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GPzGuy - Not so Stock Anymore

18K views 32 replies 18 participants last post by  Deltaphi216 
#1 · (Edited)
Username: GPzGuy
Year: 2008
Make: Nissan
Model: Xterra
Trim: SE
Color: Silver Lightning
Mods: Driving Lights, 2" suspension lift, winch install
Exterior: Shrockworks front bumper, Maxterra rear bumper, AJ's Sliders, Shrockworks skids

Ummm.....
Maxterra rear bumper installed with OEM trailer wiring harness (dumped the OEM hitch)
Dephep roof rack with custom 1" crossbars mounted to carry bikes, kayaks, cargo box, ect
Hood bug deflector
Keyless entry pad
Thule Ridgeline hitchmount 4 bike carrier, Thule T2 hitchmount
Thule Hull-a-Port kayak racks
Yakima Powderhound ski rack
Alcan springs ordered with 1" lift and +350 lbs (installed with 2" Daystar shackles.)
285/70x17 BFG AT's
AJ's Offroad Armor SuperRails
Shrockworks skid plates


Lights:
Hella FF4000 driving lights on Shrock bumper
Controlled by Toyota OEM Foglight switch
Light install thread

Interior:
Nissan Technology package with iPod interface
Garmin Nuvi 1490 in modified Nissan dock
Escort 8500 x50 mounted to rear view mirror stalk
Coverking neoprene seat covers
Nissan OEM rubber floor mats
Weathertech rear cargo liner
Nissan shock sensor for factory alarm system

Suspension:
2.5 Radflos with PRG Upper Control Arms
Daystar rear shackles, Alcan springs and Bilstein 5125 shocks

Exterior:
Shrockworks front bumper with Recon 10,500 winch with blue Amsteel winchline
Maxterra rear bumper
AJ's sliders

Comments: My philosophy for my Xterra is for transporting my family and me and our toys to where we want to be. I don't currently feel the need to modify it much more than that. I spend the majority of my time on my motorcycle anyway. Hmmm... scratch that, the mod bug is kind of starting to bite....

Photos:
Brand new out on Pismo Beach (I had an anual pass and went out there about almost every day after work to paddle or walk the beach, and even drove the dunes sometimes :) )


This is the Thule Ridgeline rack with my Jamis 29er:


This is my Cobra Re-Vision in my Thule Hull-a-Port rack:


And this is the same kayak strapped down to the crossbars for a short trip to Morro Bay - hence the foam pipe insulation. I had to remove the storage bin to get it to sit right. The biggest reason why I don't want to mount any lights up there.


Before the Shrock, I had Hella FF500 and Richard Cepek lights mounted:


Toyota OEM foglight switches (Since I've relocated the VDC switch and wired the Hella Ralleye 4000 city lights into the parking lights, I'm down to only 1 Toyota switch here):


OTRATTW switches installed for E-Locker, Electric engine cooling fan, Driver's and Passenger seat heaters:


Dephep rack with custom crossbars mounted:






Hella Ralleye 4000 lights with city light bulbs illuminated:


AJ's Superrails installed:


Shrock front bumper installed with Recon winch and Hella FF4000 lights with clear covers:







Maxterra rear bumper installed:




Maxterra bumper with BFG TA/KO 33" spare tire in the well:


BFG T/A KO's installed in (33's with melt mod):



This is me doing some of the things I live for:

Kayaking on the Columbia River this Thanksgiving (Necky Zoar Sport):




Kayak surfing at Sunset Beach, OR:


My dog intently watching a gaggle of Canada geese from nearly the same spot the previous picture was taken last spring:


Kayak surfing (lousy cell phone pic):


My other toys not pictured are a Necky Looksha composite touring kayak, 19 foot Bayliner ski boat, and a tent trailer.

And finally, where my user name comes from. 1996 Kawasaki GPz 1100 that has been slightly modded since this picture was taken (35 degree fall day 3 years ago).
 
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#3 ·
I am amazed that you have been a member since July and managed to keep your X relatively stock. I couldn't not let the mod bug bite. :D
Been a member since June 2006 and it has been pure hell trying to keep it stock.
 
#10 ·
Autozone helper spring similar to the Helwig 550 mounted on the front of the leaf spring, cranked down just enough to prevent the back from sagging when the bikes and gear is loaded and trailer is hitched up.

 
#16 ·
Its the OEM ipod hookup. Not sure if the Technology package is required or not with it. Came with the truck when I bought it new at Santa Barbara Nissan. Its just basically a cable in the hidden glovebox.

Courtesy Parts iPod interface.
 
#26 ·
Install yourself?
Yes indeed. I lifted it on a floor jack, held in place with ratchet straps, then pushed my truck up to the bumper... had to reposition the truck a couple of times.

I see you went w/ black instead of the grey
Yep! I figured any stratches / scrapes / rust would be easier to paint and match with black rather than grey.
 
#27 · (Edited)
Installed new driving lights.

I updated from Hella FF 700's shown here:


to Hella Ralleye FF 4000 Euro driving lights. They are heavy duty metal cases, mount much more solidly, are easier to adjust, and lock in solidly when you tighten them down with the supplied allen wrench.

These lights appealed to me mostly for their construction. Truthfully I had some issues with the plastic bodied Hella 700s shaking when driving down rough roads, though mostly when I had them mounted to the front OEM bumper. The 700s do cast a great beam, but I wanted something more.... robust. I can also easily upgrade the H1s in the Ralleye 4000s with HIDs in the future if I want, but the 100 watt bulbs seem just fine for now.

The Ralleye 4000s have a built in 'city light' that kind of acts like a daytime running light. I used the ciruit that controlled the Cepek fog lights for the city light rather than splicing it to the park light circuit. (The park lights still have to be on to energize the light switches.)

Here's a couple shots of them with the city lights on:




As you can see, I got the clear lexan covers for them so I can run them any time without gettting out to remove the rock covers. I still carry the rock covers that came with the lights in the back of the truck, but I'm really likeing the clear covers. Its getting better as the days are getting longer, but often in the mornings my drive out to my project site involves over 20 miles of driving across a nearly deserted road in the middle of the desert with nothing but deer, elk, and coyote that frequently like to run out across the road. Thus its very nice to be able to run the driving lights and get some advanced warning.

Clear lexan covers:


Here's a shot of the driving lights on. Sorry, no night shots, but I will say that I'm very happy with the beam's cast.
 
#29 ·
OK, so I started my heated seat install, and found out that the switches that I had planned on using won't work very well. They kind of fit in the dash, but don't really latch in securely and stick out too far for my liking. So I've ordered some OTRATTW On/Off/On rocker switches for the seat heaters. Pics to follow after the installation is complete.
 
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