So I decided to start an online progression of my new(used?) pathfinder, as well as document the camping and wheeling trips I take it on, both for my future reference as well as to help anyone who may be interested in going to the same places. My relocation from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic forced an end to my 4 year love affair/obsession with my BMW 330i. Once I got a taste of the traffic and the roads up here, I realized that not only was a stick shift impractical, but my lowered coilover suspension would ultimately cause me back problems and at some point a shattered oil pan. Watching this car drive off was difficult, I had put over 3k into suspension components alone in the six months before we moved, and had plans to turbocharge it with the turbo techniques setup before the move as well.
So, not to belabor my previous depression, in came my R50 pathfinder. I purchased it for 4200.00, it is a 2001 LE model with the bulletproof shift on the fly transfercase, and powerful but thirsty 3.5 liter VQ. I was looking for a 4runner(stupidly high mileage for the price point), Montero sport(looked at 2 that were majorly beat and rusted), or a pathfinder. This one just happened to come along for the right price/condition. I purchased it from it’s original owner, and it even had the original plastic covering on the driver’s side cloth floor mat(has all seasons on the floor), and on the passenger side secondary visor!
First repairs: After an initial inspection it was determined I had a blown CV boot,and a leaking rear axle seal. After a Saturday cussing in my parking space those items were squared away, including new rear wheel cylinders/drums and shoes. This meant all was set for it’s first off road campig trip to the George Washington national forest! This trip was to the Tasker's Gap in the North ranger district. We camped in a small town called Edinburg and had a very enjoyable 3 day weekend. We all decided we wanted to camp in the actual forest the next time as we didn't feel like we were remote enough camping next to RV's etc. However, this was a good chance to test all of our gear in a safe manor, as well as introduce our young kids into camping. We were not prepared, however, for it to be 37 degrees when we woke up. Instead of breakfast on the propane skillet we wimped out and warmed up over coffee at the Mcdonald's about 15 minutes away.
After this trip I realized I was hooked, and the vehicle I purchased to not care about and “run till it blows” now has future modifications on the horizon. It’s next trip back to a different section of the GWNF(Flagpole Knob, much better trail system IMO) furthered this realization, and before I knew it I had purchased a used 2” AC lift kit, new KYB front struts, ball joints, new rear bilstein 5100 shocks, and a set of 245/75/16 General grabber AT2’s. I even went as far as on a cold Saturday morning(24*), took off the intake manifold to make sure that I didn’t have a ticking time bomb, loc-tited all of the power valve screws, and replaced the plugs. Other items of mention include:
-Fleury’s aluminum front skid plate-GREAT customer service, seems like a very solid product
-OEM transfer case skid plate-If it ever arrives from Nissan, apparently the bolts were back ordered? Odd.
More updates to follow once the suspension lift is installed. Trying to have it all installed by my next trip which is planned for the weekend of 3/13/15 to Rausch Creek in Pa. We will be doing many more camping and wheeling trips here once the weather warms up as well. It's latest adventure was not much of an adventure in a camping or off roading sense, but it required going out in the recent snow storm to pick up some fire wood. Those Grabber AT2's are impressive in the snow.
So, not to belabor my previous depression, in came my R50 pathfinder. I purchased it for 4200.00, it is a 2001 LE model with the bulletproof shift on the fly transfercase, and powerful but thirsty 3.5 liter VQ. I was looking for a 4runner(stupidly high mileage for the price point), Montero sport(looked at 2 that were majorly beat and rusted), or a pathfinder. This one just happened to come along for the right price/condition. I purchased it from it’s original owner, and it even had the original plastic covering on the driver’s side cloth floor mat(has all seasons on the floor), and on the passenger side secondary visor!
First repairs: After an initial inspection it was determined I had a blown CV boot,and a leaking rear axle seal. After a Saturday cussing in my parking space those items were squared away, including new rear wheel cylinders/drums and shoes. This meant all was set for it’s first off road campig trip to the George Washington national forest! This trip was to the Tasker's Gap in the North ranger district. We camped in a small town called Edinburg and had a very enjoyable 3 day weekend. We all decided we wanted to camp in the actual forest the next time as we didn't feel like we were remote enough camping next to RV's etc. However, this was a good chance to test all of our gear in a safe manor, as well as introduce our young kids into camping. We were not prepared, however, for it to be 37 degrees when we woke up. Instead of breakfast on the propane skillet we wimped out and warmed up over coffee at the Mcdonald's about 15 minutes away.
After this trip I realized I was hooked, and the vehicle I purchased to not care about and “run till it blows” now has future modifications on the horizon. It’s next trip back to a different section of the GWNF(Flagpole Knob, much better trail system IMO) furthered this realization, and before I knew it I had purchased a used 2” AC lift kit, new KYB front struts, ball joints, new rear bilstein 5100 shocks, and a set of 245/75/16 General grabber AT2’s. I even went as far as on a cold Saturday morning(24*), took off the intake manifold to make sure that I didn’t have a ticking time bomb, loc-tited all of the power valve screws, and replaced the plugs. Other items of mention include:
-Fleury’s aluminum front skid plate-GREAT customer service, seems like a very solid product
-OEM transfer case skid plate-If it ever arrives from Nissan, apparently the bolts were back ordered? Odd.
More updates to follow once the suspension lift is installed. Trying to have it all installed by my next trip which is planned for the weekend of 3/13/15 to Rausch Creek in Pa. We will be doing many more camping and wheeling trips here once the weather warms up as well. It's latest adventure was not much of an adventure in a camping or off roading sense, but it required going out in the recent snow storm to pick up some fire wood. Those Grabber AT2's are impressive in the snow.