Ross Skov says his 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor reminds him of a rough and ready toy Tonka truck he played with as a kid. Nostalgic as that is, the Tonka toy resemblance was not the reason the Calgarian bought his Raptor. He’d been driving a 2007 F-150 XLT, but as he approached retirement he wanted to upgrade and get a truck he would enjoy and last him for years to come.
“I set the benchmark high and went for a Raptor,” he says, but as easy as that sounds, it took many months of consideration before Skov decided to purchase his Raptor new from Metro Ford in Calgary. He took delivery in March of 2017. “I research everything extensively,” Skov says, and adds, “It usually takes me two or three years before I make a decision, and I’d looked at these Raptors for years before pulling the trigger on this one – this was not an impulse buy.”
A fourth generation Albertan, Skov says pickups were simply part of his family’s lifestyle. His dad worked in the auto industry, and Skov says he was exposed to trucks built by GM, Ford and Dodge. At 18, he bought a 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Camper Special. It wasn’t his favourite, but GMC trucks were what he continued to drive daily, with a few other makes sprinkled in for variety.
That brought him to his ’07 Ford, and then the pursuit of a Raptor. At the time he purchased, Skov was not able to spec out his Raptor build. “Basically, I had to take what I could get,” he says.
But he’s certainly not disappointed. His truck is fully loaded, with front and rear locking differentials, front and rear proximity sensors, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel and carbon fibre inserts in the interior trim. It has a higher-end Sony stereo and a trailer tow package with brake controller. His Raptor is finished in a colour Ford calls Avalanche, while the interior is black leather.
New for 2017, Skov’s Raptor is the second-generation high-performance off-road truck Ford built. From 2010 to 2014, Ford offered the first-generation Raptor, based on the F-150 but with upgraded Fox suspension, improved chassis and body modifications such as different grille and extended fenders. Then, in 2017, Ford launched a new F-150 Raptor. The automaker made it lighter and put a new twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 capable of 450 horsepower and 510 lbs-ft of torque under the hood. A 10-speed automatic transmission handles that power.
Raptors are serious off-road trucks, and Skov has always enjoyed getting off the beaten path. He also tows with his trucks, and currently pulls a 22-foot travel trailer. “We’ve towed with the Raptor all over,” he says, “from Oregon to California, Arizona and Utah. We’ll tow down, set up camp, and go explore in the truck.” He also enjoys his Raptor for how it handles both rough stuff and asphalt. “Most daily driver trucks are not great for off-road adventures,” he says. “But the Raptor is really nice when driving on or off-road.”
Further to his Tonka toy analogy, he appreciates how his Raptor presents itself as, “All purpose, with no bling – everything is there for a reason, either to protect the vehicle or make it easier to get in. Even the exhaust pipes are cool as they tuck up under the rear bumper.”
Skov is six-feet tall and has no trouble getting in and out of the truck, and neither does his wife. He says all grab handles are in the right spot, and the rear doors open generously when loading groceries or the family’s two Yorkie terriers. “It’s a trick ride inside,” he says. “There’s a lot of information available in the instrument panel, and it’s beneficial to read the manual and take the Ford courses.”
The course is the Raptor Assault training school hosted by Ford in Tooele, Utah. “You use one of their Raptors and you get a coach,” Skov explains. “And they coach you through hill climb, hill descent, rock crawl – you experience it all in their trucks and it builds confidence in doing the same in your own.” He attended Raptor Assault in 2017, and then in 2024 went to the inaugural Raptor Rally for F-150, Bronco and Ranger Raptor owners near Fairfield, Utah. At the Raptor Rally, Skov was coached to do it all again, but this time in his own truck. One of his favourite experiences was the sand event, where he was taught how to get his Raptor up on the deep sand and then plane along.
Even after all the hard use his Raptor’s seen, which now has more than 100,000 kilometres on the odometer, he says interior fit and finish remains excellent, and overall “quality and construction is fantastic.” Driver and passenger comfort is also above par, he says. The seats are very supportive, and both are capable of multi power adjustments.
Of the EcoBoost engine, he’s impressed. “It’s more motor than that truck needs, in my opinion, and it gets really good fuel economy,” he says. “I’ll get 14 to 15 miles per gallon when towing,” he adds. “And that 10-speed is something else, it’s never in the wrong gear and always in the right power range.” His enthusiasm continues, “The ride is comfortable under all conditions, the brakes are good – I’m still on my original pads – and overall utility is great.”
An abundance of tie down points in the 5.5-foot box allow Skov to haul snowmobiles and motorcycles. It’s also hauled dirt and gravel, and furniture, all with ease.
When pulling their trailer, Skov says while being cognizant he is towing, the truck makes it easy to forget there is something behind the Raptor. The truck is quiet, and the exhaust sound is not unpleasant.
Skov plans to keep his Ford a very long time, and adds, “Yes, I’m a fan of the Raptor — I’m a huge fan.”
What another Raptor owner is saying
Ross Skov’s appreciation for the Raptor is not unique. On the FordRaptorForum.com, in March 2017 after taking delivery of a Raptor, a buyer who’d never even sat in one said: “Some things you just don’t know until you see it and drive it. I’m talking about things like seat comfort, visibility, ergonomics etc. Well, I’m pleased to say that in my opinion the truck excels in all of these areas. About 12 hours after taking delivery, I embarked on a 23-hour drive from TX to CA. I had a travel companion with me, so we were able trade off driving and resting. We pushed through and only stopped for meals and gas. The long trip home gave me a good sense of ergonomics and seat comfort, and I couldn’t be happier.”
The same owner ended his post with, “Bottom line – I seriously love this truck. It’s really the perfect truck in my opinion. It’s comfortable, capable, and SO good to look at. I’m literally looking for reasons to drive places. In fact, I’m going to go see if my wife needs anything from the store…”
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