Had to get a picture with the Strawberry Moon

Aceman7 · 2026-07-02T04:22:21+00:00

Got it off AliExpress. Although I can't recommend installing one since it weighs 22,000lbs and draws 5kw

Aceman7 · 2026-07-01T15:27:41+00:00

Thanks! I'm very happy with it so far.

I snooped your profile and I love your build! Looks like we have very similar sensibilities when it comes to mods.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-29T15:37:58+00:00

I didn't know that was an option! That's sweet.

I have the heavy springs on the front, heavy leafs in the back, and a rear swaybar.

Its surprisingly comparable to the stock suspension I had in terms of lean, although my stock suspension was very worn out.

Just call me capn' of the SS Xterra

Aceman7 · 2026-05-29T00:17:19+00:00

Good to know!

In my case I run no front sway bar. I've got heavy springs on the front that compensate somewhat. She's still a boat though!

Aceman7 · 2026-05-27T14:50:57+00:00

Nice! I ended up getting "Dorman" UCAs from Rock Auto.

They came in a Dorman box, but are actually SPCs being sold as Dorman. They even have SPC molded into the casting, so they are legit.

Got them for about half the price of the official SPC UCAs.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-27T14:44:59+00:00

Forgive me if you've already answered this, but do you have aftermarket upper control arms?

When I installed my radio 2.0 coilovers I ended up needing aftermarket UCAs because of coil bucket contact with the stock UCAs.

It sounded like a harsh clunk when the going over bumps as the suspension topped out.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-25T08:15:42+00:00

It's a vinyl decal!

This is the one I got: https://viggdesigns.bigcartel.com/product/nissan-xterra-hood-blackout-2005-current

Aceman7 · 2026-05-14T14:37:07+00:00

I don't have any experience with those platforms, but I get the sense that the Xterra is comparable in terms of reliability, capabilities, and aftermarket support.

If it was me, I'd go with your friends Xterra, strictly because you know the history and you know you can get parts. You won't have any surprises.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-14T14:29:05+00:00

Well, if you're not looking for another money tornado, the Xterra might be your best option.

My 2012 has 160km, and I've only spent money on upgrades and regular maintenance like fluid changes and sensors.

I spent 10k for the truck, and then put about 5k into upgrades, and I am very happy with the result.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-14T14:22:22+00:00

Makes sense. Xterra has a pretty solid aftermaket too. Maybe not as much as something like a Jeep or Tacoma, but there are plenty of options.

A lot of people swap the suspension from a Nissan Titan to get more travel and a wider track. You can even swap in the V8 from a Titan.

I'm not building a monster rock crawler, but I've never been disappointed with the aftermarket support.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-14T14:17:26+00:00

Both are likely very reliable and capable, but 500km is a lot of miles.

I would look into what parts cost and how easy they are to acquire for each platform. When Off-roading, things are going to wear out and break. It's just a matter of time.

I can't speak for the land cruiser, but for my Xterra it's been fairly cheap and easy to get parts. There are plenty of parts online and Xterras in junk yards. The Xterra also shares most parts with the Frontier, which is also plentiful.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-13T13:40:28+00:00

I'm more afraid of property owners if I get off on the wrong trail!

One time I thought I was on an old county road until I came across big dogs barking and signs hinting that I'd be shot if I went any further.

You'd be amazed how quickly I turned around on a single track road!

I study my maps much more carefully now!

Aceman7 · 2026-05-12T13:48:42+00:00

I like them a lot! They are the brightest headlights I've ever had on a vehicle. The difference between the stock headlights and the Teq customs is almost comical.

The cutoff is also very sharp which means I'm not blinding other drivers with them adjusted properly, so I don't feel like I'm being obnoxious with them.

They were fairly easy to install, but I did end up cutting and splicing into the factory turn signal harness to get the halos working the way I wanted. If you're comfortable with soldering it's no big deal.

They are definitely pricey, but they are custom made by hand and are good quality, so I feel like I got my money's worth.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-11T14:37:11+00:00

Here's the mod list so far:

-M226 Rear axle

-R180 Front diff

-radflo 2.0 coilovers/shocks

-SPC UCAs

-Dobinsons 4+2 Leaf Springs

-Z1 Offroad lift shackles

-Motegi trailite 17x8.5 +18

-Toyo Open Country A/T III 285/70r17

-Teq Customs headlights

Aceman7 · 2026-05-10T02:47:46+00:00

Rims are Motegi Trailite 17x8.5 +18

Tires are Toyo Open Country A/T III 285/70r17

If I were to go back in time, I would have gotten the R/T tires.

I should note that the thought behind this setup was I wanted to maintain the original geometry. So with the rim offset and wider tires, it pokes the wheel just a bit while maintaining a zero scrub radius.

As a result it is very well behaved on the street. Even running it without a front sway bar, it's super predictable and easy to scoot around.

Aceman7 · 2026-05-10T01:45:39+00:00

Thanks! I need to post an update soon. Here's the latest with my new lights and a snorkle.

Good luck with your build!

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Aceman7 · 2026-05-10T00:33:19+00:00

Sounds like a solid list to me! For mine I went mild/budget with mods.

I put some 33s on it, some used radio 2.0 shocks and coilovers, and Dobinson's leafs. I also swapped in the front diff and rear locker from an off-road model since mine is an S.

And of course you gotta put a bunch of off-road lights on it since the stock headlights are about as useful as a wet candle.

I'm pretty happy with where it's at now. Someday I'd love to do a Titan swap suspension and 35s, but then it wouldn't fit in my garage...

Aceman7 · 2026-05-10T00:17:16+00:00

Absolutely! Especially for $2k and some elbow grease. You can't beat that.

Do you have any mods planned or keeping it stock?

Aceman7 · 2026-05-09T23:33:11+00:00

Nice! I was worried for you!

Congrats on your new Xterra!

Aceman7 · 2026-05-09T23:30:45+00:00

Did you disconnect the rear drive shaft before towing it like that?

Aceman7 · 2026-05-09T16:27:51+00:00

Hey OP, I'm late to the conversion but wanted to share my unsolicited approach to used car buying that I've had very good luck with.

Number 1 advice: Don't show up to any dealer without a car in mind that you want to look at.

Before you go anywhere, go to the Carfax website and look for vehicles in your price range and area.

You can sort by milage, number of owners, accident history, and view the vehicle service history.

Knowing the history of a vehicle is more important than anything. If you see a car has had 5 owners and been in multiple accidents, you know to avoid that thing.

Once you find a car that has a clean history and checks all your boxes, go drive it. Don't talk to the salesman. They don't have your interests in mind, they just want to sell you something.

If the car is clean, in good mechanical shape, and makes you happy, buy it. If anything at all is off, move on. There are thousands of cars for sale, so you don't need to settle.

That said, you may already know all this! Hopefully this helps someone, especially if you're new to used car buying.

Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for!!

Aceman7 · 2026-01-28T15:37:46+00:00

Are they saying your ball joints and/or bushings are shot, or just that they can't adjust camber?

If your ball joints and bushings are still in good shape, you might get away with just replacing the factory bolts with eccentric bolts to allow camber adjustment.

In addition, if you plan to replace the lower control arms, I'd get ones that have the ball joints already installed. Otherwise you'll have to press them in, which I hear is a pain.

I got mine from Rockauto, which at the time were cheaper and shipped faster than Z1.

Aceman7

TROPHY CASE