Ford Ranger Prerunner – Cheapest Ticket to Desert Racing

ford ranger prerunner black fiberwerx wide body

The Ford Ranger is one of the most popular small trucks on DIY Prerunner scene. In today’s post, we will try to figure out why people love these trucks and what it takes to build a worthy prerunner out of one. Kalil Bushala and David Hart – the owners of some of the most badass Ranger desert trucks – were kind enough to share the spec lists of their builds and tell us about the modifications they made. Read on to get the recipe for an ultimate Ford Ranger prerunner straight from the source!

ford ranger prerunner long travel suspension

Table of Contents

So Why a Ranger?

The primary reason we love these trucks so much is that they are very simple and affordable compared to bigger, full-size pickups, making them a popular choice as a prerunner platform for DIY enthusiasts.

Rangers are available in both RWD and 4WD configurations. They were in production from 1983 until 2012, when Ford discontinued the model. The low cost and high reliability made the Ranger a best-seller among small pickup trucks, resulting in a vast array of aftermarket parts and components available for it.

If you are looking for an affordable and easy-to-maintain entry-level prerunner, the Ranger will be your top choice. With a truck like this, you can keep your comfortable daily driver and turn this truck into an ultimate desert rig without spending an exorbitant amount of money.

Ranger Chase Truck with a Double Spare Tire Carrier in the Bed

Aftermarket Support

Pretty much all manufacturers of aftermarket off-road equipment and fab shops have an extensive line of Ranger prerunner products and solutions, so you don’t have to spend much time designing your own components and custom fabrication. These trucks are very capable but still stand one step lower than fullsize trucks that come with stock V8 engines, like a Toyota Tundra or Nissan Titan.

The most crucial part of every prerunner build is choosing the right suspension setup. Companies such as Camburg, Dixon Bros, and HM Racing Design can offer you kits ranging from mild to wild, with suspension travel starting from 15″ up to 24″, which will be more than enough for spirited driving in the desert.

If you are concerned about wheel size, you can choose any setup between 33″-35″ and up to 39″ tires. Bulged fenders and a lightweight hood will help you clear large wheels on a Ranger and allow for decent suspension travel.

The team at Fiberwerx has a cool Ranger to Raptor conversion body kit that will help you to ditch the old factory body panels in favor of the late model Ford Full-size truck. It includes a complete set of body panels, fenders, quarter panels, and a one-piece front end with a Raptor grille and headlights. In addition to the first-gen Ford Raptor front and rear end conversion, you can now get a Gen 2 Ford Raptor conversion, which looks awesome. It comes with 2015 and newer F150 headlights and taillights that mount to the new Raptor front shell and fiberglass tailgate.

Rangers were available with 4 and 6-cylinder 2.3L – 4.0L motors, producing up to 207 HP and 238 lb-ft of torque. However, many owners have opted for custom V8 conversions.

Best Pre Runner Builds

Alright, enough of the theory and brochure specs. In the second part of our writeup, we decided to take a closer look at the Ford Ranger prerunners pictured, talk with the owners, and find the recipe for a proper Ford Ranger desert truck.

2004 Ford Ranger Black Widow

First up is Kalil Bushala from Fullerton, California, and his fully built, daily-driven 2004 Ford Ranger prerunner nicknamed “Black Widow.” The wide stance, large tires, and bulged fenders make the truck look extremely brutal, especially in black. Kalil has owned the truck since 2010 and has been constantly working on its modification. Throughout the years, it has gone through many changes that have touched pretty much all components of the truck, turning it into a real performer and head-turner.

Build Specs

Engine:

Performance tune
Juanco tuned ECU
K&N air intake
Stock 4.0 V6 SOHC engine
C4 Culhane built transmission
Jaz 32-gallon fuel cell
CBR transmission cooler
Planned supercharger upgrade

Suspension:

Camburg Race Kit with 2.25 hubs
Camburg 3-link kit
Currie stamped 9″ rearend with modular case
Fox shocks all around

Wheels:

15″ Method rims with beadlocks
35″ BFG mud-terrain tires

Body:

Widebody fenders by Glassworks Fiberglass
Black paint

Safety:

Full cage from front to rear using DOM tubing
Roof cut off to weld a full 360-degree cage
Front & rear performance brakes by Wilwood
Crow 5-point harnesses

Other:

Momo steering wheel with quick release
PRP racing seats

A performance tune, Juanco tuned ECU, and K&N air intake have allowed Kalil to get more power from the stock 4.0 V6 SOHC engine, which is paired with a C4 Culhane built transmission to make the truck even more agile in the dunes and on desert trails. It is also equipped with a Jaz 32-gallon fuel cell and a CBR transmission cooler. As we all know, there is always room for improvement, so Kalil is planning to upgrade his Ranger with a supercharger to get even more power and torque in the future.

Suspension and drivetrain mods include a Camburg Race Kit with 2.25 hubs, Camburg 3-link kit, Currie stamped 9″ rearend with modular case, Fox shocks all around, and front & rear performance brakes by Wilwood.

Ford Ranger Prerunner Rock Crawling — Currie stamped 9″ rearend with modular case

The interior features a Momo steering wheel with quick release, PRP racing seats, and Crow 5-point harnesses. Significant attention was dedicated to safety, so the Ranger is equipped with a full cage from front to rear using only DOM tubing. In order to make it race-legal, the roof was cut off to weld a full 360-degree cage.

What makes the truck look even more awesome are the widebody fenders by Glassworks Fiberglass that provide just enough clearance for huge 15″ Method rims with beadlocks wrapped in 35″ BFG mud-terrain tires.

All these modifications have turned a regular Ranger into a fully capable prerunner truck, which has become a great example of properly selected parts for safe and enjoyable usage.

1995 Ford Ranger “Gumby”

This deep sea blue chase truck with its wide stance and large sand tires looks a far cry from the stock Rangers we’re used to seeing on the streets and at truck meets. The wide fenders and beefy wheels give it the appearance of a muscular athlete, ready to tackle any trail when needed.