Off-Kilter - Ron ap Rhys' Xterra

[Ron ap Rhys]

Pics to be added later, just popping this stuff in now. I'll also edit it so it doesn't look all poopish later, too.

Year: 2007
Make: Nissan (duh)
Model: Xterra (double duh)
Trim: OR
Color: Desert Stone
Codename: Off Kilter
Pilot: Ron

Project Goal (without a vision, you spend and spend): A capable, but not hyper-done, expedition vehicle. Enough to get me out to most places with enough gear to be comfortable. Having it as a basecamp for hiking, mountain biking, and the like is what it'll spend most of its life doing. It has to remain a DD even though it's paid off, so no getting too crazy.

External Mods:

Completed

• Curt hitch and 7 pin harness install (cut out in the bumper)
• Mudflap be-gone mod
• Fuel tank mod - I'll have to write this up later. If you want to know, PM me.
• BFG AT KOs all around 285-75/16
• NX Rocks Solid Sliders - The sliders are on. Definitely cool and impressive.
• Rear axle breather extension - did this one today, not too difficult. I'm feeling much better about some of the mud and water I'll likely get into. FYI - Nissan part # = 38323-C601A. Replaces the little capped vent perfectly and lets you mount a hose with no problems whatsoever. Plus this way you don't have any dirty Toyota parts on your X.
• NX Rocks skids (one of the last sets) are installed. Brush painted them with some implement primer and implement paint from TSC.
• 2" lift kit from AllDayFab is installed.
• 24" Firestik NGP antenna installed (temporarily) on top of the gear box. I like the mounting point but I need to permanently wire it up.
• Dephep goodness installed. Purchased a used one that had a LineX or some other bedliner coating, installed it. Pimpish.

In the works – I’ve not decided for sure on these, but I’d like to get around to them at some point (more or less in order)

• Front winch bumper – right now I've not gotten into a position where I need it, so additional suspension mods are actually sitting ahead of this in my priority list.
• Rear tire carrier bumper – same as above, but I can definitely see where having the spare not under the X is a Very Good Thing.
• Way down the road is the RTT - I can sleep in back with what I've got now, so this is on the last of the mods list.

Internal Mods:

Completed – I like the stereo and probably won’t be replacing too much.

• Dog Prevention Unit – a quick bit of work on some mdf I had laying around to prevent Betsy from putting her head on the armrest/console. Plus it gives me a spot to stuff some soft gear in where it won’t be seen from the outside. Good for roadtrips.
• Raingler Net - it's a complement to the above. I got their RN90 net but installed it behind the driver/passenger seats to help keep Betsy out of the front as well as provide an anchor point for some smaller bits of gear.
• Diehard Platinum battery - when I had the X checked out near the warranty expiration, the battery came up as lacking. I did a bit of research and it came down to the Optima and the Diehard. With a 10 year warranty (and the first 4 being full replacement at no cost) it seemed to be a bit of a no-brainer.
• Cobra 18WXST II CB just installed. Much like the antenna, it's temporarily mounted for now. I'll perma-mount it after Moab.
• McMaster Carr 175lb struts are installed. Took about 5 minutes or so to complete, very easy. I did use a 2x4 to hold up the hatch, which helped.

In the works

• Sleeping platform – just something to give me a solidly level surface to sleep on and a bit of a seat when getting dressed. Plan on storing some of the gear under it. Got the go-ahead from the missus to buy what I need to do this. Now I'm really planning it out. Thinking about a few modular units that I can slide in and out. By making them modular I can make it easier to remove and install them and if I need to upgrade one vs the other, it's much easier.
• Lobo - I thought about doing the Lobo. Still haven't done it and am putting it on indefinite hold (not that it's not been on hold for some time now)

Picture of the new shoes:

My first actual stuck (yes, it looks lame. Really, it was. I was on the stock Rugged Trails, muddy, inclined, and there was a rootball that I couldn't get over. Every time I gave it any gas the tires spun on the leaves and mud and I slid towards that tree):

The cut out for the 7 pin connectors:

And an action shot:

Remy's sliders:

Raingler Net:

Mo betta stickers shot (I think I'm up to 8-10 extra HP from these):

After adding the 2" lift and NX Rocks skids, I was able to be a bit more confident when wheeling.

 

[gorillamel]

Ha, love this quote of yours:

"Pics to be added later, just popping this stuff in now. I'll also edit it so it doesn't look all poopish later, too."

I'd like to say, good looking truck, but I would be lying. Therefore, I'm gonna say, nice list o mods you got there. (I usually just copy and paste my info from TNX.)

 

[Macland]

Good lookin build thread man. I dig your descriptions.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Did some editing as I had a meeting cancelled so I had a few minutes.

Mel - now you can say it's a good-looking X.

Macland - hopefully the pics help add something.

And on that last action shot credit has to go to Blain for snapping the pic. As he was running backwards to avoid getting squished.

 

[Jmac289gt]

That last shot is scary looking sir, the slider design go good with the lines of the X...looking good.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

It wasn't nearly as scary as it looks. Just popping up over a rock. There's about 4' of air under the passenger tire, but I'm basically crawling along.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

The email exchange with our friends at Alcan has started...

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

And the Alcans have been ordered.

Pimp-stylin'

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

I've also started my sleeping platform. Fina-damn-ly.

 

[drbandkgb]

I love the color of your X... I get so worn out by the black

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

I got it pretty much randomly. It was the only 6spd OR available when I bought mine.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

I managed to do a bit of work on my overall sleeping platform/storage area. This is still in rough-in mode, but the overall set up is going to be sectional so I can put it in a bit easier (that's what she said). The half that I've got here is the side I actually sleep on. Since my wife doesn't come along on the trips I don't need it to be any wider than it is. Points on this unit:

• It's 74" tall by 24" wide by 10" tall (internally, 10.75" tall in total), for the top shelf. The actual box itself is 74" by 18" wide.
• There's going to be about 6" overhang towards the outside edge of the X. That's the portion that sits over the wheelwell.
• That extra space under the platform will be used for stuffing small stuff (headlamps, shoes, etc)
• At the end of the section you see an open hole with a faceframe around it. I'll slide my campchairs and other things in there.
• There's going to be a partition about 2/3 of the way up that starts where the campchairs end. I'll install a hinge there and have it set to lift up.
• I'm not 100% on this yet, but that should house my cooking and eating stuff. I'll probably cut some foam in there to allow me to stack the plates, knives, pots, pans, etc in there without things bouncing around, banging into each other, etc. I might even be able to get the camp stove in that spot, which would be tits.
• I did have to notch the top of the box slightly to fit around the center console. Since I travel solo I fold the front seat flat and use that as a platform for snacks and other stuff when I travel.
• The cool thing about this is that I can set up my bedding and leave it set up. The hinge should open front to back, which will just cause things to fold - nothing major to deal with.
• Construction is 1/2" ply for the top, 3/8" ply (they didn't have an inexpensive 1/4") for the bottom, and 1x10" for the sides, partitions, and ends. I'm using #8 screws, 1.75" long to screw things together and gluing all joints for additional strength. Since we're talking about long-grain to long-grain for the sides, the glue should do most of the work. Even with the top not attached, the unit became very, very solid as soon as I put on the bottom.
• I may do some L-brackets on the corners, just for piece of mind but at this point I don't think I'll need them.
• I'll probably come in around $120 for the whole shebang.
• In case you're wondering about the 2x4 under the bottom, that's there due to the differential in slope between the back seats and the back deck. It drops roughly 1.5" over it's 35" length so a 2x4 fits in there perfectly. I'll have those mounted to the bottom of each section to keep things level. Which means I'll still have access (difficult to get to, though) for the dead hooker storage area. Not sure what's going to go in there yet.
• Just in case you're wondering, this unit isn't particularly heavy. I can easily move it around myself, though it is a bit awkward.

So, what's to come? I've got finish up the work on this side of things and make sure everything fits and I'm satisfied. Then I'll start on the next two sections. One will sit in the back and look similar to the current unit, just bit a bit wider. That's going to house the camp kitchen set I've got, maybe the stove or some other often grabbed items. On top of that will be my soft goods and other light stuff. In front of that will be tool/cooler storage. That'll be an open-topped box that I can drop things into.

I'll use the footwells for fluids and other heavy things. I'll have room between these units and the back hatch to mount an ax and some other useful camp stuff. Recovery gear will go up top in the wet box for now.

Moab will be the true test, though.

 

[Jmac289gt]

Im glad you clarified what that was cause my first thought was a coffin....yikes!

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

That's why my wife said, too. Looks like I'm building my coffin.

 

[Jmac289gt]

LOL, well it all looks good so far sir.

 

[granitex]

I feel kind of honered to be the one who winched you off of the tree on your first stuck. kind of like a proud parent watching their kid go off to school.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Latest updates for everyone. I did a bit more work on the sleeping side. The cross piece has been glued and screwed in. It's set to be just long enough for me to slide the camp chairs in. Not pictured (yet) is that I've got the top glued and screwed in as well. Right where the cross piece is I've sawn across and put some hinges in. That allows me to lift it up and use that side for storage. I'll probably need to rig up some sort of an arm or latch to hold it up so I can use both hands. I've also got to figure out some way to store the gear in there without it banging around nastily. I've got some HD foam that I can pop in there and maybe make slots for everything.

For those wonder, no, I can't sit up straight with that in there. However, that's not a huge deal for me as I can stow much more gear and keep things nice and tidy.

I've also had to do some notching to make it slide into place and I've still got to sort out how I'll keep it clamped down. I'm planning on using electrical conduit spring nuts.

Next steps, for those who might be wondering, are to get the last bits fitted. Once that's done I can start building the other units that'll pop in there.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

I feel kind of honered to be the one who winched you off of the tree on your first stuck. kind of like a proud parent watching their kid go off to school.

That was an interesting stuck. As I recall you were winching me back as someone else had me strapped from the front just so I didn't slide into that tree. Better tires, a bit of a lift, and more skills have helped. Not that I've not been given a tug or two since then. But at least it wasn't on an easy trail...

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Boxes are now mostly done. Need to do a gear load out now to see how things fit and start figuring out how to bolt it down so it doesn't bounce about.

Also, my Alcans have shipped. Kick-ass.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

My Moab prep list at this point:

• Replace slowly leaking rear axle seal and replace parking brake shoes. This might explain why my e-brake doesn't work for shiat.
• Seal the rear diff cover.
• Might even replace the lugnuts. I've noticed that they've got a bit of rounding going. Probably because I thought I needed a 22mm socket to get them off, not a 21mm.
• I'll check the different fluids as most of them aren't to the point where they need replaced.
• Oil will be changed, filter changed.
• Finish up the sleeping platform and storage solution.
• Final fitment of the boxes
  
  [*]Storage set up for the cooking gear​
  [*]Need to put a lid on one of the boxes that'll have the camp kitchen and stove. Maybe some foam on top to keep things from bouncing about.​
  [*]Figure out how to bolt things down and together so they don't bounce about and break stuff.​
• Re seat all of the tires (just for fun). Torque everything down.
• Pack up everything just to make sure it fits. Might need some additional toolboxes or other nonsense to keep things together.
• Oh yeah - put on my new Alcans.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

My Moab prep list at this point:

• Replace slowly leaking rear axle seal and replace parking brake shoes. This might explain why my e-brake doesn't work for shiat.
• Seal the rear diff cover.
• Might even replace the lugnuts. I've noticed that they've got a bit of rounding going. Probably because I thought I needed a 22mm socket to get them off, not a 21mm.
• I'll check the different fluids as most of them aren't to the point where they need replaced.
• Oil will be changed, filter changed.
• Finish up the sleeping platform and storage solution.
• Final fitment of the boxes
• Storage set up for the cooking gear
• Need to put a lid on one of the boxes that'll have the camp kitchen and stove. Maybe some foam on top to keep things from bouncing about.
• Figure out how to bolt things down and together so they don't bounce about and break stuff.
• Re seat all of the tires (just for fun). Torque everything down.
• Pack up everything just to make sure it fits. Might need some additional toolboxes or other nonsense to keep things together.
• Oh yeah - put on my new Alcans.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Alcans are basically installed. They sent the wrong ubolts (from what I can tell, they keep a book of specific orders by vehicle type and someone might've done the ubolt flip, which isn't correct for stockers). The replacements should show up tomorrow and when I get back in town this weekend, I should be able to button these mods up. That means next weekend is the axle seal and other stuff.

 

[Le Loup]

Ron,

My X is the same color and I've been wondering where a good place to start my mod would be. After seeing your machine I think I'm gonna start with rails and mud flap removal. Your ride looks great.

I've often thought about "camping" in my X so I'll be looking foward to seeing the rest of your build.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Depends on what you plan on doing. If you're going to be wheeling anywhere around here I'd make sure you at least have stock skids. Better would be up-armored ones (Shrock, Hefty, others) but that'll cost you a pretty penny. If you've got the stock skids, I'd go with a 2" lift. It doesn't sound like much, but you'll won't be hitting your skids nearly as hard nor as often.

Rock sliders would be a good third mod then new shoes after the old ones wear out.

But, honestly, lots of that depends on what you plan on doing with the rig. If it's mostly dirt roads/easy trails and nothing too difficult, then tires could be a good first option.

Le Loup, here's how I'd break it down (just from my personal experience):


If you plan on hitting the more difficult trails and so forth, here's what I'd do. This is a good progression for slowly allowing more and more capability in the X.

• Make sure you've got the stock skids, if nothing else. They'll protect your delicate bits.
• To help reduce the number and severity of the impacts, a 2" spacer/shackle lift will get you started. Relatively inexpensive, easy to install and the difference it makes is amazing. All Day Fab, PRG, and others all make these kits.
• Depending on your current tread life, I'd suggest up-grading to some good 33" ATs. If the tread is stll good, you can delay a bit.
• Rock sliders are now a great option.
• If you've not upgraded the tires by now, I'd do it.
• Skids. Hefty, Shrock, others. They'll let you get into much harder trails and really protect parts that don't get along with the sharp and pointies.

If you're going to mostly dirt roads/easy trails, the order changes a bit.

• Stock skids are probably all you'll need. They'll actually take some decent hits (trust me, I know this as I abused the shiznit out of mine).
• 2" lift again - mostly just to protect you if you hit a very rutted section of the trail.
• Tires - get some 33s.
• Sliders - seems a bit much, but they'll allow you to have more options if something gets hairy.

That's my $0.02 (and worth probably as much.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Update: Alcans are installed. I repeat: Alcans are installed.

Now I've got a few more tasks (bullety list time):

• Finalize the boxes. Need to get most of this out of the way tomorrow. Going to try and get the foam cut so I can start to get my dinnerware and stuff in there.
• Repair the axle seal - doing this either later this week or next weekend.
• Re-seal the rear diff.
• Fluid changes where necessary (oil, rear diff - top off others)
• Cut-off the new ubolts.
• Pack n stuff.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Been a busy day. I've done a bit of work and things are working quite nicely now.

• The springs are completely attached and I've re-tightened the ubolts. Now I need to cut then to length. Something that'll keep me busy this week.
• I managed to get the foam and most of my cooking stuffs properly packed. Probably have a few tweaks until I'm happy, but it's functional and secured. I used spring nuts in the tie down channels, cut some pieces of wood to snug the nuts down so they won't spin. I've also used some bolts to attach each of the three boxes to each other. Last bit of fun was to put some eyebolts in so I can strap my toolboxes and cooler down.
• I finalized the last bit of the upgrade to my breather mod. Should have plenty of room for axle articulation without pulling it out.

Still have to repair the oil seal in the axle and change some fluids, then do a final pack-out. I'm not out of the woods, but I can see the edge.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Also need to drain and refill the brake fluid.

dammit. I keep remembering things I need to do.

 

[Le Loup]

Also need to drain and refill the brake fluid.

dammit. I keep remembering things I need to do.

Well that's better than forgetting things you must do! I feel ya though. Each time I sit down to make my X wish list and must do's it keeps getting longer instead of shorter...

 

[gorillamel]

Your bulleted lists make me happy. Yay for organised list-makers! What day are you leaving for Moab?

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

I'm going to get out of Dodge around 5am on Friday. That way I'm in Moab a day earlier than most. If the drive is anything like last year I'll actually make it in early afternoon on Saturday, which gives plenty of time for getting set up, relaxing, etc.

Still trying to decide if I bring my grill or not. It's a pretty big space hog...

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Oh - update time: Bearing, seal, retainer, and stuff for fluid and oil changes has been purchased. I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow for a day trip, so I should start the tear down on the axle stuff on Thursday.

 

[SoCalx]

Great build Ron, Looks comfortable.

Hope to see your rig perform on the slickrock this year.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Some updates and finally, some pics.

I believe the rear diff cover is now sealed so it won't leak. Once I get my axle back I'll be able to get it installed and fill the diff itself to make sure it's not leaking.

Speaking of the axle, I got it pulled, the bearing cup out, etc. and took it to the local Nissan shop to get the bearings pressed on. Won't be able to get it back until Monday, but that's the last major project prior to Gone. Oil's changed, I'm working on bolting up the fuel tank skid (I had one bolt that had broken off so I had to do some mods to get it back in there).

Once the axle's installed I can put the new shoes in the e-brake and button things up.

Last things for the day are to do one side of the parking brake shoes, bolt up that skid, get the brake line bolted down, clean up around the garage.

Here's a pic of the cleaned up and non-leaking (hopefully) diff cover.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Another update. Last night I had a few hours and managed to get some additional prep work done:

• Cut the last of the ubolts ends down to size.
• Topped off the rear diff
• Changed out the e-brake shoes.

For those of you who remember, my ebrake simply didn't seem to work when I was out in Moab last year. I had replaced the shoes prior to the trip, but they weren't working. The problem was the leaking axle seal. Since it sits inside the drum, the gear oil would drip and and make it's way onto the drum and friction surface. This led to the shoes getting completely soaked with oil - and made them useless.

Just need to purge/bleed the brakes and I'm ready to pack for the trip.

 

[SoCalx]

So tell me do I get to look at that SMILEY FACE all day Sunday:wut: I think its kinda cute...

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

yeppers. It'll make my X that much easier to find in low light conditions and all.

 

[SoCalx]

I'm so looking forward to next week. And I'll be bringing the big A$$ margaritas for the Sunday Gone Meet & Great.

 

[Macland]

Glad you figured out what was up with the e-brake. I probably wouldn't know my e-brake was messed up til I needed it.

 

[Ron ap Rhys]

Moab Updates

Time for a report out from Moab. The sleeping platform worked very well. With the exception of the one hot as balls night, I was very comfortable and woke up decently refreshed. I did have to learn a trick to climbing in and out easily, but once I got that down it really wasn't particularly difficult to deal with.

In terms of gear storage, it worked well. I had a few things worth noting:

• The toolbox storage area works well. The boxes, jackstands, and everything else stayed put and weren't incredibly difficult to get to.
• Using a cooler is a bit more of a pain. There's a limit to using ice to keep things cold and while I've tinkered aroung to give myself a shelf in there, it's still not perfect. More work needs to be done there.
• The box holding the camping kitchen, stove, and various sundries worked very well. No complaints.
• Clothes storage needs some tweaks, for sure. Trying to live out of a floppy bag just doesn't cut it. Maybe I'll be able to find some of those semi-rigid storage bin deals and I can use those.
• The only real disappointment was getting to my plates, cups, and flatware. Yes, the hinge worked, but it really doesn't open enough to allow easy access - especially not with the foam pad on top. That'll need more tweaking to make it a bit more user-friendly. Maybe even some sort of a strut to keep it propped up.
• I'll also put some better latches (something other than bungees over eyebolts) to keep the lids closed.
• I do have a bit of Class A Dumbassery that I have to admit to. When I bolted the boxes and everything in, I neglected to give myself access to the stock jack and tools. Normally, since I've got a highlift, bottle jack, jackstands, and the like this wouldn't be an issue - but there is that spiffy little tool that allows one to lower their spare tire that's also under there. Oops. I'll have to remember that for next time...

On my current list, and in order of importance:

1. New tires all around (mine are on their last legs).
2. Quality compressor
3. Spare parts (ball joints, tie rod ends, etc)
4. Front suspension upgrade
5. Front and rear bumpers
6. Winch

 

[Macland]

Getting out of the X when using it as a bed is definitely a pain. It sounds like your setup did pretty well for a trip that long.