2011 Xterra low lift w35s build and adventures

[Smileyshaun]

Barely squeezed the xterra in the garage so I can get working on the clutch . I am thankful to even have this tiny space of a garage but man it makes things a little more difficult.
I do think next month I’m gonna start working on making a bumper for it, I was going to put a winch plate behind the factory bumper but the time will it take me to make one I could probably just make the whole bumper .
Have to pull the bumper off to do some measuring but probably just do something simple like I did on my grand Cherokee and Tahoe, but with more skid plate

 

[TerryD]

The fiancé got off early today so we used the couple extra hours to go for a little 150 mile drive around the back way up to mount hood just to give the Xterra a shakedown run . Still absolutely in love with this thing , I probably should replace the shocks and struts soon as the suspension seems to bottom out over bigger bumps . View attachment 120658View attachment 120659View attachment 120660View attachment 120661

The rear suspension is something that's been gone over time and again. They didn't allow for much up travel away OE ride height.

When mine was stock, I used a set of the OE P4X rear shocks and added Helwig EZ550 helpers and that was a huge improvement. I think I still have those Helwigs and hardware but I sold the shocks with my OE rear springs after I lifted.

Depending on how much you want to lift or how you want to do it, there are other options out there...

 

[TerryD]

Barely squeezed the xterra in the garage so I can get working on the clutch . I am thankful to even have this tiny space of a garage but man it makes things a little more difficult.
I do think next month I’m gonna start working on making a bumper for it, I was going to put a winch plate behind the factory bumper but the time will it take me to make one I could probably just make the whole bumper .
Have to pull the bumper off to do some measuring but probably just do something simple like I did on my grand Cherokee and Tahoe, but with more skid plate

View attachment 121974View attachment 121975View attachment 121976View attachment 121977

I like those bumpers!

There's a couple hidden which mounts on the market from WAM! and PRG right now I think. They've worked out well for others.

My full bumper and winch was about a 3mpg hit going over 70mph vs my OE bumper. I think it's where the front wheel wells fill with air and become a sail. But I don't mind going a bit slower most of the time.

 

[Smileyshaun]

Black widow has a weld together kit that’s about half the cost of other ones I’ve seen plus their bumper kit is reasonably priced so I may get a little lazy and go that route .
I’m not terribly worried about mpg over 70 because most the speed limits around where I live are 55-60 .

Nissan Xterra

Nissan Xterra Products

shop.blackwidowgear.com

 

[Smileyshaun]

I would say I got the last bit of life out of it

 

[Smileyshaun]

I ran across something a little interesting that I wish more tire manufacturers would start doing . A 35x10.50 tire , this one is for a 17” wheel and that’s a bit of a bummer because I’d rather not buy wheels and the only offerings in a 35x10.50 in a 16” wheel is a swampier SSR and a bogger, neither is a ideal DD tire .

 

[Smileyshaun]

The rear suspension is something that's been gone over time and again. They didn't allow for much up travel away OE ride height.

When mine was stock, I used a set of the OE P4X rear shocks and added Helwig EZ550 helpers and that was a huge improvement. I think I still have those Helwigs and hardware but I sold the shocks with my OE rear springs after I lifted.

Depending on how much you want to lift or how you want to do it, there are other options out there...

For now I really don’t have a need for a lift so I’ll probably just toss another set of stock shocks on and call it good . But knowing me that could change in a weekend lol

 

[TerryD]

For now I really don’t have a need for a lift so I’ll probably just toss another set of stock shocks on and call it good . But knowing me that could change in a weekend lol

Those Helwig's can be adjusted and I ran mine with just enough preload to be about 1" above OE ride height to help with bottoming out and allow it to settle level when loaded (wife, 3 kids, + gear)

 

[Smileyshaun]

It’s all back together and drives great , no real off-road yet just some gravel roads and backroads to get the fiancé out to see some fall colors .

She found out the door pocket is a perfect wine bottle holder ,she’s not a fan of cliffs or roads with any sort of drop off( most every logging road in the pnw ) so it’s her keep calm medicine .

 

[Smileyshaun]

I will say the tires on this thing are horrible , hard as a brick in these pics I have them down to 16psi at 25 you wouldn’t even know any air has been let out . Tires may have to move up further on the to do list .

 

[Smileyshaun]

I’ve had these led work lights laying around for years now and I think I found the perfect home for them .

 

[Smileyshaun]

Well that was the easiest install ever , some 3/8 bolts , couple fender washers a couple inches of a 1x1 square tube And some clamp on wire taps to the factory roof lights and I’ll call it done .

 

[Smileyshaun]

Got out for a nice little drive with the fiancé , drove up the Washington side of the Columbia River gorge then down the historic Barlow road . Really need to get around to putting some new struts and shocks on it but still waiting for my lift to be shipped . The ride is a bit rough at this point because it nearly bottoms out when I hit bumps .

 

[TerryD]

Got out for a nice little drive with the fiancé , drove up the Washington side of the Columbia River gorge then down the historic Barlow road . Really need to get around to putting some new struts and shocks on it but still waiting for my lift to be shipped . The ride is a bit rough at this point because it nearly bottoms out when I hit bumps .View attachment 125146
View attachment 125147

What lift did you wind up getting?

 

[Smileyshaun]

Ordered a prg 1.5” lift but that was 2 weeks ago and I got a email that said my order was on the way but it still hasn’t left their facility and 2 emails later I have had no response of when it’s being sent out .

 

[TerryD]

Ordered a prg 1.5” lift but that was 2 weeks ago and I got a email that said my order was on the way but it still hasn’t left their facility and 2 emails later I have had no response of when it’s being sent out .

Yeah, Greg makes some of the best quality and designed parts in the Nissan game but he sadly lacks on shipping service. If you can get the guy on the phone, he's a treasure trove of info too.

I have his custom valved Radflo shocks on the front on the X as well as his u-bolt flip kit. Took forever to get the flip kit.

 

[Smileyshaun]

I was figuring a 5-7 days for shipping but I will call today to see what’s going on .

 

[Smileyshaun]

I’ve had this tablet mounts and my last three vehicles and amazingly it still sticks to the dash the suction cup is made of some of the stickiest material I’ve ever seen in my life

 

[AdventureRider81]

Awesome rig! Great very capable platform. The Xterra community is one of the best I have had the pleasure to be apart of.

 

[Smileyshaun]

Lift kit is on its way , hopefully get it installed Tuesday .
Got some maintenance stuff done , cleaning up the battery terminals and putting dielectric grease in every connection I can find .