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pre-runner
Dodge Dakota
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2/24/2003
22:59:57
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 Subject: What is a pre-runner?
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What is a pre-runner?
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Steve-o
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
08:34:00
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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A prerunner is a 2WD pickup truck that is raised up to look like a 4WD truck. I never knew this until Toyota started to produce a 2WD Tachoma that I alwasy mistook for a 4WD. Then I went to a dealership when I was looking around, and I saw several with the 'Prerunner' package. But that's basically it, from what I know. It's just a 2WD lifted up to look like, or have the clearance of a 4WD. Where the name 'prerunner' came from is beyond my knoweldge, but I hope I could shed some light for ya.
Steve
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Canadakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
09:34:20
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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It's the name for the type of trucks that run in the Baja. They have a ton of suspension travel and are built to go fast off-road rather than the usual "rock-crawlers" who go slow and want lots of clearance under the truck.
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no-neck
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
12:04:31
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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Nicely put Canadakota. Check the third picture from the top to get an idea of what they look like in action: http://www.kaloffroad.com/picture%20page.htm
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other bill
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
12:43:27
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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Close Canadakota,
A pre-runner is just that, a pre-runner. Desert racers, who have the money, will have a separate vehicle that is set up similar to their race rig, but usually not quite as "hopped up", it is often street legal(barely) and holds more fuel.
They will use this vehicle to do what it says, pre-run the course, usually a day or two before the actual race. This is so they and they're co-pilot can familiarize themselves with the course layout and its hazards.
As with most any racing, drivers are allowed "practice laps". Obviously with desert racing, since you cannot see the whole course you need to be able to travel it at a slower speed first. They're co-pilot will often annotate on a course map things that would be go to know about when you are going 100mph such as: turns, hills, washed out areas, cliffs!
This type of modification has been very popular on the west coast as well as in the desert states for years. When I get my new fenders from Glassworks I will be contributing to the trend here on the east coast as well....along with my pre-runner bumper that I am rebuilding(slight accident). By the way, I believe that is where Toyota derived its name for the "4-runner"? (for=pre) Does that give you an idea of how long we desert rats have been doing this? I grew up in the Mojave Desert.
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dweishaar
GenIII
2/25/2003
12:52:17
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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A pre-runner got its name because it does exactly that. It is a built up truck that Baja racing teams use to prerun a race track or course. a big mis-conception that toyota helped provide is that pre-runners are solely a 2wd vehicle. many vehicles (60-75%) of the prerun and desert off road enthusiasts are 4wd or Awd. 2wd is used primarily for jump trucks and stadium trucks due to better articulation in the front suspension (because of no drive shafts). Many ProTrucks for jumps or stadium use have mid-mounted engines and the entire front of the truck is dedicated to suspension. Many people who build their street trucks into dirt trucks try to copy the "pre-runner look" which is very easy to pick out by off-road enthusiasts. the conception that the front of the truck being higher than the rear of the truck being a "pre-runner" is actually a half done truck, most people can only afford to build up their truck a piece at a time, and the front long travel and fiberglass is the logical first step. If you look at my truck, a pretty much completed truck, it actually sits nose down. hope this helps.
The Baja Dak
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Steve-o
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
13:04:54
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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I stand corrected. Thanks guys for shedding the light. :D
Steve
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conig
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
13:11:35
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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hey otherbill you got any pics of your prerunner bumper? I'd like to see some. let me know.
matt_coniglio@fbmc-benefits.com
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no-neck
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2003
23:29:47
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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dweishaar, I like the way your truck looks in the profile picture. Did you go with a custom front end? And what kind of wheel travel are you expecting out of your rig? I'd like to see it up close and get a good look at how you pulled that off. I was considering going full coil-over conversion but I just can't afford that kind of build out right now.
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Canadakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/26/2003
09:27:43
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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Good explanations guys....actually, I never really figured out where the name came from, I guess it's kind of obvious now!!! Hey, you learn something everyday, right? - Especially on this board;)
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other bill
Dodge Dakota
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2/26/2003
11:56:58
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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conig,
I shouldn't have called it a bumper, it is more of a light bar that also wraps underneath with a skid plate. It is similar to those you see on Toyotas. I had made it a total bolt on thing using the factory bumper holes and the two bolts at the front of the crossmember where that little splash guard is. Currently it is against the wall in my garage and is not in the same "shape" as it originally was. I run into the back of a full sized ford before christmas. I will be building a new one in the future and will definately have pictures as I will of my complete rig once I get the larger tires on. Right now the 31s look a bit small.
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dweishaar
GenIII
2/26/2003
16:01:33
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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my truck has custom engine cage and frame work, and cycles at 15.75"
The Baja Dak
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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2/26/2003
18:28:58
| RE: What is a pre-runner?
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Depending on what racing organization you are racing with, you can "pre-run" the course about one month ahead of time. Best In The Desert pre runs about 4 weeks before their races. YOu guys explained what a "pre runner" is pretty good. Its just another truck they use to go out and beat the trail at a decent speed to prep themselves before the race, get familiar with the course, and so forth. The real truck is likely to be back in the garage being prepped for the real race; no sense in beating it up just before the race! Anyone can pre run the course if they want to, but it usually ends up being the guys who can afford a second vehicle, and can take the time off work to do it.
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