What to Consider When Buying a Used Ford F-150 Raptor

Used Ford F-150 Raptor Quick Facts

• F-150 Raptor models, depending on the year and generation of production, come with a V8 or V6 twin-turbo engine. 
• The F-150 Raptor is in its third generation. The first generation, known as the “Ford F-150 SVT Raptor,” became available in 2010 and lasted four years.
• The Raptor comes with Fox off-road race shocks with recommended service intervals between 10,000 and 50,000 miles, depending on driving conditions.

The Ford F-150 Raptor is an off-roading superhero with a great origin story. After spending time in Baja, Mexico, the idea of building the ultimate off-road truck started to percolate among the Ford SVT engineers and designers. The team worked to develop a vehicle with superb performance and a matching level of durability. Since Ford designed the F-150 Raptor for off-road use, the truck’s underside features skid plates and protective shields. Ford even went as far as to put a 360-degree stone guard around the shock rod to prevent damage from rock chips. The level of detail that went into building the Ford F-150 Raptor is astonishing.

Even a highly capable truck like the F-150 Raptor has its limits. A viral YouTube video featuring a Ford Raptor that supposedly jumped 90 feet to its demise has been circulating on the internet for a decade. While the engineers didn’t design the Raptor to take flight like its prehistoric namesake, it will easily survive reasonably sized bumps and jumps. Also, the Raptor formula has proved so successful in the F-150 family that Ford has released SUV and midsize truck versions: the Ford Bronco Raptor and the Ford Ranger Raptor.

Used Ford F-150 Raptor Buying Checklist

F-150 Raptor models, depending on the year and generation of production, come with a V8 or V6 twin-turbo engine. Other notable generational differences include Fox Factory, Inc. adaptive dampers and optional 37-inch tires.

Here are some of the top items to consider when buying a used Raptor:

• F-150 Raptor Generations
• F-150 Raptor Powertrain
• F-150 Raptor Suspension
• Tire Tread And Wear
• Body And Frame Condition
• Certified Ford F-150 Raptor

F-150 Raptor Generations

The F-150 Raptor is in its third generation. The first generation, known as the “Ford F-150 SVT Raptor,” became available in 2010 and lasted four years before taking a 2-year hiatus for a redesign. The second-generation Raptor hit the market in 2017, dropping the “SVT” from its name. The second-gen lasted until 2020. Much of the second-generation design carried over to the third-generation F-150 Raptor. The 2021 model year used 37-inch tires, an upgrade over the 35-inch tires of the previous generations.

Even though the first-generation SVT Raptor may not match the performance of the later generations, it offers something they can’t: the deep V8 rumble. A satisfying engine note is a feature many automotive enthusiasts crave.

See Ford F-150 Raptors in your local area.

F-150 Raptor Powertrain

Over the years,  Ford armed the F-150 Raptor with four different engines that are model-year-dependent. At its 2010 launch, the SVT Raptor came with two engine options. The base engine was a 5.4-liter V8, and the upgraded engine was a 6.2-liter V8. The 6.2-liter V8 was the only engine choice for the SVT Raptor from 2011 to 2014.

The second-generation F-150 Raptor dropped the SVT from its name and also dropped the V8 engine from its lineup. The new Raptor powerplant was a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine that outperformed the large displacement 6.2-liter V8 by 9.5% in horsepower and 17.5% in torque. Ford continues to use the V6 engine in the third-generation Raptor with no modifications to the power output. However, Ford added the Raptor R for the 2023 model year, defined by its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 borrowed from the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

F-150 Raptor Suspension

The Raptor comes with Fox off-road race shocks with recommended service intervals between 10,000 and 50,000 miles, depending on driving conditions. Ford Raptor trucks primarily driven on the street will have a longer service interval than trucks frequently taken off-road. Drivers using the Ford Raptor to its full potential as a Baja truck will need to service the Fox shocks as frequently as every 1,000 miles in the most extreme conditions.

After the 2019 model year, the Raptor came equipped with electronically controlled Fox Live Valve shocks to provide maximum performance and comfort. Live Valve technology adjusts in real-time based on the terrain and driving. Shock compression is adjusted based on acceleration, braking, and steering inputs to help provide maximum stability. If you are considering a Ford Raptor with Fox Live Valve shocks, ensuring that they have been appropriately serviced and continue to service them based on driving conditions is a must. Replacement Fox Live Valve shocks cost $7,400 before taxes and installation.

Fox offers rebuilding services for Ford Raptor suspension components. The price ranges from around $500 to $1,000, depending on the shock model. The more advanced shocks found on the F-150 Raptor from 2019 and later model years cost more to service and replace if they get damaged beyond repair.

Tire and Tread Wear

The first-generation and second-generation F-150 Raptor came equipped with 35-inch off-road tires. A popular tire choice is the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 – LT315/70R17, which costs roughly $350 per tire or $1,400 for a set of four. The third-generation Raptor has an optional 37-inch tire package with frame and suspension modifications to accommodate the larger tire size. The replacement cost per tire is approximately $550 or $2,200 for four 37-inch tires. Standard 17-inch beadlock-capable forged aluminum wheels shod with 37×12.5 R17LT BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 tires outfit the Raptor R.

F-150 Raptor trucks initially equipped with 35-inch tires can have clearance issues if fitted with larger tires. Shock travel shortens by one inch, and Ford moved the tow hitch to prevent interference on the 37-inch-tire Raptor models.

As with any truck, it is wise to inspect tire tread depth and wear patterns on a used Raptor. Heavily worn rear tires might indicate that the previous owner carried or towed heavy loads, accelerated hard from stops, or did burnouts. A tire showing accelerated wear might signify a more significant issue like suspension or frame damage. Check for tire sidewall damage from off-roading. Tires with damaged sidewalls cannot be repaired and are unsafe to use, especially at higher speeds.

Body and Frame Condition

Since off-road performance was a top priority in the Raptor’s design, some trucks will see more extreme driving conditions than the average Ford F-150. Possible damage from off-roading can vary from paint scratches to a bent frame.

Inspecting a vehicle’s paint for scratches is best done under direct sunlight or with a high-powered artificial light source. You might hear about pinstriping in the off-road community, which is much different from the hot-rod community. Off-road pinstriping is an undesirable paint defect caused by contact with branches and brush. If you can’t feel the pinstriping with your fingernail, you can usually remedy it by polishing the paint. However, avoiding future damage is necessary since you can only remove a limited paint thickness before other issues arise. You can check visually for moderate to severe frame damage without precise measurements or specialty tools.

Have you ever driven behind a truck that looks like it is moving sideways when going straight? A bent truck frame or damaged axle is the likely cause of this “crab-walking,” which can cause uneven tire wear, suspension wear, and less-than-ideal handling. You can feel symptoms of crab-walking in the steering wheel since the truck will pull to one side more than the other. The steering wheel will most likely no longer be centered and will need a few degrees of correction to drive straight.

Another way to spot frame damage is to check the body gaps on a truck. Without specialty tools, you can look for unaligned spaces between the tailgate and bed, bed and cab, and doors and body to detect frame damage.

These visual inspections are suitable for detecting severe frame damage and not determining if vehicle components are slightly out of spec. Review wheel alignment records or have the alignment checked before purchase. If a component is damaged badly enough, the wheels won’t align properly without fixing or replacing the damaged parts.

Certified Ford F-150 Raptor

Buying a used F-150 Raptor can be pricey, even for early model years with over 100,000 miles on the odometer, starting at around $30,000. Although purchasing a used Ford F-150 Raptor is typically more expensive than a similar model year/mileage used Ford F-150, the Raptor has a higher resale value.

If you’re interested in buying a used Ford Raptor but aren’t comfortable owning a high-performance truck out of warranty, Ford Blue Advantage (FBA) is a great choice. FBA Gold-certified vehicles must pass a rigorous 172-point inspection and come with a 12-month/12,000-mile comprehensive warranty covering most of the Raptor’s racing-inspired parts, including the Fox shocks.

Trevor Spedden contributed to this report.