2006 Nissan XTerra

[Blind_Io]

EDIT: I realized that I should try to make this fit the Expedition Portal format.
User Name Blind_Io
Year: 2006
Make Nissan
Model XTerra
Trim Off Road
Color Night Armor

Specs
Factory electronically locking rear differential
Manual Transmission
Clutch cancel (allows vehicle to be started in gear)

Suspension and Tires
PRG Advanced Coilover Kit
RadFlo shocks
BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO tires (285/75/16)

Armor and Protection
Shrockworks skid plates - full set
Shrockworks diff guard
Locally built rock sliders
Locally built rear bumper with tire carrier, high-jack mount, antenna mount and aux LED reverse lights

Exterior
BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO tire (285/75/16) on tire carrier
Full size matching spare
"Donut" spare BF Goodrigh All Terrain TA KO (265/75/16) under rear
LED reverse lights in stock tail light housings
Deleted rear anti-swaybar
Craven Speed "Stubby" antenna
Fog lights converted from H11 to H9 Amber bulbs (not for on-road use)

Engine and power train
Washable lifetime air filter in factory airbox
Custom rear drive shaft
All u-joints replaced with greasable/serviceable aftermarket replacements
Upgraded ceramic brake pads

Interior
Factory rubber all-weather floor mats
Red LED dome lights (to save night vision when getting stuff out of the truck at night)
Factory waterproof front seat covers
Aftermarket neoprene rear seat covers
Cobra C 75 WX ST CB Radio
Upgraded rear hatch struts (Help prevent Limp Liftgate Syndrome)

To-Do List
Front winch bumper
Custom roof basket that fits down inside the factory rails (possibly long-term goal of full expedition rack with lighting and roof-top tent)
Possible off road teardrop trailer
Locking wetbox (parts purchased, not installed yet)
Alcan rear springs (parts purchased, not installed yet)
Off road lighting
Campsite LED flood lighting on sides and rear
Upgraded LED reverse spot lights
Snorkel
Replace factory Rockford Fosgate headunit with later year that includes Aux input (purchased, not installed yet)
Replace front factory seat covers with custom MOLE covers
Loop-recording dashboard camera

I have been a non-registered lurker here for some time getting ideas for trips, vehicles and mods I can't afford. I finally got my Nissan built up enough to actually carry some weight off road; I'm finally feeling more confident in the vehicle and myself for some longer trips.

So, here's my girl's evolution:

The day I bought her, cow poop under the mud flaps, bald tires, crappy "Damage Amplifier" brush guard, and side-steps.



Enjoying the fall colors and new tires up Guardsman Pass, UT.






I pulled off the brush guard and sold it. This is playing out in the Utah desert with some friends from California



It was a cold day and my friend didn't want to get out.




First attempt at a CB radio mount. The radio didn't survive one of the following trips and was replaced with a sleeker Cobra unit that cleaned up the dash by putting the amp under the center console and the controls on the mic.


Driving the Pony Express Route from Faust, UT to Nevada. Picked up a monster rock, so a new windscreen was needed. The old Realistic CB radio didn't survive this trip.


Side steps removed:


Another trip aftermath, custom rock sliders installed:


Had a break with no photos. At this point I have a PRG Advanced coilover kit installed with Radflo shocks all around and a custom rear bumper and larger 285/75/16 tires.






The X has a non-serviceable CV joint on the rear drive shaft. Mine went bad and the whole shaft had to be replaced. It was actually slightly cheaper to get a custom shaft made with a serviceable u-joint. All the u-joints have been replaced with ones equipped with zerk points.


Skid plates, diff guard and second spare tire installed. I didn't know it yet, but this weight would kill the rear AAL springs.




Because the rear end is now squatting I ordered some custom springs for the back. These arrived a couple weeks ago but I needed custom u-bolts to get the axle mounted to the springs (they arrived today). Expect an update with the new Alcan springs installed.



Quite the upgrade from the stock 3-leaf packs. These will give me 3" of lift in the back to give a nice stance with the 2.5" in front.

 

[chadmano]

Looks like a nice solid build. I've been toying with the idea of getting an xterra. Seems to be an often overlooked and solid platform for an expedition rig.

 

[Blind_Io]

Thanks, it is a work in progress. I think at some point I will ditch the factory rack and do a folding rooftop tent. I need to sketch out how to make it work with off road lights and still keep a lower profile. I'm thinking I can use the X's roof line to hide an LED light bar just between the base of the tent and the top of the roof.

Sent via mobile.

 

[Darth Element]

Looks great, I enjoy seeing rigs that can still be used as daily drivers. Check out Calmini for a roofrack that incorporates a RTT mounting area.

 

[Blind_Io]

Thanks, I will check them out. Right now the X is my daily driver when I'm not on a motorcycle. At some point down the road I want to get another car so that I can go all out on the X, possibly with a Titan Swap. I still want it to have decent on-road manners as well as off road ability.

 

[farley27]

When I installed my Alcans I went with the Titan U-bolt flip kit. Don't know if you also went with it, but I highly recommend it. Nice X!

 

[Blind_Io]

I wasn't familiar with that particular route, I bought Stengel Bros. Inc. part# 361-433

http://www.stengelbros.com/U-boltKitsRoundBend.htm

They go on this weekend.

 

[Blind_Io]

Picked up an extra LED light from a friend (MaXTerra), this is the same one that is in my rear bumper:

.. and mounted it to the inside of my lift gate.

Tapped into the dome lights (since they are all LED and have a current cutoff safety to keep from draining the battery) and installed a switch on the D-pillar

Ok, it doesn't really need an indicator light, since it turns on a light - but it was a spare I had laying around.

It works!

Looks even better in person, the camera doesn't do it justice.

This was a really quick and easy mod. I know some people have done light bars or strips, but I wanted a recessed light that wouldn't stick out of the body panel. My concern was that something shifting in the cargo area could crack or damage a light bar screwed on to the surface of the panel (and if I don't leave enough room, I'm likely to slam the tailgate down onto something and end up sweeping LED lights out of my interior) - a recessed light mounted in flexible rubber seemed like a good alternative.

 

[WMDunkin]

looks good, I am thinking of doing that rear light set up but with a KC cyclone led light.

 

[jmnielsen]

Good looking Xterra! I've always had a thing for them, even owned one for a while.