Detslider's '05 Frontier Build

[Detslider]

2005 Nissan Frontier Nismo Crew Cab

Exterior
Shrockworks front bumper
Shrockworks rear bumper
Shrockworks skids
Shrockworks sliders
Hella HIDs
Ramsey Winch

Suspension
Rancho shocks
AAL
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
2" Body Lift

Power
Stillen exhaust
JBA Headers
Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer
Superchips Cortex programmer
Optima Red Top

Misc
Mombassa RTT
Bed rack for tent by Armor Tech Offroad http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...oma?highlight=
2wd locking diff mod
Nissan sliding toolbox
Rotopax 4 gallon fuel pack




Open bed


with Leer 180 cap

[Detslider]

My interest in overland exploration had been slowly building but has definitely burned a lot stronger since joining the forum. I've always enjoyed off-road exploration but never really been into the slow crawl thru fields of rocks or the mess that mud makes on my vehicle and gear. I'm much happier on the road less traveled rather than the road never travelled.

A few years back I was driving a Nissan Xterra about 50 miles a day commuting to and from work and the price of fuel was surging toward $4 a gallon with now slowdown in sight. I had always wanted a motorcycle and the price of fuel motivated me to fulfill that want with the justification that I would end up saving some money on fuel and have some fun at the same time.
I had never ridden a motorcycle before and I had made the decision to buy one in October so I initially had three major factors to consider in choosing what bike I would buy;
1. It had to be cheap enough that I could see some cost savings in riding a bike rather than just keep fueling the SUV
2. I was a new rider so I felt 600-800cc's would be a good bike to grow with.
3. Ideal riding weather would soon be just a dream, I needed a bike that I wouldn't mind rising in the rain, thru potholes and, since I worked in a rural area, the occasional dirt road.

After much reading and researching I decided on a Kawasaki KLR650. If it was rugged enough for the military it was good enough for me. I especially liked that it was carbureted and virtually unchanged for 20 years. Both of which meant that I would likely be able to do much of the maintenance and repairs myself.

I signed up for a local MSF weekend course so I could learn to ride and get my motorcycle endorsement.

The following weekend I drove to Vermont to pick up a KLR I bought on Ebay that was already setup with panniers, crash bars, center stand and a bunch of other stuff I would have likely installed anyway.



I rode that bike all winter, using the Xterra only when the roads were covered in snow or ice. Though my face and hands were often frozen stiff by the time I got to work I was proud to be the only bike on the road. It takes commitment to climb on the bike when it's pouring rain or when you know the temperature is less than my age (and I'm a young guy).

During this time I stumbled upon the Adventure Rider forum and the ride report of SgtMarty who rode his KLR from Alaska to Argentina.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350965
http://www.errant-ronin.com/PrudhoeBayUshuaia.htm

I eventually convinced my wife to do a similar ride but only as far as the Darien Gap of Panama. We had both lived in Central America for years so it seemed like an easy enough goal.

Between the cost of the bike, riding gear, maintenance and insurance I had several thousand dollars invested into what was supposed to a money-saving adventure. I crunched the numbers and concluded that I would have had to ride the bike to work every day for almost two years before I would break even. In the end buying a motorcycle cost me money. Well at least I was having fun.

I eventually upgraded to a brand new Suzuki DL650A Vstrom. I loved that bike. While only a 650 I never felt like it lacked for power, it was so much sexier than the KLR , so much smoother and it was much better for two-up riding.



That bike did have a rough life with me though. Only a few weeks after buying and it and while still in the break-in period on the motor I hydro locked it while crossing what I thought was a shallow stream. I realized I was in trouble when the bow wave began surging over the tank. The motor seized full of water, the headlights were like like fish tanks and my side panniers proved to be only water resistant.

I called a friend to pick me up, towed the bike home and stripped it down the next day. I changed the oil and filter, pulled the spark plugs and cranked the water out of the cylinders, changed the air filter and drained the water out of the exhaust. Much to my surprise the bike started right up and ran like nothing had happened.



I put on another 8,000 miles in 6 months on that bike. It ultimately met it's demise when we were riding to Alabama and a deer hit us. My wife and I were ejected off the bike while it continued sliding down the road. I survived without major injury but my wife would ultimately need surgery on both her hand and knee followed by months of physical therapy. The bike was totaled and our plans of riding to Panama would need to be reevaluated.




With my only mode of transportation totaled I needed a new vehicle. I know allot about Subaru's so I made a quick buy of a slightly lifted WRX.



The Subaru was fun but it was no Pan-American type of vehicle. (April 2013 edit: I was wrong) I spent many, many, many hours surfing the deepest corners of ExPo and the many vehicle options. I really liked the vans and campers particularly for the security and ability to move from drivers seat to sleeping/cooking area without having to exit the vehicle.
I liked the Land Cruisers because of the reputation and availability of parts.
I lusted for an Earthroamer.

In the end I decided a pickup with a RTT or Pop-up camper would be the most practical because for much of the time whatever vehicle I chose would be my daily driver and an expedition vehicle when I had the opportunity.

I narrowed it down to a Toyota Tacoma or a Nissan Frontier, ultimately deciding on the later because the Frontier is sold all over the world and as such parts should be readily available.

I'm still unsure why but the Frontier doesn't seem to be a popular vehicle here for the experienced explorers. There are a few nice Frontiers though. Two that come to mind are
Mark Stephens
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ier?highlight=
http://www.expeditionportal.com/vehi...roduction.html
http://www.markdstephens.com/frontier/index.html

and

Davidshourd's Frontier Build (I think it's the FWC that gets me excited)
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...Frontier-Build

I got lucky and found a used '05 Nismo that was fully Shrocked and barely driven with less than 40K miles on the odometer.
The wife liked it cause it had four wheels and a "deer plow" on the front.
The Pan American dream was born again.

[The BN Guy]

Wow that's a heckuva story! Glad you both made it out on the better end of the deer situation.

Good looking rig with lots of possibilities.

[drbandkgb]

Man I miss my Fronty.. Cool story.. Deer just suck

[davidshourd]

thanks for the shout out! that is a sweet set up you have. you really lucked out on the shrockworks set up. should make a great platform for future modifications. if you want a little help on MPG, I would recomend exhaust, intake and superchips (set to economy mod). and you can always set the superchips to "gas waisting" mode to feel the power from within! keep us posted on the mods. good luck.

[Detslider]

Some of what's been happening in the past month...

The previous owner installed a center brake light, one that does brake and turn signals, pretty similar to the "Line of Fire" lights.
http://onestoptruckshop.com/ONLineOr...0of%20Fire.htm


It worked fine but what I didn't like was that it was wired to a 7pin trailer plug and I just wasn't a fan of always seeing that giant plug sticking out of my bumper.

I disassembled the 7 pin plug and decided that I would wire it into the trailer wiring harness behind the bumper. Unfortunately I couldn't find any info online of what color each wire corresponded to. My Google-Fu was weak that day.
Well here it is
Black- +12Volts
Green- Right turn
Brown- Tail and running lights
Yellow- Left turn
White- Ground


I figured the purple wire would be for the reverse lights and tried to hook up the lights on my Shrockworks bumper to it but it didn't work. I ended up taking out the tail light and tapping into a wire there.

I also cut a better peice of metal to fill in the gap made by the body lift, this is where the center light will be mounted.

[Detslider]

During my trip to Panama I don't expect to encounter much beyond muddy roads, water crossings and maybe a downed tree across the road.

I'm considering ditching the heavy Shrockworks bumper and winch combo and go back to a much lighter stock bumper with a hi-lift. The MPG hit that comes with the Shrockworks really adds up and I just don't think the bumper is necessary.

The only thing that is stopping me from going back to stock is that I don't want to loose the front recovery points. Asside from the crappy single front stock hook there doesn't seem to be any cheap or easy options.

I've read about people using the passenger side hook on the driver side but it's reversed and doesn't seem to have any functional use, just asthetic.
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f...w-hooks-26928/

That same thread pointed out that at one time Nissan produced a driver side front hook, part number 51113-EA000, but it's apparently been discontinued since 2009.

Xoskel hinted at producing a light bar with built in recovery points but the project has apparently died.
Bumper Light Bar with integrated recovery point - Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums (2005+)

Some people have embarked on their own custom designs.
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f...-points-52389/
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f...-points-70078/

4x4parts.com lists tow hooks designed for Frontiers but I'm skeptical
https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/fron...ook-p-350.html

None of these seem like particuarly easy or affordable options.

Is anybody aware of anything else?

Maybe I'll just get a front hitch....

[fishy_frontier]

Nice frontier. As far as front recovery points go, a front hitch is your best bet if you don't want to spend too much. The downside is losing approach angle. My next recommendation would be to have a fab shop build you an aluminum front bumper that mounts to the front of the frame horns. Then you could maintain dual steel recovery points on the bottom mounts.

[Detslider]

Yeah the front hitch would hang pretty low, especially since my truck has a body lift. That would probably look weird.
Maybe I can have it moddified to sit up higher.

This weekend I'm going to take a close look at what my options are for something custom.

[Detslider]

I decided to remove the ammo cans I had mounted in the bed.
After I added the RTT and rack it just didn't leave enough room to reach all the way down into them to get stuff out.
It sucks because they look awesome there.



I mounted them using these square things that came with the truck and fit the utilitracks. I have no idea what their intended use is.