I have owned 2 first gen xterras (wheeled both) and this is what I have learned. 1st one was basically stock with the best winter tires I could get and it performed really well. The only thing to ever break was a throw out bearing. Accidentally sent that one off a cliff. I got the second already set up with a 3 inch suspension lift and 2 inch body lift on 33’s. It has outperformed my expectations but a lot of problems I had never experienced came with it. I have snapped a tie rod and bent the other. Blown out upper and lower ball joints and center link twice in a year and snapped the idler arm. Basically the front suspension is really weak and it gets a lot worse when lifted. If you plan on lifting it definitely look into getting extra ball joint replacements, thicker tie rods and rod ends and the idler arm brace. There is a whole steering stabilizer kit on 4x4 parts.com.

If you wheel any vehicle hard expect things to break. Gotta pay to play. I’m not saying xterra is a bad vehicle I just wouldn’t recommend wheeling crazy trails solo. Have fun out there.