They say to truly know someone, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. Well, I took that saying to heart – in a manner of speaking ­– to better understand the fervor of Ford Raptor enthusiasts by driving a 2025 F-150 Raptor from Lake Havasu, Arizona to my home in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.

This solo drive of more than 5,000 kilometres (3,000 miles) from a Raptor Rally to my hometown over a period of six days was not for the faint of heart, but it was by design.

You see, Raptor customers travel from all over the United States and internationally to attend off-roading events like our own Raptor Rally, which completed its second iteration in late October. In fact, we hit event capacity with a long wait list months out, having 400 owners – many part of the 11 Raptor clubs participating – bring their trucks and guests from thousands of miles away.

Which got me thinking – what is it that makes these off-road aficionados drive such long distances for a weekend event, knowing they have to turn around and do it all again in a couple of days? I could think of no better way to understand this commitment, drive and passion than to design my own road trip from the deserts of Arizona to the low temperatures of the Great White North.

Before embarking on this adventure, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the attendees who had driven the furthest to attend Raptor Rally. Rene Fabris of Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada was brought up on stage and awarded a sought-after Truckle for driving the furthest to the event – nearly 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) on the most direct route, or 36 hours if one were to drive nonstop.

“I attended the first Raptor Rally last September near Tooele, Utah with one of my daughters and knew right away I wanted to attend again this year,” Rene shared with me. “We actually ran into another Canadian making his way to the event at the Big Texan in Amarillo – it was a sight to see two Raptors with Ontario plates in a North Texas parking lot.”

While Fabris had the longest direct drive, some Americans took the scenic route, with the road to the event as exciting as Raptor Rally itself. Bill Redeker, who left his driveway in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania could have driven nearly 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) directly, instead opting to “make a long road trip out of it with a lot of backtracking to see friends, family and business contacts along the way.”

“In total, I covered more than 3,300 miles (5,300 kilometres) over five days to get to Raptor Rally,” Bill told me while we chatted next to his third generation F-150 Raptor. “And I’m planning to do the same on the way home. For me, the journey is almost as exciting as the destination.”

Then I met Sean Gilbert, whose home and young family sat in Odessa, Florida, nearly 3,600 kilometres (2,250 miles) away from the hundreds of Raptors tackling off-road trails and making impressive jumps. I sat down with Sean for more than an hour, listening to the story of an incredible young man who rose above the challenges of his early years to make a life for himself, including his first F-150 Raptor purchase.

“I guess you could say my history with Ford starts early on as my parents Mustang was the only constant possession in our lives,” Sean opened up to me. “I knew I wanted more and what I’d have to shoot for to get there. I worked hard, joined the military, and when I got back in 2014 after deployment, I bought myself a Gen 1 F-150 Raptor.”

Sean had a yearning for connection after losing his best friend in a helicopter crash in 2014, and while marrying the love of his life was most important, finding a like-minded group of Raptor owners and getting out off-roading may be a close second.

“I used to race Mustangs and even had a cousin who was a crew member for a Mustang IMSA team. Getting off-road at speed in my Raptor with friends is the closest I’ve felt to that in a long time,” Sean continued. “I’ve had five or six Raptors since. Each of my kids have come home from the hospital in a Raptor. We’ve taken my 2022 Gen 3 through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming – that road trip is a core family memory.”

When asked why he made the long haul to the second Raptor Rally – 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometres) on an indirect but enjoyable route – it was to off-road in a beautiful place with friends he’s made over the past decade. Sean also shared that he’d be taking a different route home, heading down to the border of Arizona and Mexico and driving the southern route through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama before arriving in Florida.

It was these conversations that solidified my decision to drive nearly 5,500 kilometres (3,400 miles) through 12 states back to my home country and province. I also took an indirect route, ensuring a mix of picturesque scenery, challenging roads, sightseeing, and of course, some off-roading along the way. I made new friends and acquaintances at every stop and even had the opportunity to meet up with David and Kelly from All Terrain Nation outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

Throughout the drive, friendly nods and hand gestures were shared with every passing Raptor, a brief acknowledgment that we were part of a special club, one that owners of other vehicles would not understand or comprehend. Because Raptor customers are a different breed, willing to not only go the extra mile, but countless extra miles for the community.

It was special to experience this first-hand, if only for a few days, and the drive got me thinking of countless ways we can better serve our Raptor customers at the next Raptor Rally and beyond.

Matt Drennan-Scace is a communications manager for Ford in Canada and thanks his wife and kids for supporting him through this journey