Ford’s Raptor Rally and the Truck That Almost Replaced My Gen2
Before Sunrise and Bad Decisions (The Good Kind)
I merged onto the highway before the sun even considered waking up. Monster Energy in hand, Gen2 Raptor humming along, adrenaline already doing laps in my bloodstream. Destination: Lake Havasu. Mission: Ford’s Raptor Rally. Objective: find out if the hyped 2025 Raptor R was actually worth the noise or just another marketing bench press.
I had no idea what Ford had planned. That uncertainty was half the thrill.
Base Camp in the Desert
Rolling into the rally’s base camp made one thing obvious fast. This was not your local off-road meetup with folding chairs and lukewarm hot dogs.
Rows of Raptors stretched across the desert like a parking lot designed by chaos and horsepower. After check-in, I was handed what the organizers jokingly called the “bible for the weekend,” plus a swag bag loaded with decals, sunscreen, trail gear, and a few surprises. Translation: you are about to work this truck.
The tone was set. This weekend was going to get dusty.
The Keys That Ruined My Confidence
Then Ford did something dangerous. They handed me the keys to a brand-new 2025 Raptor R and casually said it was mine for the weekend.
I’ve owned my 2019 Gen2 Raptor for years. Loved it. Defended it. Swore I wasn’t tempted by newer models. That confidence evaporated roughly five minutes after opening the door.
First Impressions That Hit Hard
The interior alone felt like a reset. Cleaner. More refined. Smarter tech everywhere. Then I fired it up.
That supercharged V8 does not ask for attention. It demands it. My twin-turbo V6 suddenly felt like it needed to explain itself.
On paper, the numbers already favor the Raptor R. On the trail, the difference is not subtle. It is loud, immediate, and slightly insulting to my ego.
Letting the Raptor R Off the Leash
I pointed the truck toward the nearest dirt and wasted zero time. Desert trails near the water turned into a playground. I cycled through drive modes, mashed the throttle, and let the truck stretch.
The throttle response. The torque. The way power comes on without hesitation. This was not an incremental upgrade. My own truck, pushing over 500 horsepower with mods, suddenly felt polite next to something north of 700 that wanted violence.
Riding Shotgun With the Pros
The rally was not just about solo driving. Ford’s performance team was on site, and riding shotgun with their drivers recalibrates your definition of “comfortable pace” real fast.
One quarry run changed everything. Helmet on. Neck brace locked. The truck launched, landed, and powered through terrain I would normally approach with a quiet prayer. It was a full off-road roller coaster and exactly why these trucks exist.
That was the moment the hype stopped being theoretical.
The Trails Between the Events
Even getting from one course to the next felt like part of the show. Long off-road stretches stitched the event together. Rock crawls. Sandy washes. Tight trails. Convoys of Raptors ripping past in clouds of dust.
There was no downtime. Just dirt, noise, and smiles.
Putting My Own Truck on the Line
Eventually, it was my turn to send my own Raptor. The jump track was intimidating, surrounded by hardcore owners with spare parts laid out like a pit lane.
I tested features I had barely touched before, including trail control, which handled steep descents with almost unsettling precision. Then came the jump.
Helmet on. Line up. Throttle down. Airborne.
It was short, chaotic, and unforgettable. Exactly how it should be.
The Drive Home With New Thoughts
By the end of the weekend, I had driven the Raptor R, ridden with Ford’s top drivers, and launched my own truck into the air. The kind of experience that replays in your head long after the engines cool.
As I aimed my Gen2 toward home for the four-hour drive back, one thought kept creeping in.
Ford did not just build a faster Raptor. They built a truck that makes longtime owners seriously question their loyalty.
Final Verdict
Raptor Rally delivered on every promise. The terrain was brutal, the driving was real, and the trucks were pushed exactly the way they were designed to be.
And yes, the 2025 Raptor R can absolutely handle it.
Author: Jase Bennett
Jase Bennett is a YouTube creator best known in the automotive space for his high-energy car content that blends storytelling, first-drive reactions, and builder spotlights. His channel focuses on unique builds, rare vehicles, and behind-the-scenes access to shops and projects most people never get to touch. Rather than technical deep dives, Jase brings the viewer along for the experience, emphasizing emotion, risk, and the why behind bold automotive decisions.
