One of the greatest joys in my life is making Raptor videos. Let's make another.
This round we have the 2019 model. Quick reminder, the Ford F-150 Raptor is the
most off-roading-est, jump-abble, good time having pickup truck I've ever
driven. For a full rundown, I'd direct you to our previous review, but essential
Raptor features include a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, a 10-speed
automatic transmission, 13-inches of suspension travel up front and 13.9-inches
in the rear and a six- inch wider track than a standard F150.
Never content to leave gnarly enough alone, or has, magic-Genie style granted
off-road aficionados three wishes for 2019. Wish number one, new electronically
adjustable Fox 3.0 internal bypass shocks using something called live valve
technology. Incorporating a range of variables these new shocks provide
real-time adjustability for compression damping. High level take away the Raptor's
new dampers adjust on the fly for improved comfort, performance and
resistance to bottoming out. I'll try that last one a little bit later. Number two,
new Recaro seats. As we've learned over the years driven with the right attitude
a Ford Raptor can deliver goofball dynamic thrills, the kind of stuff that
might toss you around in your seat. This is a pretty gnarly angle, but the seats
holding me in just fine. Yeah, Alcantara inserts look pretty cool too, bro,
and finally wish number three, a technology you didn't know you needed
called trail control. At 20 miles per hour or less trail control is like
cruise control for traversing rocky unpaved hell-scapes, automatically
handling the throttle and braking to individual wheels as needed. With that
stuff taken care of the driver is free to micromanage the steering.
I'm predisposed to love Raptors but can the 2019 really be that much better?
Let's find out. There's nothing like a day bombing
around Utah to answer life's big questions, like how's that trail control?
We're utilizing trail control and yeah I'm in the right seat. I'm not actually
driving but you're not really driving either, you're just pushing the steering
a little bit. This way that way tiller so you're not using the throttle a brake at
all. Is not using the throttle and brake more fun or less fun? I've gone off-road
before so I find this less challenging, so I find that less fun because I like a
challenge, but for someone that's a novice that
might be beginning off-roader or want to pay some more attention to a very
technical trail mm-hmm this is very useful. Yeah like a real incompetent type,
a real Micah Muzio type we call them.
It's right now making use of trail control from the drivers seats. I got it
set at one-mile an hour, which seems a little bit slow but you have to be
completely off, steering. I said that looks like so far so good.
I'll be honest as a guy who likes to drive I'm not sure I'd make much use of
trail control, but if you're the kind of person who's never really gone out into
the wilderness in their Raptor it's a good way to get up and over things with
minimal in foot action. A lot of hand action though, look at that oh all that
steering. Whoa I'm Raptoring. Yeah we can Raptor.
How about the new Fox live valve shocks? Given the comparatively
slow speeds for driving I'm not sure we're maximizing the abilities of the
new live valve dampers. Is the 2019 Raptor notably better than the 2018
Raptor? Uh basically what I'm doing I can't quite tell
All right I'm duly impressed yeah this is very rocky rutted terrain we're
driving over, and yeah really smoothes it out.
Nonetheless we need to jump it at proper Baja speeds. The Raptors updated Fox
shocks will undoubtedly yield superior results, but even at modest velocities
their adaptability means fewer compromises between on and off-road ride
quality. I mean the second gen Raptor already had a super comfortable ride but
better is better, which reminds me I made a promise earlier in the video let's pay
that off. With it's electronically adjustable dampers the Raptor can fully
stiffen its suspension midair to help smooth the landing. Let's see how that
goes.
Today the Raptor remains the airborne fun truck king. Base price for a 2019
F-150 Raptor Super Cab is $54,350 fifty
including a hefty $1,495 destination charge. That represents a more than $2,000
increase versus the 2018 mode,l but beyond electronic dampers
and trail control that year-over-year premium also brings a revised tailgate
applique, an embossed Raptor logo on the steering wheel, and a new engine cover,
and who doesn't get excited about engine covers. The second generation Raptor was
already such a great truck that I would happily own the 2017 and 2018, but if you
want the best truck for blasting through the desert the 2019 would be that. Though
to verify I should probably jump it again.
Back at it!