I finally got a chance to snap some pics of my new truck...

It's a 2002 Nissan Xterra XE-V6 4x4...











These pictures definitely do not do it justice. So far I am very impressed by this truck, not only by the look, but by the feel and the quality of it.

I had my Xterra parked next to my 4Runner (which is now dedicated to offroading and as a back up vehicle in case my Xterra is being worked on) and my Xterra (completely stock) is almost exactly the same height as my '91 4Runner (Downey 1.5" rear coils, and cranked SAW Torsion bars to even it out) and I'm very surprised at the ground clearance on the Xterra, I haven't measured it yet, but it seems like it has a bit more than my 4Runner (even with the Xterra's step rails it still has awesome clearance)

So overall I am VERY impressed by my new Xterra Hopefully I'll get up the guts to take it offroading soon (I Just got it on Sunday so I'm still breaking it in) and I'm of afraid of scratching it or hurting something on it.

The only thing I'm not particularly fond of on the Xterra are the stock tires They're 265/70R16 General Grabber. They seem more like street tires (more than likely) and they're not as knobby as I like. So hopefully I can get those changed to some BFG A/Ts some time in the soon future (hehehe if I win the lottery ) But the Grabbers aren't too bad so far, haven't tried them offroad yet, but hopefully they won't do too bad.

-Braden

 

Nice looking truck! What do you got planned for it first?

 

It sure is a beaut. I always said if I didn't buy the 4Runner it would have been an Xterra.

 

Well it's going to be staying stock for a while, simply because it took all my money to buy it But probably the first thing I'll do when I can afford it is Shocks or Tires. I'll probably try and get the tires first, because the shocks aren't too bad. Then will probably come an exhaust system, and maybe after that a lift hehe When I finally got used to having a rear coil suspension on my 4Runner, I go and get a truck with leafs But I definitely like the leaf suspension a lot more, it rides soooooooooo much smoother than my 4Runner

Hboss: Yeah I know what you mean about it. I loved the Xterras when I first saw them at the '99 (or '98 can't remember) San Diego auto show, and told myself that I would have one eventually If a new 4Runner wasn't so expensive, I probably would of gotten a 2002 4Runner, but I'm glad that I didn't, because after test driving a 2002 4Runner before I got my Xterra, I like the Xterra a lot more And plus I really like the over all look and feel of the Xterra

Thanks for the compliments

-Braden

 

Very nice rig man!

 

Yup, very nice! I've always liked the look of the X's. Just always liked the 4Runner a little better. Don't think I've seen that color before.

Since you brought it up, I'd be curious to see what the ground clearance measurements (front skid, rocker panel and rear diff) are on those to see how they compare with a Runner.

There have been a couple threads in the past on ODW from those that knew of others with an X, and most indicated that problems are relatively common with these which really surprises me. I hope yours is as maintenence free as the rest of our rigs.

I guess you're probably already familiar with Xterra Owners Club to help you with your mods. Pretty cool place that's run (for now) by a pretty cool guy (Ian). But most people from CO are pretty cool, I think. Okay, so I'm biased.

Enjoy!

 

Darren- I'll go out in a couple of minutes and measure the ground clearance on it (i've been wanting to do it just out of curiousity, so now I have a good excuse to )

Yeah I read about some problems being fairly common with these, but all the ones i've read about have showed up within 10,000 miles, and are covered by Nissan's Warranty So I'm not too worried about it But I'm hoping that i won't encounter any major problems (Knock on wood )

Anyway I'll post/edit this in a few minutes after I measure the clearance on it

-Braden

 

Okay, Just measured the clearance on it, the front skid is about 11", the middle/rocker panel is 11" (the tube steps are about an inch higher up) and the rear differential is the lowest at 10". I was really surprised to see that it had that much clearance (that seems really good to me )

Hope that was able to help a bit

-Braden

 

Ha, I feel kind of moronic for asking this question...but what exactly is the "rocker panel"?

 

Wow! Those are great. Are you going to re-think which one is your trail rig?

As I recall, my stock numbers were:

front skid: 10"
rocker panel: 18"
gas tank: 10" or 10.5" (probably 10")
rear diff: 9.5"

There was only 1 small spot in the middle (under front doors) that had the listed 11". Gotta love advertising.

I'm still confident '99 and earlier 3rd gens are higher. Not sure about 2nd gens, although I know the front is waaay up there on many.

 

The highest edge right below the doors.

 

Nice looking rig Braden.
I hope those URLs I posted earlier in the week will be of help to you.
The vids on a few of those sites rock.

I have been saying to myself too there are only two rigs I would buy brand new today for an '03 model.

#1 choice is the 4 door Tacoma with the extended bed and 4.0 V6 that is coming out later this winter.
#2 The Xterra.

Nice rig you have there.

 

In other words (or pictures):



My very professional diagram. :rolleyes:

 

Cool, thank ya. That would be the area of my truck that has all of the rock chips from removing the running boards!!

 

hehe I was a bit confused about what the rocker panel was also So I just measurd the lowest point under the middle of the truck, and it was 11" Now that I know what it is, i'd guess that it's probably 16"... I'll grab my tape measure and check it right now... Okay I was close on the rocker panel, it's 18" and the bottom of the tube steps is 14" I was curious to see how it compared to my 4Runner so I measured the 4Runner and the lower spot on it is 12" (forgot what it is, it's under the front doors in the center and sticks down a bit with a skidplate on it) the rest is about 13" So the Xterra isn't too far off I haven't done any offroading that's caused me to hit anything on the underside of the Runner, so I don't think I'll have any problems with the Xterra (and I definitely won't once I lift it later on)

The one thing that I just noticed was how much room there is in the wheel wells on the 4Runner compared to the Xterra. I was able to fit 31"s on my 4runner without any problems and I have room for 32"s it looks like, but on the Xterra it looks like I'll be just barely able to fit 31"s on it (and from what I've read I'll probably have to trim a bit to get them to fit) I don't think it will be much of a problem so I'm not even worried about it

Corey- Yeah thos links have been great Thanks again

As far as rethinking my trail rig, yeah I've been thinking about switching. But my Xterra is just to pretty to scratch up... For now I probably won't do any heavy duty offroading in the Xterra for a while (I'll use the 4Runner for that) but hopefully I'll have it broken in soon so that I can make a trip out to the desert with it and upto the mountains to play

-Braden

 

Good info thanks. I guess it's time I trade mine in for a 2nd gen!

I had no idea Xterras sat that high. They don't look as high as 4Runners to me. That's cool though.

 

It actually feels like the Xterra sits lower than my 4Runner but it's really nice And you definitely have a great looking truck Darren The color looks almost the same as my Xterra

Also you have to take into consideration that my 4Runner has the downey 1.5" rear coils, cranked SAW T-bars and Bilsteins (which I swear raised it another half inch :confused: ) so stock on it would be (I'm guessing) 2 inches lower than what i said.

-Braden