Ultimate 2nd Gen Nissan Xterra Overland Build on 35s – Pro Tips & Interview

The Nissan Xterra has earned a reputation as one of the most capable and affordable off-road vehicles straight from the factory. And the second generation models take it even further, making an ideal platform for overland expedition builds.

For example, this black 2014 Nissan Xterra overland build (arguably, one of the best ever created) owned by Connor Heckert has been optimized for multi-day adventures into remote locations. With a coilover lift kit providing extra clearance for 35″ BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires, steel front bumper with winch, roof top tent and other upgrades – it’s ready to traverse rugged terrain.

We connected with Connor to get an inside look at the custom fabrication and effort required to create this ultimate overland expedition vehicle based on the 2nd gen Xterra.

2nd gen Nissan Xterra Overland Mods List

Suspension

• Nisstec Titan Swap Kit
• Nisstec MKII front coil-overs with 650lb springs
• Radflo shocks 2.5 w/ remote resi long travel rear shocks
• Specialty Products Company Titan UCAs
• Alcanspring custom 3” lift leaf springs w/ 1000lb additional payload + adjustable shackle

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Armor

• Expedition One Trail Series Front Bumper
• Heftyfabworks Steel Skid Plates
• Heftyfabworks Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier
• Whiteknuckle Offroad Products Rock Sliders

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Lighting

• Auxbeam lighting LED switch panel
• Baja Designs Squadron Pro Amber lights wide/cornering
• Baja Designs LP6 Pro Amber lights
• Baja Designs OnX6 Dual Control Amber/White LED Light Bar

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Wheels and Tires

• Blackrhino Wheels Raid 17×8.5 +0mm — Bronze
• Mickey Thompson tires Baja Boss M/T 35/12.5/R17
• Boraoffroad 2.5” spacer for the rear

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Performance

• All products purchased from Z1 Offroad:
• aFe power Twisted Steel Headers
• Magnaflow Catalytic Converters
• Nismo Off-Road Catback Exhaust
• Volantperformance CAI
• Airflow Snorkels Xterra Snorkel

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Recovery Gear

• Smittybuilt 98612 XRC 12K Gen 3 Winch Comp Series
• Hiliftjacks jack
• Maxtrax hq Xtreme Desert Tan Recovery Board w/ Metal Teeth
• Bubbarope Power Stretch Recovery Rope 7/8” x 30’
• Bubbarope Gator-Jaw 176745Pro Synthetic Soft Shackle

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Accessories

• Uptop Overland Platform Roof Rack
• CVT Tents Roof Top Tent — Mt. Hood 56”
• Dometic dual zone refrigerator/freezer
• Jackery USA Explorer 500 Portable Battery
• Jackery USA Explorer 1500 Portable Battery
• Malooracks Seat Covers
• Midlandusa MicroMobile 15W Two-Way radio
• Trasharoo spare tire trash bag
• MR heater Buddy 4k-9k Portable Propane Heater
• Smittybuilt 5.65 CFM Air Compressor
• Morrflate Quad inflate/deflate hose and gauge
• Bushcompany 270 XT awning
• Roamadventureco 95L Rugged Case (x2)
• Renogy 175w flex solar panel (x2)

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Navigation

• Rammounts iPad mount
• Gaia gps
• ONX offroad
• Garmin inreach mini

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through some of the product links in this post.

Why Xterra Is Worth It

The Nissan Xterra has a long history of being an off-road powerhouse on wheels. The first generation of this SUV was introduced in 2000, and it quickly gained popularity among those with an active lifestyle. The Xterra’s 4×4 capabilities and spacious interior made it a viable alternative to well-established competitors like the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Wrangler.

2nd generation Nissan Xterra was produced from 2005 until 2015 and gained huge popularity among the fans of off-roading. The truck has a perfect base for starting a 4×4 project, as it’s equipped with a 4WD, low range, and rear locking differentials, plus it’s spacious, reliable, and relatively easy to maintain.

Although production of the Xterra ceased in 2015, this SUV remains popular among off-road enthusiasts. Thanks to its robust design and wide range of features, the Xterra is still considered one of the best off-road vehicles on the market.

“2nd generation Nissan Xterra has made its way into the list of 15 Best Modern Off Road SUVs and proudly scored 121.6 points overall according our evaluation tests”.

Pro Tips

Finding The Right Base

When searching for a solid 2nd generation Nissan Xterra to transform into a capable overland rig, plan on budgeting anywhere from $6,000 for a basic high mileage example up to around $19,000 for a lower mile truck in top condition per used car market data. The coveted off-road focused PRO-4X models tend to sit at the higher end of that range in today’s used marketplace.

Overall, the 2nd gen Xterra is quite reliable for an adventure-ready 4×4. The truck earned SUV of the Year honors in 2009 from 4Wheeler magazine and featured stout axles, with all manuals and PRO-4X versions packing a Dana 44 rear axles. A factory electronic locking rear diff further boosted traction. This rugged base provides an ideal foundation.

The other vehicle we’d most likely take along in the backcountry would surely be the Nissan Xterra. With the excellent F-Alpha platform, designed with wheeling in mind, the Xterra showed its grit on the trail, often going ahead to scout the trail and yanking out other stuck competitors. In fact, the Xterra never got a flat or stuck throughout the testing process. The rear locker, great approach and departure angles, and well-tuned suspension meant the Xterra could be hustled through terrain and confidently tackle obstacles without reverting to the bypass as other vehicles had to do. – Sean P. Holman, Motor Trend.

Basic Repairs and Maintenance First

While fundamentally tough, the Xterra isn’t immune to some common issues, here’s what I observed throughout the years working on client’s vehicles at the shop:

• Motor mount failures
• Timing chain tensioner/guide wear causing engine noise
• Rust and body corrosion in salty areas
• Rear axle seal and bushing leaks

Addressing these maintenance items early on ensures your overland build starts off on the right foot. The 4.0L VQ40DE engine otherwise offers plenty of grunt for the trail when maintained properly. Pro tip would be to follow the Nissan Service manual and using good quality parts (preferably OEM).

Off-Road Upgrades

With any repairs or maintenance issues corrected on your 2nd gen Xterra, the fun can begin upgrading capability. This platform responds especially well to modifications tailored for overlanding adventures off the beaten path.

Why It’s a Good Base for an Overland Project

As a seasoned mechanic and off-road enthusiast, I’m particularly impressed by the Xterra’s versatility for overlanding. Simply folding down those rear seats opens up serious cargo capacity in my eyes. Going further and yanking out the bottom seat cushions leaves you looking at basically a flat bed stretching all the way from the back liftgate to the front captain’s chairs. To me, that spells ample room for throwing down sleeping bags and crashing in the rig during multi-day adventures away from civilization. I can comfortably sleep two grown adults back there no problem after clearing out the rear seats.

And I haven’t even gotten to the roof rack yet! The standard removable front basket gives you a rock-solid platform for strapping on all kinds of overland goodies. I’m talking spare fuel cans, tents, camping supplies – you name it. That’s why I endorse the Xterra for budget-friendly (or unlimited budget) overlanding.

Off-road Capability Score: 60/70

With its rugged body-on-frame construction (+5 points), 4WD drivetrain, locking rear differential (+10 points), and low range transfer case (+10 points), this Xterra build starts off strong in terms of off-road hardware. Adding the long travel suspension lift kit and massively oversized 35″ tires (+30 points) pushes it into highly capable territory. The full body armor (+5 points) provides protection across rugged terrain, for an overall off-road capability score of 60 out of a possible 70 points.

Complexity Level: Advanced

The extensive custom suspension fabrication, drivetrain upgrades like the Titan swap kit, and premium accessories like the roof top tent demonstrate that no expense has been spared to optimize this Xterra’s capabilities. With nearly every system enhanced from stock, we classify this as an Advanced overland build.

Budget: $$$$$

No compromise was made in selecting top-tier components to transform this Xterra into the ultimate overland expedition platform. Significant investments into areas like the long travel suspension and Titan drivetrain swap pay dividends when embarking on remote journeys far from civilization. We estimate the total budget for this highly capable adventurer falls into the $$$$$ category.

Watch the progress and find out more about this Nissan Xterra project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @conheck_offroad!

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