Does the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor Have an Ace Up Its Sleeve?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We got the news in February about the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. Ram’s absolutely burly beast––the 1500 TRX––debuted last year. Since then, there was quite a bit of speculation surrounding the release of the new Ford Raptor.

A Ford Motor Co. F-150 Raptor pick up truck | Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

However, when the pickup truck debuted we learned that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will run a retuned version of the same engine with the same output specs. 

But does the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor have an ace up its sleeve? Many Ford fans were hoping that another V8 Raptor would come about as a means of competing head to head with the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor may not feature a V8 model. However, the 2022 model year is probably going to have a V8 Raptor slotting above the standard Raptor as the “Raptor R.” 

The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor specs aren’t all disappointing

According to Road and Track, some recent documents published as a towing guide for the new Ford Raptor reveal its specs. Ford told us earlier this year that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will employ an updated version of its current engine. Ford planted the 3.5 liter “high output” twin turbo V6 in the last generation. The towing chart shows that the output specs will be generally the same. Howber, there are improvements to the low end torque. 

The 2021 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide shows the numbers of every engine in the 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck lineup. The new Ford Raptor’s EcoBoost engine is set to generate 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. That’s exactly the same numbers as the previous Raptor. 

“Peak horsepower now arrives at 5850 rpm, way up from just 5000 in the previous engine.”  

Road and Track

However, the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will have better low end torque. Rather than at 3,500 rpm as before, the 510 lb-ft will come in at 3000 rpm. A 500 rpm improvement will improve both off-road capability and towing power. The new Raptor will be able to handle a payload of 1400 lbs and tow up to 8,200 lbs––200 lbs more than the old Raptor.   

A V8 Ford Raptor is coming

Many are disappointed that the new Ford Raptor pickup truck didn’t get a rowdy V8 engine like the Hellcat in the Ram 1500 TRX (good for over 700 hp). But Ford says that next the V8 Ford Raptor is coming. The 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor will have a “Raptor R” that slots higher than the standard F-150 Raptor in the trim levels. 

The specs haven’t been released for the V8 Raptor yet. Heck, the specs for the 2021 model were only released inadvertently through the 2021 Ford RV and Trailer Towing Guide. That said, it’s likely that the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor will get a 5.2 liter supercharged V8. That’s what Ford has in the current Mustang Shelby GT500. 

So the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor will have an ace up its sleeve. A beefy V8 to compete head to head with the Ram 1500 TRX. Nothing has been confirmed yet in terms of the official powertrain. But we think it’s pretty easy to guess that Ford will aim the V8 Raptor directly at the TRX hoping to prove its place in the food chain. 

RELATED: The Most Common Kubota Tractor Problems

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Avoid These Major Bus Buying Mistakes Before You Start a Conversion

by Gabrielle DeSantis

School bus conversions are a popular DIY travel solution. The first step to a successful conversion is buying the right bus. Knowing what to watch out for and what to avoid can help buyer avoid costly repairs.

Look for rust in hard to reach places

Rust is insidious. It can hide in the darkest corners of a vehicle were it can be nearly impossible to detect until it’s too late. The excitement of buying a bus can overwhelm a healthy sense of skepticism. It’s essential to keep an objective eye when looking for warning signs of future trouble.

There are several places rust likes to hide on a school bus. Perhaps the most damning of which is in the frame. Structural damage to a bus is on a shortlist of factors that buyers looking to convert should consider deal-breakers. The safety of a bus with frame damage is compromised.

Some buyers may feel shy about performing a thorough inspection out of fear of seeming impolite. Most sellers would prefer a smooth sale than a frustrating case of buyer’s remorse. Carefully inspect the bottom side of the bus checking the frame and all major mechanical components for rust and other signs of ware.

Hidden and often overlooked areas like built-in overhead storage, door frames, and under rubber flooring can reveal hidden rust that cursory glance would miss. Any panel that can be opened should be opened. Look to exterior access panels as well.

Pests mean more than just cleaning up

Much like RVs, school busses are rife with small openings that allow pests easy access. Left in storage, busses make prime real estate for rodents. More adventurous buyers make think a deep cleaning is enough to recover from a pest infestation but the real damage could be much deeper.

Rodents can cause enough cosmetic, structural, and mechanical damage to significantly impact the value of a bus. If any evidence of rodents is found, a bus should have all wiring, tubbing, foam, rubber, or fabric components carefully checked for damage.

Many pests can cause serious biological hazards. Rodents, in particular, are known carriers of several pathogens capable of infecting humans. For multiple reasons, busses that have been infested with pests may not be suitable for conversion. The demolition process necessary for converting a bus made much more dangerous by invisible threats like these.

Don’t forget to check everything made of rubber

Rubber components suffer some of the most catastrophic effects of aging. Older busses or those from dry climates may be hiding dry-rotted rubber leading to an expensive breakdown. Each rubber component should be carefully inspected for signs of dangerous wear.

The level of wear on non essential rubber parts such as weather stripping can serve as a gauge for what to expect in the engine bay. This inspection is a good time to check other parts that don’t fare well with lengthy disuse. Filters, fuses and fluids should all be checked while rubber components are being examined.

Hoses may appear intact but crack and split once pressurized. Gaskets and seals can also look fit at first glance but fail as soon as the engine starts. A quick test drive can often find these types of flaws. Anyone considering buying a bus for conversion should get that all-important first driver out of the way early. A test drive is a perfect run

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The Wrong Axle Ratio Could Kill Your Truck’s Towing Capacity

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Towing is serious business for truck owners. It can be a major deciding factor in a pickup purchase. However, the axle ratio is a little-known spec that can drastically change a truck’s towing capacity. Anyone consistently pulling a trailer, boat, camper, or anything else should familiarize themselves with this often overlooked number.

What is axle ratio?

Truck towing 5th wheel camper | Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Truck shoppers have a lengthy list of options to consider. Cab size, bed length, engine size, and trim level all impact how well a truck will perform at various tasks. Axle ratio is an important consideration for anyone whose primary concern is towing capacity.

The phrase axle ratio described the number of rotations required to turn the wheels one full rotation. Therefore, the axle ratio is expressed with two numbers, such as 3.21:1. The first is the number of driveshaft rotations and varies. The second is the number of wheel rotations. As such, the second number is always one.

A typical pickup truck is sold with a standard axle ratio with optional increases. For example, the 2021 Ram 1500 is sold in three axle ratios, 3.21:1, 3.55:1, and 3.92:1. Each one affects the truck’s towing capacity. The reasons why make perfect sense with a little bit of insight.

How axle ratio impacts towing capacity

The standard 2021 Ram 1500 axle ratio of 3.21: has a maximum towing capacity of 8,230 pounds. Increasing the axle ratio to 3.55:1 pushes the towing capacity to 9,930. Why does increasing axle ratio boost maximum towing capacity?

Higher RPMs directly impact the number of axel rotations it takes to turn a wheel 360 degrees. As a result, increased engine spinning improves pulling power while pulling a heavy load. As such, the highest axle ratio trucks have the highest towing capacity. For example, pushing the Ram 1500’s axle ratio to 3.92:1 adds 3,100 pounds of towing capacity over the standard ratio.

High axle ratio trucks take a slight hit to their fuel economy. As a result, drivers can expect to see a one to two mpg drop in fuel economy. However, if towing isn’t a primary concern, the standard axle ratio is probably fine for most buyers, so an unnecessary axle ratio upgrade is a mistake.

Get the best axle ratio for you

Typically, light and heavy-duty trucks are sold with optional axle ratio upgrades. Sometimes these are stand-alone addons, but they can be included in towing packages as well. Towing packages often represent a better value to buyers and include helpful extras like hitch connectors, bigger radiators for improved cooling, and even heavier springs.

Truck shoppers should carefully consider their needs before investing in one of these pricey upgrades. Being “over trucked” isn’t always worth the hike in price and loss of fuel economy. In general, axle ratios between 3.55:1 and 3.73:1 are more than capable.

Newer eight, nine, and ten-speed transmissions perform well with higher axle ratios. Lower first and second gears in newer transmissions mean an offset of acceleration deficits at higher axle ratios. Offsetting that deficit means taking less of a hit at the pump.

Truck buyers looking for the most towing power for their buck should carefully consider the axle ratio that best suits their purpose. Choosing too low means missing out on power. Picking too high could hike up fuel spending with no return.

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The New Tesla Model S Has Hidden Controls You Won’t Be Able to Find

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Model S has a sleek and subtle set of controls that drivers may struggle to find. Manual input is a backup plan in the Model S. Tesla has moved as many vehicle controls away from manual driver input to automatic AI decision-making as possible. Founder Elon Musk believes the less driver input, the less chance for error making roads safer for everyone. So, where will drivers find these manual inputs if all else fails?

Your Tesla Model S will guess which gear you need

Consumer confidence has been shaken in Tesla’s AI, but the technology remains cutting-edge automotive machine learning. The Model S can learn drivers’ habits and predict destinations. It can integrate calendar appointments into current navigation too. As a result, Tesla drivers have already embraced many self-driving features.

If drivers will trust those features, will they trust a Tesla to put itself in gear? Details on these systems are light, but the Model S may use rear and forward cameras and driver patterns to make informed decisions. In addition, drivers can easily override the automatic system with the touchscreen.

Trusting AI to guess which gear a driver needs or predict a route based on date and time is easier when manual overrides are close at hand. While drivers can use their infotainment system to switch gears quickly, a manual backup is close at hand. But where?

Manual controls are accessible but may be easy to miss

Tesla hidden controls | Tesla

The Tesla Model S has a futuristic and sophisticated cabin that’s noticeably missing a standard feature. There is no traditional gear shift in the Tesla Model S. For these controls. Drivers will have to look in a peculiar place.

At the front center of the console beneath the infotainment display sits a touch-sensitive control panel. Barely perceptible to the untrained eye are traditional gear controls. Instead, drivers will have to tap this control panel to engage it, illuminating the control labels.

The controls will automatically illuminate if the infotainment system crashes. Otherwise, only the hazard light control will be activated on this panel. The controls are a sleek and stylish design that fits the brand. They just take a moment to adjust to. This placement and configuration are intuitive and practical, if not unusual.

Tesla is in good company with its hidden controls

Tesla is far from the first automaker to put vehicle controls in places that drivers struggled to find. Ford left mustang drivers stumped in the mid-2010s. A silver toggle controlled hazard light controls amid other sundry controls. Unfortunately, the symbol distinguishing it from other controls was hard to see when the chrome reflected light.

The button was in an unintuitive but prominent location next to the start button. Once drivers were familiar with its location, it’s easy to find. RAV4 owners found that the steering wheel heating control was awkwardly placed. It’s hard to see around the steering wheel. It’s meant to heat.

The Jaguar XFR-S was heavily criticized for its entire dash design. The chrome accents reflected light so much that drivers could barely look at the controls. This could be a dangerous distraction.

Tesla’s new manual gear controls are sleek and practical. Their location isn’t much different from the placement of a typical shifter. This layout could easily become a mainstream configuration.

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