Ford Ranger Prerunner
 

I won't bore you guys with ALL the build photos as this is a work in progress but since it'll be brushless I might as well post it here.

The Goal - To replicate a Ford Ranger Prerunner someone might have built in their garage. Nothing crazy, full factory frame, basic long arm kit etc etc etc

These 1/6th Ford Ranger bodies are well known in the crawling community but hard to come by. Found one for a good price and have always wanted to do this project.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...9/IMG_0291.jpg

Stripped it down. Cut the bed off, and cut out the fake engine.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...IMG_0313sm.jpg

After some styrene work, shoe goo and some bondo I'm at this point with the cab wall. One more layer of bondo and some sanding should finish this up.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...IMG_0331sm.jpg

Here's where I'm at with the current front suspension layout and the motor mount and transmission. I don't have much time at home in the shop since I have a new born so most of the fab work I'm sourcing out on this project.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...or_mounted.jpg

I'm expecting next week to be filled with lots of goodies in the mail :smile:

Looks like a great project! You are always up to something original, it seems. Looking forward to seeing this in action, a friend of mine is really into pre-runners and has built a few Rangers.

Awesomeness! What's the wheelbase?

oh nice :D im actually in the process of a full size ranger prerunner. i like the i beams you drew out. a 3 link or 4 link in the back would be nice. some bed caging would be awesome!

awesome suspension, I certainly haven't seen that in an r/c vehicle.

you said you wouldn't bore us with the build process, is there a link to a site where the build is chronicled? I wanna see it, you build some cool shit.

can't wait for progress...

Thanks guys! I'm getting really anxious to see some more progress on this thing myself.

Wheelbase is setup to be around 16.875"

Planning 4-link rear end with a bed cage like the real deal. Going to have a cage inside the cab also to try and protect the body as much as possible. I plan on it being on it's lid at some point :lol: This thing is going to be a heavy pig to say the least. I'm shooting for 30mph. I think that'll get me in enough trouble.

Here's the complete build thread. It has a few more pictures of the steps that were done on the body and lots more CAD images as I progressed on designing the suspension.

Must be my turn to ask the dumb question, again. What's a pre-runner?


If you just focus on the body in those pics, it looks like it could be a 1:1

My definition of a pre runner, for what it's worth lol.

They were originaly built by baja-racers that wanted to pre-run the course so they could get a feel for the track. Then non-racers caught on and the sport kind of blew up. Take a look at: http://www.dezertrangers.com/home.htm

Nick, what are you going to use to power this thing?

No dumb questions! Here are some pics of the truck I've studied the most for the build. It's not the same body style but suspension and layout is what I'm after. The only main difference is he's running leafs for back suspension and I'll be going 4-link.

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...ch/Ranger1.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...ch/Ranger2.jpg

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...ch/Ranger3.jpg

Here are my calculations

Differential Ratio: 2.923076923076923
Spur Tooth Count: 54
Pinion Tooth Count: 10
Total Voltage: 22.2
Motor KV: 1580 (any guesses)
Tire Diameter (inches): 4.5
Tire Ballooning (inches): .125
Spur/Pinion Ratio: 5.4 : 1
Total Ratio: 15.78462 : 1
Tire Circumference (inches): 14.92 inches (379.03 mm)
Total Motor Speed: 35076 RPM
Vehicle Speed: 31.4 mph (50.44 km/h)

Hmm, my prediction is a new Castle motor in there.... 1717 perhaps...

The motor under the front hood would have a cool factor of 100%. IMO

Maybe fashion a heatsink around the motor to look like a scale V-8?

I was planning possibly replicating a motor or looking for a 1/8th scale model engine but I don't think there is going to be much room with the motor under the hood and also not sure how it would restrict cooling. Hopefully before long I'll have enough parts that I can actually start mocking things up.

I love this idea! I saw the drawing too. Maybe with a castle blower. Maybe sticking out of the hood!