You could go out and spend over $50,000 on a brand-new Ford F-150 Raptor, and that's just fine. But not everyone has that kind of dough available. Even the just-revealed F-150 Tremor package is a $4,000 upgrade. Fortunately, there are plenty of less expensive options for those who want a serious off-road F-150 thanks to the aftermarket industry. There's something out there for every budget, like this 1997 F-150 Prerunner built by Harrisburg Motorsports in Valley Center, California.
It's currently up for auction right now on Bring A Trailer and the highest bid is only $3,560. The long list of modifications were done back in 2015 and they include a shortened 130-inch wheelbase, a custom roll cage, and a three-place cab. The body was repainted in white and boasts flared fenders and fiberglass bedsides.
A sliding rear window, tubular front bumper with a huge skid plate, a removable front light bar with four 8-inch driving lights, and 17-inch beadlock wheels wearing BFGoodrich tires are among the standout upgrades. The cargo bed has been replaced with a custom-fabricated tube-frame cage that contains a 40-gallon fuel cell, battery mount, an aluminum jack on an easy-to-remove mount, and twin spare wheels and tires. Significant work was also done internally with a new front suspension system consisting of things like aluminum upper control arms and Bilstein four-tube dual-rate coilovers with 2-inch hydraulic bump stops.
In true Prerunner fashion, the interior has been stripped of most creature comforts. Instead, you'll find a custom-made roll cage, five-point racing harnesses fitted to the seats, a fire extinguisher, a JVC head unit, a 110-watt Kenwood transceiver, and an intercom system with headsets.
Power comes from the stock 5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 that was reportedly rebuilt at 152,000 miles; the speedometer now reads 212,000 miles. Power is directed to either the rear or all four wheels through a recently rebuilt four-speed automatic and a two-speed transfer case. The gearbox has also been enhanced for off-roading duties with things like a billet torque converter, upgraded clutch, and a reprogramming kit. A Flowmaster exhaust has also been installed.
The entire build is quite impressive but there are a few drawbacks. For one thing, the truck won't pass California's ultra-strict emissions test, meaning it can't be sold to a California resident. There is no history of accidents but there is some damage on the passenger-side rear door, a misaligned passenger-side corner lamp, and a cracked windshield.