Offroad Alliance’s history has deep roots in a love for Ford Raptors. Rolling off the assembly line with a big engine, mid-travel suspension, and four-wheel-drive that was ready for anything, it quickly became the dream truck of would-be off-roaders coast to coast. Nick was one of them.

The Truck That Started It All

Nick didn’t get into off-roading, and he’s not afraid to admit it. He got into the Ford Raptor, and it showed him the way. As soon as he had the finances secured to make his dream truck a reality, he drove his Velocity Blue baby off the lot. While beautiful, something kept bothering him. Those empty Raptor fog light voids had to have some kind of light kit out there. Offroad Alliance put that first set of aftermarket lights in, and the off-road bug sunk its teeth in.

It was time to see what the Raptor could do. It was road trip time–Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Moab. Raising dust and a little hell on a trail was fun, but then he got some air under those tires and knew he needed to do more. After flood waters took out his truck on a trip back east, the insurance cut him a check for a new Raptor, and it was time to get serious about a build. Nick brought his new Performance Blue Raptor to Offroad Alliance to get it ready to play rough.

Giving The Raptor Bigger Claws

His road trip had shown Nick he wanted to go fast and have a blast, so that’s what we set out to do. The Raptor is already a beast when it comes to off-road performance, but we were ready to help it dig in and fill that need for speed.

Keeping Cool When The Pressure Is On

The Raptor’s turbocharger takes big gulps of air and compresses them down to give you more power with every stroke. This generates a lot of heat, and air that gets too hot robs you of your power. The stock intercooler uses aluminum crimped into plastic end tanks that can let the temperature get out of control. A Full Race V2 Intercooler Kit solves that problem nicely. 

With both a cast core and end tanks, your turbo passes on cooler air to the motor for combustion. Designed to offer higher internal flow through the fins for better heat radiation, it’s a more efficient solution that also sits higher than stock placement, which nestles the OEM intercooler right behind the bumper. This raised placement means you have a little more real estate to consider other customizations. We added a custom blow-off valve and a little more space with a Full Race Throttle Body Spacer to complete the upgrade.

Bumping Up The Front End

While speed is cool, your truck has to be able to handle it while taking bigger bumps than your normal street vehicle is designed for. Since the intercooler wasn’t in the way anymore, we axed the front bumper in favor of an Addictive Desert Designs ADD PRO Bolt-On. Using an ADD Cruise Control Bracket to relocate the stock cruise module, this offered a more aggressive front profile that both looked good and was functional.

The higher profile of the ADD bumper cleared the way for more clearance in front of the tire. Made of rugged steel tubing and incorporating a strong yet lightweight aluminum skid plate, this bumper gives you a great angle of attack for the toughest terrain without sacrificing the protection you want when it comes to your expensive under-hood components. There’s a reason ADD products are so–well–-addictive.

Mount Up

From GPS systems to phones, tablets, and even laptops, today’s off-roaders have plenty of tech options to keep them connected and on course, however far off the beaten path they want to range. While your truck or SUV may have been built for big bumps, sensitive electronics aren’t always made to the same level of adventure. That’s where a BuiltRight Dash Mount Kit comes in. 

CNC machined to fit neatly into the tray that sits atop the center dash of the raptor, this mounting kit gives you an easy way to securely mount electronics for their protection that has that finished, better-than-OEM look you want from aftermarket parts. Once the kit is mounted, you’re free to use your preferred tech mounts, whether adhesive or bolt-on, without harming your dash. This keeps them safe and right at your fingertips for easier use.

Geared To Go

Off-roaders carry a lot of gear because they need to be ready for anything. Keeping that gear in order and ready for action is a job in and of itself. There are plenty of large, bulky, and expensive storage solutions, and if the need is there, they’ll get the job done perfectly. The BuiltRight Velcro Tech Panel Kit offers a more streamlined approach.

This MOLLE type system gives you the flexible storage system you need–where and when you need it. Designed to stick to any carpeted or other Velcro-compatible surfaces, these panels can be moved around, adjusted, and modified with the included accessories to carry small gear, pouches, tech, or tools that you can’t afford to let get lost “somewhere in the truck”. Whether you have an ever-changing loadout or just want to make sure you’re ready for anything, BulitRight will help you find a place for everything so everything can be put in its place.

The Road Ahead

That’s not the end of the story, although the next chapter took a couple of exciting turns. While Nick loved his Raptor, Ford’s off-road powerhouse comes with a heck of a price tag. Nick was also looking for a truck that offered a different kind of power, so he shifted gears and moved to a Toyota Tacoma. Now with more off-road experience under his belt, Nick set out to build the ultimate off-road Taco and we’ve been with him every step of the way.

If Nick sounds familiar, that’s because he’s the kind of customer we love. Passionate about his vehicle, willing to learn, and ready to push the boundaries of what his vehicle can do. It’s a recipe for success we love to see on the trail and in our team. That’s why we were so proud to get to know Nick as both a customer and co-worker. 

Join The Family

Like Nick, the rest of our pros aren’t just salespeople and installers, they’re avid truck and off-road enthusiasts who want the most from their vehicles and want to make sure you get the same experience from yours. If you need more information about any parts, need help finding the right fit for your vehicle, or want to talk through an installation snag with someone experienced, we’ve got you covered with an experienced pro available to answer the phone days, nights, or weekends. Give us a call and find out what old-school customer service feels like. Order your off-road gear and accessories from Offroad Alliance today.