Toyota Prerunner Truck - Off-Road Trucks

T'was three years ago when my camera and I went to Rialto Off-Road Raceway in search of a bounteous plunder of dirt and trucks. And plunder we did. While there was a scurvy dog or two, most of the trucks braving the whoops and jumps at ROR were capable creatures. At day's end, I returned to my lair with a cameraful of high-flying images.

During a lull in the action, I spied an intriguing truck trio sitting side by side by side in the afternoon sun. Shawn St. George's long-travel Ford Ranger was flanked by two Toyotas, which were owned and driven by two Kevins. Kevin Mick's hospital-white Extra Cab wasn't a visual standout at the time, but the truck clearly had the performance factor nailed. It simply carved the turns and landed the ROR jumps without a hiccough. Impressive? Absolutely.

Flash forward to '07, and the nondescript, hospital-white 'Yota has now gained a personality that complements its performance level but does not overshadow it. Beneath the monster-size wheel openings of the Giant Motorsports front clip and the metalflaked gloss black paint lies the same real-life off-road hardware that caught my initial attention: an ESB long-travel front end suspended by King coilovers coupled with a long-travel, leaf-sprung rear damped by a pair of King 2.5-inch bypass shocks. Still impressive.

What's next for Kevin and the Black Pearl? A long, treacherous voyage through the deep waters of education. Kevin's put the Pearl in the classified ads, hoping that the sacrifice will net enough cash for a daily driver, tuition, and textbooks. "After I graduate, I'd like to build a Class 8 truck," he reveals. "I'd like something that has a V8. Something with a lot of power."

There's nothing to do but applaud Kevin's decision. We immortalize trucks in our pages, but the underlying reality is that education is forever, while trucks come and go. Meanwhile, keep a weather eye out for the Black Pearl swashbuckling its way through the wide-open desert. The new captain is sure to enjoy the high seas ahead.

ESB's steering kit boasts fully fabricated pitman and idler arms and is an easy bolt-on.

"I couldn't just leave the truck looking generic," Kevin comments. These trim panels between the main 'cage tubes and the bedsides are part of an aesthetics campaign. The panels not only look great, they also help enclose the wheels. This means less time on the side of the road talking to Buford T. Justice.
"I couldn't just leave the truck looking generic," Kevin comments. These trim panels betwe
Open wiiiiide! Giant Motorsports' one-piece hood-and-fender combo has room for acres of bumptravel. When removed, it allows unimpeded access to the engine and front suspension.
Open wiiiiide! Giant Motorsports' one-piece hood-and-fender combo has room for acres of bu
ESB Fabrications has closed its doors, but ESB products live on through trucks like Kevin's. This front end is about 5.5 inches wider per side and produces 18 inches of clean wheel travel.
ESB Fabrications has closed its doors, but ESB products live on through trucks like Kevin'

Not all Toyota pickups want to be Tundras when they grow up, but the bigger truck's headlights add just the right personality to the enlarged front clip.
Not all Toyota pickups want to be Tundras when they grow up, but the bigger truck's headli
Kevin took the front end a step further and called on Shawn St. George's fabrication talents to craft a set of TIG-welded lift spindles that blend flawlessly with the ESB kit. The St. George spindles give much-needed ground clearance on deeply rutted two-track.
Kevin took the front end a step further and called on Shawn St. George's fabrication talen

Long-travel leaf packs are easy to mount on the frame via custom spring hangers and custom shackles. The spring-under conversion minimizes axlewrap and maximizes bumptravel.
Long-travel leaf packs are easy to mount on the frame via custom spring hangers and custom
Giant Motorsports long-travel shackles attach to the top of the framerail and give the leaf packs a bind-free range of motion.
Giant Motorsports long-travel shackles attach to the top of the framerail and give the lea

Yes, steel would've done a fine job, but custom billet-aluminum U-bolt plates are lightweight and will never rust. The greatest benefit here is a high cool factor.
Yes, steel would've done a fine job, but custom billet-aluminum U-bolt plates are lightwei
Without a bed floor, all the essentials had to have custom mounts. This floor-jack handle stays put no matter how nasty the terrain, and it's easy to access when needed.
Without a bed floor, all the essentials had to have custom mounts. This floor-jack handle

A rear-mounted fuel cell makes for a more stable truck, as it helps counterbalance the engine's weight at the front. Ditto for the rear-mounted spare tire.
A rear-mounted fuel cell makes for a more stable truck, as it helps counterbalance the eng
Proven over and over again in competition and play, King bypass shocks were an easy choice for the rear suspension.
Proven over and over again in competition and play, King bypass shocks were an easy choice
St. George Motorsports built the bumper-to-bumper 'cage. Since the Pearl served as Kevin's daily driver, the 'cage had to be as unobtrusive as possible. Shawn St. George did a great job of tucking the tubing tight against the sheetmetal.
St. George Motorsports built the bumper-to-bumper 'cage. Since the Pearl served as Kevin's

Beard seats and DJ Safety five-point harnesses keep driver and codriver comfortably captured in both city traffic and the heat of desert competition.
Beard seats and DJ Safety five-point harnesses keep driver and codriver comfortably captur