Last summer, I had the good fortune to review Tune’s impressive M1 truck camper. It did not hurt that the M1 was bolted to the back of a 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor. I can safely say that I had a pretty good three weeks with that truck. The driving experience over any and all terrain was like piloting a hovercraft—a very fast hovercraft. So, when I wheeled into the parking lot of Overland International’s headquarters in Arizona this May ahead of Overland Expo, you might imagine how pleased I was to see a 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor parked in front of the office, resplendent in Shelter Green.
My colleague Brian McVickers already had a hair-raising introduction to the baby Raptor at Ford’s Assault School in Utah earlier in the spring and came away legitimately impressed. But will the Ranger Raptor overland? After a thorough review, Overland Journal’s Scott Brady thinks so.
I also had the chance to spend a few days behind the wheel of the Ranger Raptor while I was at the office, and I agree with Scott’s assessments, especially when you stack up this mid-size truck against the full-size F-150. Where the F-150 Raptor and Raptor R trade in sheer brutality, the Ranger offers a nuanced approach to tackling trails that feels more manageable. Multiple drive modes with truly distinctive outputs, locking front and rear differentials, adaptive Fox Live Valve dampers, longer travel, and a wider track all elevate the Raptor’s capabilities without overwhelming the driving experience.
In fact, as Scott notes in the video, it’s just plain fun to drive every day. With 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque from the EcoBoost V6, it’s still no slouch when it’s time to rock in Baja Mode; but it’s also easy to park in town and maneuver on tight two-tracks, and the 10-speed automatic shifts so well it almost feels invisible. The UI for the touch-screen interface is intuitive, highly responsive, and not intrusive. The 1,375-pound payload may be something of a limitation for overlanders who like to load up on gear, but take a cue from the Ford Maverick and slap on a lightweight camper shell with a modest load-out, and the Ranger Raptor will make a surprisingly entertaining overland platform and daily driver.
Read more: Ford Maverick Tremor :: Review
Images: Ford Motor Co.
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