Those that crave the highlight gravitate towards luxurious SUVs just like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, supercars similar to Ferraris or Lamborghinis, and massive vehicles just like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX. However the place do you flip when your folks have already got all of the headturners?
Enter the MegaRexx MegaRaptor. It’s about 9,200-pounds of attention-commanding truck that may stand out from the group and tow a go-fast boat on the identical time. Lamborghinis can’t tow a ship. Simply sayin’.
At about $150,000, relying on the configuration, it matches throughout the value spectrum of the aforementioned autos, however the expertise is solely completely different.
I visited MegaRexx headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina, to spend a while behind the wheel of one among these behemoths. Most individuals stared at me, and it wasn’t due to my devilish beauty.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRexx MegaRaptor can’t be missed
Aaron Richardet, the proprietor and CEO of MegaRexx Vans (and a practising chiropractor), instructed me nothing he owns is regular. Whereas his spouse drives a Tesla Mannequin S P100D, which he refers to as “the quickest microwave,” he likes to come back out of Dwelling Depot and know precisely which truck is his. The MegaRaptor is the definition of can’t be missed.
Every MegaRaptor begins life as a inventory Ford F-250 Super Duty. Then the stripping happens. The physique panels forward of the A-pillars and rear mattress skins are eliminated and solid apart.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
A customized clamshell hood that appears like a supersized F-150 Raptor hood is fitted and secured with latches from a Freightliner semi. Product of thick fiberglass, the huge hood is heavy, so it takes some arm power to elevate it earlier than the 2 gasoline shocks kick in and maintain it up. It then requires that very same arm power to drag it down and launch the gasoline shocks with out letting it slam shut.
Richardet’s staff bonds customized fiberglass rear fenders to the bedsides. The MegaRaptor’s physique transformation expands it to 97 inches large, which is simply over 12 inches wider than a inventory F-150 Raptor and 17 inches wider than a inventory F-250. It’s like evaluating Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson from his comparatively svelte WWE days to his dimension now as an actor.
That width is required to accommodate the 18-ply 46-inch Michelin X tires and three-piece aluminum 20-inch wheels, each of that are used on the navy’s Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) autos. That brings a complete new which means to the phrase navy grade. Every wheel and tire combo weighs about 450 kilos.
Each level from the door sills to the roof of the MegaRaptor rides 9.0 inches increased than a inventory F-250 because of these large tires and a 4.5-inch suspension elevate. Carli springs and Fox 2.0-inch distant reservoir shocks sit in any respect 4 corners.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
All of it bolts on and matches because of customized MegaRexx entrance radius arms which can be each longer and barely turned for the right pinion angle with the bigger wheels, tires, and elevate. Machined aluminum adapter plates are used to make sure the MRAP wheels bolt on to the inventory Tremendous Responsibility hubs.
Upgraded Icon twin steering stabilizers and an adjustable monitor bar assist hold issues turning correctly. Regardless of the staff grinding down a number of bits on the body, the tires nonetheless rub barely with the steering at full lock.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
Amber operating lights are fitted within the customized MegaRexx grille and Raptor-like Anzo USA headlights substitute the inventory items.
Excessive and tight metal bumpers with aluminum trim plates substitute the inventory bumpers. These, together with the bed-mounted sport bar, set the tone. That sport bar features because the mounting level for auxiliary lights, and clients can select their desired fashion. Please go together with spherical items, not the overused LED gentle bars.
Richardet stated he views MegaRaptors as useful rolling artwork. These vehicles are large, however they’re able to towing a great deal of 18,500 kilos (albeit with a really massive drop hitch) relying on the configuration. He famous that his staff is ready to make rear airbags a part of the package deal for individuals who tow a load heavy sufficient that it could trigger the rear finish to sag.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRaptor isn’t meant for off-roading
Don’t be confused by the off-road seems. The MegaRaptor is supposed for towing massive toys, not attacking off-road terrain at excessive speeds just like the F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor.
“You possibly can’t evaluate it to a Ford Raptor or Raptor R, it doesn’t have that type of suspension. Its major perform is to work and tow whereas trying aggressive. It’s kind and performance, pull a BobCat or massive trailer whereas trying cool. It’s a rolling assertion,” Richardet stated.
Pushing a truck excessive up within the air and making it wider makes it much less environment friendly, as does the 1,800 kilos of wheels and tires. Richardet stated round city you’ll get about 12 mpg and that will increase to about 14.5 mpg on the freeway. Round city in combined driving I noticed a median of 12.3 mpg. Usually, Tremendous Responsibility drivers with the turbodiesel engine ought to common within the mid-teens within the metropolis and 19 to twenty mpg on the freeway.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRaptor will get higher with pace
My first impression of the MegaRexx driving expertise got here as a nice shock. The journey peak enhance ought to make climbing out and in of the MegaRaptor a chore, however power-deploying Amp XL operating boards assist with the large step up. As soon as inside, it’s identical to a inventory F-250, although on stilts.
Nonetheless, the manufacturing unit tailgate-mounted step is borderline ineffective. Moving into the mattress requires a giant leap up. I’d suggest a transportable step to get in, and particularly to load and unload the mattress.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
The MegaRaptor runs a very inventory powertrain besides for brand spanking new 4.88 rear gearing to deal with the upsized tires, which suggests my tester was powered by a 6.7-liter turbodiesel V-8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. The ten-speed computerized transmission and four-wheel-drive system are untouched as properly. The one different powertrain modification Richardet’s staff performs is an easy plug-and-play Pedal Commander that minimizes the manufacturing unit turbo lag.
Mashing the MegaRexx’s skinny pedal delivers a stunning jolt ahead courtesy of that remapped throttle, the insane turbodiesel torque, and the regeared rear finish. The accelerator is noticeably extra aggressive at tip-in, and the turbo lag is blunted in comparison with inventory.
At parking zone speeds, the knobby MRAP tires will be felt and heard as the large tread blocks transmit vibrations into the cabin. Selecting up pace immediately dissipated the vibrations. The sooner I pushed the MegaRaptor the higher it rode and drove because the tires simply whirred alongside the pavement. The thrum was current however not obnoxious and a dialog may simply be had with occupants within the cabin.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
However these massive lugs additionally have an effect on the steering. Left to its personal gadgets, the wheel would always wobble backwards and forwards. A hand on the steering wheel quelled this, however any bump within the highway immediately translated by means of the steering wheel from these massive, arduous tires, and there’s at all times somewhat slop on middle. Richardet recommends operating the Michelins at a decrease 35-40 psi to melt them up and supply extra grip. I can’t think about this stuff on the really useful 65 psi.
On the freeway, the MegaRaptor matches between the traces with a smidge of room to spare. It’s below the 102-inch authorized restrict, however rolling down Market Road in Wilmington the MegaRaptor’s width grew to become obvious. Each tires rode the painted traces on both facet of the lane.
Folks have been staring. The dude within the Ram 3500 Restricted dually apparently felt his masculinity was being threatened as a result of he sped up, handed me in the proper lane, then reduce me off solely to take a proper a number of blocks later.
When including weight to any automobile I’m a proponent of upgrading brakes. Stopping is fairly essential. Richardet presents a Alcon massive brake package improve for $9,000, however my tester didn’t have it. The CEO stated about one in 10 MegaRaptor clients order it, but it surely’s normally solely as a result of they’re ticking all of the containers. “It’s akin to upgrading to carbon-ceramic brakes in your Porsche,” Richardet stated. I’d agree along with his evaluation as at no level, even whereas stopping from over 70 mph, did it really feel just like the MegaRaptor had too little braking energy. This most likely has to do with the very fact Tremendous Responsibility pickups are designed out of the field to tow unimaginable a great deal of 20,000 kilos.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
It’s unlawful to make use of the auxiliary lights mounted to the entrance bumper or roof rack on the road round different autos, however flip the upfitter switches and so they solid a ton of sunshine. The lights got here in helpful whereas on a darkish, empty, two-lane highway because the Anzo USA headlights have a bizarre beam sample with distinct scorching spots that make it barely tougher to see the highway, particularly with the truck using so excessive.
Parking the MegaRaptor is at finest considerably annoying and at instances downright difficult. Consider it as a dually, but it surely’s as large up entrance as it’s on the rear. I parked it a number of instances and in some tons it was wider than the painted traces. Neglect about drive-thrus or driving down tight one-way neighborhood streets with automobiles parked on either side. This truck likes wide-open areas.
MegaRexx MegaRaptor
How a lot does MegaRexx MegaRaptor price?
On common, MegaRexx builds a minimal of two MegaRaptors a month, and that quantity will increase to 4 to 5 when the staff isn’t distracted with constructing the 9-passenger MegaRexx SVNs.
It takes Richardet’s staff about 4 weeks to create a MegaRaptor begin to end. Prospects can present a used F-250, a brand new truck, or work with MegaRexx to accumulate a brand new truck. Ordering a truck normally prices about $150,000 together with the truck, or about $65,000 for a conversion of a used truck. The staff sometimes builds vehicles that may be purchased instantly, however they carry roughly a $20,0000 premium for not having to attend.
Richardet stated MegaRaptors don’t include a guaranty, however because the powertrain stays inventory Ford’s on the hook for the operating gear that is still manufacturing unit. Richardet famous he’s gone to bat for a number of clients when dealerships give any guff. As for the wiring, paint, and physique panels, “I’ll handle any points so long as you aren’t being dumb,” Richardet stated, noting full-lock donuts and recklessness are disqualifiers.
Anybody who decides to spend supercar or super-luxury cash on a MegaRaptor will get the eye they crave in every single place they go. Whether or not that’s the correct of consideration, is as much as the attention of the beholder. Within the eyes of my 7-year-old son, it’s “the best.”
MegaRexx offered journey, lodging, and a ridiculous truck for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.
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