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Look like this


James Morse

1997 XLT 4.0L 4x4 1999 Mazda B3000 2wd
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Roanoke VA
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1997 and 1999
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XLT 4x4 & B3000
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4.0 V6
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4.0L in XLT, 3.0L in B3000
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31x10.5-15 K02's on the Ranger, 235/75R15 on Mazda
My credo
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
I look at a lot of pictures and some trucks they really muck them up I think. But here's a couple that look pretty good and what I'm asking is can you tell me what size tires are they running and how much lift they have. The first one is a really nice looking truck and probably a lot of money in it but just everything they did looks good and I bet it performs good and I think they didn't put fiberglass fenders it looks like they just put bigger flares on it, I could be wrong about that, and it looks like it has a lot of ground clearance. The second one the red one is basically my truck or real similar looking, I don't totally like everything about it but the lift and the tires look pretty good.
Custom-Ford-Ranger-Repulsor-MT.jpg
6aa3e10f29e83e325f338a45ab958889.jpg
 


rusty ol ranger

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Michigan
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1987
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Ford
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2.9 V6
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177 CID
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Manual
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2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
First ones a prerunner style. Dont know much about those.
2nd one is more woods/trail style...the way i would go personally. Looks like possibly a 4 inch on 33's
 

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
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Southern maine
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2023
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Ford Bronco
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2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
First one is on 35's at least with like... 12k into suspension bits at the minimum.
 

RonD

Official TRS AI
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"Pre-runner" name comes from the good ol days of off-road racing
They were always 2WD(RWD) and were beat to heck, so front fenders were always cut back because of being crashed so much, lol, and from sticking on bigger tires
Could be 4WD but only if it was a free add on, lol

The 4WD off-road vehicles were, and still are, expensive to build, so Racing teams would build a "pre-runner" vehicle for as little as possible so the drivers could "pre-run" the race course and crash it or flip it without breaking the bank, i.e. learn the course

But because they were "racers" they started to Race the Pre-runners as an event prior to the main racing, almost but not quite "Demo-derby", these were "beaters" not pristine racing machines
A bunch of guys with a bunch of vehicles and a track............................so pretty natural progression

But someone somewhere decided to take it way too seriously, and the expensive "Pre-Runners" were born as a sub-species of off-road racing

And people did like the look, not the dents and bruises but high front clearance(from crashes, lol) and the big tires
 
Last edited:

don4331

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Pre-Runners have front fenders cut back because with 2wd, you occasionally had to use momentum instead of finesse to get through. Cut back fenders result in less sheet metal damage, so I looked less obvious that you had trashed the truck.

They were 2wd, because it forced drivers to think about driving better line when driving the course ahead of the event.

Then you have the - I'm so much better driver that I can drive my 2wd Pre-runner faster than your 4wd race truck. Which has natural progression that the Pre-runners get build as good as better than 4wds, to better ensure the 2wd wins. (300lbs of transfer case/front driveshaft/front axle isn't insignificant). Ford's TIB versus Hilux's solid front allowed a lot more travel - which was important in desert racing.
 

James Morse

1997 XLT 4.0L 4x4 1999 Mazda B3000 2wd
Supporting Member
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Aug 31, 2021
Messages
1,891
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Location
Roanoke VA
Vehicle Year
1997 and 1999
Make / Model
XLT 4x4 & B3000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0L in XLT, 3.0L in B3000
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31x10.5-15 K02's on the Ranger, 235/75R15 on Mazda
My credo
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
They are saying this is street legal.
prerunner-building-104-what-is-an-ultimate-prerunner-2021-09-10_15-57-14_784981-scaled.jpg
prerunner-building-104-what-is-an-ultimate-prerunner-2021-09-10_16-01-49_419033-scaled.jpg
 

James Morse

1997 XLT 4.0L 4x4 1999 Mazda B3000 2wd
Supporting Member
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Location
Roanoke VA
Vehicle Year
1997 and 1999
Make / Model
XLT 4x4 & B3000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0L in XLT, 3.0L in B3000
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31x10.5-15 K02's on the Ranger, 235/75R15 on Mazda
My credo
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
I think it's special steering arrangement called swing steer.
Not sure about the front cage bar if it's in front of the driver up near the windshield it might be called a visibility problem but you can do decent cage if you want w/out the front bars I think. Or just external roll bar.
States differ a lot as to what's legal we know that.
There's a really good article series on prerunner builds, it all dovetails perfectly with what's been said here.
 
Last edited:

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
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Southern maine
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2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
They are saying this is street legal.
View attachment 92305View attachment 92306
Depends on the state. A setup like that *shouldn't* pass an inspection in maine because it's now lacking its factory equipped front swaybar... but the human element dictates that the potential of finding a tech who doesn't care for one reason or another is totally possible.
 

James Morse

1997 XLT 4.0L 4x4 1999 Mazda B3000 2wd
Supporting Member
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Messages
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Location
Roanoke VA
Vehicle Year
1997 and 1999
Make / Model
XLT 4x4 & B3000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0L in XLT, 3.0L in B3000
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31x10.5-15 K02's on the Ranger, 235/75R15 on Mazda
My credo
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
Ah yes the swaybar, I think we have that rule also. Thanks.
If you yourself know that truck is safe to drive, and is basically legal, if you have a buddy that will hand you a sticker, that works. But they can get in trouble for it. I used to have such many years ago, but not now.
Yeah if they cared as much about inspections as they do about doing decent work (which is apparently, not at all) they wouldn't even look at it.
Isn't it true though, that those trucks, missing a front sway bar, don't have any problem as far as being safe to drive? I assume they are doing other things that make the sway bar superfluous.
 

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
Supporting Member
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Messages
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Location
Southern maine
Vehicle Year
2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
Ah yes the swaybar, I think we have that rule also. Thanks.
If you yourself know that truck is safe to drive, and is basically legal, if you have a buddy that will hand you a sticker, that works. But they can get in trouble for it. I used to have such many years ago, but not now.
Yeah if they cared as much about inspections as they do about doing decent work (which is apparently, not at all) they wouldn't even look at it.
Isn't it true though, that those trucks, missing a front sway bar, don't have any problem as far as being safe to drive? I assume they are doing other things that make the sway bar superfluous.

Safe is one of those super aggravating relative terms. Regulations can also be so incredibly asanine it'll burn your brain out...

'The state' doesn't think that a vehicle with a deleted bar is safe, because in an emergency evasive maneuver you'd be more likely to turn over.... but those same overlords will allow you to lift your factory-bar-equipped bronco ii enough where it'll tip over if it gets sneezed on.



Imo, things are only as safe as people make them.

Individual A could have no problem safely driving that on the street.. but individual B might immideately roll it over into a bus full of orphans and catch fire.

Individual A always gets the shaft, because of individual B lol.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
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Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Safe is one of those super aggravating relative terms. Regulations can also be so incredibly asanine it'll burn your brain out...

'The state' doesn't think that a vehicle with a deleted bar is safe, because in an emergency evasive maneuver you'd be more likely to turn over.... but those same overlords will allow you to lift your factory-bar-equipped bronco ii enough where it'll tip over if it gets sneezed on.



Imo, things are only as safe as people make them.

Individual A could have no problem safely driving that on the street.. but individual B might immideately roll it over into a bus full of orphans and catch fire.

Individual A always gets the shaft, because of individual B lol.
IMO, if it runs, somewhat steers, kinda stops, and you can only see half your lane through the floorboards...its safe.
 

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
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Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
IMO, if it runs, somewhat steers, kinda stops, and you can only see half your lane through the floorboards...its safe.
Perfect description of an old Ranger
 

James Morse

1997 XLT 4.0L 4x4 1999 Mazda B3000 2wd
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2021
Messages
1,891
Reaction score
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113
Location
Roanoke VA
Vehicle Year
1997 and 1999
Make / Model
XLT 4x4 & B3000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0L in XLT, 3.0L in B3000
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31x10.5-15 K02's on the Ranger, 235/75R15 on Mazda
My credo
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
Speaking of old Rangers, in the last 2 days I saw at least 4 of them - judging by the grills, and they looked nice and clean, all Supercab, but none RED.
Looking clean doesn't tell you much about mechanicals though.
I'm abandoning the idea of prerunner, it's not really useful around here.
Just one of those things that are fun to look at.
Also abandoned Daytona project as result of the whole thought process.
Which means I can concentrate on one project, make the Ranger a good trail rig.
I hate it when reality slams you in in the face.
 

black_demon69

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AZ
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1994
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Ford
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4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0l
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Safe is one of those super aggravating relative terms. Regulations can also be so incredibly asanine it'll burn your brain out...

'The state' doesn't think that a vehicle with a deleted bar is safe, because in an emergency evasive maneuver you'd be more likely to turn over.... but those same overlords will allow you to lift your factory-bar-equipped bronco ii enough where it'll tip over if it gets sneezed on.



Imo, things are only as safe as people make them.

Individual A could have no problem safely driving that on the street.. but individual B might immideately roll it over into a bus full of orphans and catch fire.

Individual A always gets the shaft, because of individual B lol.
Did you really need to add orphans? 😂
 

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