Lifted 1st Gen Nissan Xterra on 33″ tires

Off-road enthusiasts know that often age is just a number when it comes to finding the perfect 4×4 vehicle for your next project. Even though newer SUVs and crossovers might seem to be a better deal, they just don’t come close to older 4×4 rigs in terms of capabilities, durability, and presence.

This black first-generation Nissan Xterra was built in an era when sport utility vehicles were actually taken off-road, so it has everything one may need for a journey into the trails: body-on-frame layout, short overhangs, low rang and LSD rear differential.

Off-road Build

Ashley from Long Island, New York picked up one of these trucks in bone-stock form, which may not have looked like a good deal to someone who’s not into these vehicles. But she had a vision and extensive plans for building it into a trail-worthy rig.

Suspension

Ground clearance always plays a major role in the off-road capabilities of a vehicle, which is why Ashley decided to outfit her Nissan Xterra with a proper lift kit. Nisstec 2-inch shackles and a 2-inch body lift kit from 4×4 Parts allowed her to gain a total of 4 inches of lift and free up more space in the wheel arches for the installation of bigger tires.

Wheels & Tires

Speaking of tires, to improve grip on rough terrain and give more presence to her SUV, she chose to install American Racing AR 172 Baja rims wrapped in Achilles Desert Hawk XMT 33″ tires. Being larger than the stock 30-inch wheels, they provided a couple more inches of additional ground clearance and made this old SUV look much more stylish and aggressive.

Body armor

Calmini custom, tubular, pre-runner style bumpers with a skid plate allow her to clear larger tires and improve approach and departure angles, which are vitally important on advanced off-road trails. On the back, you’ll notice a swing-out, full-size spare tire carrier made by the same brand, which is both functional and durable enough to hold the 33″ tire.

Besides being strictly functional add-ons, both of these items contribute extra points to the overall awesome looks of this rugged 4×4 SUV.

Lights

To enhance both style and functionality, Ashley upgraded the Xterra’s lighting system with custom HID projector headlights. These high-intensity discharge lights not only give the front end a modern, aggressive look but also significantly improve visibility on dark trails. The crisp, bright light output ensures better nighttime driving safety both on and off the road, while the projector design provides a more focused beam pattern, reducing glare for oncoming traffic.

List of Mods 2004 Nissan Xterra

Wheels

• Achilles desert hawk XMT 285/75/16 (33″)
• R16 American Racing AR172 Baja rims

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Suspension Lift

• Nisstec 2” shackles
• 4x4parts 2” Body Lift kit

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Body Armor

• Calmini spare tire carrier
• Calmini prerunner front bumper

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Lights

• HID Projector headlight

Conclusion

Ashley’s 2004 Nissan Xterra build exemplifies the untapped potential in older 4×4 vehicles. Through thoughtful modifications, she’s transformed a stock SUV into a capable and striking off-road machine that stands out on the roads and off them. Each upgrade, from the lifted suspension to the custom lighting, serves a dual purpose of enhancing performance and aesthetics.

Offroadium Score: 60/70

Based on our evaluation systems this Advanced level off-road build gets the total score of 60 out of 70 points possible thanks to the body-on-frame layout, low range, LSD rear differential, 33″ tires and 4″ lifted suspension, placing it in the upper echelon of the rigs featured on Offroadium.