PhullD's Build Thread

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Username: PhullD

Make: Nissan
Year: 2015
Model: Xterra (Manual)
Trim: Pro-4x "Limited"
Color: Super Black
Code Name: I don't name my vehicles.

As of October 20th, 2018 (ya I know I need a newer one)

Qw1VZ70.jpg


MODS

Armor:
Shrockworks Front bumper with flip plate
Shrockworks front skid
ARB Diff Cover
Black Widow Gear (BWG) aluminum tranny, t-case and gas tank skids
Hefty aluminum engine Skid
White Knuckle Sliders
Rear shock skids
Maxterra rear bumper

Lighting:
Lamin-X yellow fog light covers
Diode Dynamics XML2 fog lights
Two ARB type 9 inch 320w (27k Lumen) pods (front) with ARB Intensity (Amber) Lenses (currently removed)
AUXBeam X Series 22 inch light bar (rear)
Diode Dynamics Reverse LED's
LED pods in rear bumper
Two small LED bars on driver's side roof rack (install pending roof rack)

Misc. Exterior Mods:
Auxiliary Gas Tank (19gal)
Rear Hatch Adjustment Mod
X-tec Fender Flares
Smittybilt X2O 10,000lb Winch with Wireless Controller
Synthetic Winch Line
Diff Breather Mod
175lb Rear Hatch Struts
Daystar D-Ring isolators
Front window tint on pass and driver's sides (35%)
Maxterra Roof Rack (currently removed)

Interior/Electrical:
Maxterra rear cargo shelf
Fog Light Mod
Midland 75-822 CB Radio, heavy duty stud and Wilson 4ft flexy on the tire carrier
WeatherTech Floor Mats (front, second row and rear)
Nissan Navara illuminated shift knob
ABS Off Mod (my version)
Replaced Interior Bulbs with LED's
Diode Dynamics Interior LED Kit (with one in center console)
BlackVue 650 2CH Front and Rear Cameras with Parking Module
Raingler Barrier Net
Raingler Grab Handles
Raingler Hatch Bag
Raingler custom ceiling net
Blue Sea 5026 ST panel
90amp circuit breaker
Toyota 800 series switches in amber with ABS Off, Interior Lights, and Rear Lights
Clutch adjustment mod
ARB CKMA12 compressor
ARB inflation/adaptor kit
4Crawler 4-tire inflation/deflation kit
Redlinegoods extended leather shift boot
ARB Fridge/freezer 12volt plug
ARB 37qt Fridge/freezer with transit bag
Autometer gauge and transfer switch for auxiliary tank

Engine/Drivetrain:
Stock engine
Tom Woods double cardan driveshaft
Femco Quick Oil Drain
Rugged Rocks 180a alternator
Bully Dog 40417 GT
Airflow Snorkel
AEM high flow filter (for the cleanable aspect)
Added Nissan engine cover (should have come with IMO)
Re-geared to 4:56 (F*** YEAH!)

Suspension:
1/2" strut spacers
SuperPro poly steering rack bushings
Titan LCA's
SPC Titan UCA's
Titan swap Radflo 2.5" with 650lb springs
Spare front shocks: 99-06 Tundra Bilstein 5100's (with 2 added snap ring grooves), Fj 633lb springs, custom strut mounts
Alcan springs +800lbs and 3" of lift
Rear 2.5" Radflo with remote res. for 4-5" of lift
Bora 2" wheel spacers (rear)
2" AC body lift
Stainless front and rear extended brake lines
PRG Shackles
Timbren offroad bumpstops

Wheels and Tires and Brakes:
(4 plus a spare on stock p4x rims) 315/75R16 BFG KO2's (great tire)
HAWK LTS pads all around
1320 Performance Lug Nuts

Removed or Sold:
Maxterra Roof Rack
265/75R16 Hankook Dynapro AT's on Steelies (Ok winter tire for road/mild offroad, wish it was tougher)
285/75R16 Khumo KL71 Road Venture M/T (Terrible, worst warranty and company, never buy these)
Diamond K400 Antenna Mount
Wilson 4' Antenna
Xterra SPC UCA's
Nisstec 2 inch lift top spacer with AAL
OME MD springs
Removed Rear Sway Bar
Removed Front Sway Bar
Raingler Rear Roof Net
Mud guards
Hella black magic lights
Volant Intake
OEM leaf pack and AAL
Hellwig EZ-550 helper springs
XTP Intake Manifold Spacer
Rex Rug Mod

On the Go:
Installing ARB Front locker (been sitting on a shelf for two years lol)

I will post up more mod photos as time goes on.
 
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PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Trip to Colorado and Utah

If anyone is up for wheeling/meet up or has suggestions, I'll be in Colorado and Utah throughout the month of September and a bit of October. Right now I'll just be putting down the weekend dates since most people will likely be working during the week and I'll be driving a lot.

Weekend breakdown as of now is as follows:

Weekend of Aug 30-Sept 1st: My club's annual meet in Southern Ontario.
Weekend of Sept 6-8th: Open - In northern(ish) Colorado still not settled on trail(s).
Weekend of Sept 13-15th: In Ouray region, doing Imogen Pass for sure, not sure what else.
Weekend of Sept 20-22nd: In Moab, have not settled on trail(s).
Weekend of Sept 27-29th: Open -

If anyone is off during the middle of the weeks listed and wants to hit a trail or meet up let me know too!
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Went to install my RTT last week and found out the crossbars were not machined deep enough to allow the mounts to slide in all the way. The end result was that they were too wide and I had to leave the tent at the freight depot. I have since had a friend of mine use a mill to deepen the grooves so the mounts can slide in. Tent is installed but turns out with all the excitement of installing it I mounted it backwards....ya not my proudest moment lol! It was a PITA to squeeze my hand in there to tighten the tent down and I wrecked (ie bruised) my hands wedging them in there. Waiting on an electric ratchet to come in before I flip the tent around and post a pick.
tB4v45e.jpg


B3ynA7a.jpg
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Newest breakdown:


Weekend of Aug 30-Sept 1st: My club's annual meet in Southern Ontario.
1st week: Drive to Ouray, Colorado. Hit trails and such on the way.


Weekend of Sept 6-8th: Imogene Pass, Ouray area, Alpine Loop and local trails in and around this weekend.
2nd week: Make way to Moab, Utah. Link up with @AlbatrossCafe during the week and hit some trails, do some camping maybe?


Weekend of Sept 13-15th: Start drive to Grand Canyon National Park (at some point)
3rd week: Grand Canyon National Park, end of week head back to Utah.


Weekend of Sept 20-22nd: Back in Moab.
4th week: Hook up with @Brunnie and @scoyoc at some point. Do Canyonlands (Shafer trail maybe?) and Arches, possibly some more trails in Moab.


Weekend of Sept 27-29th: Open - Likely drive back up to Colorado.
5th week: Open, in Colorado, leave Colorado head north to Montana and do the northern route through the Dakotas or more direct route...depends on feels.


Weekend of Oct 4-6th: Open - Crossing the border.
6th week: Leave Monday and Tuesday to arrive and unpack.


Still open for offers of people that want to meet up or join up on some trails/camping, particularly Colorado people or people in States on the way to and from Colorado/Utah.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
first time i have seen fender flares like that on a Xterra. i like it.

You can get them here: https://www.x-trek.com/
My rig is also in the gallery, it's the super black one taken from the side with the sunset reflection in it.

Edit, turns out if you go to products and then Xterra flares, my truck is there again with the front view this time instead of the side view.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
Wish you were gonna be in Ouray a week earlier. NORAC is there now, we head out this Saturday, we leave the 31st.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Wish you were gonna be in Ouray a week earlier. NORAC is there now, we head out this Saturday, we leave the 31st.

Sorry I missed this I was doing a shakedown run before the big trip.

Maybe we can get you out when I'm in Utah for a weekend or something?

Updated the media unit from D207 to 407.

CytTca0.jpg

Shakedown runs are great for nailing down efficiency. I already have a list.
dDZFE03.jpg
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
What is this you speak of?

It's a software update for the factory stereo. The build software for 2015 was D207. The newest available for the current unit was 407 so I upgraded it thanks to a member on thenewx that uploaded it. Apparently Nissan charges $140 to update the software (not the maps, that's a separate charge) but they left the usb in his truck when he had it done.
 

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
It's a software update for the factory stereo. The build software for 2015 was D207. The newest available for the current unit was 407 so I upgraded it thanks to a member on thenewx that uploaded it. Apparently Nissan charges $140 to update the software (not the maps, that's a separate charge) but they left the usb in his truck when he had it done.

Interesting... I’ll have to look into that. Thanks
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Slightly more detailed breakdown so far.

Sept. 2nd to 5th: Make way to Ouray, CO, via Denver, CO. Meet up with @Prime? Still waiting for your cell number :p

Sept. 5th - 8th/9th: Ouray area -> Alpine Loop from Engineer Pass to Cinnamon Pass

Sept. 9th/10th: Imogene Pass to Telluride, ride to Moab.

Sept. 10th-13th: in Moab, UT, link up with @AlbatrossCafe and run Top of the World on the 12th.

Sept. 13th-15th: Fish Lake UT, Pelican Point Campground

Sept. 15th-17th: Grand Canyon North Rim

Sept. 17th-18th: Mather Campground (Grand Canyon South Rim)

Sept. 18th-19: Four Corners Monument and drive back to Utah

Sept. 20th-29th: In Moab/Canyon Lands, Arches link up with @Brunnie and @scoyoc then free time around UT/CO for Funtreks book trails or whatever

1st Week of October: Head home gradually, not sure of exact route.


Again any suggestions on campsites/trails or meet-ups let me know!
 

Xterrorista

Charcoal Briquette
Supporting Member
Location
Denton, TX
Meet up with @Prime

If you guys end up getting a beer or three or whatever while passing thru Denver, I'll come out.

Sounds like a nice trip layout, when we were in Moab last I brought all my canyoneering gear but the rain from the north made all the Narrows to heavy to run on foot.. I'd be dying to go with you on some of those runs but I've got some mods and misc stuff to get the rig ready for a little more intense trails..

Whether we meet up or not, Have a great trip. We'll be looking forward to hearing about the adventures~

L
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
My advise for Ouray area, is do more than you have mapped out. You can do the whole Alpine loop in one long day, Imogene only takes 3 hours from Ouray to Telluride, then come back to Ouray via Ophir. Spend a day doing Yankee Boy and Governors basin.

For instance.... Thursday from Ouray, we did Mineral Creek to Engineer (to the pass), then back down to Cinnamon, over to American Basin, had lunch there, returned to Animas Forks, up California, to Hurricane, down into Gladstone aired up in Silverton and were back in Ouray for a 6:00 dinner reservation at the Outlaw.

Friday from Ouray.... Started in Silverton, finished all the other trails in Gladstone, back up to Hurricane, down California up Placer and Picanne, Down Eureka Mountain, back up to Mineral / Engineer, and down to Ouray.

40 plus miles of Dirt /Wheelin both days.

There is free camping up the Portland mine road off the Amphitheater campground road.

The two toughest trails are Mineral Creek (very off camber in spots, take the high line over the rocks on every one of them not the widened spot next to the edge) and Poughkeepsie.... Black bear open but still has snow, and is wet..... we avoided it this year, you should too.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
Also.... When hitting Four Corners, head up to Hovenweep State Park, then over to the Needles area of Canyon Lands (Elephant Hill is there).... Then spend a day or two running Lockhart Basin from the Needles north to Chicken Corners then out to Moab via Hurrah Pass.... You'll thank me later.

Fins, Hell's, 7 Mile, TOTW, Metal Masher, are some of my favorites.... Dome Plateau has an awesome view. Don't bother with Steel Bender, it's way to too chewed up and the Drop is nearly impossible without being strapped down any more.

An really nice day drive is, out Potash road, up Long Canyon, over to Shaffer, down Shaffer to Musselman Arch, then back out the entire Potash road back to Moab. Nothing technical, just a stunning drive the whole day.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Thanks for that, a lot of options! I was planning to explore for a couple days and this is gonna help plan it out better. I found out this morning one of the Jeep guys at my club's event this weekend will be in Moab from the 20th-28th too.

I start my long drive to Denver tomorrow. Going to break the journey into 8 hour days rolling in on the 5th.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
I am curious why Fish Lake? It's pretty, and has the largest living organism on the planet in the form of an Aspen grove (Pando), but Moab to Fish lake to the North Rim? Personally I'd spend that time traveling from Moab over to Capitol Reef NP then down Hwy 12 to Bryce Canyon NP then Kanab an then the North Rim. Oh, the things that you'll see.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
I am curious why Fish Lake? It's pretty, and has the largest living organism on the planet in the form of an Aspen grove (Pando), but Moab to Fish lake to the North Rim? Personally I'd spend that time traveling from Moab over to Capitol Reef NP then down Hwy 12 to Bryce Canyon NP then Kanab an then the North Rim. Oh, the things that you'll see.

I guess that's the advantage of being a local, you know all the great spots. I have no idea where to go or what to do, I just see a map with roads on it and I'm trying to go by what I've seen people recommend and whatever comes up in searches. Fish Lake seemed like a nice stop on the way to the Northern Rim. I'm in Fish Lake for a couple nights so I can easily squeeze in Capitol Reef in a day trip and then stop through Kanab on the way to the Rim.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
At least drive highway 12 on the way down.... it’s stunning. Stop in Boulder at the Hell’s Backbone Grill for lunch.

You’ve got one hell of a trip planned, and I wish you great travels.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
At least drive highway 12 on the way down.... it’s stunning. Stop in Boulder at the Hell’s Backbone Grill for lunch.

You’ve got one hell of a trip planned, and I wish you great travels.

Thanks, I'll check that out, much appreciated!
 
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PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Well currently in Lincoln, NE. I'll be rolling into Golden, CO (where I'm staying) in the evening 5-7pm. I'll send some texts out when I arrive, consider this the heads up for meeting up in the evening. I wanted a place near the highway that wasn't ridiculously priced and had outdoor parking (for obvious reasons) so ended up outside Denver, but I don't mind driving a few minutes to meet. After 7hours, what's another 10min?
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
So quick question. I smell gear oil or a metallic oil smell. I had all the fluids changed at the dealer before I left (both diffs, transfer case, tranny) and did go wheeling Labour Day weekend. I did notice a smell prior to wheeling, but thought it was just spillage on the skid plates or something (happened before). Anyway after a bunch of long drives when I pull off the hwy I smell it. There are no visible drips or spills. I also smell it when the truck is cold but can't pinpoint the exact spot, I just get a whiff of something. Any ideas? Cause for concern?
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
So crawled underneath.

The smell is coming from the rear diff, looks like the RTV didn't seal perfectly. I also noticed a bit of sweat on the input shaft for the front diff and the output from the tranny (pictures below). No pics of the rear diff, I bailed because of the dark clouds lol. I wiped everything (with the intention of driving and checking again afterwards) but doesn't look that is practical given the forecast.

Supposed to be going to Ouray tomorrow, not realy sure what to do right now....f-ing Nissan dealership, out of all the times you could have inconvenienced me it had to be 1800mi from home!

rear drive shaft:
UdwSaaQ.jpg


Front diff shaft:
7zAQ2H4.jpg
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Do the FB NORAC thing and see who can give you a hand.

It's a thought. Hopefully it dries up later so I can see what's sweating/leaking. I was going to take it to a dealer tomorrow morning and have them re-do the diff cover if that's the only issue.
 

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
You have an m205 right? They are known to spit up oil out the breather if they are too full. Might want to check that (on the firewall side of the air filter box).
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
You have an m205 right? They are known to spit up oil out the breather if they are too full. Might want to check that (on the firewall side of the air filter box).

Ya I read that one time. Thanks for the reminder. I'm going to Boulder Nissan tomorrow.
 
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