[Mr. Bills]

. . . My question is,

[1]assuming you have a spare set of Xterra wheels and found some smaller junk passenger tires off of Craigslist, is there anything stopping someone from mounting them on their X to simulate 4.56 gearing?

[2]Could they drive around in their yard/neighborhood/and possibly highway for a short time for ****s and giggles?

That's two questions.

Two answers: [1] No, and [2] Yes.

______________
PS - Here are some better gear/tire/rpm calculators:

4Lo.com :: Final Gear Ratio, Crawl Ratio, Tire Size Calculators
4Lo.com :: Tire Size Change, New Gear Ratio Calculator
https://www.ringpinion.com/calculators/Calc_RPM.aspx
Engine RPM Calculator | Spicer Parts
Transmission Ratio RPM Calculator | Spicer Parts
Engine RPM / Engine Speed Calculator
Calculate GEAR, RPM, MPH, TIRE DIAMETER
Gear Ratio Calculator

 

[Mr. Bills]

I suggest that you attach the ring terminal for the positive wire to a bolt on the battery terminal clamp rather than to the fusible link assembly. Use at least 12 ga. wire and a fuse close to the battery.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Are these window visor things worth it at all? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B9ZJT7A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=A2W3M6PH7V4H54&psc=1

I've seen them around, I figure the goal is to have windows open without getting rained on?

I like the Weathertech in-channel window visors for the Xterra better than the Nissan brand or other aftermarket brands.

They allow the windows to be cracked open on rainy days without water getting inside and also on hot days when parked to allow a bit of ventilation without it being obvious that the windows are slightly open.

They can be seen in this photo if you look carefully. The Weathertech brand is slightly more streamlined/"stealthy" than the other brands. I have them paired with the Nissan OEM hood deflector which I find more attractive than the Weathertech version.

 

[Mr. Bills]

less than half the cost of weathertech.

https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Ventsha...=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1506108371&sr=1-2&keywords=xterra+window+visor

If one is patient one can usually find sale prices and discount coupon codes. I paid just a few dollars more for Weathertech than the ones in the Amazon link.

When I was deciding which to buy I looked at the various brands available mounted on other people's Xterras. I was persuaded that Weathertech was higher quality than most of the other brands and worth the relatively small price difference when on sale.

 

[Mr. Bills]

How come? I've never run chains but I wouldn't expect them to be that loose?

The clearances are too tight to run chains. Cables maybe, not chains.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Nato cans (such as the can pictured in @Bonelo's post) are designed to be stored upright but are reputed not to leak when carried on their "back" as shown. Presumably they would not leak when laid on their sides. However, I would test each Nato can intended to be carried that way to be sure because the Viton seals do get brittle with age.

Scepter MFC's and Rotopax cans can be carried on their sides:

 

[Mr. Bills]

What actually tells our low fuel light to turn on?

Malware from the OPEC cartel.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Gotcha. Your picture is where I'm at right now. What's the next step? What I should I google?

You should be fine with 285's and stock OEM wheels, even with a stock suspension. Don't overthink it. Your tires aren't a problem unless they rub, and then the fix for that could be as simple as re-doing your "melt mod" for additional clearance or a simple spacer lift.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Why does 4 low suck so bad in the Xterras?! My TJ, it was so low I could literally just get out and walk alongside it, I could wheel tough rock sections by just letting out the clutch slowly and idling over everything. With the X, I recently went to my mom's house to burn some things and drove up into her backyard, threw it in 4 low and literally could tell no difference at all from 4 high. Is it because the X is an auto? Have to say it was really lackluster, lol...

The Xterra transfer case has a 2.63:1 low range. The standard TJ has a NV231 transfer case with a 2.72:1 low range, which is not significantly different.

The Jeep TJ came equipped with 3.07:1, 3.55:1, 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 axle ratios depending upon the trim level, axle assembly and engine. The TJ Rubicon edition came equipped with the NV241OR transfer case with 4.0 liter straight six, a 4.0:1 low range and 4.10 axle ratios.

Which model jeep did you have? What were your axle ratios? What size tires did you run? You may be comparing apples and oranges. Or, as noted above, you may not have shifted your Xterra into 4 low.

____________

P.S. - I recently returned from a 10-day overlanding trip in Oregon and just returned from 4 days in Death Valley. My Xterra's low range worked just fine on both trips mated with 3.36:1 axles, 32" tires and automatic transmission.

 

[Mr. Bills]

They can prevent you from a front flip rollover but if that doesn't stop the flip it should hopefully roll you onto your side instead of the roof.

And all this time I thought the prerunner hoop was a place to hang your freshly washed underwear to dry after you soiled them in the rollover.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Can someone explain the infatuation with AGM batteries for the X. . . ?

While I am asking - anyone regularly do a float top off charge on their normal lead acid battery. . . ?

I have considered it but don't like to charge with the battery connected.
. . .

AGM batteries are less susceptible to failure from vibration or shock from offroading than plates in a conventional lead acid battery, they don't leak acid in the event of a rollover, and as mentioned above most AGM batteries are capable of deeper discharge without damage to the battery than ordinary lead acid starting batteries.

As for charging, I have pigtails for a Battery Tender 3 amp charger/maintainer permanently wired to the battery terminals in my Xterra and also in my Jeep. This allows me to easily plug in the charger for a full 3-stage charge for either vehicle or to keep whichever vehicle that isn't being used regularly fully charged without even lifting the hood.

There is absolutely no need to disconnect the battery cables when charging a battery with a bench charger or a Battery Tender.

 

[Mr. Bills]

@Mr. Bills - do you happen to have any more info on the charger/setup you're using . . . ?

Home | Deltran Battery Tender

The company website shows a MSRP of $74.95, but Costco sells them for $39.95. This particular model is only available through Costco and batterytender.com.

Similar products include:

NOCO Genius G3500 ($59.95 from Amazon Prime) https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G3500-UltraSafe-Battery-Charger/dp/B004LWVEKS

Battery Minder Model 2012-AGM Charger-Maintainer-Desulfator specifically marketed for Optima, Odyssey and other AGM batteries (MSRP $99.95) BatteryMINDer 12V Maintainer for Sealed AGM Lead-Acid Batteries

 

[Mr. Bills]

Ok just needed some encouragement.

Unfortunately, the holes specified by @zach_attack for his shackle brackets were too small. It is a design defect that needs to be addressed by the end user because a shackle pin should never fit that tightly.

You need to enlarge the hole, not force the pin in with a hammer.

 

[Mr. Bills]

The "nominal" dimensions of a 255/85R16 tire are 33" diameter with a 10.04" section width.

Some tires are larger than that and some smaller depending upon the particular tire and manufacturer.

It appears from the photo that you may have Cooper Discoverer ST/Maxx LT255/85R16 tires. Cooper literature lists the dimensions of that tire as 32.8" in diameter with a section width of 10.2." For comparison, the published dimensions for the BFG KM2 255/85R16 are 33.5" in diameter with a 10" section width.

Tire diameter is measured with the tire mounted, inflated, but off the ground.

When on the ground the loaded radius of the tire is compressed by the weight of the vehicle and is further impacted by the tire pressure, rendering a tape measure useless for determining tire diameter.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Just got back from getting a quote from a local exhaust shop. . . . He quoted me $200 cash. That seems kinda high to me though. Am I wrong about this or are they trying sucker me?

Get a another quote from a different shop and you will know.

 

[Mr. Bills]

. . . I'm not asking about 315's or the like I know lots of guys running those on stock rims, I'm asking about tires marked with a 33"x or 34" x. . . .

Although there are many "metric 35's" on the market for 16" wheels, I am not aware of any 33", 34" or 35" flotation tires (i.e., 33x10.50 & 12.50, 34x10.50 or 35x12.50) for 16" inch wheels except the Interco Super Swamper TrXus STS. There are plenty for 15" and 17" wheels.