New Member with stock truck needs advice

[AdventureGuy]

I own a 2019 Nissan Frontier 2wd v6 with factory tires.

I'd like to build off road capability but have limited funds. I have purchased tire repair kit, air compressor, truck claw, shovel.

What shouild I prioritize next:

1. Off road tires

2. front bumper upgrade with winch and tow points

3. Rear bumper upgrade with tow points

4. lift kit and bigger off road tires

5. what am I missing?

Scott

 

[Chadlyb]

I own a 2019 Nissan Frontier 2wd v6 with factory tires.

I'd like to build off road capability but have limited funds. I have purchased tire repair kit, air compressor, truck claw, shovel.

What shouild I prioritize next:

1. Off road tires

2. front bumper upgrade with winch and tow points

3. Rear bumper upgrade with tow points

4. lift kit and bigger off road tires

5. what am I missing?

Scott

Hey Scott, great question. Looking at your list, and knowing you have some limited funds. Start with tires first( including matching spare).You can't adventure if you can't make it there and back. Next I would put together a first aid bag and recovery kit. Traction devices are great but some other things are definitely needed. ie.....shovel, straps, come along, shackles. After that, protect your truck body . Rock sliders or some armor. Just a few things that I would do before going in the black hole of accessories and mods. Good luck on your build. Please share with us. Look forward to seeing your build and your adventures.

 

[diabetiktaco]

5. what am I missing?

4x4.

But in all seriousness..tires will make the biggest difference.

 

[Lindenwood]

You are on the right track with an air compressor--you'll want to significantly reduce tire pressures to maximize traction (like, probably 12-15 PSI).

I wouldnt bother with a lift--a 2WD pickup is almost certainly going to run out of traction before ground clearance.

Indeed, first Id look at tires with a matching spare. There are several good imported tires that have a lot of bang for their buck. Installed, you can probably get 5 tires for ~$800 in moderate sizes.

Otherwise, with limited funds, I'd invest in a hi-lift and winching system with some extra straps and such. This should run you around $300 and, with enough elbow grease, should allow you to get out of most situations.

 

[Lindenwood]

Electric Winch vs Hi-Lift Winching Kit?

I posted this in an old thread of mine, but I thought I'd make it into its own thread. First, I think it is fair to articulate some of the pros and cons of the hi-lift winching kit vs an electric winch: Hi-lift -Pros: 1) If you already have a hi-lift, it only takes a modest amount of extra...

www.overlandbound.com

Here is a lot of info I provided comparing a hi-lift to a winch. I had both on my previous rig, and if I were building it again I probably wouldnt have spent the money.

I custom built the winching setup which has ~32 ft of winching capacity, can winch in any direction, and can be used with any vehicle. It would cost about

 

[MidOH]

Tires and Hilift winch.

I recommend Cooper ST Maxx or STT Pro. Even if they are overkill, their durability is priceless.

You're good to go at that point. Avoid going by yourself. If alone, I stick to roads that a tow truck can reach.

 

[Smileyshaun]

I’ve had a hi lift for 20 years , never used it once . On a stock rig with stock bumpers and no sliders a hi lift is rather worthless . Get a come along as a backup but the best thing you could do is let the rig determine the trip . If you have a built rig sure go ahead and try those extremely remote places with roads so tough you couldn’t walk down it , if your just in a 2wd or a car hey there’s hundreds of thousands of miles of forests service roads to explore and take you to some rather amazing places .
• Make sure you tell two different people where you’ll be heading and when your expected to return .
• Even with a good set of tires get a good quality tire repair kit( not the cheap plastic handle ones ) and a compressor.
• even on a day trip take overnight gear

Don’t get caught up in the need to tackle the hardest trails to get to amazing places , spend your time and money traveling not building and let time dictate what upgrades will be needed .

 

[oneleglance]

I own a 2019 Nissan Frontier 2wd v6 with factory tires.

I'd like to build off road capability but have limited funds. I have purchased tire repair kit, air compressor, truck claw, shovel.

What shouild I prioritize next:

1. Off road tires

2. front bumper upgrade with winch and tow points

3. Rear bumper upgrade with tow points

4. lift kit and bigger off road tires

5. what am I missing?

Scott

Well I notice you are in San Antonio....and I have friends and family there, not to mention I lived in the area myself years ago.
You will be going to places like Big Bend or New Mexico for adventure and you can do almost anything you want in those places with good tires and some basic recovery gear.
Don't bother with a winch. That money and weight is better spent in other areas.
Tires, Maxtrax, skid plates/sliders, on board air & ARB X-Jack, come along vs hi-lift and such.
Then make friends, post in the Texas section and go with others.

 

[Lindenwood]

On a stock rig with stock bumpers and no sliders a hi lift is rather worthless .

This is 1000% false. A lift-mate can lift almost any wheel, and I prefer it because it is much safer than lifting fron sliders. Also, all vehicles have factory tow points that are at least stout enough to slow winch a 2WD vehicle out of a snow drift or mud puddle.

 

[Smileyshaun]

This is 1000% false. A lift-mate can lift almost any wheel, and I prefer it because it is much safer than lifting fron sliders. Also, all vehicles have factory tow points that are at least stout enough to slow winch a 2WD vehicle out of a snow drift or mud puddle.

Personally I would rather carry a bottle jack and a come along over a hi lift , takes up half the space and quicker . But everybody has their preference. In my entire time of going off roading There has probably been only five times where a highlift was needed and all of those were out rock crawling.

 

[Lindenwood]

Personally I would rather carry a bottle jack and a come along over a hi lift , takes up half the space and quicker . But everybody has their preference. In my entire time of going off roading There has probably been only five times where a highlift was needed and all of those were out rock crawling.

We can agree to disagree, but a good come-along and a decent bottle jack will cost as much as a fully-outfitted hi-lift setup (with winching kit and lift-mate), weight about the same, and be objectively less versatile.

 

[tjZ06]

Personally I would rather carry a bottle jack and a come along over a hi lift , takes up half the space and quicker . But everybody has their preference. In my entire time of going off roading There has probably been only five times where a highlift was needed and all of those were out rock crawling.

I'm with you on that one!



To the OP, I don't want to be "that guy" but I'll say it anyway: the most affordable option to greatly increase your off road capability might be trading in your 2WD truck. You could spend thousands modding the 2WD and only approach the capability of a stock 4WD truck. Now, don't get me wrong, you can do a LOT in a 2WD truck (especially with a good rear locker), but if you're looking at doing harder trails you just can't replace 4x4. Do Frontiers offer rear lockers? If you could trade yours in on a model with 4x4 and a rear locker for only a couple hundred more a month I think that will go further than spending thousands on this rig...

Aside from a new truck, a rear locker if it doesn't have one will be the biggest game changer (arguably even more so than tires). After that, especially in a 2WD and ESPECIALLY if you intend to Overland solo get a winch.

-TJ

 

[tjZ06]

This is 1000% false. A lift-mate can lift almost any wheel, and I prefer it because it is much safer than lifting fron sliders. Also, all vehicles have factory tow points that are at least stout enough to slow winch a 2WD vehicle out of a snow drift or mud puddle.

How are you going to use a lift-mate to change a tire in an awkward offroad position? If you vehicle has any flex at all you'd have to go ridiculously high with the wheel you're lifting from to get the tire you need to change off the ground (I'm not even sure I could do it with a standard travel Hi-Lift and my WJ). I much prefer getting a bottle jack under the axle itself and only lifting the vehicle the absolute minimum necessary to get the wheel/tire off (or more accurately, the replacement wheel/tire on since it'll need to go higher than when it did just to get the flat off). I've never seen a situation where you can't do this in a safe manner where even if the vehicle fell completely off the jack you wouldn't be hurt. Sure, you place it under the vehicle, but once you're actually jacking you should be able to position yourself so you're no longer under the vehicle (or at least not under an area that would crush you even if the vehicle fell while the wheel was removed). Also, as soon as I pull the "bad" wheel/tire off I throw it under a good point on the vehicle (rock slider is usually a good spot) so it can't fall as far if it were to fall.

-TJ

 

[Smileyshaun]

Just remember what one person considers a hard trail would be a easy trail even in the same vehicle , experience has a lot to do with your travels . I actually think it’s better to explore in a stock rig to learn good lines , how to get yourself unstuck , quickly learn your limits . Going “overlanding” ( sorry but a lot are just weekend travelers staying on safe roads just to get that one Instagram awesome shot to make it look like they are living the extreme life ) is nothing more than car camping , you can do a lot with almost nothing if your smart about where you travel .

 

[AdventureGuy]

ok, to refine the discussion I should state that I'm not interested in extreme off road, or rock climbing...just moderately challenging off road to get to premium camping sites (we mostly fish and hike). I jaut want to be away from the typical campground campers (too noisy and rude).

What would I need for tire changes or repair and typical rescue gear to get unstuck? I like the thread about hi lift vs cylinder jack - wht covers most bases?

 

[Lindenwood]

How are you going to use a lift-mate to change a tire in an awkward offroad position? If you vehicle has any flex at all you'd have to go ridiculously high with the wheel you're lifting from to get the tire you need to change off the ground (I'm not even sure I could do it with a standard travel Hi-Lift and my WJ). I much prefer getting a bottle jack under the axle itself and only lifting the vehicle the absolute minimum necessary to get the wheel/tire off (or more accurately, the replacement wheel/tire on since it'll need to go higher than when it did just to get the flat off). I've never seen a situation where you can't do this in a safe manner where even if the vehicle fell completely off the jack you wouldn't be hurt. Sure, you place it under the vehicle, but once you're actually jacking you should be able to position yourself so you're no longer under the vehicle (or at least not under an area that would crush you even if the vehicle fell while the wheel was removed). Also, as soon as I pull the "bad" wheel/tire off I throw it under a good point on the vehicle (rock slider is usually a good spot) so it can't fall as far if it were to fall.

-TJ

I carry two collapsible aluminum jack stands as well. Each weighs 5lbs. Three cranks on the hi-lift and the tire is 2" off the ground; I slide my jack stand under there and release the hi-lift. Sure, for just changing tires this is technically an extra step, but i can also winch and hoist and lift 2+ feet with the same tool if I need to.

 

[Lindenwood]

Btw, i apologize; I realize I have sounded a lot more combative than was warranted or even than I meant :) . Just trying to have a good discussion!

 

[tjZ06]

I carry two collapsible aluminum jack stands as well. Each weighs 5lbs. Three cranks on the hi-lift and the tire is 2" off the ground; I slide my jack stand under there and release the hi-lift. Sure, for just changing tires this is technically an extra step, but i can also winch and hoist and lift 2+ feet with the same tool if I need to.

Not a bad idea... and really not much more work overall if you can find a stable place for the jackstand. In reality I carry a bottle jack for now, but I'm always glad to see a high-lift in our group too. ;)

-TJ

 

[Smileyshaun]

That’s my next jack purchase , all in one Combo , will get used way more at home than on the trail but still handy

 

[AdventureGuy]

Well I notice you are in San Antonio....and I have friends and family there, not to mention I lived in the area myself years ago.
You will be going to places like Big Bend or New Mexico for adventure and you can do almost anything you want in those places with good tires and some basic recovery gear.
Don't bother with a winch. That money and weight is better spent in other areas.
Tires, Maxtrax, skid plates/sliders, on board air & ARB X-Jack, come along vs hi-lift and such.
Then make friends, post in the Texas section and go with others.

I didn't know there was a Texas Section---how do I find it?