It’s been a while since a new rival entered the super truck space to go toe to toe with the likes of the TRX and Raptor. For Fox Factory, the Fox Factory Truck (FFT) became a product of camaraderie with a boundary-pushing, 700-horsepower, off-road super truck equipped with the latest FOX Live Valve technology.
Today, we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing the full story of how the FFT came to life. Watch the exclusive documentary below and explore the images and behind-the-scenes moments that made this truck possible.
From Concept to Reality
FOX has spent decades leading innovation across suspension platforms, from mountain bikes and side-by-sides to truck suspension. The natural next step was to push the envelope even further with a fully electronic, algorithm-driven suspension system on a super truck platform. This truck is built to rival the best in the industry with its robust Live Valve technology and attention to detail by FOX engineering.
“We started just by building a truck,” recalls Product Development Engineer Chad Kern. “After we started to get an initial prototype done, we came to PVD like, ‘Hey, we have this idea. This is where we want to go. What are your thoughts?’”
That idea quickly grew into a collaborative effort pulling every arm of the Fox Factory team from engineering to design, testing and advanced development.
They were all focused on one goal: build the ultimate turnkey truck.
The FFT began as a series of sketches and renderings. It had to sound as mean as it looked, while still performing at a level that could compete against its segment icons.
“You know, there's already very well-respected players in that, but there's never been a true contender on the GM platform,” said Chris Roes, Advanced Development/PVD. “So, I think there's a huge opportunity.”
Concepts were ambitious from the get-go with a supercharged V8 engine, 37-inch tires, and an industry-first implementation of FOX Live Valve 3.2 on a factory truck platform. When it came to style, the Fox Factory team paid as much critical attention to the details. As Senior Manager of Advanced Development Michael Kress put it, “Once we put the body panels on, had the suspension, wheels, and tires, and pulled it off the lift...we knew this was going to be one hell of a truck.”
Engineering and Marking Proving Grounds
Building a truck of this caliber wasn’t as simple as bolting parts together. Engineers had to design a completely new suspension ecosystem while ensuring the final vehicle would be repeatable, manufacturable, and durable enough to honor a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.
From fitting the massive Live Valve 3.2 shocks to making a steering stabilizer look aesthetic, every component had to be precisely engineered to the Silverado chassis. The team partnered with Jonathan and Jordan Brenthel, renowned for their race-proven desert truck builds, to validate designs and develop parts that could withstand even the toughest terrain.
Proving the FFT’s capabilities required countless hours of dyno tuning, field testing, and desert validation at the Marking Proving Grounds (MPG), FOX’s dedicated off-road testing facility.
“We’d be out there five days a week,” said Design Engineer Trevor Wyatt. “The first time I drove the truck I didn’t know how to describe it in engineering terms. It was just ridiculously fun.”
The Fox Factory Truck Hits the Streets
After years of design, engineering, testing and validation, the Fox Factory Truck finally made its debut in downtown San Diego. The launch shoot was an all-out production, including camera cranes, closed streets, and a fully capable, turnkey super truck. (Watch that full video – here! )
The team reflected on just how monumental the project had been. Thousands of hours testing, redesigning, and validating every component had all led to this moment.
Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. Only with the right people behind the right idea can get such a massive project across the finish line and succeed.
Watch the Full Documentary
See the full story unfold in our exclusive build documentary with interviews from the team, now live on YouTube.
Ready to Customize Your Fox Factory?
Check out our customizer tool to build your own and learn more about this beast of a truck.
The Brenthel Brothers Return
Have you seen part 2 of our first video featuring the Brenthel Brothers after our adventure in San Diego? The duo takes the FFT back to the east coast near Atlanta for one more thrill ride. Click below to watch now!
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