Can Driving the Ford Bronco Raptor Help You Understand Yourself Better?
Off-roading is the ultimate confidence-builder. But learning in a pro-level SUV from the pros at the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo Raptor Experience is life changing.
Sara Lacey
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Get out of your own way and become a better off-roader.
Are you a nervous person? Are you tentative about certain things in your life? Are you looking to get over it and stride confidently into all aspects of living? If so, I urge you to consider off-roading. And really, if you want to fast-track this process there is no better way to gain confidence quickly than buying a Ford Bronco, attending a Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo, and then adding off-roading to your weekend and vacation plans. But want to really dive in, learn what the pros know? Then buy a top of the line Ford Bronco Raptor and attend the Raptor Experience at the Bronco Off-Roadeo just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raptor is one of the most capable, top of the line off-roader SUVs, with a price tag of $86,080 and all the off-road capability that expert off-road rally racers expect.
Related: How Two Moms, and Off-Road Novices, Are Learning the Sport Through The Rebelle Rally With The Ford Bronco Sport
You are Here. Photo: Sara Lacey
What is Off-Roadeo?
The Off-Roadeo is a program offered to new Bronco buyers and it’s free. Yes, free. Buyers must cover travel and hotel costs, but the event itself is of no cost to the owner. I say no cost, but there is a non-refundable $50 registration fee, and an optional insurance fee to cover anything that goes wrong above and beyond normal wear and tear on the Bronco. Yes, that means you don’t bring your own Bronco, Ford lets you use one of theirs to try out all the goodies. The Bronco Raptor Experience is located in its own compound at the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo facility in Las Vegas, and the program is comprised of courses located around the base camp that showcase the Bronco Raptor’s capability. The program is designed by and staffed with professional drivers to help new owners get familiar with what their new ride can do. We have covered the Off-Roadeo programs for the Bronco and Bronco Sport at their locations in Austin and Moab, respectively. But the Raptor Experience program is exclusive to Las Vegas. Steep Hills, Dusty Thrills: My Experience in the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport at the Off-Roadeo
Broncos this way, Bronco Raptors that way. Photo: Sara Lacey
The Ford Bronco Raptor is Very Different than any of the other Ford Bronco Trims
Given the elevated price of the Ford Bronco Raptor (yes, it starts at $86k) it’s easy to wonder whether this particular Bronco is worth it. What makes it different, even garnering its own facility for learning? Out of the box, the Raptor is ready for pretty much anything you could ever want to do off-road. It’s got massive 37 inch tires that come in bead lock or regular styles. The Raptor has a totally different suspension setup, it provides 60% more “travel” in the front and 40% more in the rear, meaning the Raptor’s wheels and suspension can absorb more shock on the trail than its Bronco siblings. This is great for absorbing big bumps at higher speeds. What’s more, the rear axle is also upgraded so the system will adjust even if the Raptor is in the air!
The Bronco Raptor and I bonded. Photo: Sara Lacey
How the Bronco Raptor Differs from Other Broncos
It’s got a wider track than the Bronco (the distance between the wheels side-to-side). It has a special 3.0 liter turbocharged engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission that is standard on all Broncos. This enables the Raptor to get the most out of the engine in almost any circumstance. The Raptor also has a bevy of bash plates protecting the underside of the SUV, even on the muffler. There is a dual exhaust system, too. Other differences with the Raptor include a fully boxed frame with roll bars across the top center of the Raptor and along along the top rear. These features increase rigidity and stability, especially with a roof that has removable panels, and provide protection to passengers in the event that the Bronco rolls over. The Raptor is equipped with 360-degree cameras, a multitude of drive modes and specific off-roading modes to cater to any situation. Lastly, the Bronco Raptor has many driving modes, including specific terrain modes called G.O.A.T. modes, or Goes Over Any Type of Terrain. The Raptor’s G.O.A.T. modes eve include Off-Road mode and Rally mode, in case you’re inspired to race your Bronco. All of this is to say that you just can’t make a Bronco into a Bronco Raptor by adding some funky fenders, an exhaust system and big tires. There are a lot of details that set the Raptor apart.
Ford Bronco Raptor and Dawn and me. Photo: @caziahfranklin
There is a Reason for the Ford Bronco Raptor Experience
It makes sense that because the Raptor is so different than the Bronco, a driving experience would need to be different, too. The situation at the Raptor Experience involved a high-speed desert-running track, and an Ultra-4 off-roading track. We left basecamp to drive to these tracks, and it took about thirty minutes on dirty, sandy, loose-rock roads to get there. The first thing we did was put the Raptor in Off-Road mode. There were moments of crossing dry stream beds and whoop-de-dos where water would run if we’d had any rain. But we hadn’t. It was 8:00 a.m. and it was already almost 100 degrees.
Pedal not quite to the metal yet. But you can see where we are going. Photo: Sara Lacey
OK, So That’s A Lot of Equipment for … A Novice. Was I Out of My League?
I started off this part of the drive fairly nervously. I hadn’t done an off-roading trip in a long time and was familiarizing myself with the vehicle. My partner in the Raptor was Dawn McKenzie, a Ford communications manager. She kept telling me it was okay to go faster if I was comfortable doing so. I wasn’t yet, to be honest. I didn’t want to break the Raptor. I didn’t want do dent it or ding it or get a flat. The tire pressure had been reduced so low for traction control that a flat wasn’t likely, but I didn’t want to test it. She was very patient. I am happy to say I kept up with everyone and wasn’t the last to arrive, but take note … my driving style was tentative, which is where I was comfortable.
Me and some Bronco Raptors and so much dust. Photo: @Caziahfranklin
Bronco Raptor’s Happy Place? A Race Track that Nature Built
We arrived at the desert running and Ultra-4 courses and got an overview of the differences in the courses. Then we took our turns on each course, first doing a lap with the professional driver showing us the route and how to navigate the different features. Then, we were able to get into the driver’s seat and do it ourselves. The Ultra-4 course was my favorite. I loved the larger, steeper hills and the angled, banked “toilet bowls.” I particularly loved the steep, smooth rock that is a hallmark of Ultra-4 racing. The goal is to speed up the rock, and it’s intimidating to look at, much less drive up. But up I went, keeping my speed up and even apologizing for going so fast. My instructor Anthony told me that I shouldn’t apologize, that I actually did just the right thing by going so fast. Well. That was all the validation I needed for the day. Unfortunately, on the jump where I wanted to get all four wheels off the ground, I didn’t go fast enough and only got two wheels off. This sentence right here is why you want to go to the Raptor Experience. You learn and you gain confidence to do more and get better.
The Ford Bronco Raptor and I kicking up some dust. Photo: Ford
Desert Running? Yup. Fast, Furious and Dusty
Desert running was lots of big rocks, hairpin turns, sandy ruts, jumps, and some deep, alternating pits in the path. This course was tricky because it didn’t look like there was a path at all. I had to focus on keeping my head up, always looking where the course clearly picked up again. The Raptor had no trepidation. I got ahead of myself a couple times and went a little outside the path, but in keeping my eyes up and pointed where I wanted to go, the Raptor and I made a good team and stayed out of any trouble.
Bronco Raptor train. Photo: Sara Lacey
And it Was Fun
I loved the deep sand ruts and powering through them, only to speed up and cruise over large rocks. The instructor told me where to brake so that I’d have time to hit the hairpin turn over some more large rocks. There is a ton of thinking and looking and processing in this course, and it was fun but was actually really tiring. I would consider this some of the most intense driving I’ve done in a while, both mentally and physically. And at the end, I wanted to go again.
Dusty and tired and excited at the end of the day. Photo: Sara Lacey
This Nervous Nelly Was a Different Person on the way Home
At the end of the day, we journeyed back to basecamp using our new-found appreciation for the Raptor and all it’s capable of. Most notably, I drove like a banshee. Was I nervous? Nope. Was I worried? Nope. Was I confident and excited? One thousand percent. Is the Bronco Raptor and the Bronco Raptor Experience program worth it even if you have to cover travel expenses? Hell yes.
Disclosure: I was Ford’s guest at the Ford Bronco Raptor Experience. Travel and accommodations were paid for by Ford, but all impressions and opinions are my own.
Sara at the Raptor Experience. Photo: @buckleupbuttercup
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