It’s been more than a decade since Ford introduced the Raptor name to the F-150 range, creating a new class of street-legal, Baja-capable trucks. The idea of an F-Series Super Duty Raptor has been around ever since, and the Blue Oval isn’t dismissing this, yet it isn’t building such a top dog either. This means aftermarket developers have found their way into the niche and we’re here with the latest non-factory equivalent of the 2023 Ford Super Duty Raptor dream.
Currently, you can buy the third generation of the full-size F-150 Raptor (this 2023 Raptor R got a nitrous treatment), while even the mid-size Ranger Raptor is in its second iteration. As for the automaker’s larger 2023 Super Duty—deliveries for the new generation kicked off this month—the vehicle’s engineering manager, Aaron Bresky, left the door open for a performance Raptor take.
“If customers are saying ‘we like the Tremor, but where is the Super Duty Raptor?’ we listen to our customers,” Bresky told Ford Authority in November last year.
Before we get to see if the said possibility materializes, those looking for a 2023 Super Duty that’s more capable (especially rough terrain-wise) compared to any factory offering can turn to the aftermarket.
The 2023 F-550 Black Edition Pickup from Elevation Off Grid, a Super Duty Raptor alternative
For today, we’ll take a look at a 2023 Ford F550, a chassis cab that left the factory in the top Lariat trim and has been turned into a terrain-timing pickup truck like the Raptor with top-tier suspension by Colorado-based Elevation Off Grid.
The truck, which the specialist calls F-550 Black Edition Pickup, mixes the all-new chassis, body, and interior the Super Duty received for 2023 with a plethora of custom bits and made its debut over the past weekend at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, AZ.
There are new bumpers, with the front unit covering the winch, which is attached directly to the frame. The front fender flares are custom, while the rear units are Ford pieces. And with the wheelbase of the F-550 being 3.5 to 4 inches longer than that of the F-250 and F-350, so this is a custom bed (8-foot interior length) with a factory look.
And while these trucks normally come with a dually rear wheel setup, this one is different, relying on two beefy wheels that can take the load. The F-550 Black Edition Pickup rides on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels shod in 41-inch Goodyear G275 tires all-round.
The suspension, which features a variable ride height, comes from LiquidSpring, which means the traditional springs and dampers are replaced by struts that use a compressible fluid, with the active system adapting to parameters like vehicle load, speed, and driving surface.
There’s no word on modifications to the engine, so the example seen in the video below (lens tip to TFL Truck) comes with the F-550’s optional 6.7L Power Stroke V8 diesel (have you seen this Power Stroke-swapped S550 Mustang?), which makes 330 hp and 950 lb-ft of torque. For the record, the F-550’s standard 7.3L gas V8 makes 335 hp and 468 lb-ft of twist.
Added accessories include power steps for the cabin, bed steps, and quite a few LED lighting units, among others.
Payload, towing and pricing
The truck weighs in at 9.870 lbs and comes with a payload of 9,500 lbs. As for towing, the specialist mentions the pickup still capable in this area, albeit without providing any numbers.
Now, while a 2023 Ford F-550 Lariat with the Power Stroke Diesel will set you back around $77,000 before options, the 2023 Black Edition F-550 Pickup comes with a price of $184,900.
