What to know

  • You'll snag your first vehicle kit early in the game, right after the opening missions. After completing the“Down and Outbound” mission, you summon a Digirunner hoverbike on demand.
  • Digirunners pack boost, drift, and light weapons, but they're solo rides—no co-op passengers like in older titles.
  • Customization hits hard with skins, variants, and performance-boosting Hover Drives earned from challenges.
  • Ancient crawlers hidden across the map drop extra kits for SDU tokens, turning exploration into a loot bonanza.

Imagine crash-landing on the wild planet of Kairos, where every ridge hides psychos and every horizon begs for a joyride. In Borderlands 4, vehicles aren't just a convenience—they're your ticket to zipping through open-world chaos without getting bogged down in foot-slogging fights. Forget the old Catch-A-Ride stations; you summon your Digirunner right where you stand, ready to boost off cliffs or rocket through bandit camps. As you dive deeper into the campaign, you'll tweak it to fit your playstyle, turning a basic hoverbike into a personalized death machine. Let's break down how you get rolling and keep the momentum going.

Finding Vehicle Kit in Borderlands 4

You won't have to wait long to feel the wind on Kairos. The vehicle kit drops in the third main story mission, "Down and Outbound," which kicks off right after your introductory jaunt with Claptrap in "Recruitment Drive." Here's how it unfolds step by step:

  1. Team up with the Outbounders faction after Claptrap's antics—think ragtag rebels holding off the sinister Order.
  2. Push through the mission's skirmishes until you hit their base in the Fadefields region.
  3. Chat with Conway, the group's mechanic, who'll point you to his garage for a quick scan of his prototype Digirunner.
  4. Interact with the vehicle to unlock the kit—boom, permanent access granted. No more trekking; just summon and shred.

This early unlock keeps the pace snappy, especially since Kairos' seamless zones stretch far and wide. On PC, hit X to call it up; console folks tap left on the D-Pad. It's a game-changer for dodging ambushes or chaining objectives without burning stamina.

Digirunners: Your solo speedster with bite

At its core, the Digirunner is a sleek, one-seater hoverbike built for Borderlands' bullet-hell ballet. It hovers over terrain, letting you glide across dunes or leap ravines with ease. Key perks include:

  • Mobility tricks: Boost for sprints, drift around corners, and jump to clear gaps—perfect for vertical playgrounds full of ledges and drops.
  • Armed and ready: Mounts come standard with machine guns for peppering foes and rocket pods for crowd control. No ammo worries here; it's all cooldown-based.
  • Summon freedom: Pop it almost anywhere in the world, but watch out—enemies can blast it to bits. No sweat, though; respawn instantly.

Unlike Borderlands 3's multi-seat runners, these are pure solo ops, emphasizing personal flair over carpooling. If you're co-oping, each player rolls their own, keeping squads synced via fast travel to each other.

Hunting ancient crawlers for kit upgrades and SDU hauls

Want more than the basics? Scattered across Kairos are massive, derelict "ancient crawlers"—think colossal, rusted behemoths from a forgotten era. Climbing these bad boys nets you extra vehicle kits packed with goodies. Follow these steps to claim one:

  1. Scout the map for crawler icons (they're marked once you get close, often in remote badlands).
  2. Fight your way up: Expect waves of tough enemies, from feral mutants to turret nests—bring grenades and cover fire.
  3. Reach the summit control panel and power it up (a quick mini-game or hack).
  4. Loot the kit: Instant 40 SDU tokens for backpack or ammo upgrades, plus random vehicle cosmetics.

These aren't mandatory, but they supercharge your inventory management. As of mid-September 2025, players report at least a dozen confirmed spots, with more teased in side quests.

Customize your ride: From skins to stat-shifting Hover Drives

Nothing says "Vault Hunter" like a Digirunner that screams your vibe. Head to the Customization menu's Vehicles tab to mod away. You've got layers here—cosmetics for style, variants for looks, and Hover Drives for performance. Pre-order bonuses even toss in exclusive skins if you jumped in early.

Customization TypeHow to Get ItWhat It DoesExample Perks
Skins & VariantsMission rewards, DLC packs, or ECHO-4 menu chestsPure aesthetics—no gameplay tweaksNeon glow wraps, Vault Hunter-themed decals, or wild patterns like flame trails
Hover DrivesComplete in-game challenges (e.g., race times or kill streaks)Boosts stats like speed, handling, or durability"Turbo Drift" for sharper turns; "Armor Boost" for tankier rides against crashes
Weapons Add-OnsRare drops from bosses or crawler kitsEnhances firepowerUpgraded rocket volleys or elemental turrets (fire/corrosive for elemental synergy)

Swap 'em mid-mission if needed—your Digirunner adapts on the fly. Community buzz highlights how Hover Drives make exploration feel fresh; pair a speed-focused one with gliding mechanics, and you're untouchable.

Co-op cruising and traversal tips for Kairos chaos

Borderlands 4 shines in four-player squads, but vehicles keep it fair: Everyone summons independently, with level scaling ensuring no one lags. Fast travel to teammates mid-ride, or use the new Ordnance slot for heavy weapons to cover each other from afar. Pro tip: In vertical zones, combine Digirunner jumps with your Vault Hunter's grapple hook for insane shortcuts. And if a drive goes south? Eject and slide into cover—movement's never been this fluid.

Wrapping up your Kairos road trip

There you have it—your blueprint to dominating dirt and dunes in Borderlands 4. From that first scan in the Outbounder garage to decking out a crawler-looted beast, vehicles turn the planet's sprawl into your personal playground. Grab the kit early, chase those upgrades, and remember: On Kairos, it's not just about the loot—it's about the ride.