TuRD's 06 Xterra OR

[TuRD]

My first post in a year and a half so I thought I'd give you guys and update on my truck:

OWNER: August
LOCATION: North Vancouver, British Columbia

YEAR: 2006
MAKE: Nissan
MODEL: Xterra Off Road

DRIVETRAIN:
ENGINE: 4.0L V6
TRANSMISSION: 5-Speed Automatic

SUSPENSION:
FRONT: PRG 2" Spacers
REAR: PRG Adjustable Shackles and Bilstein 5125 Shocks
TIRES: BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 LT255/85R16 Tires [NEW]
WHEELS: Stock 6-Spoke Off Road Package
BRAKES: Stock

ELECTRICAL:
ScanGauge II
Stock Rockford Fosgate Stereo
Pac-Audio AAI-NIS2 Auxiliary Audio Input Adapter
Icom IC-2720H Dual Band (UHF/VHF) Mobile Radio
Larsen NMO2/70 Fender Mount Antenna
Garmin nüvi 760 with Nissan Mount
Globalstar SPOT Messenger with Ram Mount
Nissan Keyless Entry Keypad
Blue Sea Systems ST Blade 6 Fuse Block
Globalstar GCK1400 Car Kit for GSP1600 Satellite Telephone
300 Watt Inverter
SNM Pro Series 606 Strobe Power Supply [NEW]
SNM Strobes in Taillights [NEW]

RECOVERY:
Receiver Hitch Shackle Mount
Recovery Straps, Shackles, Come-Along, etc

OTHER:
Valley Industries Trailer Hitch
Yakima SkyBox Roof Pod
Sleeping and Cargo Platform

CURRENT PROJECT(S)
OTRATTW Switches and Hella Relays
Relocate VCD and Diff-Lock Switches
Xoskel Bumper Mouth Bracket with
PIAA 1500XT Driving Lights and
Nova E42 LED Strobe Head

2010 TO DO:
Rock Lights and Back Up Lights
Shrockworks Rock Sliders
Hi Lift Jack

FUTURE:
Shrockworks Front Bumper with Winch
Shrockworks Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier
Shrockworks Skid Plates


Second weekend after purchasing... already scratched head to toe by sage brush


Car 98 (sweep vehicle) in the Mountain Trials Rally in Merritt, BC


Surf trip to Oregon Coast


6800 km road trip around British Columbia


New KM2s


New KM2s

[TuRD]

Aftermarket hitch and 7-pin harness mounted in rear bumper


Keypad in fuel door


Garmin nuvi in Nissan mount


Spot Satellite Messenger on Ram-Mount


Scan Gauge II installed using Blend Mount below rear view mirror and Icom IC-2720H dual band (UHF/VHF) mobile radio remote display above rear view mirror


Icom IC-2720H dual band (UHF/VHF) mobile radio in passenger side cargo pocket



10" of 4 gauge welding cable to Blue Sea Systems maxi fuse block (PN5006) mounted to the top of an OEM fuse block then 15 or 16' of 4 gauge welding cable through driver side firewall to the cargo bay.


4 gauge welding cable from driver side fire wall to Blue Sea Systems ST blade fuse block (PN5025 6 circuit with negative bus and cover) in cargo bay tray. Another 2' of 4 gauge welding cable from negative bus to chassis ground.


Globalstar GSP1600 satellite telephone in GCK1400 car kit with external speaker (located below) and external microphone. GCK1400 module located in rear cargo tray.


GCK1400 satellite antenna with cable routed through factory tailgate grommet.

My sleeping platform and storage project:

I built the platform around my Akro-Mils Attached Lid Containers (model 39-085 21-1/2" x 15" x 9" $19.40 at Fastenal).

The platform is 3/4" plywood pine and has an inside height of 10-3/4" to clear three of these containers (2 deep sideways and 1 lengthways).



The runners are 2" x 12" spruce, spaced outside of the factory rails to permit securing the platform to these rails and so that the factory cargo tray can still be accessed. I may replace the runners as they are crowning quite noticeably.



At the mid-section, a 2" x 4" stringer is tied into these runners for extra support.

Originally I tried using the seat bottoms in the upright position to support the forward platforms but this failed when I noticed that they sit at different heights. Instead, I used a 2" x 12" stringer resting on the backside of the seat backs.

The final design consideration was to keep the platform in the cargo area semi-permanent. The forward sections are removable and are split 60/40 to allow usage of either seat (60 sleep / 40 seat OR 60 seat / 40 sleep).



Finally, I routered the edges, sanded and used Behr exterior semi-gloss paint. I only had a small can so I was only able to paint the essential/visible parts.

I ordered a custom 3" foam mattress, 44" wide and 65" long with a fold down the length of it so that one person can sleep with the 60 sleep / 40 seat arrangement.



Since the mattress and platform is only 65" long, and I am 69" long - I remove the headrest and place my pillow on top.



Box 1 is for tools and vehicle supplies, box 2 is for camping gear and box 3 is for recovery equipment.

[josh t-1]

wow dude! that's quite the rig! you sunk some serious cash into this thing but now you can go everywhere!

[Tegra_Devil]

thats a great rig...i like your storage/sleeping set up in the rear...im doing the same thing for my hilux

[00EM1]

Loving the expedition set up with all the electronics, you can never be to prepared

I hope this isn't a noob question but why is your license plate different? I'm guessing it has something to do with the VHF

2010 TO DO:
Rock Lights and Back Up Lights

National 4wd in Langley has a sale on my buddy just got a 8 LED rock light kit for under 100 bucks.

[TynMan]

I see only 1 pillow....no travel buddy?

[TuRD]

Originally Posted by 00EM1

I hope this isn't a noob question but why is your license plate different? I'm guessing it has something to do with the VHF

The plates are available to licensed amateur radio operators, although they are not mandatory.

My original callsigns were VE7TRD and VA7TRD back when I had my '85 4Runner and '91 4Runner. I still have my '71 Corolla so I think I'll eventually use those plates on that.

After 5 years of being a license amateur radio operator, I qualified for a "two-letter" callsign so I applied for VA7XS. This is now the plate that is on my Xterra.

[TuRD]

Originally Posted by TynMan

I see only 1 pillow....no travel buddy?

Very observant. On my roadtrip last summer I had two pillows.

[!SG]

welcome back!

[Rx racer]

Cool rig.Always loved the Xterra

[!Aznboi128]

wow thats awesome!

one day I would love to get a 4x4 and just go off road, very inspiring

[Lowered_Klass]

Thats a great looking rig! Glad to see you're using it to it's full potential!

I've always liked the Xterra's, how has yours been reliability wise? Since you're obviously driving it like it should, how has she been treating you?

I still miss my old Cherokee... that thing would go anywhere Seeing threads like this makes me want to get another 4x4

[TuRD]

Thanks all!

Originally Posted by Spoon_Fed

Thats a great looking rig! Glad to see you're using it to it's full potential!

I've always liked the Xterra's, how has yours been reliability wise? Since you're obviously driving it like it should, how has she been treating you?

I still miss my old Cherokee... that thing would go anywhere Seeing threads like this makes me want to get another 4x4

It's been very good reliability wise. I have a 2006 US-model that I bought in 2008 with about 25,000 miles on the odo. The odo is at around 60,000 miles now and there have been no problems so far.

The fuel mileage has dropped dramatically but that's because of the larger tires (8% more in circumference).

I have to say the truck is very solid and has performed well on two 6000+ km roadtrips (one to Watson Lake, Yukon Territories and the other to Southern California).

I'm not 100% sold on the VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and I usually opt to turn it off when 'wheeling. That said, it can not be turned off 100% since it is integrated deeply into the ABS. My only peeve with it is that it robs too much throttle response when it detects slippage and sometimes that can be a annoyance. Maybe when the warranty is up, I will add a switch to disable the ABS when needed.

I have the "Off-Road" model which comes with a factory locking differential. Although I've only used it twice, I was able to compare it with other unlocked Xterras on the same obstacle. It was interesting to see just how much easier the obstacle was with the diff locked.

Even though this 2nd generation Xterra has been around since 2005, aftermarket parts have been slow to develop. I attribute this to that fact that the 2nd generation Xterra is not available in Australia where most aftermarket 4x4 parts are developed. The ARB bumper for this model was developed only this Fall and the snorkel came out this past spring.

[Hondaracer]

wow thats setup for the bush, nicely done

whats the keypad in the gas door for?

[ninjatune]

Nice setup... you wouldn't notice all the work into it if you just gave it a glance driving by.

I too sleep in the back (4runner), who needs a tent?

Where was the pic taken on the double track with the snow at the top of the hill in the background?

[chris_89T]

Hey if you do long trips, maybe you should consider picking up a spare IPDM just in case. Those are known to trip out on Pathfinder/Frontier/Armada. Ive only seen a few Xterras come in with that problem, but usually a good bang on it will atleast let it start. Usually it will just crank and crank when the IPDM goes belly up.

IMO the 06+ Xterra's are pretty good, i wouldnt buy a 05 frontier, pathfinder, xterra. Early production runs had huge problems with tranny coolers leaking and destroying the trannsmission. The cooler is located inside the rad, so you can see why coolant + ATF doesnt work very well in the transmission. Generally the repair is covered under warrenty, so you get a new, rad, trans and theromostat. Also some 05-06 had problems with timing chain rattle which is re-re of both timing covers, gears, tensioners, the warrenty repair generally includes the new chains + tensioners etc. Early production runs also had problems with front driveshaft u-joints wearing causing vibrations at highway speeds and tensioner problems that cause belt noise.

Sounds bad, some also had problems snapping the axle inside the front diff. I think ive seen a couple pathfinder/xterra/frontiers come in, but its mostly Armadas/titans.

The xterras are nice, do you ever use the locking diff feature? Ive only driven 1 xterra OR off road once, and i couldnt get the diff to lock, but i didnt have much time to play around with it.

[jeffh]

nice looking unit, do you something for work that takes you all these places or do you just love to explore?

that greenery shot looks ALOT like one i took at whipsaw this summer, ill have to find and compare

[TuRD]

Originally Posted by ninjatune

Nice setup... you wouldn't notice all the work into it if you just gave it a glance driving by.

I too sleep in the back (4runner), who needs a tent?

Where was the pic taken on the double track with the snow at the top of the hill in the background?

Thanks! That pic was taken north of Hyder Alaska which is next to Stewart BC in the Alaska Panhandle.

[TuRD]

Originally Posted by chris_89T

Hey if you do long trips, maybe you should consider picking up a spare IPDM just in case. Those are known to trip out on Pathfinder/Frontier/Armada. Ive only seen a few Xterras come in with that problem, but usually a good bang on it will atleast let it start. Usually it will just crank and crank when the IPDM goes belly up.

IMO the 06+ Xterra's are pretty good, i wouldnt buy a 05 frontier, pathfinder, xterra. Early production runs had huge problems with tranny coolers leaking and destroying the trannsmission. The cooler is located inside the rad, so you can see why coolant + ATF doesnt work very well in the transmission. Generally the repair is covered under warrenty, so you get a new, rad, trans and theromostat. Also some 05-06 had problems with timing chain rattle which is re-re of both timing covers, gears, tensioners, the warrenty repair generally includes the new chains + tensioners etc. Early production runs also had problems with front driveshaft u-joints wearing causing vibrations at highway speeds and tensioner problems that cause belt noise.

Sounds bad, some also had problems snapping the axle inside the front diff. I think ive seen a couple pathfinder/xterra/frontiers come in, but its mostly Armadas/titans.

The xterras are nice, do you ever use the locking diff feature? Ive only driven 1 xterra OR off road once, and i couldnt get the diff to lock, but i didnt have much time to play around with it.

Thanks for the tips! What does the IPDM do and what do they cost?

I've heard about the front diff problems. Some guys are getting their warranty denied because of aftermarket suspension and some are not.

I've used the diff locker once and it took about a minute for me to get it engaged but it definitely worked!

[TuRD]

Originally Posted by jeffh

nice looking unit, do you something for work that takes you all these places or do you just love to explore?

that greenery shot looks ALOT like one i took at whipsaw this summer, ill have to find and compare

Yes and no... my truck is built for the type of work that I do but really it's only for my own exploring. I'm a civil technologist doing environmental data collection all across the province and my work provides my transportation (trucks, snowmobiles and lots of helicopters hours).

I've done a lot of other trails in BC, but not the Whipsaw.

[jeffh]

do the saw, hop in on one of the bc4x4 runs or something, and BRING THE BUGSPRAY!
as far as the wheeling aspect went it was kind of boring for my heep, but the trail itself is beautiful and the camping with like minded people and the fishing at wells lake is worth all the mosquitos

[RecklessNS]

I never really imagined you could do that in the back
But seriously thats a wicked setup
props.