My Build Thread

[Andrew]

As she sits now:

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig27.jpg


So I have done a ton of work to it in just a little bit of time. I can't believe it was still stock in July last year. I didn't think I would get it built up so fast, but as other Xterra people were doing SAS I got some killer deals on stuff. The set of 3 skids cost me $150! You can't say no to that.

[Warrlord]

I gotta tell ya, you have the coolest & most functional XTerra I've seen. Nice to see it get modded up for trail duty :thunb:

[Patrolman]

Looking good!

[1freaky1]

It is a sharp looking ride!:thunb:

[Funrover]

Very Sweet man!

[Andrew]

I gotta tell ya, you have the coolest & most functional XTerra I've seen. Nice to see it get modded up for trail duty :thunb:

Thanks guys! And trust me there are plenty of X's here in Colorado built up more than mine.

[Funrover]

Thanks guys! And trust me there are plenty of X's here in Colorado built up more than mine.

There is a guy that lives not to far from China Wall with a SAS x-terra. His is also sweet! I never was able to talk my sister into building hers

[Andrew]

I bet that is Kevin. He lives in Jefferson. It is sweet.

[Brody]

Sweet looking rig!

Next time you drive through Jefferson, take a look to your left (assuming that you are heading towards Fairplay) at the real estate office across the street from the little store. The realtor there has a built Nissan, now with a sweet exo, on Dana 44s...

[Funrover]

I bet that is Kevin. He lives in Jefferson. It is sweet.

Is it this guy (The one in your vid)
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/685084

[Andrew]

Yes that's Kevin he works at the real estate office. I know a lot of Nissan guys here in CO.

[Funrover]

Your on your way to cathing him!

[Andrew]

I actually do not plan to SAS my Xterra ever. It's not meant to do a trail like Holy Cross or Carnage BV or anything. It will do a 6/7 and maybe an 8 once I get gears/locker. But if I want to do harder stuff I have decided that I will find an older hardbody or something cheap, cut and cage it and SAS it, etc. That way if I roll it I don't care. I would care with my Xterra - it's turning more into kind of a camping/expedition type rig. I love camping but love camping where you won't see a Prius or an Escalade full of whiny little kids whose parents let them run wild.

[Brody]

Amen to that last bit! Good plan on the rig, too. You will be able to do so much more with one locker just in the rear. I would check out some of the Nissan sites and also the FJ Cruiser aftermarket stuff to see what the real world weak links are in your IFS front. There are bound to be a few that are easily addressed with some minor custom fab.

A couple to look at:

Idler arm brace
Control arm boxing
Control arm skid plate
And, of course, a little more armor...

These are real minor things, but are the weakest links on the FJs for all but the most basic wheeling.

Just a thought...

[Andrew]

I have a beefed up center link, and an idler arm brace. I have a full set of skid row skid plates, and a Calmini Gas Tank skid plate. I also have beefier tie rod adjustors but not yet installed. I haven't bent one yet though, but have two full assemblies ready to go in case I do - quick fix on the trail. Have a steering stabilizer.

The weakest link in my IFS now is the lower control arms. There isn't much I can do to them. The only way to make them stronger would be weld some plate on or Total Chaos is the only one who makes aftermarket, but involves new shafts and lots of other expensive stuff that I don't really need.

[Funrover]

I hear you on the expedition rig.. I am going more that way myself. Rock crawling is fun, but I enjoy exploring more

[Andrew]

Progression Pics:

Wheeling at Sevenmile Creek, not long after getting it from the dealer:

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig01.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig02.jpg


Still Stock, July 4, 2008 @ Twin Cone:

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig03.jpg

Added a Yakima roof rack. These were on Ptarmigan Pass (Wearyman Road) & McAllister Gulch. Still mostly stock. Put a Hi-Lift and shovel up top and custom light bar.

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig04.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig05.jpg


I added some custom rock sliders my friend built, and got a good deal on some used BFG AT K/O's and new 15" wheels. Added 2" Body Lift to fit the tires. Removed some of the front bumper and trimmed some plastic.

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig06.jpg

[Andrew]

Testing the new stuff out @ Slaughterhouse Gulch:

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig07.jpg

Added a rear tire carrier and half of a 3" suspension lift. This consisted of upper control arms, new torsion bars and new ball joints for the UCA's and longer shackles in the rear. I still neeeded an add a leaf pack for the rear to be able to get the full 3". This is sorta known as a PML (Poor mans lift) as you can get 1.5" SL from new shackles and cranking the torsion bars. I just got a good deal on the UCA's and had them on there at the time. Also tossed the useless rear sway bar in the garbage. Put on Idler Arm Brace.

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig08.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig09.jpg


Added the add a leaf pack, cranked the torsion bars more..New bilstein shocks all around, new U-Bolts. Did some painting.

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig10.jpg

Found a great deal on some 33x12.50x15 Wrangler MTR's. Installed CB and antenna. I think I had the steering stabilizer on as well. Also started adding armor. Had a gas tank skid, added the rest of the skid row plates. Still need to get the t-case skid modified to fit and installed.

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig11.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig12.jpg

[Andrew]

Started building my custom storage box:

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig13.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig14.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig15.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig16.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig17.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig18.jpg

[Andrew]

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig20.jpg

Found a spot to store spare torsion bars. Fits pretty well:

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig19.jpg


I built a custom low-profile snorkel using ABS pipe. Routed behind fender, cut the fender. Sealed up the air box and removed all baffels and resonators. Only thing I didn't DIY was the snorkel head from Safari. K&N filter installed. I did this just before going to Moab this year. Also cut into the lower rear fenders in the front to get rid of rubbing issues with the tires.

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig21.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig22.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig23.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig24.jpg

[Andrew]

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig25.jpg

http://ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig26.jpg

Picked up a Warn 9.5xp Winch and bunches of odds and ends.

So after getting a winch I needed somewhere to mount it. With a trip to Ouray coming fast I wanted to get it done ASAP. I needed a new front bumper. I planned to have everything mounted up and running for Ouray, but then broke my thumb so that went down the tubes. So this is my "secret" mod that I was going to surprise everyone with on the Ouray trip. Scotty from Addicted Offroad built the bumper.

I also painted all of the grey plastic trim pieces to black. Even the gas tank tab. Except for the one red highlight on the front that is.

Pics:

http://www.ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig28.jpg

http://www.ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig29.jpg

http://www.ranetworks.net/images/rig/Rig30.jpg

[Funrover]

Nice interior rack, you have more pics of that? also what does the red twist on stopper on the intake do?

[Andrew]

Not at the moment. It's just wire shelving from home depot cut to fit. Plasti-Dip on the hooks in the roof and some quick snaps and hung up, with some elastic netting on it to hold stuff. Hard to see but there is a mag-lite mounted on it. It holds recovery strap, hi-lift offroad base, spout for gas, couple sets of gloves, various stuff.

The red stopper is where a resonator used to be - just cut a piece off and used that to close it off, otherwise there would be a hole there and that would be bad.

[JeepWheelin]

Thats is sweet man.. Haven't ever seen an Xterra that nice.

Keep up the good work!

[Andrew]

Thanks! When I decided to get something for offroading I had a few things that I wanted. First and foremost - no Jeeps. Why? Everyone has a Jeep lol. I wanted something different and didn't want to be just another Jeep on the trail. I also wanted all my cargo area enclosed, and decent seating. This ruled out a truck or I might have gone with a Taco. I know - camper, but I like the seating in an SUV better.

I already had a Nissan (my Maxima) and it has treated me well - excellent reliable car. So I looked into the Xterra. I have always liked the look, and did research. I found I could do plenty of upgrades to it in order to get it to a level I wanted, so I found one and got it. Even managed the color I wanted and it has 4.9 gears and an LSD in the rear. Not bad!

Toyota was really the only other brand I considered. But decided to stick with Nissan.

[Brody]

Took another look at your build thread. Pretty nice and a nice bunch of out of the box thinking. Home Depo/Lowes must love you!

If you have the time, you may just want to wander through a pick and pull yard like Colorado Auto Parts, south of Hampden or Pick and Pull off of 62nd and Pecos. I wander through sometimes just getting ideas for stuff I want to do and what I see that I can use from, well, damn near anything.

As couple of for instances, I am using parts of a Pontiac front grill for hood louvers, a piece of a custom grill that I beat flat and cut to fit for my hood scoop grill, and a Yota fan that I got out of a passenger car for a cooling fan. I am also planning on doing a PVC snorkel at some point and found a sweet piece from a SAAB air intake that I can reverse and use for the actual snorkel part.

I am using some gutter guard left over from a building project for my front grill, too.

I guess what I am saying is that I sure like the way your rig is coming together! Love the interior rack and storage, too.

[Andrew]

Thanks!

You have no idea how much I've spent at Home Depot/Lowes lol.

My next DIY project is to make one of those tarp awnings that will pull out from my roof rack from a tube. Some tarp poles and such and I'll have one so much cheaper than the ones you can buy pre-made.

I'll have to crank it up by hand...but who cares?

[Brody]

Thanks!

You have no idea how much I've spent at Home Depot/Lowes lol.

My next DIY project is to make one of those tarp awnings that will pull out from my roof rack from a tube. Some tarp poles and such and I'll have one so much cheaper than the ones you can buy pre-made.

I'll have to crank it up by hand...but who cares?

Get a hold of Aaron (funrover) about the awning. This was something that he was researching and planning on doing awhile back and he will know where his posts are. At any rate, he posted quite a few links to sites with a lot of information on a home made awning that may save you some time and give you some good ideas.

Here is one of his that I found by doing a site search for the word "awning". It was in the build threads.

http://frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3892&highlight=awning

You know you have been into Lowes/Home Depo too much when you have people greeting you by name and asking how your rig project is going....

[Funrover]

I have come across a few more then what was posted there.. however I also have a few new ideas

[Andrew]

Yeah looked at that thread. I am thinking PVC as well.

[Funrover]

Yeah looked at that thread. I am thinking PVC as well.

I was actually thinking 1x1 thin wall steel or aluminum. Get a good canvas and attach a section to the outside end that clips into 2 other arms that swing out. Mount it to my rack. It would work great. You simply unattatch the middle crossbar from the sides and roll it with the canvas then fold the side arms in (covering the material from trees/rocks) and clip shut. Also with this design you don't need ropes or string tied into the ground (to trip over at night time) It's also a lot lighter than the PVC set up.

[Andrew]

Well what I am doing is making a 2-sided awning. So it will have the roof, but then come down past the tarp poles to make a wall on one side. You can either pull out enough to do that, or just the roof. The weight is going to be in the tarp. I am looking for ideas to reduce weight though. Hell I have so much weight already that I'm not sure my rig would notice lol.

[Funrover]

Well what I am doing is making a 2-sided awning. So it will have the roof, but then come down past the tarp poles to make a wall on one side. You can either pull out enough to do that, or just the roof. The weight is going to be in the tarp. I am looking for ideas to reduce weight though. Hell I have so much weight already that I'm not sure my rig would notice lol.

I am bad at describing... but you could easily make an add-a-room with the idea I have as that was my first plan. Awning day/room night type of thing. My first thought was so I could use the tailgate to cook during the day and at night make the back a room to change in and to access the back of the rover for sleeping.. It's a lot easier to get in the back end when open the it is for the wife and I to crawl through the back doors