Jeff and the Westcott Designs™ crew are back in the Arizona desert—fresh off Johnson Valley’s King of the Hammers—with one clear takeaway:

We’re officially stepping into the Ford Raptor market, and we’re bringing the same “OEM+ details + real-world testing” approach that built our Toyota reputation.

🎥 Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/aRgiLLFMbUE?si=PHTKaILWCxy2rODJ

Meta Title

Westcott Takes on the Ford Raptor: KOH Testing + New Raptor Parts Coming Soon

Meta Description

Back from King of the Hammers, Jeff breaks down Westcott’s Raptor testing, a new hidden-hardware front bumper, suspension lessons, tire load rating notes, and upcoming rock sliders, bed rack, ditch light brackets, and rear bumpers.

Why King of the Hammers matters for product development

King of the Hammers isn’t a parking-lot showcase—it’s one of the harshest proving grounds in off-road. Johnson Valley delivers the kind of dust, heat, vibration, and high-speed chop that exposes weak points fast.

Jeff’s goal out there wasn’t to “copy what works.” It was to test, learn where current options fall short, and build Westcott parts that are cleaner, tighter, stronger, and more intentional.

The big announcement: Westcott is going Ford (starting with Raptor)

Most people know Westcott for Toyota builds—but this trip confirmed what we’ve been building toward:

  • New Ford product releases are coming

  • The Raptor platform has serious potential

  • The Westcott standard of fit, finish, and design details translates perfectly

New Westcott Raptor front bumper: designed to look “boltless”

This bumper is built around one obsession: no exposed hardware.

Key design callouts Jeff highlights:

  • Hidden/internal bolt system (hardware lives inside the bumper structure)

  • Gusseting + overlay plates for strength and style

  • Cleaned/ground welds for a flush finish

  • Fender flare alignment—the bumper lines match the truck’s front end “to a T”

  • Adjustability (side-to-side and up/down) for a precise fitment

  • Factory intercooler retention option (for owners who don’t want to delete it)

He also points out protective front detailing that helps shield critical components (like the intercooler area) while keeping the bumper’s lines tied into the Raptor’s fascia design.

Suspension + desert testing notes (what Jeff learned fast)

This Raptor was finished, loaded, and immediately thrown into testing—so the feedback is real-time, not theoretical.

Camburg components + a key issue to solve

The truck is running Camburg upper/lower arms, springs front and rear, plus a slapper kit. Jeff calls out a concern during high-speed desert sections:

  • At full extension, the front suspension was topping out hard

  • He’s researching failures that appear to happen on rebound over time

  • Next step: front limit straps to control extension and protect components

Next test: factory springs vs. modified setup

Jeff plans to swap back to stock components to isolate what changed the ride, then decide whether Westcott’s best solution is:

  • A preload collar for the factory spring, or

  • A new spring design that better matches the platform

Tires matter: load rating, PSI, and ride quality

The truck is currently on 37×12.50R17 Toyo Open Country R/T Pro tires, and Jeff immediately notes how much firmer they feel versus the previous setup.

His plan is exactly what we’d recommend for anyone dialing a build:

  1. Swap to factory wheels/tires as a baseline

  2. Test a C load 37” option (vs. the current E load)

  3. Compare ride differences at realistic pressures (he aired down to ~20 PSI off-road, then back up to ~35 PSI on pavement)

What’s coming next for the Raptor platform

Jeff drops a lot of “what’s next,” and it’s exactly the kind of system-minded lineup Westcott is known for:

Frame-mounted rock sliders (replacing factory steps)

Factory steps bolt to the body. Westcott sliders will bolt directly to the frame for real protection—while still working as functional steps and adding aesthetics that match the truck’s lines.

A tighter, cleaner ditch light bracket

The truck currently has SDHQ ditch light brackets (functional and sturdy), but Jeff wants lower and tighter—so Westcott is developing their own streamlined bracket design.

A new low-profile bed rack system (built around real use)

This is one of the most exciting teases in the video:

  • Bolts into factory bed mounting points

  • Configurable layout for jack + fuel/water cans

  • Option to run a single spare laid forward with accessories repositioned

  • Integrated bed lights designed to look OEM

  • Low-profile fitment with tight overlays and trays for cans

  • Stainless wear surfaces in tracks to protect powder coat durability

  • Future molle panel configuration options

  • Planned air connection at the rear corner (for airing tires)

  • In-development cooler mount to improve weight distribution and usability

Rear bumpers in development (multiple versions)

Jeff confirms multiple rear bumper concepts are already in the works—plus lighting integration via a partnership with Baja Designs.

One thing Westcott isn’t making (and why)

Jeff mentions a third brake light setup: it’s popular, it works, and other companies already do it well—so Westcott is choosing to focus energy on areas where we can bring a clearer advantage.

That’s a very “Westcott” move: build where we can raise the bar, not where the market is already saturated.

Shop Westcott Designs™ (and keep an eye on Raptor releases)

Until the new Raptor parts drop publicly, the best place to start is:

And if you want to follow the Ford expansion as it happens, make sure you’re subscribed to the Westcott YouTube channel—this is where the product walkarounds and install intel shows up first.