Mods/Lift - Really necessary for my needs????

[badmc]

Newbie here,
I'm planning to go for a solo road trip going here and there around Utah/Arizona/Nevada/California.
I just want to get out of the city and go where there's nobody around(almost), camp and wake up with a view.
Been through some hard times lately I just want to have some alone time in the nature without anyone.
Thinking about Moab area, Monument valley area, Arches area, and such,
Not looking for extreme off roading, just light off roading only to get to somewhere quiet.
I don't even have a rig yet, I'm planning to purchase a Nissan X-Terra 2009 and up.

1. Nissan X-Terra 2009 and up - Do I need Off-Road or Pro-4X Trim or just normal trim still be ok for my needs?
2. Do I need to really lift it up, or would it be still ok with biggest A/T tire without lift?
3. Minimum mods needed???

Thanks in advance,

 

[grubworm]

there are a few other threads on here asking the same thing and of course there are many different answers. you sound a lot like me, where i just want to get off in a more remote area without having to crawl over large rocks and such. i have a tundra and all i did was add a level kit that raised the truck up a couple inches so i could fit a little bigger tire and that has been the only mod i've done since i bought it new 70K miles ago. it has 4wd, but i doubt i have used it 30 minutes worth and we go all over...been out to moab, black gap in west texas, big bend, out around sedona, etc.
i had the truck a few months when we went to sedona and i took a jeep trail and did ok, except for bottoming out a few times. that was stock, so right after that, i did the level kit and bigger tires and have been fine. i went up to 275 tire, which i think is around 33" or so and i went with a decent AT tire...Toyo, BF Goodrich... theyre all pretty good

 

[speedkills]

An X-Terra with good tires will take you most anywhere you want to go. If you start finding that there are places you want to go that you have difficulty getting to then consider the mods. I can do 95% of the trails in Colorado in my stock 2006 Range Rover with Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires. The more capable your rig, the more likely you can get to places others can't, but it's really a tiny subset of possible camping spots, almost none depending on your preferred area of travel.

 

[GFB_Steve]

It all depends on what you're wanting to do. There is almost unlimited exploring to be done on very easy roads. And, most people are shocked to see what a stock vehicle is capable of with a decent driver at the wheel.

 

[reaver]

I know xterras and frontiers pretty well, as I have both. You can absolutely do what you want in a stock 4wd xterra.

I would suggest spending the money you would be using for those mods to beefing up your camping setup. Build a camping setup that allows you to sleep in the rig comfortably, and make your kitchen setup simple and easy to use.

Try and find a 2012+ model if you can afford it. Earlier models are subject to the dreaded SMOD issue (Google it). Feel free to ask any questions, and if you make it up to Idaho, let me know.
If you can afford it, but the pro-4x. Larger tires, better shocks, skid plates, better gearing and a rear locker from the factory, and you probably won't have to do any modding at all.

The only reason I'm lifting my frontier at all is because I scored a 2" ome kit for a really good price.

 

[Sparksalot]

Absolutely do! Right along with the YouTube channel, drone, skottle, trasheroo, and multicolor rock lights! Don’t forget the patroon page.

Back in the real world…
@grubworm who commented above, has seen what I do and where I go with a lowered police Tahoe.

You might look up Wonderhussy Adventures on YouTube. She does solo trips to many of the areas you mentioned in a mostly stock 4Runner.

 

[smritte]

What everyone else said.
If you end up in Cali, you want good tires. This area is a bit volcanic and it eats tires.

 

[grubworm]

Back in the real world…
@grubworm who commented above, has seen what I do and where I go with a lowered police Tahoe.

that's funny....when i mentioned black gap, i immediately was thinking about me in a lifted tundra with 4wd following behind a lowered tahoe 2wd and wondering how i was going to make it!
i didn't mention skill and comfort level being a key factor because i didn't want to come across as cliche or disparaging of a new guys skills...BUT, yeah...comfort and skill do play a HUGE role. there was one particular trail at black gap that was pretty rough...if i was there by myself, i would have simply turned around and taken an easier trail. being there with a couple seasoned and skilled OB members, i was given the advice to air down for the rocky trail and that helped and then just following and watching helped me learn and grow my comfort level.
so besides actual physical gear...i would say that going with experienced folk and watching and listening to what they are doing and building self confidence is a really good thing to do. i have a lifted 4wd truck and i was apprehensive to go where a low 2wd tahoe was going, so its not always about the vehicle and gear it has.

 

[freak4life]

Newbie here,
I'm planning to go for a solo road trip going here and there around Utah/Arizona/Nevada/California.
I just want to get out of the city and go where there's nobody around(almost), camp and wake up with a view.
Been through some hard times lately I just want to have some alone time in the nature without anyone.
Thinking about Moab area, Monument valley area, Arches area, and such,
Not looking for extreme off roading, just light off roading only to get to somewhere quiet.
I don't even have a rig yet, I'm planning to purchase a Nissan X-Terra 2009 and up.

1. Nissan X-Terra 2009 and up - Do I need Off-Road or Pro-4X Trim or just normal trim still be ok for my needs?
2. Do I need to really lift it up, or would it be still ok with biggest A/T tire without lift?
3. Minimum mods needed???

Thanks in advance,

Hello JBL, welcome to Overland Bound.
The x-Terra is a fine off road vehicle, buy the newest model you can afford, for reliability sake, 4x4 is always best for off road, especially solo. Sand,mud,and snow can be a bummer in 2nd. Tires and protection before lifts. Just my 2cents.

 

[bgenlvtex]

Entirely subjective and dependent on the individual. There is no correct answer, simply an aggregate of anecdotal experiences.

I don't view modifications or off road equipment packages as "necessary" , I view them as force multipliers. I have no intention of crawling rock for the sake of crawling rock, but I also have no intention of walking out and having the ability to lock differentials or to winch out is comforting.

If I struggle in, pushing the limits of the vehicle and myself, then have a medical emergency and my wife has to get us out, having additional capability in reserve gives me comfort.

That said, most people would be very surprised what can be done with a two wheel drive vehicle. Others would be very surprised to see how easy it is to get stuck in a 4wd vehicle on wet grass.

Prepare to self rescue, nobody is coming.

 

[AggieOE]

I'll second the push to buy the Pro4X with the additional protection and rear locker. That way, you really only need good tires and you can go just about anywhere as is.
I've only put lifts on our Jeep and 4Runner because I thought they looked way too low from the factory, purely subjective.

 

[speedkills]

I lifted my G-Wagen because I love to go exploring in the snow, but in the summer I don't have much use for the lift at all, other than it just looks cool.

 

[Red_Leaf_Overland]

You can do just fine with a stock rig. I have wheeled many stock rigs over the years and been successful in getting to where I was headed. sometimes you just have to think a little harder lol.

 

[Explorador]

Newbie here,

Welcome to OB "badmc", surf around there is a lot of information here for the locations in the area you are planning to travel/camp. The Xterra is a great rig, if you can find a Pro4 for a good price jump on it, they came with factory rear locker, might help in a sticky situation. Look for 2010 and up. The engine radiator have the transmission cooler in the radiator tanks and they use to get corroded and the tranny get filled with coolant. If the tranny is in working condition just bypass the tranny cooler hoses, you always can add an external cooler at a later time. I ran mine like that with no issues. This trucks have a very good clearance in stock form, so you can save for a good set of tires and anything else you might need for the trio. Hope this help, also I hope you find what you looking for in that trip and stay safe.

 

[RatAssassin]

You'll be fine. Don't buy into the hype.

People were doing this stuff with modified Model T's way back in 1926. And the roads getting there weren't paved before they went "off road".
No Instagram accounts, no internet. No Skottle Grill, no lithium powered rechargeable power station. No flat brimmed trucker's cap or drone to fly overhead.
No need to overcomplicate things. Just go out and enjoy it without thinking you have to join some kind of club.
Any reasonable vehicle will take you to 90% of the places you want to go if you drive it reasonably. For the more challenging trails and such....of course one would need modifications to one's vehicle.
Find your style, first.

 

[grubworm]

the really great thing about overlanding is that we're only limited by money and common sense....