2013 Frontier, project Roadblock

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Spud

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,365
St. Helens OR
First Name
Steven
Last Name
Ellett
Member #

3875

Ham/GMRS Callsign
W7LSX
Figured I should try and make a build thread of this thing. I bought this truck almost exactly a year ago, and have made many changes, some I've undone, others I've kept, it's been a learning process!

The truck is a 2013 Frontier Pro4x, I bought it with 60,000 miles on it. My earliest changes were things like a front hitch mount to hold a winch in a cradle, a Softopper canopy, a hitch rack modified to sit on the factory roof rack cross bars, and a 2" NissTec spacer lift. Tires are 265/75r16 wild country all terrains from Les Schwab. The only thing remaining out of this list is the lift and tires.

Recently I've made a ton of changes. I now have an ARB bumper, my Smittybilt winch that once lived in the hitch cradle is mounted inside the bumper with Masterpull line. The Softopper is gone in favor of an off-brand tonneau cover I got for cheap off eBay. I built and had powdercoated a rack that fits around the tonneau cover to hold my roof top tent (a Tepui Ayer I bought used). On the roof is a modified Heps basket (modified to sit further back and clear the sunroof). Mounted to it is a Superbrightleds.com single row LED light bar, and 4 NiLight pods. The ARB fog lights were taken apart to install Hella yellow bulbs. I put together a custom switch panel for all the lights, wired using blue sea bussed fuse panel and circuit breaker, micro relays, etc. I also have the ability to remotely turn on all lights thanks to a cheap remote control module I bought on Amazon and wired in using diodes and such (if we're in the tent and hear something outside, I can light camp up and see what's going on).

Recovery and related stuff on board is a hi-lift, 2 5lb co2 bottles for tires, extinguisher, Fiskars axe and pruning saw, shackles, snatch blocks, straps, etc. for the winch, plug kits, first aid, you get the picture.

My current diy project is building rock sliders for it.

Anyway, lots of words, how about some pictures. 0114171421.jpg
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Spud

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,365
St. Helens OR
First Name
Steven
Last Name
Ellett
Member #

3875

Ham/GMRS Callsign
W7LSX
Few more updates. Rock sliders are done, they came out decent. I need to improve the mounts a bit but for now they're more than adequate (need to make the plates full frame height).
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Spud

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,365
St. Helens OR
First Name
Steven
Last Name
Ellett
Member #

3875

Ham/GMRS Callsign
W7LSX
Something else I've been working on is the cheap Nilite pods on my rack. Despite being $7ea they were too bright and too directional for camp lighting. So I removed the reflectors, and scuffed the backsibac of the lenses with a red scuffy pad. Much better!
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