2021 FORD F-150 RAPTOR

When the second-generation Raptor burst across the desert rollers in 2017, it was an exciting time for truck enthusiasts. Ford had just committed the Raptor model to a new generation, investing in a unique frame, improved suspension, a substantial power boost, and it was still the only vehicle of its kind available from the factory to enthusiastic off-roaders.

While the second-generation truck was exceptional and had levels of capability far above anything else on the market, it could be a handful as you approached the limit. With leaf springs out back, the Raptor was known to skate on top of whoops, step out on broken pavement, and put the chassis and driver in a compromising position if the turbos lit at an inopportune time. For some, this made for the ultimate driver’s vehicle, for others it made the Raptor feel like a handful to stay on top of at high speeds.

Soft suspension, especially on the early second-gen trucks, blew through travel and it felt like the Fox internal bypass shocks were tuned to be exceptional in a narrow range and what you got at