I’ve got a question for the guys who have spent real time in a Raptor—did I overhype this thing in my head?
Ever since the Raptor came out, I’ve basically had a borderline unhealthy obsession with them. Every time I see one, I get that little “yeah… I need that” feeling. Problem was, I was never really in a position financially where it made sense to even consider one—until the last few years.
I finally got the chance to spend some real time in one on a recent vacation. Rented a 2022 802A for a week (newest one I could find in the area), and I was pumped.
But honestly… I walked away a little underwhelmed.
Don’t get me wrong—the interior felt like a spaceship compared to my 2016 Tundra. But driving it on-road? It really didn’t feel that different from what I’m already used to. For reference, my truck is on 35” Falken Wildpeaks with Fox 2.0s.
Now I’m wondering if:
- I just built the Raptor up too much in my head over the years
- That specific truck wasn’t a great example
- Or if I need to try a newer model to really “get it”
I’m currently debating between a new 801A or picking up a lightly used 2025 802A, but now I’m second guessing whether it’s actually worth it for how I’d use it.
Curious what you guys think—did it live up to the hype for you, or did it take some time (or the right setup) to really appreciate it?