Raptor Wheels

[Druid]

So I really like the look of the 2012-2014 Ford Raptor V-spoke wheels. Not only do they look good, they have a slightly smaller offset (34mm instead of 44mm) and are 17". This means they push the tire out just slightly, helping with clearance for larger tires but without wild changes to the scrub radius and handling. Tires are also somewhat cheaper. They only downside is that they require slight trimming of the rear axle. This amount is really minor, so I thought it'd be nice to provide a pictorial:

Here's a close-up of the wheel being test-fitted to the rear axle. The wheel fits fine, but the center cap won't quite set.
View media item 6452

This is a picture of the rear hub. The pen is pointing to the axle, indicating where it interferes with the cap and the amount to be removed
View media item 6455

This is all that's actually cut off. I used a Harbor Freight portable bandsaw, but a grinder or even a hacksaw would work just as well.
View media item 6454
And here's a view of the axle after surgery. You can still see a bit of the cavity still remaining.View media item 6451

 

[Druid]

Finally, here's the wheel with the cap in place....
View media item 6453

...and here's a shot on the truck with some new tires. 285/70/17 (33x11.50), no lift, original springs. The truck's a 2007 EL (sitting on a fairly steeply inclined driveway).
View media item 6456

I liked doing it this way much more than the idea of adding a spacer to the wheel, and it's definitely cheaper. Hopefully this will help others who might be contemplating something similar.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

So I really like the look of the 2012-2014 Ford Raptor V-spoke wheels. Not only do they look good, they have a slightly smaller offset (34mm instead of 44mm) and are 17". This means they push the tire out just slightly, helping with clearance for larger tires but without wild changes to the scrub radius and handling. Tires are also somewhat cheaper. They only downside is that they require slight trimming of the rear axle. This amount is really minor, so I thought it'd be nice to provide a pictorial:

Here's a close-up of the wheel being test-fitted to the rear axle. The wheel fits fine, but the center cap won't quite set.
View media item 6452

This is a picture of the rear hub. The pen is pointing to the axle, indicating where it interferes with the cap and the amount to be removed
View media item 6455

This is all that's actually cut off. I used a Harbor Freight portable bandsaw, but a grinder or even a hacksaw would work just as well.
View media item 6454
And here's a view of the axle after surgery. You can still see a bit of the cavity still remaining.View media item 6451

Druid,

If these are your pictures you have to turn on the permission for us to view them. The message says:


Ford Expedition Forum - Error
You do not have permission to view media within this album.

 

[Druid]

Ah, thanks for the heads up. Saw them in my preview and didn't realize. Pictures should be public now and visible. Can anyone verify that?

 

[Adieu]

Center caps are overrated... squirt some paint/dip/bedliner on the visible part so it blends and leave the caps off

 

[JExpedition07]

The SVT wheels look great! Yes they are public now. Those 11-14 Raptors were absolute beasts.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Finally, here's the wheel with the cap in place....
View media item 6453

...and here's a shot on the truck with some new tires. 285/70/17 (33x11.50), no lift, original springs. The truck's a 2007 EL (sitting on a fairly steeply inclined driveway).
View media item 6456

I liked doing it this way much more than the idea of adding a spacer to the wheel, and it's definitely cheaper. Hopefully this will help others who might be contemplating something similar.

That looks great Druid. Are you planning to do a lift of any kind in the future?

 

[Druid]

I'm holding off on suspension mods until I see a need. I'm also trying to be a bit more restrained/realistic with this rig. The tires are Cooper AT3s rather than a mud/hybrid, and not too much bigger than stock. Right now I've seen no hint of rubbing, so any lift would be purely cosmetic.

Drew

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I'm holding off on suspension mods until I see a need. I'm also trying to be a bit more retrained/realistic with this rig. The tires are Cooper AT3s rather than a mud/hybrid, and not too much bigger than stock. Right now I've seen no hint of rubbing, so any lift would be purely cosmetic.

Drew

Your truck looks really good with those wheels on them. I keep thinking about a lift, mainly for cosmetic reasons and I'd like to sit up a little higher I don't think I would put bigger tires on it. I would just use the stock size and raise it up about 2".

 

[Druid]

Hey Andy,

A small lift might look good here too, but no more than 1-1.5". I'll definitely wait til I change the shocks before thinking about it.