Ford Ranger Raptor Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

[Jimmyb]

You Tube

[Fishframe]

Interesting comparison, but two verrry different vehicles in my opinion.

[eksjay]

The Raptor is a versatile truck and it would be my pick if I was after a ute that I could use for its load capacity, or drop a canopy over, and use as a tourer.

But there is a reason I bought a new JKU. I wanted it because it is an icon, and it makes light work of off road situations.

Whenever I pull up at the lights against a Hilux or a raptor or anything else, their drivers' heads always turn in my car's direction and I know they are filled with envy and despondency. We only live once (in this world) .As much as I like the cab Utes, I never think for one split second that I bought the wrong car.

That's the difference between a Wrangler owner and a ute owner. They will buy 5 cars (because they will never really be happy) but I will still have my timeless Jeep.

P.s. some try and fly past my XJ (in a hairy chested kind of way) to prove how good their rig is. When you drive something like a 25 yo XJ, you don't have to prove anything. I was at the shoreline of Lake Eyre last year when a red raptor showed up and got bogged in the soft sand at the camp ground (had to be snatched). It was due to driver inexperience (tyres overinflated), but the 25 yo XJ was unfussed. I also spent time in modified 70 series LC desert terrain and each time one of these trucks came past from the opposite direction, they slowed and admired the almost stock Jeep rolling past them.

[relwell]

Back in the US I owned a nasty 2003 TJ that just was a Friday Afternoon Special since Day 1. Before that was a beautiful blue 96 XJ on boggers and before that was a cute little bone stock 2001 TJ. They were amazing rides. But that 2003 was just haunted and I had had enough after the transmission came apart.

I finally decided to 'upgrade' and bought a used 2012 Ford F150 FX4. Best truck I ever owned. I loved it. I still miss it.

But two months after getting that truck I bought a 98 TJ because there was something missing. The truck ran great, looked great and felt great, but it wasn't the same.

Jeep gets into your blood. When I moved to Australia I got a used 04 Subaru wagon to be responsible. After a year of that lie, I sold and now own a 2009 modified and slightly cursed JKUR. Happy.

I yell at it, I bust my knuckles on it, I beat the wheels off of it and I love it. It always is funny after a session of frustration doing some upgrade or chasing some gremlin I come in covered in Jeep funk and stare at the beer fridge with careful consideration of my next move. The wife would always ask "Why don't you just get rid of it?". Get rid of it? Like...not own a Jeep? No. I love that thing. It lets me hit it with a hammer and still pretends to work every now and then. She doesn't ask anymore, but I think she still wonders.

I will never understand how she doesn't understand.

Anyway the Ford Ranger Raptor is probably a great truck. But I wouldn't want to hit it with a hammer.

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by eksjay

I was at the shoreline of Lake Eyre last year when a red raptor showed up and got bogged in the soft sand

I was on the beach fishing when I had my JKU. An idiot in a 76 Series flew past me dangerously close and decided to do a big power turn in front of my vehicle.

He bogged it to the chassis and I then spent the next hour and a half watching him dig it out by hand while I fished. He finally got it out and bogged it again within a couple of meters of where he first bogged it.

While he was digging it out the second time I packed up and drove passed him on without an issue.

[eksjay]

That's pure gold. Did you end up catching anything? That would have rubbed salt into their egomaniacal wounds.

I find it is usually Hilux or Raptor owners that feel insecure or behave weirdly when around Jeeps. Especially near traffic lights. As for off road situations, I once had an early Pajero (Yes, many of those drivers had insecurities about XJ Jeeps) overtake me dangerously on a slick track near mount Dare after rain. I found him 2km down the track and he had become bogged on the side of the road. As he was travelling with another party, I casually drove past him.

Most 76 series drivers, particularly on the remote desert trails work for govt/ngo/roads/mines etc and as a result respect the conditions and any other cars or travellers in the remote areas.

[humdingerslammer]

Quote (The wife would always ask "Why don't you just get rid of it?". Get rid of it? Like...not own a Jeep?)

Yes well.... I am thinking of trading my JKUR 07 3.8 Manual for a VW Amarok, in the belief (possibly mistaken) that its 6 cyl ex Porsche Macan motor will be the duck's guts!!

My missus, bless her heart, keeps saying to me

"Why would you want to get rid of the Jeep? You have stacks of parts for it" she says (which is true).

Fair call. There is nothing wrong with it. It has done everything I have asked of it, which by Jeep terms is probably not very much of what it could do. And yes,I have towed a few foreigner 4bees out of the shit from time to time. An Amarok would be so much more comfortable I think.

Then I am thinking, what about a JKURubi... dream on, The price is just too steep... But the JL Gladiator... even more pricey. I continue to dream and my wife will probably turn out right... keep what I have got. There is nothing wrong with it.

Can't wait to get to Arnhem Land this year... Covid-19 allowing.