Overland Journal Podcast Episode 185
Last summer, I had the privilege of enjoying three weeks behind the wheel of a 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor during my long-term review of the Tune M1 camper. As someone who is used to traveling in a Land Rover with a wheezy four-cylinder turbo-diesel, planning all my passes and resigning myself to endless hours of podcasts as I drone down the freeway at 65 mph, the Raptor’s 450 horsepower Ecoboost V6 was a revelation. Throw in the off-road-tuned Fox suspension and meaty BFGs, along with an uber-quiet and super comfortable interior (heated and cooled seats!), and I was extremely reluctant to hand back the keys at the end of the loan.
The 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor has 450 horsepower.
But the previous generation F-150 Raptor pales in comparison to Ford’s new Raptor R—720 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque from the optional 5.2-liter supercharged V8 rockets the R from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, according to Car & Driver, and it costs almost $80,000 in nicely-specced trim. Its EPA-rated combined fuel economy is just 16 mpg, thanks in part to its nearly 6,000-pound curb weight. This is one hairy-chested (and extremely fun) pickup, but is it a good overlander?
In this week’s episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady discuss this new class of travel vehicles we call Ultra Overlanders. This includes the Ford F-150 Raptor R, Ford Bronco Raptor, Ram TRX, GMC Sierra AT4x AEV, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, Mercedes G-Wagen 4×4 Squared, Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, and Ram Power Wagon. As you’ll find out, this conversation is not necessarily an endorsement of Ultra Overlanders for international travel but a discussion around their growing popularity for domestic grand touring and backcountry travel.
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Tune in using the link below or download the episode on your favorite podcast player.
Host Bios:
Scott Brady
Scott is the publisher and co-founder of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal and is often credited with popularizing overlanding in North America. His travels by 4WD and adventure motorcycle span all seven continents and includes three circumnavigations of the globe. His polar expeditions include two vehicle crossings of Antarctica and the first long-axis crossing of Greenland. @scott.a.brady
Matthew Scott
Matthew is a leading expert in automotive adventure. He has extensively explored the world’s most remote places by 4WD and is considered an industry authority on overland travel. He is the only American to ever become an editor of a major Australian 4WD publication and has over 15 years of competitive auto racing experience. @mattexplore
Watch more: Field Testing the GMC Sierra 2500 AT4x AEV :: Video
Images: Stephan Edwards, Ford
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