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Prerunner/expedition(safari) truck?

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derherr65

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Thinking about where I want my '81 to end up. Somewhere between an expedition vehicle and prerunner is the answer I'm coming up with currently. What needs to be addressed? Weak spots, reliability issues, known design flaws? Goal wouldn't be to win Baja, just to be confident in completing it without breakage, and still drive on the street without death wobble etc.
 
I love people who respond back use Google. I'd never have thought of that myself. :sign15: What those prerunner forums lack is any model specific info. Not a lot of them running Blazers, let alone 30 year old Blazers. Same problem in the expedition/safari category, it's all hummers and land rovers.

Sorry for the flames, maybe I worded my question poorly. What I want is a completely reliable and nearly indestructible '81 blazer 4x4. What stock components don't fit that description, and what would you suggest replacing them with? I plan on sticking with the 305/350, don't need more power, speed or cost. Tires will fit stock suspension/fenders or a very minimum suspension lift. Would like all parts to be some sort of factory stock piece available at the local auto parts store.
 
First off pre-runner and expedition style builds couldnt possibly be further from each other.

Generally speaking pre-runners are gonna require good coil over and link suspension up front and preferably in the back too. I'm no expert in desert stuff and jumping a truck.

Now expedition type builds I happen to really like and read builds on all the time. Only thing is this category isnt about special mods to the vehicles suspension etc and more about knowing what he correct level of modification is to live offroad and on.

Personally I would look into doing 52in springs up front, 64in springs out back. Crossover up front. A huge part of an expedition vehicle is using engines, transmissions, tires, axles, etc that parts can be had easily for.

Idk how big you're aiming to make the truck but when shooting for expedition you want a low COG for road driving. 5" of lift should really be your limit especially considering a rack and rooftop storage will probably be in order.

With tires there is two ways you can go. A size thats readily available the world over (which in third world countries generally stops at stocking 32.9x9.5 R15 or r16) OR you go with carrying 2 possibly 3 spares. Look into 37x12.5r16.5 humvee tires. Theyre cheap so having 2 spares wont break the bank.

And honestly the rest of a truck being an expedition vehicles has nothing to do with the make and model. Look at the rover and toyota builds and apply the storage designs to your truck. Thinks like fridge, storage space, sleep area, etc need to be designed based on your vehicle.

:dunno: Idk I just feel like you want to be spoonfed and exact build to follow and honestly its gonna be hard to find. I havent seen a true blue expedition style burb because honesty GM parts arent found easily the world over.
 
While expedition trucks and pre runners don't share alot of common traits I think building one is entirely possible.

Thing about this is,whats your budget.

That is a huge factor in this. Pre runners are all about travel and speed, expedition trucks are about getting where no other truck has the fuel capacity or ability to get too.

So while they are totally different worlds you can collide them.

Biggest problem I see with our trucks is the frame flex. The frame is the foundation of a truck. It needs some work. Extra crossmembers at minimum and boxing fully if you can.

Suspension I would say Is the most difficult bit, coils up front, but you need some load carrying capacity in back so leaves would work but don't allow as much travel as something that is linked. Airbags you could use for sure they will allow some travel but are susceptible to stray logs or other shrapnel. Air bags overall are pretty tough

You might think about coils in the back too because I doubt you will be doing pre running and expedition wheeling at the same time. So a set of helper airbags you could remove quickly with coils or some longer spring under leafs would be cool

Drivetrain is pretty solid in one of these trucks at least in the USA you can find parts everywhere.

The closer to stock you are the better.

Axles the simple answer is one tons.

There is a whole myriad different ways you could do it. I would imagine after you are done though the truck would lean one way or the other. Building a do it all truck can be cheap but you have to make alot of sacrifices to certain things
 
:waytogo: "So while they are totally different worlds you can collide them. " Well said. :waytogo:
Minimum budget. Junkyard parts.

My understanding of Prerunning was that the goal is learning the course, not making a time. Should the vehicle be capable, yes. I don't require that it be fast. Like I said, able to travel the course without breakage. Time not a significant factor.

Expedition should also probably be treated similarly lightly. Likelyhood of leaving the states is about 0. If I had that kinda money I'd buy a real hummer so it wouldn't be a concern. So stateside parts availability is plenty adequate. Very remote camping/fishing/hunting is likely actual use.

Agreed on the rooftop rack and minimal lift.
Interesting, hadn't heard about humvee tires... something to research, thanks.
Boxing and a mini cage are entirely doable.
Axles are weaker than trans and transfer case? Interesting.
Swapping in a 1 ton with springs in front should be easy to keep stock... 1 ton rear with coils not so easy.... another item to research.

Some direction to look in, thanks all. Will post as I find stuff and have ideas. Please feel free to throw in suggestions and tell me when I make a poor choice!
 
You really need to decide what you want and what ride you are building, believe me it aint easy to build a mix of the 2... for a pre runner theres tons of stuff you have to look for and an expedition vehicule would be just a nice ride with all the tools.
 
shovelbill80 said:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/index.php
i think an overdrive tranny would help too...
Click to expand...
They have a stuck thread that's great!
Twin mattress fits perfectly in a blazer if you remove the rear seat...:bow:
I'd like to have a little more suspension travel and ability to get out of the mud/sand than the blazers there seems to have.

Without going the mud bogger route(lotsa power, huge flotation tires) is there any way to improve ability to get through mud and sand?
 
Please post a build thread when you get started. It will be interesting to follow the evolution of the project. My opinion is the expedition option.
 
build a "mini" expedition vehicle first and do the math to have Alcan make you a custom (to YOUR truck's specs) set of springs with real good shocks.....keep it pretty low with 33-35 inch tires.....roof rack plays hell with short wheel based tall trucks. i think you want a capable desert truck. pre runner can't really carry expedtition stuff too well suspension wise, i would think. you'd want strong axles with selectable lockers for sure, breakin a shaft would suck pretty bad. good cooling for sure. custom gas tank, keep a low center of gravity and no weight of cans up top. good lighting....dual battery setup....underhood welder, underhood air........hmm.
 
Sounds like you are working around the same premise as alot of us here.

There are tons of things on this site. Search this site for 52" spring swap. 56" spring swap. You can get good front travel with just leaf springs. Sounds like leafs will work best for you in the rear too. Search shackle flip.

Decent motor or good gearing will help you through the mud. Lockers front and rear will help a ton too.

How remote are we talking? Like 75 miles remote or a couple hundred from nowhere?

Shocks are going to be important too. It is really very hard to build a blazer on junkyard parts unless you have some great connections. Well its not cheap, mine is built out of junkyard parts but the modifications required to use said junk yard parts would have cost alot. I did it all myself.

I am building a Jimmy right now (well planning the build) for something similar and right now the plans are 10 bolt front 14bolt SF rear. Selectable lockers 35-36" tires. Coils front and rear using bushings and not heim joints or any kind of flex joint.

Its a diesel and I have a 32 gallon tank so I am not worried about range too much. 4.56 gears with an overdrive trans (700) should keep the motor happy in most situations.
 
blazinzuk said:
Sounds like you are working around the same premise as alot of us here.

There are tons of things on this site. Search this site for 52" spring swap. 56" spring swap. You can get good front travel with just leaf springs. Sounds like leafs will work best for you in the rear too. Search shackle flip.

Decent motor or good gearing will help you through the mud. Lockers front and rear will help a ton too.

How remote are we talking? Like 75 miles remote or a couple hundred from nowhere?

Shocks are going to be important too. It is really very hard to build a blazer on junkyard parts unless you have some great connections. Well its not cheap, mine is built out of junkyard parts but the modifications required to use said junk yard parts would have cost alot. I did it all myself.

I am building a Jimmy right now (well planning the build) for something similar and right now the plans are 10 bolt front 14bolt SF rear. Selectable lockers 35-36" tires. Coils front and rear using bushings and not heim joints or any kind of flex joint.

Its a diesel and I have a 32 gallon tank so I am not worried about range too much. 4.56 gears with an overdrive trans (700) should keep the motor happy in most situations.
Click to expand...

do you have a thread on this rig......sound very, very cool.......like a Jeep XJ suspension?
 
shovelbill80 said:
do you have a thread on this rig......sound very, very cool
Click to expand...

Yah but its not very far, :D It is a running driving truck right now (well as soon as I swap the trans) and I need to finish my dually before I start on this. Hoping to start next winter sometime.
 
someone on this forum has a full bodied coiled desert truck, have you seen it?....i think it's beigh colored and in all the pictures i've seen, it's flying like 10 feet in the air. that one sure don't have junkyard parts though.

Yah but its not very far, :D It is a running driving truck right now (well as soon as I swap the trans and I need to finish my dually before I start on this. Hoping to start next winter sometime.
Click to expand...

i hope to have some of my wishes don't by next winter......i'm happy mine's actually driving right now.
 
shovelbill80 said:
someone on this forum has a full bodied coiled desert truck, have you seen it?....i think it's beigh colored and in all the pictures i've seen, it's flying like 10 feet in the air. that one sure don't have junkyard parts though.



i hope to have some of my wishes don't by next winter......i'm happy mine's actually driving right now.
Click to expand...

KTMoutfront is who you are thinking of. I am putting coils on mine alot for comfort on the street. I don't plan on much more travel than a well thought out leaf spring suspension.
 
I'd be tempted to do coils up front to get a bit more uptravel with a low lift. Leafspring 3" lift + crossover steering= about 4" of front uptravel before the steering arm hits the spring (this measurement is based off my setup).

I'd do a low lift- like 3-4", 5" tops (5" would be running 52's or 56's), one ton axles, 37's, a bit of fender trimming. Lockers front and rear (preferably a selectable locker up front), 350, OD trans. I think that'd make a good all around setup. Coilovers up front and leaves out back would rock but would be $$$!
 
Anything bigger than 33s and I would switch to a dana 60 front when it comes to talking about driving 70miles off and going wheeling. Security and confidence plays a huge role in an expedition style rig.

I'd start with 1 ton axles, hummer double beadlocks and tires (check out trailworthyfab.com), 52in springs up front with crossover and an anti roll bar, 64in springs out back with a shackle flip. Cutout fender flares because road legality is important and you're not going for cool points covering your truck with mud from uncovered tired.

Protection is a big deal both on the underside and the body. Square tube rockers, sliders and maybe a tube going from the sliders to your roofrack covering your b pillar. You'll also want to clock the tcase to get your transfer case up and a good skid system.

Of course the necessary storage, sleeping platform, OBA and a weldernator arent a bad idea either.
 
derherr65 said:
They have a stuck thread that's great!
Twin mattress fits perfectly in a blazer if you remove the rear seat...:bow:
I'd like to have a little more suspension travel and ability to get out of the mud/sand than the blazers there seems to have.

Without going the mud bogger route(lotsa power, huge flotation tires) is there any way to improve ability to get through mud and sand?
Click to expand...


Btw wheres the stuck thread I cant find it
 
derherr65 said:
What those prerunner forums lack is any model specific info.
Click to expand...

Sooo.... I googled "prerunner forum"....
The first thing that came up said, "prerunner info for rangers, taco's, Tundra's, Chevy's, etc."

So, how is that not specific?

I'm sure there are a few more, as well.
That's just the first one I looked at.... :whistle:
 
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