Ford Raptor Frames Bending

[8mpg]

Bullshit, Toby Keith already coverd this problem...

lol.. thats hilarious

[Lason]

Any mechanical engineers want to explain why its bending up basically? I would think the opposite would happen from jumps/heavy loads?

I would think from offroading/abuse with the jumps it would sag in the middle instead of whats happening? Or is due to the front hitting first and "taco'ing" up in the middle with the flex?

From what I gather the rear suspension is too soft and sending the bumpstop into the frame too hard and causing it to bend upwards. I was thinking like you that the rear of the frame should bend upwards but think of it like a jackhammer smacking the bottom of the frame upwards right around where the bed and cab meet.

[mikec]

GM is working on one:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/12/gmc-sierra-all-terrain-hd-concept-is-being-considered-for-produc/

and has this one in the overseas pipeline:

http://jalopnik.com/5812730/chevy-colorado-rally-concepts-a-forbidden-hilux-fighter/gallery/

dodge has a new power wagon in works which may spawn a ram runner:
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/04...r-in-moab.html

Sothe answer is.... NO.


I dig the shit out of the truck and would buy one in a second if I was balling like Al or Eric or Jody...

[mikec]

Just checked mine and every thing is straight lol. I've run down a few trails and lots of dirt roads, but nothing like these guys. I did hit a wash out a little fast and slightly bent the front skid plate. Probably order the SDHQ fix just to be safe.

I would buy the raptor again just because it rides so damn good around town and down oilfield roads for work. In reality they aren't that much more than a fully loaded FX4.

Have one of those in the F250 platform and love it.

Except for it being at the shop having the egr delete, head gaskets and studs, and SCT tuner installed.

[Scott Mc]

From what I gather the rear suspension is too soft and sending the bumpstop into the frame too hard and causing it to bend upwards. I was thinking like you that the rear of the frame should bend upwards but think of it like a jackhammer smacking the bottom of the frame upwards right around where the bed and cab meet.

You are correct, I find it odd that Ford did not reinforce it but it is not a hard thing to fix. The kit posted is cheezy in my opinion and needs more. I have seen several 98 to 04 mustangs rip the rear floors at the 4 link mounts and those customers were told it was from abuse. The main thing I think of is if you push things hard, they break. Fix it and move on. If it were my truck I would set it up on the frame machine and pull it back in spec, reinforce it and move on.

[roliath]

Any mechanical engineers want to explain why its bending up basically? I would think the opposite would happen from jumps/heavy loads?

I would think from offroading/abuse with the jumps it would sag in the middle instead of whats happening? Or is due to the front hitting first and "taco'ing" up in the middle with the flex?

weak point in the frame. i'm guessing the hole used for access to the bump stop is the culprit here.

[Pooter]

weak point in the frame. i'm guessing the hole used for access to the bump stop is the culprit here.

LOL, oh damn! Who woulda thunk, a hole half as big as the frame itself being a structural integrity issue....

[03trubluGT]

This company is selling re-enforcement kits.

http://www.superduty-hq.com/sdhqfordraptorrearframereinforcementkit.aspx

I would do something even if I had a new F150

Man, I might order this kit when I get home.

[slow99]

i dig the shit out of the truck and would buy one in a second if i was balling like al or eric or jody...

zr1

[32vfromhell]

Manufacturer warranty programs suck. The end.

They sure do listen when you have a letterhead from a law office sent to them.

[YALE]

zr1

Or at LEAST a Z06 carbon.

[scootro]

I’m not surprised at all. I bet ford knew this was a problem when it was tested before it hit the showrooms!

[dangerous_sep]

FORDS RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/0/759/article/Ford_Responds_to_Raptor_Frame_Bending_Issues.html

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has been the focus of many comments and articles recently for its frame bending issues, and now Jamal Hameedi, the SVT's chief nameplate engineer, has gone on record with an official response from the company. The story was featured exclusively on Autoblog and is of importance to Ford SVT Raptor owners everywhere, particularly because so many of them have reported bending the frame of the bed away from the cabin of the vehicle in recent months. Read on for a brief overview of the official Ford response to the frame bending issue.

Extent of the Issue

Ford made the public response as a result of an official investigation into a highly publicized outing in which 14 Raptor owners went on an off-road trip and, upon completing the journey, 10 of the owners discovered that their vehicles had been bent on the frame where the bed connects to the cab. The company has thus far received word of only four vehicles being damaged, none of which were on that particular journey, but the public statement was necessary due to the overall intrigue that the story has generated among other Raptor owners. Though there were likely more trucks that were damaged, even in that initial run, the company is basing its response only on the four instances that have been reported officially.

Why the Problem Occurs

After examining the 4 confirmed cases of frame bending, Ford has concluded several things about why this problem may occur. As Mr. Hameedi explains, the vehicle is traveling to quickly for the obstacle that it hits. When a vehicle hits an obstacle at a speed that is greater than what it is able to handle, the first damage that might occur would be to the jounce bumper cup that holds the bumper in place. At an even greater speed, the damage is transferred instead to the frame of the vehicle.

The energy of hitting the obstacle must be absorbed in some way, and the safest way for that to happen is to transfer the force of that impact to the frame of the car. As a result, the frame bending helps to ensure that the vehicle is as safe as possible to drive when it exceeds proper travel speeds. However, owners will not generally be happy to know that their vehicles must be damaged in order to retain safety at these speeds.

Changes to the Suspension

From the perspective of Ford, Hameedi says, there are no real problems with the suspension system. In fact, considering the speeds that the vehicle is designed for, it functions well even in spite of the frame bending. He suggests instead that, because the Raptor is a new vehicle that has attracted new drivers to the off-road, high-speed circuit, these drivers will need to learn the proper ways to handle their vehicles without causing further damage. The company will continue to monitor the results of Raptor frame bending incidences to make sure that the vehicles are designed to best minimize their occurrence.

[Ruffdaddy]

I truly think that's a good response. You can't make them invincible.

[dangerous_sep]

I truly think that's a good response. You can't make them invincible.

I agree vehicles have limits don't go past them expecting to come out OK.
Another thing is customers always find ways to look so innocent i am sure there is more to the story that the owners aren't willing to tell.