Being that the Bronco Raptor’s wheelbase is nearly 40 inches shorter, what are the differences in the driving characteristics? I know the shorter wheelbase is better for turning radius, but for driving around town and high speed driving, what is the difference? Is the shorter wheel base less stable?
I own both the Gen 3 Raptor and the Bronco Raptor. The truck is way more comfortable—10 times more, in fact—and I can go straight from the office to off-roading with no issues. I always keep my recovery gear in it.
The Bronco, on the other hand, is a lot more fun off-road but not nearly as comfortable for daily driving. It’s smaller and doesn’t have as much space for gear. When you hit the gas in the dirt, the front lifts a bit, making it feel less stable, but you can trust it—it’ll go over anything, and it’s much harder to high-center than the truck.
For me, I’d pick the truck for its size and comfort, but I’m glad my wife enjoys the Bronco Raptor for her daily driver!
Great stuff, man.
Do you think the truck slides out more than the Bronco Raptor because of its longer wheelbase?
And can you explain what it means to get high-centered?
A friend owns both and has put a lot of miles on them in Baja. The Bronco Raptor is the best stock off-road vehicle for desert driving, while the Raptor is the top-performing truck. If you don’t need extra space and want speed off-road, the Bronco Raptor is unbeatable.
I’ve owned both a Gen 1 and Gen 2 Raptor, and now I have a fully loaded Bronco Raptor. For me, the Bronco Raptor is the best both on and off-road. Given my family size (4), I actually find it more practical with its secured and enclosed storage. On 37s, the Bronco Raptor is more responsive and easier to handle around town. I’m 5’10" and 175 lbs, and it’s plenty comfortable and roomy for me, though your mileage may vary. The only thing I miss from the truck is the ventilated seats. The improved approach, departure, and breakover angles have opened up a lot of trails for me here on the West Coast. It’s also great having 37s stock, as modding either truck for that size would require proper fender work. Raptors are fun vehicles, and the Bronco Raptor is the most enjoyable and capable one. If you need the utility of a bed, though, it’s a reasonable trade-off.
Bronco Raptor: Better for off-road driving but has significantly less space, poorer gas mileage for some reason, and is noisy and affected by wind drag on the highway.
F-150 Raptor: Not as capable off-road but offers much more space, with a back seat that feels like a couch—great if you have a family. It’s extremely comfortable for daily driving while still being quite capable off-road.
If you’re looking for a daily driver, I would definitely recommend the F-150. But if you’re after a weekend toy for the sand dunes and trails, the Bronco is the way to go.
The Braptor is the greatest out of the box off-roader ever built. It’s not less stable but it does have a different driving characteristic.
If you’re paying attention to mileage at all, I’d recommend getting a school bus