Considering a 1st gen Raptor

[Smgs1992]

So I'm getting tired of my 04 expedition for daily driving duty and want so,nothing a bit more fun and cool. I was browsing autotrader like most of us do from time to time. I didn't realize how affordable a raptor had become 20-25k with 80-100k. Therefore I'm pretty sure they would be my number one choice for a new truck. Not too concerned with mpg as my expedition gets 15-16mpg with way less power. Nor am I concerned with a possible harsh ride(although what I've read it's better than a normal f150) I'm 27 and also used to a F350 fx4.
Does anyone here own one or used to? Any insight on what to be concerned about besides if the shocks need rebuilt or if it's been beaten offroad?

[roastbeef]

i'd give it a careful inspection. you'll be able to tell if it has been abused... scrapes underneath, mud on top of the gas tank... etc., look where people didn't think to clean. the frame used to get compromised on those trucks between the cab and the bed if someone had too much fun. other than that, its just like other trucks.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

So I'm getting tired of my 04 expedition for daily driving duty and want so,nothing a bit more fun and cool. I was browsing autotrader like most of us do from time to time. I didn't realize how affordable a raptor had become 20-25k with 80-100k. Therefore I'm pretty sure they would be my number one choice for a new truck. Not too concerned with mpg as my expedition gets 15-16mpg with way less power. Nor am I concerned with a possible harsh ride(although what I've read it's better than a normal f150) I'm 27 and also used to a F350 fx4.
Does anyone here own one or used to? Any insight on what to be concerned about besides if the shocks need rebuilt or if it's been beaten offroad?

I've known multiple people that have had rust issues with their 1st gen.

[Smgs1992]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

I've known multiple people that have had rust issues with their 1st gen.

So far none of the Raptors I've seen appear to have rust. I will definitely look for any signs of rust forming g though. I regularly wash and wax my vehicles though so hopefully if I buy a rust free one it will stay that way.
Where was the rust forming around the fender flairs?

[Our03z4]

All over the place actually. It comes from between the panels. Had the same thing happen to one of my f150s, rusts from the middle layer of the metal. No way to tell till it's there. One of the guys told me it was some kind of contamination during manufacturing. I live in Ohio and we love the salt here, if it isn't perfect wet pavement during a snow storm we aren't happy...

[Smgs1992]

I'm in Ohio as well so I'm no stranger to the salt. Although I'm in southern ohio nearly Kentucky so we don't get snow like they do up north. This past winter there was only 3-4x it snowed heavy here. My 2013 F350 has faired pretty well this far as it has zero rust so I'm not too concerned with it rusting out on me.

[chassis]

Has Ford cured themselves of hood hem flange rust, and door bottom rust? This was a "feature" of nearly all Ford trucks into the mid-2000s. I had hood hem flange and door bottom rust in both a 1989 F-150 and a 2003 F-250.

Rust bubbling starts around 100k miles, depending on where the vehicle was used. Cleaning and maintenance doesn't play a big role, because it's nearly impossibly to clean these areas.

Not a Raptor issue in particular, but rather a higher mileage Ford truck thing to watch out for.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

I'm in Ohio as well so I'm no stranger to the salt. Although I'm in southern ohio nearly Kentucky so we don't get snow like they do up north. This past winter there was only 3-4x it snowed heavy here. My 2013 F350 has faired pretty well this far as it has zero rust so I'm not too concerned with it rusting out on me.

Same area for me too. I have 5 Ford trucks and 4 have rust.

[Smgs1992]

My previous f150 was an 04 and had some rust around the fenders on the bed that only started showing up around 160-170k and my expedition an 04 as well. Has no rockers lol but it has 217k and i bought it like that for $1000 so i wasn't really concerned about that. My f350 has 94k is a 2013 and has zero rust. My buddies 2011 f150 king ranch had no rust at 140k when he sold it.
But it doesn't look like new rocker panels are too expensive and my friends dad does body work for a living so worst case I'll end up fixing them myself if it happens.

Any opinions on driving them?