4 Modified Gen 2 Raptors (2017–2020) That Caught Our Eye on Instagram
Posted by Chris Groote on 6/17/2025 to
Customer Rides
If there’s one thing the Instagram off-road scene never fails to deliver, it’s wild and inspiring Ford Raptors. The Gen 2 Raptor (2017–2020) was a game-changer in the off-road truck world, with its high-output 3.5L EcoBoost V6, long-travel suspension, and aggressive factory styling. But what really takes these Raptors to the next level are the owners and builders who push the envelope with bold modifications and trail-ready setups.
We’ve been scrolling and saving, and these four standout Gen 2 Raptors recently caught our attention on Instagram. Whether it’s the clean lines, brutal stance, or fully-built overland rigs — these trucks are serious eye candy for any Ford performance fan.
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2020 F-150 First Lite Hunting Truck Build: Full Update!
Posted by Zach Schwoebel on 10/12/2021 to
Customer Rides
As fall season begins, we have wrapped up our final video of our 2020 F-150 First Lite Hunting Truck. This also means the finals chance of winning a $500 giftcard! We are happy to say this F150 is fully capable of long huals on highways, and trail driving. Perfect to tackle any adventure while bringing along any gear you may need to have a successful hunt. We hope First Lite will enjoy this F150 Hunting rig as much as we have!
2020 F-150 First Lite Hunting Truck Build: Phase 3 Update!
Posted by Zach Schwoebel on 9/9/2021 to
Customer Rides
For phase 3 of our First Lite 2020 F150 Hunting Rig Build added quite a few upgrades that we believe are important for this type of hunting build!
2020 F-150 First Lite Hunting Truck Build: Bilstein 8112 Suspension, KMC Wheels & Falken Tires
Posted by Zach Schwoebel on 7/28/2021 to
Customer Rides
With our First Lite 2020 F150 Hunting rig build, we've began phase one of adding the first necessary parts to head this truck into the right direction of being a fully capable hunting rig. Today, we are going over suspension, wheels, and tires.
Before you Go: How to Fix 2017-2020 F250 & F350 Death Wobble with Keep Your Daydream and ICON
Posted by Jason Locke on 2/1/2021 to
Before you Go
Trucks with solid front axles aren't exactly known for their handling, but there's a very thick line between "My Super Duty doesn't corner like a Mustang" and "My Super Duty is trying to kill me." Welcome to the not-so-fun world of "Death Wobble", which is the shaking of the front wheels due to issues and/or instability in the truck's steering components. While Death Wobble isn't a new thing, on the older F250s and F350s, Death Wobble was generally reserved for trucks with big tires or trucks with a lot of miles on them that had seen better days. However, the 2017-2020 Super Dutys seem to have a special predilection for Death Wobble right off the showroom floor. There's been a lot of speculation as to why, considering the newer trucks with their aluminum bodies are a lot lighter than previous generations, but it's likely a combination of cheap bushings, weak factory steering stabilizer, and alignments that seem remarkably easy to throw off. Our friends over at Keep Your Daydream had Death Wobble crop up on their 2019 F250 6.7L and they turned to us and our dear friends over at ICON Vehicle Dynamics for help.
Stage 3 Employee Rides: Chris' 2018 Tacoma TRD
Posted by Zach Schwoebel on 6/19/2020 to
Customer Rides
Here at Stage 3, we could not be more excited to showcase builds from our very own team! Today we are asking our sales guy Chris about his very own 2018 Toyota Tacoma 2018. Let's see what it's all about!
February 2018 Customer Spotlight: Logan's 2013 Raptor!
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 2/12/2018 to
Customer Rides
The Gen-1 Raptor is a no-compromise off-road machine, but that doesn't mean there can't be improvements. Case in point: Logan's 2013 Raptor build, featured with an array of stylish and functional upgrades. This clean and mean Raptor's Shadow Black finish contrasts beautifully with red accents skillfully placed throughout, earning our respect and its spot as our featured build for February 2018. Read on for complete build details, pictures and a complete parts list!
Giveaway Winner Spotlight: Matt's 2014 F150 5.0L V8
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 12/18/2017 to
Customer Rides
For this month's customer feature, we're spotlighting a practical, low-key F150 in stark contrast to the elaborate lifted builds you usually see at Stage 3. For December 2017, we asked the winner of our big giveaway for a progress report on his 2014 F150 and we love what he's done. Read on to see how Matt turned his F150 5.0L V8 build into an unassuming workhorse.
November 2017 Customer Spotlight: Kody's Ruby Red 2017 Raptor!
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 11/16/2017 to
Customer Rides
This month's Customer Spotlight features a Ruby Red 2017 Raptor with a backstory. A shopper and friend to Stage 3, Kody is having a blast working on his "bucket list dream build," and we think his journey is more than worth sharing. Hit the jump for a deep dive into this one-of-a-kind Raptor build!
October 2017 Customer Spotlight: Matt's 2016 "Black Magic" F150 2.7L EcoBoost!
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 10/2/2017 to
Customer Rides
Would you believe this is someone's very first build? A Stage 3 shopper and friend, Matt has proven himself a real natural with his first foray into the aftermarket, the lovingly dubbed "Black Magic" - and we're betting he won't forget this show-stopping 2016 F150 build. Packing the twin-turbocharged 2.7L EcoBoost under the hood, Matt's build was off to a solid start right from the factory. And while its journey is far from complete, this sinister, blacked-out build is already a real stunner. Follow along and get all the details on this wicked build after the jump!
September 2017 Customer Spotlight: Mark's 2016 F150 XLT SuperCab!
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 9/1/2017 to
Customer Rides
For this month's Customer Spotlight, we're diving head first into this absolutely gorgeous Ruby Red 2016 F150 XLT build lovingly piloted by Mark, a customer and friend of Stage 3. This towering F150 SuperCab is as show-ready as it is rugged and capable, with equal parts performance and aesthetic upgrades setting it apart from the rest. Read on for the full scoop on our September 2017 Customer Spotlight!
Try Not to Drool over This Modded 2017 Raptor
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 8/23/2017 to
Customer Rides
One look at the 2017 Raptor will make you wonder what, if anything, can be improved upon. Right from the factory line these specialty pickups are as well-equipped as anything out there, modded or otherwise. Nonetheless, this 2017 Raptor in Avalanche Gray is here to prove that yes, there is always room for improvement. Read on to get the full details on @my2017raptor's one-of-a-kind Raptor build!
Customer Spotlight: Mike's 2016 F150 Platinum!
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 7/31/2017 to
Customer Rides
For this month's Customer Spotlight we're diving into a longtime Stage 3 shopper's 2016 F150 Platinum build. This vicious F150 slid into our DM and captured our eyes and hearts immediately. We love how the clean, simple styling contrasts with the audacious wheel and tire setup to deliver a balanced, yet ferocious aesthetic. Let's take a closer look at this uniquely classic pickup and uncover the details one by one.
Customer Spotlight: Sideburn Mike's 2014 F150 XLT
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 7/17/2017 to
Customer Rides
Just because it's a daily driver doesn't mean it can't be your weekend warrior. Such is the case with Mike Neumann's 2014 F150 XLT build. It took just under three years for Sideburn Mike to bring his stock F150 from zero to hero and we must say, we're extremely impressed by the results. Hit the jump for pictures and details on this wicked build.
Customer Spotlight: John and Jennifer's 2014 "Mystic" Focus ST
Posted by Jordan Gerblick on 6/9/2017 to
Customer Rides
Focus ST modders and enthusiasts, this is how it's done. We got word of this wicked ST from a couple of Stage 3 customers who did all of the modifications themselves with the occasional helping hand from a mechanic friend. The first thing that caught our eyes about this particular ST was its dazzling Mystic coat that throws it back to some of our favorite Cobras of yesteryear. We found this 2014 Focus ST and its backstory to be more than worthy of a Stage 3 feature, so hit the jump for full details on this beastly ST hot hatch build!
Destin Cantrell Showing Off Some New Hardware and Moves!
Posted by Jason Locke on 3/11/2016 to
Customer Rides
Friend of Stage 3 and Freestyle Motorcross (FMX) rider Destin Cantrell was kind enough to send us some more photos of his truck and the SCT X4 Tuner with 5-Star Custom Tunes that he got from us here at Stage 3, and he was even kind enough to show off his motorcycle, as well as what he does for his day job. Yes, that is correct. His job is to fly through the air on a motorcycle at tree-top level with usually just his fingertips maintaining a grasp on the thing. Needless to say, my job looks a smidge boring by comparison.
FMX Star Destin Cantrell's 2015 F150 with 5-Star Tuning from Stage 3!
Posted by Jason Locke on 2/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
Just about anyone who knows anything about dirt bikes has heard of Freestyle Motorcross (affectionately dubbed FMX), and if you've heard of FMX, you've probably heard of rider Destin Cantrell. If you haven't, this video on YouTube should give you an idea of what both FMX and Destin are all about. In any case, Destin's other mode of transportation is a 2015 2WD F150 XLT Sport Package with a 3.5L EcoBoost, for which he just purchased an SCT X4 with 5-Star Custom tuning from your friends here at Stage 3. Destin even had some kind words to say about the tuning (which I swear we didn't make him say at knifepoint): "The SCT tuner is awesome, basically the power I lost from adding the bigger tires I got right back with my custom tune. Definitely a recommended product and can't wait to see what else we can add to it. Thanks Stage3Motorsports." The truck is also equipped with a ReadyLift 2.25" Leveling Kit and a full set of 18x9" Mickey Thompson Deegan 38 Pro 2 Matte Black Wheels wrapped in a set of 305/60R18 Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ P3 tires. Destin was kind enough to send in some awesome photos of his truck. Check them all out after the jump, and keep an eye out for this sweet ride the next time your find yourself at an FMX event. Good luck at your next event, Destin!
2013 F150 EcoBoost with Machined Fuel Maverick Wheels and Other Mods!
Posted by Jason Locke on 2/12/2016 to
Customer Rides
Your choice of wheels can make or break your hyper-aggressive F150 build. Luckily for our customer Mical, his choice of wheels made his aggressive 2013 F150 FX4 absolutely pop. Mical recently purchased a full set of Fuel 20x10" Machined Maverick Wheels with -12mm offsets for his F150, which he wrapped up in 35x12.50R20 Nitto Trail Grapplers. The wheels fit in perfectly with his F150's silver paint job and his host of modifications that include F150Lifts BOSS Front Coilovers, Pro Comp 3" Rear Block, F150Lifts BOSS Rear Shocks, Stage 3 Vertical Windshield Banner, and a MBRP 4" XP-Series Cat-Back Exhaust Kit with an MBRP 5" Black Tip. The end result is absolutely spectacular, and Mical put a cherry on top of his very impressive truck with his choice of Fuel wheels.
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2015 F150 5.0L Platinum with a BDS 6" Coilover Suspension Lift Kit!
Posted by Jason Locke on 2/12/2016 to
Customer Rides
A big lift kit is exactly what the doctor ordered for the 2015 to 2016 F150s. The new, aggressive body style looks absolutely amazing put up in the air on a big wheel and tire combination. F150forum user, Zach, sent us in a bunch of images of his 2015 F150 5.0L Platinum and it's equally awesome BDS 6" Coilover Lift Kit after spotting our thread showing off our 2015 F150 5.0L Project Truck's BDS 4" Coilover Lift Kit. The combination of the big BDS lift and his choice of Fuel Maverick 22x12" Two-Piece Wheels with a -44mm offset with their 35x12.50" Toyo Open Country M/Ts makes for one heck of combination that does the truck proud!
A 2014 F150 5.0L with Fox Coilovers, Solo Exhaust, and a ton of Lighting Mods!
Posted by Jason Locke on 2/11/2016 to
Customer Rides
A mean and clean F150 build really makes our day, and Connor, the proud owner of a 2014 F150 5.0L, sent us in a bunch of images of his truck that's outfitted with a bunch of mods purchased from Stage 3. Despite his litany of the Rigid Industries lighting components, Connor's truck has it's sleek factory appearance, mostly due to his clever use of Rigid Industries' Dually Flush Mount Lights, D-Series Fog Light Brackets with White Dually Spot LED Lights, and a Rigid Industries 20" E-Series Lower Bumper Mount Bracket Kit, with the cherry on top being a Raptor-Style Grille Light Kit. Some extra front lift is provided by a set of Fox 2.0 Coilovers, while a much more aggressive V8 sound is generated by his Solo 4" Single-Exit Cat-Back Exhaust Kit. Overall, an excellent-looking truck all-around!
Fusion Front and Rear Bumpers on a 2011 F150 EcoBoost!
Posted by Jason Locke on 2/10/2016 to
Customer Rides
Good customer of ours, Anthony, sent in some awesome photos of his 2011 F150 3.5L EcoBoost decked out with a 2009-2014 F150 Fusion Front Off-Road Bumper and a 2009-2014 F150 Fusion Rear Bumper, both of which he ordered bare and then had painted locally for an absolutely stunning look. Anthony also took the liberty of decking out the front bumper with a pair of Rigid Industries Dually Spot Off-Road LED Lights and a Pair of Rigid Industries Dually Flood Off-Road LED Lights along with a mix of D-Series Covers that gives the truck a great look. For the rear, Anthony grabbed a pair of Rigid Industries 4" E-Series Flood Off-Road LED Light Bars, which probably make awesome backup and work lights. Enjoy all of the images Anthony sent in below!
aFe Off-Road Downpipes installed on a 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost!
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
Throwing a set of downpipes and their required custom tuning on your 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost offers up some of the best bang-for-your-buck performance on your hyper-aggressive F150 build. Good customer of ours Alex, pulled the trigger on aFe's Off-Road Downpipes for his 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost XLT, and was kind enough to send over some high-quality images of the system installed. aFe's Off-Road Downpipes are big, mean and powerful exhaust components that make the factory downpipes look tiny by comparison. Check out Alex's images after the jump for how these downpipes look installed!
aFe 3.5" Cat-Back Exhaust Kit Installed on a 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost!
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
aFe's lineup of cat-back exhausts have long been one of the most popular exhaust upgrades for the 3.5L EcoBoost F150s, and with their excellent fitment, aggressive sound, and fair price point, it's pretty easy to see why. Good customer of ours, Alex, recently installed one of aFe's 3.5"MACH Force XP Cat-Back Kits with a Black Tip on his 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost and send us some high-res images of the result. The cat-back looks great, and its big, aggressive tip really changes up the looks of Alex's truck. Thanks, Alex for the images! You can check all of Alex's aFe cat-back installed photos after the jump.
aFe Momentum GT Cold Air Intake Installed on a 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost!
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
aFe's cold air intakes have been a long-time favorite of folks with an F150 EcoBoost for nearly as long as we can remember, and their Momentum GT series is their next generation of F150 EcoBoost Kit, offering up improved efficiency and performance. Good customer Alex decided to grab himself his very own aFe Pro 5R Momentum GT Cold Air Intake for his 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost, and he was kind enough to shoot us over some high-quality images of the Momentum GT installed on his truck. The intake has a big, aggressive look, and fits great in the engine bay. Check out all of Alex's images of the aFe Momentum GT after the jump!
UPR Dual-Valve VPS Catch Can Installed on a 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost!
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
Catch cans and the direct-injected F150 EcoBoost engines go together like peas and carrots, and adding a catch can to your F150 EcoBoost can aid its reliability and performance. UPR has been one of the go-to F150 EcoBoost catch can manufacturers, and our good customer Alex installed their latest generation Dual-Valve VPS Catch Can on his 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost. Alex was even kind enough to send us some high-quality images of this aggressive catch can kit installed on his truck. The Dual-Valve VPS Can captures oil blow-by and moisture from both sides of the engine, which helps prevent intercooler moisture build-up, valve coking, and power loss from octane degradation. The UPR system looks awesome in Alex's truck, and you can check out all of his images after the jump!
aFe Silver Bullet Throttle Body Spacer Installed on 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost!
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
Squeezing out some extra throttle response from your F150 EcoBoost doesn't necessarily mean you need to drop a pretty penny on some module or tuning, all you really need is aFe's Silver Bullet Throttle Body Spacer. The spacer drops right in between your F150's throttle body and intake manifold and helps make airflow into your manifold more efficient to help improve overall responsiveness. Our good customer Alex installed an aFe Throttle Body Spacer on his very own 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost, and was kind enough to send us a few high-quality image of the spacer installed. Thanks Alex! Check out all of his aFe throttle body spacer installed images below!
Husky Liners WeatherBeater™ Floor Liners Installed on a 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/26/2016 to
Customer Rides
Aftermarket floor mats are pretty much a must-have for any F150 that actually goes out and does truck stuff or lives in an area that gets a ton of rain and mud, and Husky's WeatherBeater™ Front Floor Liners are some of the best on the market. The WeatherBeaters™ are perfectly contoured to your F150's floor boards and help prevent all sorts of grime from wrecking your truck's interior. Good customer of ours, Alex, recently grabbed himself a set of Front Husky Liners WeatherBeaters™ for his 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost and was kind enough to send us a few high-quality images of the liners installed in his truck. The Husky Liners look awesome and do their job admirably. Check out all of Alex's images after the jump!
Just Added: 2011-2015 F250/F350 Super Duty Bushwacker Pre-Painted Pocket-Style Fender Flares!
Posted by Erik Nep on 7/9/2015 to
Just Added
One of the best additions you can throw onto the exterior of your 6.7L Super Duty truck, especially if it's been lifted or leveled and equipped with a set of rugged off-road tires, is a set of fender flares. Here at Stage 3, we have some of the most economic and awesome-looking fender flares you'll find on the market and they come from our friends over at Bushwacker. The new 2011-2015 F250/F350 Bushwacker Pocket-Style Fender Flares come custom pre-painted in matching Ford Super Duty colors so now you don't have to go through the whole hassle of having to get them sent off to your local paint shop to get them matched to the right color and have to wait for weeks to get them installed. Instead, it's as simple as ordering your set of (4) and easily bolting them onto your truck without having to waste extra time and money. Considering the high additional costs of getting fender flares custom painted to match your exact Ford paint color, these are a relatively inexpensive and much easier way to get your Super Duty looking more aggressive without having to wait forever for the more aggressive look you're trying to achieve.
Local 2015 3.5L EcoBoost Gains 154lb-ft and 76hp with a 5-Star Performance Tune!
Posted by Jason Locke on 5/15/2015 to
Customer Rides
Darren, a local customer of us here at Stage 3 Motorsports has a very pretty 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost Platinum Edition, and thanks to 5-Star Tuning, it's now putting down a whole ton more horsepower and torque than stock. Darren took his Platinum 2015 3.5L EcoBoost down to a local dyno shop after he got his tuner for a bit of a comparison. Running a 5-Star 91 Octane Performance Tune, Darren's truck picked up a whopping 154lb-ft of torque and 76 horsepower at the tires over stock while equipped with an aFe Momentum Intake and an aFe Stainless Steel Cat-Back Exhaust Kit. That's an impressive change that makes for one very quick 2015 F150 3.5L EcoBoost!
A Gorgeous 2015 F150 5.0L Platinum with Suspension Mods!
Posted by Jason Locke on 1/8/2015 to
Customer Rides
A lot of folks have been ragging on the 2015 F150s for their looks, tiny tires, and whatever else. However, it's been our contention that no one really care for a bone-stock truck, much less a baseline XL or XLT work truck that were the first to hit the dealers back in November. Case in point is this beautiful 2015 F150 Platinum from F150forum.com member Lukasz, who let us share these photos. The truck is decked out with a few just-confirmed 2015 F150 leveling and suspension parts, including 2014 to 2015 F150 Auto Spring 2" Spacers and an Auto Spring 3" rear block, as well as 1.5" wheel spacers, 35" BF Goodrich KO2 tires, a Corsa 4" twin exhaust tip, Line-Xed wheel wells, Line-Xed bed, a BakFlip G2 tonneau cover, and 20% tint. The end result is this extraordinary creation that is only bound to get better as time goes on and more parts become available. Thanks Lukasz for the images and the sweet and clean truck build!
