Just brought home a 2001 Pathfinder SE - need some info and inspiration

[stioc]

Just bought a 2001 Pathfinder SE. Here's the Craigslist ad:

• One owner & clean title
• No accidents
• 125K miles
• Black leather interior
• 4 wheel drive
• Mud & snow tires (low miles on tires)
• 3.5L engine
• Automatic transmission
• Air conditioning & heater
• Power windows and door locks
• Power & heated front seats (driver and passenger)
• Sliding moon roof
• Bose premium sound system with single disk CD player (iPhone plugin in glove box + aux jack in front)
• Dual air bags
• Cruise control
• Tow hitch
• Nissan Pathfinder rubber floor mats (includes trunk rubber mat)
• 9 volt outlet in front and rear (attaches to a cooler or other device)



The first order of business is to replace all fluids, are there any Nissan specific fluids that I must use like Diff/Trans etc?
Next would be replacing the upper/lower radiator hoses and potentially the radiator
Then a mild lift (will be a daily driver and used on long camping/road trips). Is OME the best option?
Are there any other things I should look at in particular?
Anyone here has a 2nd gen Pathy that seems overlanding duties?

 

[drbandkgb]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/13922-Nissan-Photos-post-your-s

Not a ton out there for that pathy... Seems like there was a thread for that model lifted on here...

 

[stioc]

Yeah I don't see too many second gen Pathfinders setup for hardcore off-road duty. The Xterras are definitely popular for that and that's what I was looking for myself (and the Monteros) until I came across this one for a good price. I'm not going to do any rock crawling with it. It'll be our roadtrip/camping/exploring familly truckster. A mild 2" OME lift kit and 31" tires down the road is all I'll ever need. The rest of it is nice as-is; leather, heated seats, sunroof, premium bose system with iPod hookup etc


While this is a nice rig:

This is likely what I'll be doing with mine:

 

[drbandkgb]

I do love the Pathfinders... The 3.5 would be nice...

But my 3.3 will get me over most things

http://www.xterranation.org/showthread.php?751-Show-us-the-Pathy
Come check us out... We have a small little pathy room

 

[stioc]

My impression of the Pathfinder after 3 days:

I wasn't entirely sure how I'd like the truck as I bought it kinda on a whim after a quick test drive and the history. However, after daily driving it for the last 3 days and approx 200miles in 98F+ temps (with the A/C on of course)- running errands, taking it for a 60mi freeway cruise and a trip to the local dirt trail I'm really really happy with it. The ground clearance was not an issue on this particular trail despite it being fairly rutted in places (no big boulders though). With the short overhangs and fairly clean center I didn't hear a single scrape anywhere. I measured the ground clearance when I got home and the factory 8.3" doesn't seem right because the lowest part was the rear shock mounts that hang below the axle which were 6.7" (but you typically drive over an obstacle so that's not usually an issue), the rest of the stuff under there was 9+".

Comfort, power and handling was also impressive; the engine on it is silky smooth with abundant low-end torque and horsepower. I was so impressed that I decided to look up the detailed specs on it and just for the heck of it compare it to a 2007 4Runner 4x4 SR5.

http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/pathfi...tyle=100001596
http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/4runne...tyle=100785374

Stock for stock they're both a toss up in terms of power, convenience features and capabilities, not bad for 2001 $6500 truck vs. the cream-of-the-crop $17k truck (used pricing). Of course, the 4Runner has a lot more potential as a trail rig but for someone like me who wants a fairly stock daily-driver capable of mild adventures and explorations this Pathfinder (3.5L engine) is a bargain, it far exceeded my expectations for what I paid for it.

 

[dro805]

Nice pathy Can't wait to see your build thread, you should check out npora there are some cool r50s but a lot more wd21 anyways good luck with the new rig

 

[stioc]

Thanks! but a Pathy build thread here on the Xterra forum?? :coffeedrink:

 

[kjp1969]

Congrats- that looks like it will do. Don't be too quick to lift it- that was my first plan for my Bronco, but at stock height and close to OE tires (31") the gas mileage is still acceptable and in a group it isn't the one that gets stuck.

Get your Ham license and a good radio, and then come out with us on the next trip!

 

[stioc]

Thanks Kevin, I'll hit you up via PM- would love to come to the next outing with you guys.

 

[amgvr4]

Great choice on the R50 pathy. I have had my '01 for five years now and it has been a great rig. I was going to lift it but just haven't gotten around to it since we use it for on road 99% of the time. I put some wrangler MTRs in 245-75-16 on it soon after we got it and have been very impressed with the performance and longevity of them. We have 50k miles on them and they still above the wear bars. The biggest problem with offroading them is the strut front suspension. It is hard to get it to flex and have any real travel. Good luck and keep the pictures coming.

 

[stioc]

Thanks. Good to know 245/75/16 will fit. Do have any rubbing issues with those tires- especially when offroading?

The more people I talk to say they're pretty darned capable off-road in stock form with the right tire. So I may leave it alone though at its age it may benefit from new struts/shocks and at that point I might as well get a 1/2" to 1" lift. We shall see.

 

[amgvr4]

The tires fit good and don't rub on our truck. It would benefit more from a locker than a lift in my experience and the factory LSD is of no help offroad.

 

[mrwizard]

Thanks! but a Pathy build thread here on the Xterra forum?? :coffeedrink:

Actually snorted when I read this...:elkgrin:

 

[stioc]

First real offroad trip for the Pathy, pics here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/81909-A-stock-2001-Pathfinder-on-N-Main-Divide-Rd-CA