Location
- Colfax, ca
- Vehicle(s)
- 2024 ranger raptor, 2020 jeep wrangler Rubicon JLUR, 1983 jeep wagoneer, 1998 XJ
- Thread starter
- #1
I love this raptor, but let's get into some back story.
So ive owned mostly jeep Cherokee XJs for the last 25 years. I love jeeps. I also custom ordered a bare bones Rubicon 4dr about 5 years ago that ive built up somewhat. Ive been restoring a 1983 AMC jeep Wagoneer for the last 8 years too. My XJ is on one tons, 40s , atlas, caged. JLUR is on 37s, chromos F/R, skids, sliders, upgraded steering and suspension, Wagoneer has a front air locker 31s, 4" lift, and a ton of other stuff . There's a old build thread on NAXJA for my XJ on 40s in the Sierra chapter ...)
We had been needing a couple things out of a vehicle for the last 5 years:
1. Need a pickup truck for hauling things.
2. I wanted lockers F/R, IFS, and at least 33s so it could be wheeled and also be our reliable backup rig for the snow when we do get snow (live in the Sierra Nevadas at about 2500 ft, every so often we get a lot of snow, and if my wife takes the wrangler to work those days, my XJ and Wagoneer aren't exactly reliable to drive me to Sacramento for doctor appts, emergencies, whatever comes up)
3. I really wanted a Bronco, I love the new 6th gen Broncos , but we needed a pickup more (already have 3-4 jeeps)
4. My buddy Caleb told me all about the new gen raptors , cool live valved suspension, Lockers F/R, way cheaper than a bronco Raptor, still has the 3.0 twin turbo v6, 10 speed, lower geared Tcase, we had previously been eyeing Tacomas, patiently waiting for the new generation to come out to see what they are like
So fast forward a couple years, and I still couldn't even test drive a raptor, always selling before they hit the lots in Norcal.
Finally one was physically at Roseville Ford, and I called them and drove down that day. I had been calling dealers for 2 years on/off when one would pop up.
Test drove it after test driving a couple new gen Tacomas.
Obviously the raptor checked more boxes, 33s, dual lockers, better suspension, better motor, 10spd auto, (wish it had cooled seats though), and just a cool rig.
So I bought it on the spot , and here we are.
I already mapped out what I wanted to do with it. Save the jeeps for the Rubicon and other tougher jeep trails, but pretty much start doing everything else with the raptor, including DD status.
Initial build plans:
Gas tank skid (why is stock plastic ?)
Frame mounted rock sliders
Trans skid (ive seen guys land on the plastic trans pan and wipe out the trans )
rock lights
bed cover
bed storage
Tcase skid
So I started a YouTube channel while I was recovering from a bad TBI a few years back since I had to use a computer for a little bit each day (had to start at 5 mins a day on a computer to build back up to 8 hours a day) , and so I post a lot of build videos on the YouTube channel.
So far, I freaking love this raptor. The only other ford I ever owned was a 1993 F250 that needed way too much work and sold it for a loss. It never really worked right.
As for the Raptor, I love the power, how it handles on road, and took it on an easy snow run to Uncle Toms up on the way to the Rubicon, it did awesome. At first , I hated the big ol touch screen with Lockers enabled through the screen. Now Im used to it.
To do list (short run):
Mount the lux magnetic rock lights
Figure out some mounts for some pod lights maybe on the front bumper ? Any reccomendations ?
Way down the road (long run) :
Mild lift (don't want to destroy ride quality and don't fully understand live impact to a mild lift to the live valved shocks)
35s
I love offroading, and I love keeping trails open to the Public and raising money for land use orgs . I am currently on the board of Directors for the Rubicon Trail Foundation (2021 - Current) and was on the board of the Sierra Chapter of NAXJA for something like almost 14 years.
I suck at taking pics since I'm always taking video:
initial walk thru:
mod list before I did anything :
So ive owned mostly jeep Cherokee XJs for the last 25 years. I love jeeps. I also custom ordered a bare bones Rubicon 4dr about 5 years ago that ive built up somewhat. Ive been restoring a 1983 AMC jeep Wagoneer for the last 8 years too. My XJ is on one tons, 40s , atlas, caged. JLUR is on 37s, chromos F/R, skids, sliders, upgraded steering and suspension, Wagoneer has a front air locker 31s, 4" lift, and a ton of other stuff . There's a old build thread on NAXJA for my XJ on 40s in the Sierra chapter ...)
We had been needing a couple things out of a vehicle for the last 5 years:
1. Need a pickup truck for hauling things.
2. I wanted lockers F/R, IFS, and at least 33s so it could be wheeled and also be our reliable backup rig for the snow when we do get snow (live in the Sierra Nevadas at about 2500 ft, every so often we get a lot of snow, and if my wife takes the wrangler to work those days, my XJ and Wagoneer aren't exactly reliable to drive me to Sacramento for doctor appts, emergencies, whatever comes up)
3. I really wanted a Bronco, I love the new 6th gen Broncos , but we needed a pickup more (already have 3-4 jeeps)
4. My buddy Caleb told me all about the new gen raptors , cool live valved suspension, Lockers F/R, way cheaper than a bronco Raptor, still has the 3.0 twin turbo v6, 10 speed, lower geared Tcase, we had previously been eyeing Tacomas, patiently waiting for the new generation to come out to see what they are like
So fast forward a couple years, and I still couldn't even test drive a raptor, always selling before they hit the lots in Norcal.
Finally one was physically at Roseville Ford, and I called them and drove down that day. I had been calling dealers for 2 years on/off when one would pop up.
Test drove it after test driving a couple new gen Tacomas.
Obviously the raptor checked more boxes, 33s, dual lockers, better suspension, better motor, 10spd auto, (wish it had cooled seats though), and just a cool rig.
So I bought it on the spot , and here we are.
I already mapped out what I wanted to do with it. Save the jeeps for the Rubicon and other tougher jeep trails, but pretty much start doing everything else with the raptor, including DD status.
Initial build plans:
Gas tank skid (why is stock plastic ?)
Frame mounted rock sliders
Trans skid (ive seen guys land on the plastic trans pan and wipe out the trans )
rock lights
bed cover
bed storage
Tcase skid
So I started a YouTube channel while I was recovering from a bad TBI a few years back since I had to use a computer for a little bit each day (had to start at 5 mins a day on a computer to build back up to 8 hours a day) , and so I post a lot of build videos on the YouTube channel.
So far, I freaking love this raptor. The only other ford I ever owned was a 1993 F250 that needed way too much work and sold it for a loss. It never really worked right.
As for the Raptor, I love the power, how it handles on road, and took it on an easy snow run to Uncle Toms up on the way to the Rubicon, it did awesome. At first , I hated the big ol touch screen with Lockers enabled through the screen. Now Im used to it.
To do list (short run):
Mount the lux magnetic rock lights
Figure out some mounts for some pod lights maybe on the front bumper ? Any reccomendations ?
Way down the road (long run) :
Mild lift (don't want to destroy ride quality and don't fully understand live impact to a mild lift to the live valved shocks)
35s
I love offroading, and I love keeping trails open to the Public and raising money for land use orgs . I am currently on the board of Directors for the Rubicon Trail Foundation (2021 - Current) and was on the board of the Sierra Chapter of NAXJA for something like almost 14 years.
I suck at taking pics since I'm always taking video:
initial walk thru:
mod list before I did anything :
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