Saying that the only things from that list that I have is a new tow hook up front and a pin for my tow hitch so I can attach my recovery strap to the back. Couldn't agree more with the 'NEVER' go wheeling alone thing tho. Even when I get my Locked OR 4x4 real soon I'm still not gonna be going anywhere off road on my own in the thing.

just outta curiousity...what do sliders do for a 4x2? how much rocks can they really be around?

I'm guessing the answer lies in the difference between could and should.

"just outta curiousity...what do sliders do for a 4x2? how much rocks can they really be around?"

Well, it's not really good practice for 4x2's to play around in Rocks...but, Hey...It's always good to have some kind of Body Protection when Offroading...Remember Sliders aren't only good for Rock Crawling, they protected my Panels from Trees, Rocks that I don't crawl but are on the side of my X, and of course, the Fricken Idiots that slam their doors on your vehicle at Parking Lots...

Sliders fend off stuff...and protect the flanks...and even cresting a steep hill can catch the mid-section of a rig/hi-center it/crimp the metal....so you don't need rocks to mess up your ride.



Also - You need the sliders to hi-lift out of trouble...there's no where to hi-lift from on a stock rig w/o them...and, a 2wd is likely to need to get a lift now and again, as its more likely to get stuck in the 1st place.

A winch is a great addition...a 2wd with a winch can get through places that a 4wd w/o one can't.



A rear locker can add lots of capabilities...

Aggressive tires can make a HUGE difference...and you only need two of them.



All the mods that help a 4wd will do the same for a 2wd...skids, SL/BL, etc.

All that is correct but if you are going to do something that off-road you better have a 4x4. 4x2 is pretty useless unless heavyli modded. But what's to point to mod it heavily when you can just buy a 4x4 and invest less in it (but of course pay a little more up front)?

What's a poor man's lift???

A Poor Man's Lift consist of replacing the Factory Rear Shackles with some Calmini Rear Shackles...and Cranking up you Front Torsions Bars...this should give your X a good 1-1/2" to 2" Lift... All this and including an Alignment after you do the PML should cost you around 90 Bucks or so.... a good way to give your X that extra clearance for Offroading without spending a whole lot of $$$

How do you get the height correct/symmetric on the torsion bar adjustment?

After you put on the New Shackles, you measure from "Level Ground" to top of wheel well...so you have to do the same for the front...you turn your Torsion bars untill you get the same Measurement...I turned mine 10 to 15 times till I got the right measurement...the thing to do is you turn one side around 8 times and then you have to Flex the side that you turned, which means you drive your X on top of a curb or something and then back to level ground untill it settles to the new turned torsion, and then measure from level ground to top of wheel...Turn Torsion more or less (depends on result of the measurement)...and then you do the same to the other torsion Bar...and then when all is well and done...go have a cold Brewskie...

Hey thanks, I can handle that for sure. Can you use a floor jack to flex the vehicle by raising the body and then letting it settle back down?

Also, one more dumb question - what's a recovery kit????

Yeah...I guess you can use a Floor Jack...now, to your Dumb Question...a recovery kit consists of a Tow Strap, some Shackles, like this:
http://www.xterraparts.com/Merchant2/mer...t_Code=ARB-REKT

Thanks for the information! It's been most useful!

thank you for all your info, but i'm probably not going to be heavy off-roading such as large rucks. but moderate off roading, like going into the woods and hilly area's and whatnot. Mostly purposes that i probably won't need a lift, but i believe i'd need to get new shocks for my purposes.

I have
http://www.xterraparts.com/Merchant2/mer...ode=999T4-00001
can i add a winch onto this?

again, i'm diong light to moderate offroading, probably a few rocks here and there, but i'm definatley getting tow hooks + recovery kit, maybe new shocks, but i don't want to get a lift, because i highly doubt i'd need the clearance for my purposes, a winch would be nice, however i dont believe my grill guard can support that much pressure.

what else could i use for light to moderate off roading, my main concern is anything that can improve traction, other than tires, because i already have that...would "locking" the back differential be helpful?

anything else to improve traction and the likewise, to compensate for it being a 4x2 would be helpful, thank you

No, that would not hold the winch. The grill guard is made of aluminum and WAY not strong enough for a winch. If you feel that you need a winch then you must get a winch bumper. Check out shrockworks.com to see what they have.

As far as doing anything else to help traction --like you said-- locking the differential is a very efficient way.

When traction is llimited all the power will go the the wheel that takes the least amount of power to spin, such as the wheel with little or no traction. A locker elimiantes that by locking the differential so that no matter what traction conditions are your two rear wheels will spin at the same rate/speed.

Other than that - make sure that you have recovery gear with you just in case. Seein that you have a 4x2 you may need it possibly.

i'm trying to decide if i should go for the SL and new tires and all or if i should just wait a few years and trade my 4x2 for a 4x4. (when i bought it i didn't realize how much more fun you can have with a 4x4). any advice?

I have a 4x2.

get the new tires and save the gas milage with the 4x4. I also have a 2x4. I love it and cant wait for my Flowmaster.

Hey socalpunX I liked your set-up in the front of your X. Where did you find that front bumper thing that has two Hella's on it and what kind is your roof rack and do you like them both.

Rack is a Calmini prototype of their current rack.

The front bumper dealy came from AC.

What i don't understand where u got them and how u got the bar if it is a prototype.

i was looking around too; SELDOM see any 4X2's. i'm not ashamed of my RWD. as long as i have my xterra, i'm a happy man.

I enjoyed my 4x2. It was pretty much the definitive 2WD wheeler; got me where I wanted to go and then some. If I got stuck, I probably had no business being there regardless of drivetrain.