We love ourselves a good pickup truck, especially since they drive better than ever and come with some of the best interiors in the business. It's almost as if hauling, towing, and off-roading were fringe benefits of owning one. Now, Ford and RTR have collaborated and built the F-150 RTR that ups the regular F-150's level of ruggedness and adds some nice visual touches to the equation. The new truck is meant to go up against the likes of the Ram 1500 Rebel and the Chevy Silverado Trailboss.
First, let's talk components. The RTR get suspension upgrades in the way of Fox Series 2.0 shocks, for serious wheel travel and it also benefits from rugged Nitto Ridge Grappler tires shod on some very special and slick 20" matte black RTR wheels. There's also a Ford Performance exhaust for a throaty roar (only available if you choose the 5.0-liter V8 or one of the two EcoBoost V6 engines).
There's no increase in power, but that's not a concern because the already great engine options are plenty strong. The V8 delivers 395 horsepower, and the two EcoBoost engines provide 375 and 450. We've driven the F-150 with these mills under the hood, and we can attest to the fact that they provide more than enough thrust for just about everybody. You're not going to do a Baja 1000 anytime soon, are you?
The RTR also benefits from great aesthetic improvements in the form of large black fender flares, a totally new perforated black RTR grille for increased airflow, a functional RTR front skid plate, and an RTR graphics package that basically lets everyone know you're not driving a conventional F-150, as if that was a bad thing, to begin with.
The interior doesn't change as much as the exterior, but there are some nice touches that set it apart, including a numbered plaque that's been autographed by owner/driver for the RTR Drift Team, Vaughn Gittin Jr., and some nice RTR-brand floor liners. The rest of the interior is pretty much stock F-150, but again, that's not a bad thing at all considering they make some of the better pickup truck cabins in the industry.
The RTR trim will add a not unsubstantial $12,750 to the F-150 base vehicle you choose. And even though the RTR is technically an aftermarket kit, the partnership between Ford and RTR is official so the full warranty remains intact. Trailboss setup. You can actually buy RTR parts at Ford dealerships, as well, so specc'ing out your F-150 with custom parts is super-easy.
Ford is extending the life of its F-150 by adding this trim level/package, and it's a good move. RTR is known for their racing chops, and the F-150 RTR is a great addition to the lineup. For those who don't want to pay Raptor prices but want more off-roading capability from their F-150 now have a great option.
