Need some help

[ebass30920]

Well I was hell bent on gettin a TJ wrangler then I drove an X. I feel this vehicle will suit my needs better. I am experienced with yotas and jeeps but not Nissans. I am thinking about getting a 1 gen. I have an idea how I want it set up so I need to know if it will work. I want to go with a 3inch body lift, 31's or 32's prob. stay with stock wheels if the a good. A light bar with four 6" procomp lights, and a bull bar and front skid plate. This rig will be my dailey driver as well as my adventure truck. I fish, hike, kayak and would like to attempt some long range adventures overland and road trips to Natl parks. etc. I need a capable 4x4 to act as a DD and take me virtually everwhere. Tall order I know. I wont be doin alot of straight four wheelin, been there had fun dont have the money to be fixing stuff all the time anymore. Any insight on my ideas or advice is appreciated. Hopefully i will be posting pics as soon as the right deal comes along. Looking at a 2002 v6 4x4 with 90k for 6500 is that good?

 

[eXpeditionXterra]

Well I was hell bent on gettin a TJ wrangler then I drove an X. I feel this vehicle will suit my needs better. I am experienced with yotas and jeeps but not Nissans. I am thinking about getting a 1 gen. I have an idea how I want it set up so I need to know if it will work. I want to go with a 3inch body lift, 31's or 32's prob. stay with stock wheels if the a good. A light bar with four 6" procomp lights, and a bull bar and front skid plate. This rig will be my dailey driver as well as my adventure truck. I fish, hike, kayak and would like to attempt some long range adventures overland and road trips to Natl parks. etc. I need a capable 4x4 to act as a DD and take me virtually everwhere. Tall order I know. I wont be doin alot of straight four wheelin, been there had fun dont have the money to be fixing stuff all the time anymore. Any insight on my ideas or advice is appreciated. Hopefully i will be posting pics as soon as the right deal comes along. Looking at a 2002 v6 4x4 with 90k for 6500 is that good?

If I was in the position to go for a new(used) Xterra, I would get the 2005+. Power, gas mileage, towing cap are all better. I am not sure how well the 05-08s are holding value, but you could prolly find a pretty good deal.

The X has been the perfect vehicle for me since I got it in 2003. Fist mod I would get is 32" ATs. Then worry about the other stuff as you see fit. I would NOT get a 3" body lift, as there are issues associated with it. If you really want to get a body lift, go for the 2" from 4x4parts.com

You can do a poor mans lift and a 2" body for next to nothing if you do the install yourself.

Hope this helps!

 

[Ronin152]

All I know is that the engine in the one you are looking at is pretty weak. I would look at the newer one or maybe a supercharged one.

 

[ebass30920]

I have never run a body lift before, I found a 2inch lift from AC i might go for. Do 32s rub on a stock vehicle? I have never had trouble getting anywhere in my tacoma with 32s and honestly its probably my favorite tire size for all around use. Does anyone have any experience with this lift? Also any ideas for materials for a DIY lightbar. thanks for the replies I am excited to get back in a 4x4 I feel like a kid at christmas.

 

[Ronin152]

32's come stock on the xterra.

 

[eXpeditionXterra]

32's come stock on the xterra.

Sorry, no.

On the 2000-2004 that he is looking at, the "standard" was 30", unless you got the 4x4 SC then they were 31" rugged trails on 17" rims.

Now, on the 05+ I am not sure... I think it is 31" standard, but it might be 32 for all I know.

 

[vengeful]

A 2000-2004 came with a 265/70R16 (equivalent to a 30") stock, the Supercharged ones got a 75R16 (Equivalent to a 31"). The 2005+ came stock with a 265/70R17 (31") or a 265/75R17 on the Off-Road models.

If your budget allows it, I would recommend a 2005+ Off-Road. The Off-Road package adds a rear electric locking differential, as well as Bilstein shocks and skidplates underneath. It's Nissans equivalent to the TRD package on Tacomas and the FJ Cruiser. If that's not in the cards, try to find an 02-03 non-supercharged with the 4.9 gears. You can tell the gear ratio by looking at the vehicle information placard on the inside of the drivers door. The Axle Code should be HG49. The first gen Xterras also have a much stronger drivetrain than the 2005+. The rear end on the first gens is Nissans tried and true H233b--the ring gear is 9 3/4" in diameter, and it's simply indestructible. I know of at least three 2005+ Xterras and Frontiers that have blown the rear diffs, and countless that have blown up the front diffs. I only know of ONE 2000-2004 Xterra that has blown up a front diff, and I've never heard of anyone blowing up an H233b.

Yes, locker and gear options for the Nissan axles aren't very widespread, but there are ARB Air Lockers for the first gen Xterras. Gears are very expensive, and Nismo is the only company that makes them--up to 5.13.

The VG33, the 3.3L V6 in the first generation Xterras, might be a little bit anemic, but it is anything from weak. The VG block is the most durable and reliable motor that Nissan has ever produced, in E (SOHC 12V) or ER (SOHC Supercharged) format. The only "issue" with them is the timing belts, be sure that it's been changed if you're looking at a higher mileage (>100,000 miles) unit.

The 2005+ Xterras, and Frontiers come with a VQ40, a 4.0L 265HP V6. They are rated for higher towing, better fuel economy, and better performance overall, but the longevity of the motor has not yet been determined. I know of at least 10 VG block Pathfinders with well over 300,000 miles and going strong. If reliability is a primary concern, the first gen Xterra will definitely do you well.

I'll second the vote against a 3" Bodylift, because there are a lot of issues related to it. A 2" BL will allow you to run 32" tires without having to trim fender linings, and is relatively easy to install yourself. I've installed a few myself over the last couple of years, but I will not touch a 3". The First Gen X has a lot more "Budget" mods available than the Second Gen. The Poor Mans Lift, mentioned by XterraWolf, is one of them. It is simply a set of longer rear shackles for the leaf springs, and a crank of the torsion bars in front to yield about 2" of lift. Replacing the upper control arms with aftermarket units, will allow you to crank the T-bars to about 3" and retain factory alignment specs.

As far as armor goes, check out Shrockworks for all of your Xterra protection needs. They're based out of Houston, TX and do phenomenal work, and I've heard nothing but great things about their customer service. AC is another good company to deal with for aftermarket Nissan bits.

Well...my fingers are getting tired, so if you have any more questions, just ask!

 

[vengeful]

32's come stock on the xterra.

Close...they can fit stock, but you have to trim some fender linings in order for them not to rub.

 

[ebass30920]

Thanks vengeful, you sound like me spouting tacoma talk. I think the 2 inch is probably a better choice. I not a fan of shackles always seemed weak to me. I might look at some aals if there are some good options out there. Does cranking the TB cause any tire wear problems. I know the old toyotas had them but Tacomas didn't so I'm unfamiliar. I had a spacer lift that ate tires up due to the toe in thats why I was thinking body for mild lifting I did not want to reopen that can of worms. I appreciate the tech insight will keep all in mind while shopping thanks again.

 

[Ronin152]

Sorry my bad I looked on tire rack to see what size tire came stock and it was a 265/70/16 but I thought it said 265/75/16 which would be like a 31.6" tire but alot of companies undersize there tires and claim 32" tires when the true tire size is like 31.5-32.

Here is from a nissan forum should be helpful to you.
30" Nothing has to be done to fit this size tire. With the exception of base models, most stock tires that come on Nissan trucks measured in at about 30".

Note: some older Pathfinder models came with 31" tires stock.
31" This is what the majority of Nissan truck owners upgrade their tire size to and is the size upgrade that requires the least amount of work, if any. Some owners have managed to fit a 31" tire without any modifications. This could be due to a combination of the torsion bar setting that their truck came with from the factory (cranked higher than other trucks) and the type of 31" tire selected Remember, not all 31" tires are the same size.

For some owners, a slight amount of trimming of the front fender molding where the mud flap gets attached to is needed. However, trimming this section may force the owner to remove the mud flap since some of the mounting holes may need to be cut off.

On the Xterra and Frontier, another option is to switch the mud flap configuration to the 2001+ Frontier or 2002+ Xterra mudflap. The new flap is designed to fit the larger 17" wheel/tire combo found on the supercharged model.
32" Most offroad-crazed owners will upgrade to at least this size. Running 32" tires on a Nissan truck does not require a lift, but cranking the torsion bars will probably be needed. The torsion bars can be cranked until at least 1/2 inch remains between the upper bump stop and the bump stop strike plate. Remember to get an alignment after changing the torsion bar settings.

Also, a significant amount of the front fender molding (front and rear of the tire) may need to be trimmed, most probably forcing the owner to remove the mud flap. There is no science to how much needs to be trimmed. The best way to gauge this is to eye ball it by turning the tire slightly and trimming a little. Then check it again and trim some more if needed. A test drive that includes bumps and dips in the road may also be necessary to ensure enough plastic has been trimmed.

Running 32" tires on a non-lifted truck may cause some rubbing offroad during heavy articulation situations.
33" Running 33" tires on a Nissan truck generally requires some sort of a lift. Theoretically, a 33" tire can be run with just a 3" suspension lift and has been advertised as such, but it is possible to have rubbing when extreme compression conditions present themselves.

The best way of running 33" tires for most Nissan trucks with minimal to no rubbing is to install a body lift. With just a 2" body lift, torsion crank, and add-a-leafs in the rear, an Xterra or Frontier can run 33" X 10.5" tires with minimal or no rubbing.

If using the stock bumper, significant trimming of the plastic in front of the front tires may be necessary. If running a bull bar such as an ARB Bull Bar, some cutting of the bull bar wings in front of the tires may be necessary to prevent rubbing. Also, a good amount of trimming may be necessary around the front fender molding in the front and may prevent the stock mud flap from being reinstalled. Some minor trimming of the rear mud flap plastic may also be necessary to prevent rubbing.

It should also be noted that gas consumption is greatly increased due to the constant need to downshift to maintain speed with this tire size. Lower gears are recommended to remedy this. 33" tires can also be run without a lift if the owner is willing to cut a good portion off of the truck, possibly including some sheet metal. Even so, most trucks running 33" tires will exhibit some rubbing.
34"+ Running tires this big requires some creativity. A suspension lift and possibly a body lift are required.

Besides having to do everything listed in the 33" tire fitment instructions (to a greater extreme), some cutting of sheet metal around the wheel wells may also be necessary. On most trucks, running the stock backspacing greatly decreases the amount of cutting required to prevent rubbing.

A Frontier with just a 3" suspension lift can successfully run 34X10.5" tires with minimal rubbing by cutting off some plastic around the wheel wells.

 

[jingram]

I run 265/75/16 on an 04 X with no PML and no rubbing issues. That being said, there is absolutely no way to go any bigger without a lift. As has been mentioned, your mileage may vary. A lot of guys have to do the PML to run 265/75/16s on a stock 1st gen X. I think my next set of tires will actually be 235/85/16. On a 2nd gen, I would go for 255/85/16 or if you are looking for a wider tire 285/75/16. Both are rather popular upgrades.

Like Vengeful said, the VG series is one hell of a motor, but it is an older design and "low" on power and gets very poor mileage. The VQ series is a phenomonal motor and is the only engine to be on Ward's best 10 engines list since its inception. That being said, it also varies in size from 2.0 liters to 4.0 liters and there is simply no long term information on the 4.0 motor since it has only been in the market since 05.

Personally, I think the perfect X is a mix of the 1st and 2nd gen. I like the size and robustness of the drivetrain in the 1st gen, but would love to have the HP (substantial), fuel economy (slightly), rear locker, rear cargo area, and 6 speed available with the 2nd gen. Hell, better yet, simply bring us the diesel X still being sold in Brasil and call it a day!

 

[eXpeditionXterra]

I run 265/75/16 on an 04 X with no PML and no rubbing issues. That being said, there is absolutely no way to go any bigger without a lift. As has been mentioned, your mileage may vary. A lot of guys have to do the PML to run 265/75/16s on a stock 1st gen X. I think my next set of tires will actually be 235/85/16. On a 2nd gen, I would go for 255/85/16 or if you are looking for a wider tire 285/75/16. Both are rather popular upgrades.

Like Vengeful said, the VG series is one hell of a motor, but it is an older design and "low" on power and gets very poor mileage. The VQ series is a phenomonal motor and is the only engine to be on Ward's best 10 engines list since its inception. That being said, it also varies in size from 2.0 liters to 4.0 liters and there is simply no long term information on the 4.0 motor since it has only been in the market since 05.

Personally, I think the perfect X is a mix of the 1st and 2nd gen. I like the size and robustness of the drivetrain in the 1st gen, but would love to have the HP (substantial), fuel economy (slightly), rear locker, rear cargo area, and 6 speed available with the 2nd gen. Hell, better yet, simply bring us the diesel X still being sold in Brasil and call it a day!

Speaking of timing belts.. I just had to replace mine at 90,000. Didn't break all the way thankfully. Just an FYI. Change that sucker at or before 100,000. Do not wait.

 

[eXpeditionXterra]

I have never run a body lift before, I found a 2inch lift from AC i might go for. Do 32s rub on a stock vehicle? I have never had trouble getting anywhere in my tacoma with 32s and honestly its probably my favorite tire size for all around use. Does anyone have any experience with this lift? Also any ideas for materials for a DIY lightbar. thanks for the replies I am excited to get back in a 4x4 I feel like a kid at christmas.

Here is the DIY lightbar that I made waaaaaaay back in the day. Its made out of a simple angle iron from Home Depot, tabbed on each end, and painted.

Used the stock torx holes in the roof rack.

This light bar is still in use today by another Xterra guy.

 

[dirtysouth]

If possible I would look for a 05 or newer. The extra motor and fuel mileage is worth it IMHO. But if you do decide to get a older xterra, you can put 235/85/16 BFG AT'son one without any mods, or atleast I did without any problems.