“I don’t do anything that isn’t crazy.”

When John says crazy is a way of life, he means it to a level most of us never quite reach. Whether it’s controlling the chaos in a bustling emergency room or saving lives in an air ambulance helicopter thousands of feet in the air, you’ll find him where the action is at, so it makes sense that even in his downtime–when he’s getting away from it all to rest and recharge–he still needs an off-road truck that can keep his heart rate up while he pushes it to the limits. That’s where his Ford F-150 Raptor comes in.

A Truck Built To Get Off The Roads

We are, admittedly, biased when it comes to Ford’s purpose-built off-road beast. So is John, who developed a love of speed while building out a Subaru WRX to explore rally racing. That gave him speed, but there were some places the sporty little car just couldn’t take him. Next was a Toyota Tacoma, a versatile off-road platform that just didn’t have enough juice to get his motor revving high. On a trip to a dealership with a friend, he saw the iconic line of a Ford Raptor for the first time. When he finally found the right truck for the right price at the right time, he rolled away from the dealership with a gray Raptor to fill his need for speed.

Designed by Ford engineers to be ready for superior performance straight from the showroom, it’s a truck built to do anything–exactly what John was looking for–but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve on excellence. A hands-on guy who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, John does most of his truck work himself, but he still needed a parts dealer who could give him a fair deal on high-quality parts from the top brands in off-roading to make his Raptor even better. That’s Offroad Alliance.

When You’re Good, Word Gets Around

John knew he needed more from his truck, and when he started asking around on Raptor forums, he met Chris. Chris didn’t “sell him”--he just offered advice and answered questions. It didn’t take long for John to realize that Chris from Offroad Alliance was his parts guy, and we couldn’t be happier about it. We started our company as avid off-roaders trying to help others do more with their vehicles, and guys like John are still our passion today.

Building For…Everything

John approached this build knowing he wanted a truck that could do it all, but after getting stuck in the snow, he knew the Raptor needed a little push to step up its game. From jumping dunes to traversing the Alaskan wilderness and mudding in the Mississippi wet season, he has a lot he wants to do, so he went to work building a truck that could make it happen.

Capping It Off

 Whether it’s toting gear or escaping a blizzard, a good truck cap is a must-have, and an RSI SmartCap EVO Sport is one of the best on the market. Engineered to withstand the rugged conditions of the African desert and wilderness, the SmartCap is made of durable stainless steel and offers the flexibility you want when you need a truck that can transition from jumping dunes to overlanding for extended periods. To make sure he had his gear close at hand and a cozy campsite as his home-away-from-home, we added a custom gear bin, Smart Kitchen, drop-down table, and magnetic torch. 

More Ponies Off The Pavement

We may have mentioned that John likes opening up the throttle and letting his Raptor run, and the ORA550 Performance Package - Stage 3 gives his beast more horsepower to work with. Built around a Cobb intercooler and cold air intake paired with AMS boost tubes and an SCT tuner, it’s a great way to make a big impact on performance all at once. This kit includes professionally gapped plugs that are ready to install and a custom ORA550 tune by gearhead to deliver dyno-tested improvements to both horsepower and torque for off-roading excellence.

A Truck That Pulls Its Weight

One thing getting stuck will teach you is the value of being able to manage your own recovery when the going gets a little too tough. The Warn ZEON 12S Platinum is one of the most powerful off-road models offered by one of the most trusted names in winches. Mounted with a SwarfWorks Gen. 2 Raptor Mount and a Factor 55 1” Fairlead, his truck’s front end looks fierce and is ready for the big pulls. A Factor 55 Ultrahook, trusty 20-foot Bubba Rope, and Factor 55 Tree Saver round out his kit so he can take on the biggest obstacles he can find.

Lighting The Way

If you haven’t noticed, John built his truck based on needs he found putting it through its paces. Needed storage for his flight gear and med bags? Done. More power? Done. Recovery power? Done. Navigating fog in the dark helped him see the need for better lighting, and we had his back with our in-house designed Triple Bezel Light Kit that was instrumental to our own beginnings as a company. More Baja Designs lights soon followed, including cornering, driving, spots, and combos mounted to SDHQ pillar mounts and a Swarfworks light plate. A set of Morimoto XB Headlights helps complete the package, letting him see and making sure his Raptor gets seen and turns heads. To support the sheer quantity of lumens John can put out, a second battery and Switch-Pro RCR-Force 12 keep the power he needs at his fingertips.

What’s Next

Where do you go from there when building a truck that doesn’t compromise on performance or utility? John plans on talking to Chris and the rest of our team about rerouting and optimizing his wiring with an eventual eye toward tackling the Grand Staircase, Rockies, and the wilds of the Alaskan Wilderness. First up for him personally, however, is the United States Army for the next evolution of an already adventure-filled life.

Where Can Your Truck Take You?

When you need in-stock parts backed by old-school customer service, we’re ready to help. Just like John found out, we’ve always got a pro ready to help you find the right parts, answer questions, or talk you through an installation issue whenever it happens. Build out your off-road truck or SUV with parts you can count on from Offroad Alliance.