Mortonm's 2001 Xterra Build

[mortonm]

Thanks, they're closer to 33" so there's actually no real speedo error. And yeah this one came with the 20s as well (part of the sport package), but after scraping them up one too many times, we sold them and helped pay for these new shoes. The rims were $100 for 4! Tires..... a bit more :sombrero:

Personally, if I had the capital to pick up a new truck, the Titan would frankly be last on my list. It's beyond outdated and outclassed by this point. I would have no hesitation in buying a new Ram however. Great mileage, lots of power, loaded with tech, and I think the best looking. A GMC Sierra would be second on the list.

PS Nice mods! Can't wait to see them installed!

I dont have much experience with the Titan, but I do like its looks and being different. I am interested to see what the next generation will look like.

I think the only pickup on the market I'd buy right now is a Frontier. I don't have any need for a fullsize (not that many people actually do), and almost everything else I have some sort of problem with.

The Titan is too old. The body on the Ram is made of tin foil. The Chevy/GMC offerings don't look so great to me. The Ford is well built, but those huge chrome teeth are disgusting. I think the new Tundra is half decent, but then I bought a Frontier because I'm not a Toyota snob.

It's a similar story with the smaller trucks. The Tacoma is too predictable, the Raider/Dakota is kind of ugly, The Canyon/Colorado isn't all that well built, and Ford hasn't even bothered to show up.

But then I'm kinda harsh when it comes to rating vehicles

Nice find on those skids! Those will come in handy I'm sure. They look pretty well designed. Are they pretty heavy? I'd be interested in seeing if they alter the truck's stance at all.

I'd be willing to bet it'd be pretty straightforward to wire those lights in to the stock wiring. It was pretty common for people to wire aux lights into the factory fog switches on their Discos in the Land Rover crowd. The look would be really clean.

I would probably do the same, I could handle a nice pro4x Frontier, I don't need the size or capability of the full size trucks, and the size would actually be a detriment to me

To be honest, I haven't witnessed a truly well built ford pickup since 1978 but that's just personal bias :sombrero: Rams are definitely my preference, great look, tons of power, and I think their steel is plenty thick :elkgrin:

And as far as the switch, you could always go with a 2nd Gen Xterra switch like I did:

It has a nice factory look, nice movement, and lights up with the headlights.

Where did you get that switch from? it looks nice and might even fit int he empty switch socket that already exists on my dash.

The only downsides to using the stock switch is that you cant use it with high beams, and that I would have to splice into the brand new rigid wiring harness. It would save me from running wires all over my engine bay though....

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I don't need the size or capability of the full size trucks, and the size would actually be a detriment to me

Exactly this

 

[stioc]

^ x3 - right now I don't have a need for a pickup truck especially not a full sized truck BUT if I win a lotto or inherit a Swiss account I'm buying a Ford Raptor - it's my end all be all of the full sized variants.

Wiring- you either love it or you hate it but sooner or later you gots to do it

 

[Allof75]

Where did you get that switch from? it looks nice and might even fit int he empty switch socket that already exists on my dash.

The only downsides to using the stock switch is that you cant use it with high beams, and that I would have to splice into the brand new rigid wiring harness. It would save me from running wires all over my engine bay though....

I picked it up at the Nissan dealer part number: 25166-ZL00A SW ASSY-OFF ROA

It has 6 pins so I had the stereo shop do it at the same time I had the deck installed, because I couldn't quite figure it out. They made it only active with the running lamps or headlights. But I soldiered my Rigids into the system shortly thereafter. Works great, and uber-clean. It's probably my favorite mod yet.

 

[mortonm]

^ x3 - right now I don't have a need for a pickup truck especially not a full sized truck BUT if I win a lotto or inherit a Swiss account I'm buying a Ford Raptor - it's my end all be all of the full sized variants.

Wiring- you either love it or you hate it but sooner or later you gots to do it

I dont mind doing it, I just want to do it once and do it right.

I picked it up at the Nissan dealer part number: 25166-ZL00A SW ASSY-OFF ROA

It has 6 pins so I had the stereo shop do it at the same time I had the deck installed, because I couldn't quite figure it out. They made it only active with the running lamps or headlights. But I soldiered my Rigids into the system shortly thereafter. Works great, and uber-clean. It's probably my favorite mod yet.

thanks....now I have three options instead of two, you guys were supposed to help me narrow it down

 

[Allof75]

I dont mind doing it, I just want to do it once and do it right.



thanks....now I have three options instead of two, you guys were supposed to help me narrow it down

Hahaha well out of personal preference, I like my off road lights to have a dedicated switch. That way you can always reverse it all if you take them out, they're harder to activate accidentally, and you can keep that relay for a stock factory fog replacement, and/or lights that are legal to run while on the street.

 

[stioc]

For what it's worth mine are wired so they only operate with the key in ACC or ON position but otherwise completely independent. One wire in through the firewall- easy peasy, takes about 40 mins and that's with the relay involved. Do they recommend relays for the Rigid Duallys since they draw so little?

Now wiring up this puppy took a little more time but all doable

 

[mortonm]

They come with a full harness. It has 2 wires to the battery, then it runs to 3 pole switch and then to each light. No relay. They are supposed to be plug and play so I assuming they aren't too worried about a relay. There is also an inline fuse.

 

[mortonm]

I made a decision on the wiring for the lights. I am going to use the harness that comes with the rigids. This way I can change my mind later, if I cut them up to use with the fog switch and I have issues then I just cut up brand new $200 lights.

Also if they are in good shape when I move to a new vehicle (no plans anytime soon) then they could be moved over.

I will probably wait to do the install with the skids over the winter break, I wont be using it offroad before that so I want to rush and make sure I do things right.

I will be heading down to the US (Buffalo, NY) on black friday (not for shopping, going to a Hockey game) but I might try and pick up some plasti dip as well as a new diehard battery, but we will see if I want to brave any crowds

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Want a screamin' deal on an ARB bumper?

 

[mortonm]

hahahaha, meet me in Chicago?

 

[wreckdiver1321]

hahahaha, meet me in Chicago?

I'm up for it! Only a 19 hour drive!

 

[mortonm]

I'm up for it! Only a 19 hour drive!

Only 11 for me. Better make it Mineapolis

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Only 11 for me. Better make it Mineapolis

Even better! I was born there, got family there too!

 

[mortonm]

I finally managed to get the other busted fog light off the driver front of the truck (metal cut-off wheel).

The stock mounts were rusted and now cut in half, so I have been thinking for quite awhile on what I was going to do. I had thought about drilling and mounting into the plastic bumper cover itself, but after picking up the rigid lights they are heavier than I had realized, and I don't want them bouncing around while I am driving.

While I was underneath the truck, I saw that there is a support between the bumper cover and the rad, this runs perpendicular to the front the of the truck, its steel, and already has a pre-drilled hole at the exactly middle height of the fog openings.

I went to home depot, and got some bar stock with pre-drilled holes. Cut to the right length and bent in a vise (hi tech!). The mounting bolts that come with the rigids are the petfect match for the holes in the bar. I used large washers where it will mount to the truck because the hole there is smaller than on the rigid.

Here is a picture of where they will be mounted to.



Kolpin is the name of the company that re-branded the rigids, but as you can see other than the faceplate they are identical, even the wiring harness says rigid on it.



Brackets, dont mind my messy desk!





They feel really solid, I am hoping they are strong enough to keep the lights still when on a bumpy road, its a bout a 9" reach from mount to light