Xterra vs Pathfinder - Why Isn't the R51 More Popular As An Expo Rig?

wreckdiver1321

Overlander
I can kind of see the potential for 23mpg as stated. My Frontier completely stock would hit up to 23.5. But that's on 91 octane gas, cruising at 70.
 

silvrzuki77

explorer
Looking at the Calmini kit looks like the wearables from them is the front upper ball joints. Maybe order extras from the start.

You believe the Feds??????


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Nd4SpdSe

Adventurer, eh?
I've got as friend who wheels one. He's put in airbags in the coils in the back to handle loads, and made his own custom skid plates., He's even taken it to Rausch Creek. I have seen one locally that looks like it had a body lift on it.

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drbandkgb

Xterra Junky
The R51 4x4 will not get 20 MPGs..

You can find offroad versions of it with a rear locker if I remember right..
They didn't make them long

Expect 13-16 mpg with aggressive tires


The Xterra is a better option vs Pathy.. It was cheaper and has a much better after market vs it as well.
www.nissteclifts.com offers a little for both..

Same engine as well.. but you can find V8 Pathys every so often
 

AdventureHare

Outfitting for Adv
From the factory, no lockers for the R51. Not even in the "off-road" package, which is where you'll find the locker in the xterra (or Pro-4X, if later model).

The xterra is smaller, especially if you need the rear seat. And if you need a rear seat, the xterra's is small.
 

XJLI

Adventurer
I heard the offroad system is terrible on these trucks, and like I've seen in pictures, they office very little articulation. LR's have more, and offer stellar traction aids to combat the two and three wheeling that happens. I do really love the R51's looks though. It's too bad.
 

AdventureHare

Outfitting for Adv
I heard the offroad system is terrible on these trucks, and like I've seen in pictures, they office very little articulation. LR's have more, and offer stellar traction aids to combat the two and three wheeling that happens. I do really love the R51's looks though. It's too bad.

"terrible" is a pretty strong word. How would you classify the Highlander?

For every capability, for every vehicle there is another that can do it better. With IRS and IFS, articulation isn't going to be it's strong point, but that doesn't make it incapable of doing 95% of what most need it to do. And the other 5% can be avoided. If one is realistic about the limitations, they're still very capable of getting you there and back. And I'd take the reliability of the R51 over the lack in the LR every day of the week. To me, that capability is more important than articulation.
 

Jack Stilts

Subaru Ambassador
"terrible" is a pretty strong word. How would you classify the Highlander?

For every capability, for every vehicle there is another that can do it better. With IRS and IFS, articulation isn't going to be it's strong point, but that doesn't make it incapable of doing 95% of what most need it to do. And the other 5% can be avoided. If one is realistic about the limitations, they're still very capable of getting you there and back. And I'd take the reliability of the R51 over the lack in the LR every day of the week. To me, that capability is more important than articulation.

Well said! It might not fit the needs of a rock crawler, but I'm sure it's plenty capable. Plus, half of "capability" is driver skill ;)
 

skibum315

Explorer
I'd also ask what XJLI means by "offroad system" ... that's a pretty broad brush. FWIW, I've actually been very impressed by Nissan's traction aids ... I don't have much to compare it to, save Nissan's traction aids from a few years prior (comparing an '08 Xterra to an '04 R50 Pathfinder); and have no basis for comparisons offroad, but I've not had any complaints about the VDC (which is selectable) or the ABLS (which is always on). IMO, they're not overly intrusive and actually do help keep the vehicle pointed and moving where it's headed.

To drbandkgb's point ... saying the Xterra (2nd Gen, presumably) is a better option than the R51 Pathfinder, seems to jumping to some conclusions. I'm currently in an '08 Xterra and looking to move up to an R51 ... interior room and the V8 option being the two primary drivers. The Xterra feels on the smaller side for a family of four, especially as I look forwards to the kids growing out of toddler-hood - and towards possibly adding a K9 to the mix. The V8 (and slightly longer wheelbase) is desirable for the slight bump in power, and for the added towing capacity/capability ... yes it's only a minor increase (7k for a V8 R51 vs. the Xterra's 5k), but towing in the middle of capacity vs. at the higher end becomes an issue of comfort.
 
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drbandkgb

Xterra Junky
I'd also ask what XJLI means by "offroad system" ... that's a pretty broad brush. FWIW, I've actually been very impressed by Nissan's traction aids ... I don't have much to compare it to, save Nissan's traction aids from a few years prior (comparing an '08 Xterra to an '04 R50 Pathfinder); and have no basis for comparisons offroad, but I've not had any complaints about the VDC (which is selectable) or the ABLS (which is always on). IMO, they're not overly intrusive and actually do help keep the vehicle pointed and moving where it's headed.

To drbandkgb's point ... saying the Xterra (2nd Gen, presumably) is a better option than the R51 Pathfinder, seems to jumping to some conclusions. I'm currently in an '08 Xterra and looking to move up to an R51 ... interior room and the V8 option being the two primary drivers. The Xterra feels on the smaller side for a family of four, especially as I look forwards to the kids growing out of toddler-hood - and towards possibly adding a K9 to the mix. The V8 (and slightly longer wheelbase) is desirable for the slight bump in power, and for the added towing capacity/capability ... yes it's only a minor increase (7k for a V8 R51 vs. the Xterra's 5k), but towing in the middle of capacity vs. at the higher end becomes an issue of comfort.

The OP asked the question... why isn't the Pathfinder more of a overloading rig.. Part of using your rig for overloading is a ready source of aftermarket parts. The Pathy has very very little..
The V8 options sounds amazing till you try and find one. once again parts are hard to find.. The V8 CVs are incredibly expensive..
Cvs are your 1st part with a 4x4 truck thats going to wear or break.

The Xterra is slightly smaller for sure... Its basically a 4 person rig.. The Offroad/Pro4X has a rear electric locker. This is a huge value for people that know what they are doing off road. The aftermarket world is better... Lots of parts to pick from. This is one of the plus points since it shares the same platform with Frontier.
And before you start with Pathy being the same plat form too.. Yes Motor and basics are the same.. but the IFS / IRS are a major sticking point.

Not for room.. Sure the Pathfinder has a option for 3rd row but have you seen how you get to it? Its a pain for sure.. Then you loose out on cargo room.
This is a major key in overloading. You might as well be in a Wrangler..

The 4.0 is a beast of a motor.. 261 HPs and lots of torque

I love the Pathfinder.. Its more of the Frontier look as a SUV.. Adding nice MT tires make them look great but they are not a value for real overloading
 

justbecause

perpetually lost
"might as well have a wrangler"

wrangler <-> pathfinder
5500 lbs GVWR <-> 6500 GVWR
4460lb curb weight <-> 5034 lb curb weight

988lbs of stuff <-> 1465 lbs of stuff
202 HP <-> 266 HP

rotten apples that were over priced to begin with <-> fresh apples, reasonably priced.
 

docwatson

Adventurer
Some of this may be confirmation bias as I just purchased a 2007.

The V8's are more rare but aren't impossible to find. Since we live in 2016 and your car search can easily be nationwide, it makes finding them much easier. For the true international overloading the V8 would be a poor choice as it is even more rare outside the US, but the V6 R51 was produced the world over vice the Xterra (NA only).

Aftermarket is relatively slim but you can find just about everything you could want (skids, F/R bumpers, lockers, lsd, lifts). Granted the IRS limits you to a 2" suspension lift. But as has already been mentioned the platforms share a fair amount of components. The only hardware differences (V6) are the Independent vs Solid rear ends and the selectable Full-time 4WD. And the Xterra has a manual trans option.

If you are seating 7, then yes the Pathfinder will be small inside, but for 4 people the R51 has gobs of space and as justbecause pointed out decent payload and tow ratings.

I thought about the Xterra for quite some time but decided based on the terrain I have traveled, the IRS won't limit me and I would rather have the extra space so I bought a Pathfinder. If I ever do decide to get crazy I can't imagine a M226 swap would be very difficult.
 

broncobowsher

Adventurer
I bought a 2010 Xterra brand new, special order. I wanted a R51 pathfinder, but the sticker was $10k more.
The Xterra I ordered is a stick shift, not an option in the American spec Pathfinders of this generation.
 

nasko

Adventurer
With all honesty the Xterra is not a very Expo popular rig either. They are looked down from the Toyota or even the Mitsu people, which is fine if you ask me. The less people hype it the better, just look at the prices of used 4Runner's. I have owned a 2004 Xterra and afterwards a 2005 manual Xterra. Both are great vehicles for what they are, with one major fault to the '04. Its MPG. Absolutely awful for a SUV of its size. The '05 onwards Xterra's are great, pretty capable offroad in even stock form. With minor improvements it is excellent. On road performance is decent/good.
The Pathfinder of the 2005-2012 years shares the 4.0L engine in North America and has the V8 option as mentioned. But contrary to the Xterra, it is a world wide available platform. For that reason alone it is more suitable to be an overland platform. It has more interior room and is more comfortable on road. For an overlanding vehicle IMO the on-road performance is more important than rock crawling ability.
I do not "overland", I am more into MTB/fishing/hunting/camping short trips (less than 2 weeks at a time, probably like most North Americans). I live in one of the major Canadian cities, to get to the dirt I usually drive 200/300 or even more kms. Nowadays with a second kid and a big dog the Xterra was reaching its limits. An extra seat or two in a pinch will come handy too. To each their own, but I am looking for a nice Pathy right now and do not care how popular it is. My two cents, Canadian at that. :)
 
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