• Converting a regular Ranger into a Raptor doesn't cost much
• A converted Ranger Raptor looks 90% like the real deal
• But is it worth it?

The 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor, even with its RM 200k price tag, is a very desirable product, especially for hardcore Ranger owners.

It comes as no surprise then, that there are a lot of conversion kits out there for regular Ranger owners to convert their plebian pick-up trucks into the full-blooded Ranger Raptor.

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A quick check on several online marketplaces reveal that an all-inclusive Ranger Raptor conversion kit is priced at around the RM 9k mark.

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But even with a conversion kit, you can still tell a converted Ranger Raptor from the real deal. Here's how.

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First and foremost, the most distinctive part of a legit Ford Ranger Raptor are its rally-bred Fox Racing Shox absorbers. Not only are these shock absorbers eye-catching, they also raise the Ranger Raptor’s height up by another 50 mm, allowing it go conquer off-road stuff with ease.

The Fox Racing Shox work in conjunction with the Ranger Raptor’s drive modes, including the Baja mode for when the need arises.

Further complementing the Ranger Raptor’s performance-bred capabilities are its 150 mm wider tracks, both on the front and rear, giving it a more aggressive tance.

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But that’s not all – the legit Ranger Raptor also gets black-painted 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in massive 33-inch tyres. That’s something you won’t see on a converted unit.

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Another part unique to the real Ranger Raptor are its rear disc brakes. Every other non-Raptor Ranger variant makes do with regular drums. In fact, the Raptor offers 20 percent larger pistons for the twin-pot brake calipers up front with 332 mm discs.

Exterior bits aside, the legit Ranger Raptor’s unique bits also continue inside with the sport bucket seats, steering wheel with red strip, as well as paddle shifters and unique instrument cluster.

Body colours for the legit Ranger Raptor include Arctic White, Conquer Grey, Ford Performance Blue, and Absolute Black. If the regular Ranger Raptor is a bit too mainstream, there's the Ranger Raptor X, which can be had in True Red or Absolute Black.

Granted, any determined Ford Ranger owner can attempt to copy bits off the real Ranger Raptor, but there’s one bit that’s practically unchangeable – the Ranger Raptor’s high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) frame. The Ranger Raptor’s HSLA frame is designed to cope with high-impact off-road driving, so that it won’t bend whilst in action.

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Given the extensive list of upgrades the Ranger Raptor have over the regular Ranger, there is no surprise why the Raptor is priced as such. Countless hours of research and development have been poured into the Ranger Raptor and it’s not something one can just convert from a regular Ranger.