ok for those interested...

This truck was built by AJ, Owner of Baja Shop Motorsports... Baja Shop is a well known shop that does custom fab work for Prerunners... they also happen to be located in Orange California... about 20 minutes from me

looking at them to possibly do the whole deal... i told SocalpunX about them so figured i would post some links to their work here....

on their web site(a very simple no info photo gallery) i found these:

Love this bumper

I'd be interested in seeing what you can come up with. Like to see what a 2wd X could do.

Wicked Looking Bumper. Would look good on the X.

Nice bumper but I think you'd want to replace the stock bumper with an entirely new "pre-runner" bumper? I think the first time you impacted something youd trash your stock bumper! "Brush guards" are trashing peoples stock bumpers and hoods when they hit something to hard!

no... just replace the plastic parts...

the stock bumper in the pics (if you look closely) has holes cut in it that the "prerunner" bumber goes through and then connects to the frame... not like the Waag gaurds that are connected to the bumber


---edited to ad---
i also think i would want some "armour" higher up on the bumber... to cover the grill a bit... not such heavy duty steel as the skid plate but maybe, the steel "mesh" or steel with slots or holes cut in it...

[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: Todrick ]

What is a prerunner ? I'm guessing its a fast off-road racer type vehicle with bouncy suspension etc, but what is it exactly ?

Thanks.

the clasification "prerunner" really has a wide variety of vehicles it covers... basicly it is a Truck(or SUV) high speed desert travel over basicly dirt roads... the trucks have Long travel suspensions(not lifts per se, but more travel) in the case of the X im looking for at least 14" front, 16" rear... thats about double the wheel travel of stock... Prerunners are most often 2wd as 4x4 is not really nessecary (4x4 prerunners do exist, their just not as common),

the biggest thing about Prerunners is that although they are specificly built to handle going airborn... its not really intentional... it is more of a side effect... it is the inevitable result of high speed desert travel, so the suspension not only has to have the wheel travel to handle it but also has to be built to absorb the tremendous forces created by a 3,800 lbs. vehicle landing after being 5-6' in the air...

Thanks Todrick, until recently I thought the term was something to do with early 4Runners or something.

Prerunners were developed to pre-run off-road race courses without having to take the full-on race truck out.

sorry... forgot that part in my description...

protrucks.com sells trucks designed by ivan stewart... with no engine... $86,000 and thats considered cheap... they are full race trucks, just "inexpensive" ones...

no toyota does offer "prerunner" as a badge and trim level for their trucks... but its more marketing than function

Toyota's pre-runner badging, as in the Tacoma Pre-runner model, is a Tacoma that has the look of a 4x4 (bigger tires, more clearance, suspension, etc) except it has no transfer case (i.e. no 4 wheel drive). It's a 4x2 made to look like a 4x4. In that sense the 4x2 Xterra is the same thing as a "pre-runner". From the outside you can't tell if it's a 4x4 or not. Basically, it means you can get a beefy looking truck, minus the 4wd.

A real pre-runner, like Todrick is talking about building, will be a lot more modified than something you can buy off dealers lot.

The concept of a pre-runner has been heavily bastedised as a result of the huge popularity of desert racing . It seems like every 2wd truck with a fabtech lift and American Racing Baja wheels is considered a pre-runner these days. Like Ian said , the purpose of these trucks was origionally to run a race course without using the race truck.

Some of these things start out as pre-runners and end up full blown race trucks. These things are bad muthaphuckers. The money that goes into them is rediculous! Hence the need for sponsors. Easy estimates to get the X even remotely able to perform in that fashion would be easily 10-15 grand . That's a conservative estimate just for suspension and body modifications with just a bit left over for a couple of bolt on engine mods. The fantasy X (Todrick edition) could be done but it will take money and the right shop!

Check this truck out. It's the crem de la crem of pre-runners and has even seen duty as a race truck. Got $$$???

Great write up on what it's like to ride in a full blown trophy truck !

i understand the concept but unless your going to do baja racing why would u want a make believe 4wd.

no you obviously dont understand the concept.

Why is it "make believe"?

in fact it is out right Flaunting the fact that it is not a 4x4

[ 01-05-2002: Message edited by: Todrick ]

[ 01-05-2002: Message edited by: Todrick ]

Did you all notice the tire size...17" wheels! looks like my X is already a pre-runner, now I just need to find where the 30+ inches of travel and extra 450 HP have gone!

Todrick, if you want to go check out some real pre-runners or trophy trucks shot me a e-mail and I will get in contact with my friend at Terrible Herbst for you("The best bad guy in the west"). They are in HB, real close.

The only reason they run 17" wheels is so they can fit 15+" brake rotors inside.

17" wheels suck for tire sizes 33" or smaller, but are great when you go really big.

Ian - did you notice the rest of the post?

now I just need to find where the 30+ inches of travel and extra 450 HP have gone!

Thats called a joke!

...Lest I forget a 2wd X is only a mini-van (just like a windstar)...wether it be 17", 15" or even 22" wheels.

im in 02sc... send you an e-mail in a bit...

Baja shop does do some amazing work, but i have always liked the Terrible Herbst trucks, would love to see 'em up close

The Toyota Pre-runner package also includes a REAL electric locking differential; a real asset to prerunning situations.

Sean

It's still just marketing. It's another name for a non-4wd truck that looks like a 4wd. Wacky Toyo switch or not.

Again, not aruging with anyone.

Cygnus-X1,
The whole "prerunner" badging done by the automakers is exactly as you mention: a marketing ploy. However, to imply that adding a locking differential (a real one) to the rear of a two wheel drive truck doesn't do much for the vehicle doesn't do service to the locker itself. Locking the rear of a 2wd can often get someone into *almost* the same situations/places as a completely open stock 4wd.

I'm not saying a two wheel drive can ever be as good as 4wd, don't misunderstand me. The two wheel drive lacks the blood and guts of what makes 4wd work so well-namely front tires pulling and the low range gear multiplication of the transfer case. I'm just saying a real locking diff in one 2wd will spank the open diffed 2wd in most every instance.

2 cents,
Sean

Agreed. I was just poking fun at Toyo's fascination with switches.

True , but in reality noone is ever going to actually pre-run an actual course in one of these things anyway. So it really is a pre-runner in name only. I think Nissan using the name 'desert runner' is more to the actual purpose.