[roXterra]

Mounting tip of Transfer Case skid plate:
Use M12 nutsert and M12 bolt as shown here, using the existing plain hole (without threads). Or use bolt+nut. Nutserts are just really nice if you ever plan on taking the plate off and on
Also showing is the Fuel tank skid plate proximity.

The size of the hole determines the size of the nutsert used. This hole is too big for 1/2" nutsert but M12 nut sert fits great. Rivnut tool is used with a M12 tip to put the nut sert in place.

M12 bolt held by the nutsert

Engine Skid plate:
Cutout for accessing oil pan drain plug

Without the Engine skid plate, I accidentally damaged my oil pan (no idea when), there is a dent showing -- shown below. No issues from it, just a justification for having skid plates whether you plan on grinding them on rocks or not.

View from below -- skid plate locations

 

[Brunnie]

I accidentally damaged my oil pan (no idea when), there is a dent showing -- shown below. No issues from it, just a justification for having skid plates whether you plan on grinding them on rocks or not.

View from below -- skid plate locations
View attachment 142250

Where that dent is, on the right side of the pan, is where the pickup is also. If it were me, I'd get it looked at and if the dent won't pop out, replace the pan.
My experience comes from a rock that smashed in the drain plug area punching a hole in the pan on the left side. Mechanic said that having the pickup on the right side saved my engine as it still sat in some oil.

 

[roXterra]

Thanks @Brunnie that should be my next expense then. The dent has been there for 50k miles+ but better be safe.

Unrelated (before the full skid set) I had some rock on metal impacts in the last month, no evidence of where, but now the impacts will be recorded most of the time on the aluminum surfaces. My common terrain is 10mph dry riverbed crossings or 20-40mph washboard or water eroded slots, rocks thrown from the tires.

 

[Jarek]

I am about to order the P&P engineering radiator/engine skid plate combo. In the future I would be interesting to add your transfer case, transmission, and fuel tank plates. Would there be any problems mating your transmission plate to the P&P engine plate?

2nd Gen (2005+) Nissan Xterra & Frontier Radiator & Engine Skid Packag

2nd Gen (2005+) Nissan Xterra Radiator & Engine Skid Package The engine skid hooks to and requires the use of our radiator skid so now they're are available together. Will fit all trim levels 2005+ Nissan Xterra and Frontier without modifications. Includes all mounting hardware. Prices...

p-p-engineering.myshopify.com

Thank you,

Jarek

 

[roXterra]

@Jarek combining those plates with ours would work, your specific concern would be only a single spot of engine plate meeting our transmission plate, and transmission plate is most straight forward with attachments/mating.
Generally speaking aluminum would be easiest to adjust with any kind of saw, drilling, shear, etc, but no concerns in this case.

Transfer case just connects to transmission, ours to ours no issues, and fuel tank is on its own, no overlap, no concerns.

 

[campisi]

Question for the group regarding skids: The transmission on a 6MT appears to be far less vulnerable to damage than an auto ... is it advisable to have a trans skid in that location ffor a 6MT X?

 

[Jarek]

@Jarek combining those plates with ours would work, your specific concern would be only a single spot of engine plate meeting our transmission plate, and transmission plate is most straight forward with attachments/mating.
Generally speaking aluminum would be easiest to adjust with any kind of saw, drilling, shear, etc, but no concerns in this case.

Transfer case just connects to transmission, ours to ours no issues, and fuel tank is on its own, no overlap, no concerns.

Thank you!!!

 

[roXterra]

@campisi Same on auto transmission, it is recessed compared to other parts like Transfer case and Engine Pan, so it wouldn't be my first choice for my first Skid Plate, it would be the last choice for me personally (which is not to say I don't want it, it's just 4th in line -- in my case I want all 4) but why have a hole in a line of protection. The rock you could slide off, or a rock could be thrown, or that may be your first point of rock contact in some cases.

 

[jmferg]

thoughts on changing hardware to a button head, allen drive, cap screws? less vulnerable to damage and hanging up on obstacles

 

[roXterra]

Yes socket drive, button head bolts for those who ask, eventually for all.
They will add to my 50lb bolt collection.

 

[roXterra]

All in a line
Fuel tank plate in front in manufactured finish, rest are sanded.
I had my set on for the past 2-3 months, and I forget they are there, even on fast off-road I don’t hear them.

Stainless steel cover for the engine plug hole? It would be thin, tough, on the outside, button head bolts anchored in rivnuts in aluminum.
So far buyers were fine with just a hole there.

 

[roXterra]

Also available:
Pathfinder and Frontier gas tank skid plate

Same gas tank, different mounting brackets and mounting spots.
This skid plate fits both, just the back brackets are different. Front bracket is welded on.

$425 + shipping

photo on a Pathfinder

 

[roXterra]

Package of all 4 skid plates is 53 lb after packing.
Includes 42lb of plates, 2 brackets, bolts...

 

[roXterra]

Engine skid plate after a year vs new

• paint job of the road
• in the beginning I thought of painting it but that’s a place of a lot of dirt action

 

[roXterra]

I offered 2 deals in the last 2 days for the following, so I will offer it here to others too:
$300 Engine plate
$300 Transmission plate
$300 transfer case plate

$425 fuel tank plate
$60 shipping, more for Hawaii/Alaska/Puerto Rico/etc

all 3/16 inch aluminum skid plates,

More info and photos:roXterra Lowrider Roofrack - roXterra Designs - Roof Racks and Molle Panels for Xterran Gen2 2005-2015 and Gen1 2000-2004

Comes with longer bolts than stock, bolts into existing holes.

prices went up on aluminum since a year ago but this deal is good for this February and other deals are possible with multiple items bought at the same time for Molle panels and other things. If you have been undecided about some items, let me know here or in PM or through www.roXterra.com form (email).

Loading aluminum on the roof in the past

 

[roXterra]

Frontier skid plates:
Engine skid plate testing of Xterra skid plate.
Length and width are same, bolts fit, just needs a few inches in each corner

Engine Skid plate - almost done
Transmission skid plate - almost done
Transfer skid plate - fitting soon
Fuel Tank skid plate is same, just mounting locations and brackets are different - completed last year

 

[roXterra]

Xterra skid plates:

If someone wants to try stainless steel, 1/8" or 3/16", let me know.
I prefer aluminum for weight myself.

Engine skid plate is 9lb in in aluminum 3/16".
In stainless steel 3/16" thick it would be about 21lb.
In stainless steel 1/8" thick it would be about 16lb

Engine plate is what I would recommend first, and the material doesn't have to match for each.
Stainless would be nice for toughness, tougher than regular steel, and you don't have to paint it, or repaint it, just sand it if it gets dull looking.

I have some left over stainless steel so the price at the moment would be close to cost of aluminum skid plate. Shipping would be a bit more.

Photos, weights, etc:

roXterra Lowrider Roofrack - roXterra Designs - Roof Racks and Molle Panels for Xterran Gen2 2005-2015 and Gen1 2000-2004

If someone is local to Tucson / Phoenix and wants to get a skid plate, or let me measure front skid plate on stock front end, let me know!

Front skid plate is the scratched gray one in the photo above, mine is from Shrockworks bumper, goes in front of Engine skid plate, is oriented diagonally

 

[roXterra]

Frontier Nismo front skid plate - in aluminum, could be steel, could be stainless
- very likely it fits Xterra Nismo bumper too

Oil filter access - jack nuts could keep a nut in place, just like for engine mini door

 

[roXterra]

New Engine skid plate design, fits Xterra, Frontier and Pathfinder.
Fits over the stock Frontier wraparound rad skid, and with other rad/front skids too

Optional mini door for Engine skid plate - almost flush
10-24 bolts go from outside, into jack nuts behind, notch in upper right

From the back

• how jack nuts hold (a nut in place)
• welded on jack nut platforms

Jack nut heads showing