I was wondering, how easy or difficult is it to own and daily drive a Ford Raptor? Especially if you want to take it to the dunes occasionally. Looking for thoughts from people who have experience!
As someone who moved from the US to the UAE, driving a truck like the Raptor isn’t bad if you know how to handle big vehicles. It’s not as massive as something like an F350 or F450, so squeezing through traffic isn’t too hard. Just keep it stock—if you lift it or add super wide wheels, parking in garages or tight spots could be a nightmare.
Now about the dunes: you can definitely take the Raptor out there a few times a year, but remember, sand blasting your undercarriage isn’t great for your truck. It’s like throwing sand in your face. Just have the undercarriage checked every few months, and you’ll be fine. Bottom line, if you want a truck, get one. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Hope that helps!
@Zion
Thanks for the detailed info! By dune bashing, I mean just taking it to the dunes maybe two or three times a year. I’d definitely keep it stock, no mods for me.
Milo said:
@Zion
Thanks for the detailed info! By dune bashing, I mean just taking it to the dunes maybe two or three times a year. I’d definitely keep it stock, no mods for me.
Ah, in that case, you’re good to go! Enjoy it!
The Raptor is great on the road. For serious desert driving in deep sand, naturally aspirated engines are usually better than turbocharged ones. But if you’re just looking for light fun, the Raptor should work fine for that too.
@Jules
Yeah, I should’ve clarified. I’m not doing hardcore desert runs—just some amateur trails two or three times a year. Nothing major.
Milo said:
@Jules
Yeah, I should’ve clarified. I’m not doing hardcore desert runs—just some amateur trails two or three times a year. Nothing major.
For that kind of use, the Raptor should be fine. Personally, I’d go for the V8 version if I had the choice.
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I think I’ll stick to stock and just enjoy it for light use.
Will said:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I think I’ll stick to stock and just enjoy it for light use.
Yeah, keeping it stock sounds like a good plan. Enjoy the dunes!
Driving a Raptor is pretty easy on highways because most drivers will move out of the way when they see you coming. The real challenge is parking or changing lanes in heavy traffic.
It just takes a couple of weeks to get used to it. Once you do, it feels like driving any other car—just higher up. I have a lifted Ram 1500, and I was driving an ATS before that. After a few small scrapes and bumps, it was all good!