I’ve heard that some Raptor owners don’t actually use their trucks as trucks; that they just drive them as cars, and then use them for off-road shenanigans. Now, I completely understand that, since, from the factory, the Raptor has a body-color painted bed and they don’t want to scratch up the paint. Fortunately, I went for the dealer-installed Linex bedliner ($400), since I plan on actually using this thing as a truck to haul my crap around in, not just a camera car or off-road toy.
This past weekend, I participated in an amazing event known as the 48-Hour Film Project, here in Los Angeles. Teams are randomly given a film genre, character name, and line of dialogue, and they have 48 hours to write, shoot, edit, and submit a film. Our genre was “Femme Fatale,” our line of dialogue was “I have no idea,” and our character’s name is Jessica. Our team, Eat at Dino’s Productions, made a 7-minute film about a female assassin who’s last job is to kill her own sister. I can’t post the movie online until after the screening, but it’s safe to say that no other team in this contest will use full-on CGI, explosions, glass shattering, and blood splatters to the extent that we did. There are no fewer than 6 graphic murders in 7 minutes of film.
My role in this film was simply to be a Camera/production assistant, contribute creative ideas when I had them, and provide the grip truck to carry all our gear around in from place to place. I did play a murder victim, strangled while getting into my Corvette, but the shot was eventually cut for technical reasons.
But about the truck’s usefulness as a work truck: it works great. Although the load height is a few inches above a normal F-150′s, it’s not high enough that loading 60-lb cases of camera gear are remotely a problem. When loading gear in and out by yourself, the “man-step” is absolutely invaluable. Make fun all you want, but when you have to climb in and out of a truck 100 times in a day, this is the best option box you could ever check. Here’s all the stuff we were able to fit into the Raptor’s bed:
2 Monitor Cases
10 C-Stands
Rolling Dolly and Hardware
Cooler of Water
10 Hundred-foot extension Cords
5 Directors Chairs
3 Cases of Lights
2 Camera Cases
3 Apple Boxes
1 Prop Crate
4 People
If the stuff wasn’t so clumsy and oddly shaped, I’m sure we could have fit more, but when asked the question, “Can the Raptor be used as a Grip Truck?” The answer is most definitely, Yes.
For those of you interested in seeing our film, Allure, the screening will be held September 24th at Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex, 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA, at 9:30 PM. Would love to see some TST fans out there.











Is there anything this truck can't do? The F-150 Raptor is perfect in every way, SVT really made it shine.
I'd love to see what they could do to an Expedition
Please tell me you kept that scene some where. We've just gotta see it as a bonus clip.
I agree. It would be great to see it.
I think there is a issue with the size of the pictures.. The last thumbnail is just the full sized picture here, and when you view the pictures there massive. I have a 1920*1080 sized screen and I still have to scroll both down and to the right, just sayin' ! I'm anxious to see the short film and good to see that you can use the car to the fullest.
somebody's looking around like they don't have a shooting permit!
nice truck
looking forward to seeing the films
You Should Have a detailing episode on the raptor, kinda like with the corvette.
why? We already did detailing. regardless of the car, the process is the same.