Those that crave the highlight gravitate towards luxurious SUVs just like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, supercars resembling Ferraris or Lamborghinis, and massive vans just like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX. However the place do you flip when your mates 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 inside the value spectrum of the aforementioned autos, however the expertise is fully totally 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 Vehicles (and a working towards 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 Tremendous Responsibility. Then the stripping happens. The physique panels forward of the A-pillars and rear mattress skins are eliminated and forged 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. Manufactured from thick fiberglass, the large hood is heavy, so it takes some arm power to raise it earlier than the 2 fuel shocks kick in and maintain it up. It then requires that very same arm power to drag it down and launch the fuel shocks with out letting it slam shut.

Richardet’s crew bonds customized fiberglass rear fenders to the bedsides. The MegaRaptor’s physique transformation expands it to 97 inches broad, 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 deal with 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 an entire new that 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 due to these enormous tires and a 4.5-inch suspension raise. 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 due to customized MegaRexx entrance radius arms which are each longer and barely turned for the proper pinion angle with the bigger wheels, tires, and raise. 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 maintain issues turning correctly. Regardless of the crew 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 exchange the inventory items. 

Excessive and tight metal bumpers with aluminum trim plates exchange the inventory bumpers. These, together with the bed-mounted sport bar, set the tone. That sport bar capabilities because the mounting level for auxiliary lights, and prospects can select their desired type. Please go along with spherical items, not the overused LED gentle bars.

Richardet mentioned he views MegaRaptors as practical rolling artwork. These vans are enormous, 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 crew is ready to make rear airbags a part of the bundle for individuals who tow a load heavy sufficient that it might trigger the rear finish to sag.

MegaRexx MegaRaptor

MegaRaptor isn’t meant for off-roading

Don’t be confused by the off-road appears to be like. 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 may’t examine it to a Ford Raptor or Raptor R, it doesn’t have that sort of suspension. Its main operate is to work and tow whereas wanting aggressive. It’s type and performance, pull a BobCat or massive trailer whereas wanting cool. It’s a rolling assertion,” Richardet mentioned.

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 mentioned round city you’ll get about 12 mpg and that will increase to about 14.5 mpg on the freeway. Round city in blended driving I noticed a mean of 12.3 mpg. Sometimes, 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 top 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 similar to a inventory F-250, although on stilts.

Nonetheless, the manufacturing unit tailgate-mounted step is borderline ineffective. Entering into the mattress requires a giant bounce up. I’d advocate a conveyable step to get in, and particularly to load and unload the mattress.

MegaRexx MegaRaptor

MegaRexx MegaRaptor

The MegaRaptor runs a totally inventory powertrain besides for brand new 4.88 rear gearing to deal with the upsized tires, which implies 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 crew performs is an easy plug-and-play Pedal Commander that minimizes the manufacturing unit turbo lag.

Mashing the MegaRexx’s skinny pedal delivers a surprising 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 car parking zone speeds, the knobby MRAP tires may be felt and heard as the massive tread blocks transmit vibrations into the cabin. Choosing 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 units, the wheel would consistently wobble forwards and backwards. A hand on the steering wheel quelled this, however any bump within the street immediately translated by means of the steering wheel from these massive, arduous tires, and there may be all the time a little bit 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 these items on the really helpful 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 Avenue in Wilmington the MegaRaptor’s width grew to become obvious. Each tires rode the painted traces on both facet of the lane.

Folks had 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 best lane, then minimize 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 necessary. Richardet affords a Alcon massive brake equipment improve for $9,000, however my tester didn’t have it. The CEO mentioned about one in 10 MegaRaptor prospects order it, however it’s normally solely as a result of they’re ticking all of the bins. “It’s akin to upgrading to carbon-ceramic brakes in your Porsche,” Richardet mentioned. I’d agree together 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 unbelievable 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 forged a ton of sunshine. The lights got here in useful whereas on a darkish, empty, two-lane street because the Anzo USA headlights have a bizarre beam sample with distinct scorching spots that make it barely more durable to see the street, particularly with the truck driving so excessive.

Parking the MegaRaptor is at greatest considerably annoying and at instances downright difficult. Consider it as a dually, however it’s as broad 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. Overlook about drive-thrus or driving down tight one-way neighborhood streets with automobiles parked on each side. This truck likes wide-open areas.

MegaRexx MegaRaptor

How a lot does MegaRexx MegaRaptor value?

On common, MegaRexx builds a minimal of two MegaRaptors a month, and that quantity will increase to 4 to 5 when the crew isn’t distracted with constructing the 9-passenger MegaRexx SVNs.

It takes Richardet’s crew 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 amass 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 crew sometimes builds vans that may be purchased instantly, however they carry roughly a $20,0000 premium for not having to attend.

Richardet mentioned MegaRaptors don’t include a guaranty, however for the reason that 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 prospects 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 mentioned, 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 proper of consideration, is as much as the attention of the beholder. Within the eyes of my 7-year-old son, it’s “the good.”

MegaRexx supplied journey, lodging, and a ridiculous truck for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.