Rear Spoiler, or Air Deflector, wing, whatever you call it . . .

Hetzer · May 2, 2019

So, I popped over to Pick'n'Pull yesterday afternoon, because I saw they had another Xterra hit the yard last week. I'm still looking for a nice rust-free, undented rear bumper for my '01 "Greenie". Also looking for the retractable cargo cover that goes behind the rear seat. Anyways, when I walked around the back of the junker (which had taken a considerable front-end impact), I spot a spoiler or air deflector mounted on the top of the rear hatch. I know these are kind of rare and sought-after (right?), so I begin to remove it, thinking it would look great on "Greenie". I notice that the "wing" is attached to the rear hatch by small machine screws through the legs of the wing and into threaded inserts in the top of the hatch. At first I thought these were welded or fused in, but since these are so rare (I've only seen 2 X's with these in my life), I began to think they couldn't be factory installed, and must have been dealer installed, so they wouldn't be welded, but maybe installed in a manner similar to a pop-rivet. Can anybody shed any light on this? I would just go back to Pick'n'Pull and snag the whole rear hatch, but that would be expensive and I would then have to have it repainted to match my X.

Hetzer · May 2, 2019

OK, my bad, one simple google search answered my question.

"Nutserts"" - how have I never heard of these before? Now to ask around to find somebody who has the tool, as I can't see buying it for one job.

maillet282 · May 2, 2019

You can go to harbour freight and get a nutsert gun( same idea as a river gun). I honestly wouldn’t bother. Unless your also planning on removing your roof rack it is also held on with nutserts

BEEFY · May 2, 2019

My x had the spoiler, I was sad when I broke it off on a branch. It makes a huge difference on keeping the rear window clear of water and snow when driving on the highway.

Bklyn.X · May 2, 2019

I have the tool and nutserts in Brooklyn. If you're near you can borrow it.
If you're not going to bother and feel like grabbing the wing section I'd pay $20 + shipping to 11238 for it...just sayin'.

Hetzer · May 2, 2019

Bklyn.X said:
I have the tool and nutserts in Brooklyn. If you're near you can borrow it.
If you're not going to bother and feel like grabbing the wing section I'd pay $20 + shipping to 11238 for it...just sayin'.

Oh, I already grabbed it, but unfortunately, Pick'N'Pull felt it was worth $26. I grumbled a bit, but decided to go ahead and take it . . . . so, I think I am gonna use it eventually. And I'm nowhere close to NY, so I won't be taking you up on the tool offer (Thanks all the same). I considered asking the body shop in my town to do it, assuming they would have the tool, but my buddy pointed out they would probably charge me more than what the tool cost, so, I guess I'll be buying one at some point.

kirk · May 2, 2019

Hetzer said:
So, I popped over to Pick'n'Pull yesterday afternoon, because I saw they had another Xterra hit the yard last week. I'm still looking for a nice rust-free, undented rear bumper for my '01 "Greenie". Also looking for the retractable cargo cover that goes behind the rear seat. Anyways, when I walked around the back of the junker (which had taken a considerable front-end impact), I spot a spoiler or air deflector mounted on the top of the rear hatch. I know these are kind of rare and sought-after (right?), so I begin to remove it, thinking it would look great on "Greenie". I notice that the "wing" is attached to the rear hatch by small machine screws through the legs of the wing and into threaded inserts in the top of the hatch. At first I thought these were welded or fused in, but since these are so rare (I've only seen 2 X's with these in my life), I began to think they couldn't be factory installed, and must have been dealer installed, so they wouldn't be welded, but maybe installed in a manner similar to a pop-rivet. Can anybody shed any light on this? I would just go back to Pick'n'Pull and snag the whole rear hatch, but that would be expensive and I would then have to have it repainted to match my X.

I have always thought those were neat. Ive owned numerous Gen1s, but never one with that spoiler. Very cool.

Bklyn.X · May 2, 2019

No worries. Hopefully it’s in pristine shape.

It’s kind of a pain to put on. New it comes with a paper template, so you don’t F up drilling holes into your truck.

You drill holes through only the outer sheet metal, revnut in the holes for the arms to attach to the truck and then attach the wing to the arms.

Without the template is tough lining them up and you really have no room for error.

You could make a template while the thing is together and lining it up on the truck and all but I think I’d F that up.

I’d leave the whole thing together, line it up on the tailgate where I want it making sure I didn’t have it in a spot that would hit when I open the hatch. Have someone hold it there while I trace the outside of the arm on my truck with a grease pencil. Then take it apart and hold the arm to the trace. Center punch through the nut holes and I’d have my drill spots. Drill the appropriate holes for the revnut. I put a piece of tape on the drill bit so I didn’t punch through more than just the outer sheet metal. I put a shot of spray paint in the holes and RTV on the revnut before putting it on the truck to hopefully avoid any rust. I used double stick mounting tape, you know the foam type, to clean up the gap between the arm and the roof line after the rubber OEM gasket finally disintegrated (I doubt yours still has one but if it does SCORE!...and you can skip this). After the arms are on nice and secure just attach the wing and you’re good.

Good luck!

Hetzer · May 2, 2019

Thanks, BklynX. Yeah, I was thinking along those same lines, but what I REALLY was hoping was that somewhere out in the broad expanse of the interwebs, there existed a downloadable template for the install. A full-size rendering would not be a problem, as I could have it printed off on the plotter at work. Is it possible there is such a thing, OR that somebody has an original template left over?

I failed to notice before I took the piece off the junker, but does it come quite close to the back of the roof rack when the hatch is fully opened?

Bklyn.X · May 2, 2019

I'll take some pictures of mine when it stops raining and post them for you. Let me know if there are specific angles you'd like to see.
I've never seen a template out there...not that I was looking.

Check out this DYS revnut tool mean time;

I think the size is different but the concept is the same. I have the tool so never have installed this way but it looks like it would work

Hetzer · May 3, 2019

That's awesome! I never thought it could be so easy. Thanks so much for sharing that! Glad I saved that crinkled-up fender to practice on. If you could take some measurements when you get time, that would be super.

Bklyn.X · May 3, 2019

Looking down, top of arm, top of tailgate;

Passenger side arm to edge of tailgate;

The bottom of the arm is about ¼” from the bend;

Hetzer · May 3, 2019

Thank you SO much! Access to that kind of help and information is why the supporting membership to this site is a bargain!

Bklyn.X · May 5, 2019

That was an easy one. Glad I could help.

Hetzer · May 5, 2019

Bklyn.X said:
That was an easy one. Glad I could help.

One last thing, I see that there are available both steel and aluminum rivnuts in the appropriate size. I'm leaning towards the aluminum ones, due to the fact the installation SHOULD be less of a hassle, especially when using the installation method shown in that video. However, the steel ones seem to be more readily available locally (Home Depot, Lowes); aluminum ones are on Amazon. Any doubts on the aluminum rivnuts suitability?

Bklyn.X · May 7, 2019

Sorry, just saw this.
The OEM came with aluminum revnuts. They are certainly easier to install especially without the tool; softer material and all. The steel one will be stronger.

I have steel ones on the driver side that had pulled out when I snapped my original “wing” off roading (I installed a second I bought off a guy in Colorado that had “chopped” his Xterra).

The steel one kinda flattened out the mis-shaped hole in my sheet metal caused will the arm got yanked out.

If I was installing new without the “tool” I’d use the aluminum. Less chance of me F’ing it up; misalignment, etc.

Hetzer · May 8, 2019

Thanks for confirming my intuition. I will order some of the aluminum rivnuts. NOW, to decide whether to mount the air deflector on MY Xterra or my wife's X.

(I think it would look better on her yellow truck, but she is not sold on the idea of drilling holes in the rear hatch.)

Bklyn.X · May 8, 2019

Drilling holes into your truck is always nerve-racking. Wait until you decide you want a snorkel and need to take a jig saw to her!

Hetzer · May 9, 2019

Bklyn.X said:
Drilling holes into your truck is always nerve-racking. Wait until you decide you want a snorkel and need to take a jig saw to her!

HA! . . . . That might be seen as grounds for divorce!

OdiN · Oct 23, 2019

Huh...mine came with the spoiler thing.

You still looking for a cargo cover? I can't remember if I still have mine or not. I might.

Hetzer · Oct 24, 2019

Yeah, I'm still looking for a cargo cover. If you still have one you'd part with, let me know.

OdiN · Oct 24, 2019

Hetzer said:
Yeah, I'm still looking for a cargo cover. If you still have one you'd part with, let me know.

Where do you live?

Hetzer · Oct 24, 2019

North-east Kansas. I know shipping would be pricey, but I'd be willing to pay it up front, depending on what you need to get out of the cover itself.

OdiN · Oct 24, 2019

Hetzer said:
North-east Kansas. I know shipping would be pricey, but I'd be willing to pay it up front, depending on what you need to get out of the cover itself.

You can just have it, if I still do. I have to check, I may have given it away already I don't remember. The other option would be if you go to Moab or know people near you who are I can always send it with someone from here (CO) to eventually get back your way too.

OdiN · Oct 24, 2019

You're in luck...it's leaning up in my garage. I don't really have anything big enough to ship it in though. I'll have to wait for some more Amazon crap and probably cobble together something. It looks like a guesstimate on UPS it would run between $20-$30 to ship, depending on how long the package ends up being and what it weighs.

Hetzer · Oct 25, 2019

Sounds good. I'll definitely take it, assuming it's in good shape with no damage (i.e. - no tears, holes or broken parts and retracts like it ought to). When you figure out how to package it and get the shipping cost, just PM me your address, and I will send you a money order for whatever the shipping cost is. Thanks!

Oh, BTW, could you post up a picture of it? It is for a Gen1 X, right?

OdiN · Oct 27, 2019

Hetzer said:
Sounds good. I'll definitely take it, assuming it's in good shape with no damage (i.e. - no tears, holes or broken parts and retracts like it ought to). When you figure out how to package it and get the shipping cost, just PM me your address, and I will send you a money order for whatever the shipping cost is. Thanks!

Oh, BTW, could you post up a picture of it? It is for a Gen1 X, right?

Yeah it's out of my 2004. There's some scrapes and such in the paint, and some velcro stuck to one part of it for some reason, from the prior owner. It pulls out and retracts fine, no rips or anything in the cover material.

Now that I've had a chance to get a better measurement, I'm thinking it will be around $20 to ship. If the condition is fine with you, PM me your address and I can get an actual shipping quote.

Hetzer · Oct 28, 2019

OdiN said:
Yeah it's out of my 2004. There's some scrapes and such in the paint, and some velcro stuck to one part of it for some reason, from the prior owner. It pulls out and retracts fine, no rips or anything in the cover material.

Now that I've had a chance to get a better measurement, I'm thinking it will be around $20 to ship. If the condition is fine with you, PM me your address and I can get an actual shipping quote.

View attachment 11568 View attachment 11569

That will work for me. PM inbound.

Richard · Jan 22, 2020

So anyone have one of the rear spoilers for sale in good shape. I have been looking to no avail. I do not want to use some aftermarket one if I can help it. Really like to find a OEM.

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