Winter with the new Xterra

Hey I have had my X for about 4 months now, and Dec. is almost here. I live in Buffalo NY (Blizzard town) and was woundering what do I have to do to my X for the winter? I have seen a few X's without their gear baskets. Is that something that I have to remove for the winter? Also I was woundering how the X performs in the snow? Thanks

Some good mu and snow tires is all you really need! That and a shovel to help dig others out! I'd never take of the rack! You might get the battery blanket(electric) and maybe a block heater(goes into your hot water line to your heater core). I remember that Buffalo gets dumped on heavy with snow coming off the Great Lakes.

Rick, I think he meant the gearbasket not the rack. That sounds like a good idea since the plastic could either break under stress and cold, and/or rub against your paint if there is a ton of snow packed up there.

You certainly woldn't hurt anything removing it. Just make sure you coat the threads of the hand-bolts with grease and thread them back into the rack after removing the basket. Otherwise you'll have leaks and rust.

The Xterra performs great in the snow if you have the 4x4. If traction conditions are bad make sure you air down your tires. Our club has offroaded in the mountains with members using the stock tires properly aired down (16 lbs or so I believe).

A good set of A/T tires will hold up well on snow coverd streets. I had great traction with my Pirelli Scorpion A/T's while living in Canada. They have lots of siping, plus softer rubber than the BFG AT so they like the rain and snow. Owners in areas with big-ass snow (Haven't been to Buffalo, but I think you guys count) will often get Blizzak tires on a second set of steel wheels.

In the snow don't be affraid to drop into 4x4Lo and take advatage of the lower gearing, just make sure you're not using too much throttle or two low a gear to spin your tires. In canada I found I could just idle out of my streep driveway in 4-Lo, no gas, no spin.

Mabye someone from a colder area can comment on the benefit of a Nissan block heather and battery blanket. All the normal stuff you do in Buffalo goes as well, fuel line anti-freeze, different viscosity oil for cold, etc.

Oh, and your Nissan wiper blades suck, so you might want to get a good set now before they fail you in the next snowstorm.

A few members in SOXC (Toronto and Quebec) have gone with Bridgestone Winter Duelers (me being one of them). They are an awesome tire and make the X perform amazing in the white stuff and on ice. I would highly recommend getting a winter specific tire it just makes such a difference. The size that most of us went with is 31x10.5x15 (you will have to trim a bit).

I posted a thing about this on the XOC about a month ago (when you were supposed to get ready ;) ).

Winterization (http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=24&t=000244)

Plus when you use 4WD be sure to shift back out when you get back on dry pavement. If you don't you run the risk of losing control of the vehicle.
4H kicks a$$ on snow packed roads, plus once the hubs are locked you can shift back and forth as needed, without stopping.

Originally posted by Schludwiller
Rick, I think he meant the gearbasket not the rack. That sounds like a good idea since the plastic could either break under stress and cold, and/or rub against your paint if there is a ton of snow packed up there.


Shuld, I believe people remove the gear basket because of the possibility of ice building up under it. Since water expands as it freezes it would be possible for the ice to either crack the basket or dent the roof as it freezes.

Canadian models come with a block heater, over 2 winters, used it once as a precaution, but even in deep freeze nights, the X started without a problem. The most I do is use a winter front, allows the X to warm up quicker etc... Otherwise, just carry winter gear... jumpers, washer fluid etc and you won't have any problems, maybe add a little extra grease to the spare mechanism, just incase.

The gear basket is a snow collector. Since it is rated to 25 pounds only, the weight from a heavy wet snow storm (I would say lake effects snow storms qualifies as wet) can break the bottom out after the cold makes it brittle. I go skiing in the Adirondacks over New Years and most of the Nissan dealers up there remove the gear baskets for the winter and store them. I don't know that I have seen it happen since no one I know in the area has Xs, but the potential is there.

Hey thanks for helping me with the gear basket question. But I was woundering about rust. They salt the roads so much that the salt was plastered all over my last truck. So should I have the underbody sealed?
Does the X come already sealed?
Oh yeah it looks like I am going to have some fun driving in the snow because this is the first time that I will use 4 wheel drive. I can wait to try it because you guy's make it sound like fun. I use to have an S-10 and I never got anywhere in the snow. So this should be fun. Thanks

Originally posted by Xcanuk
Canadian models come with a block heater, over 2 winters, used it once as a precaution, but even in deep freeze nights, the X started without a problem. The most I do is use a winter front, allows the X to warm up quicker etc... Otherwise, just carry winter gear... jumpers, washer fluid etc and you won't have any problems, maybe add a little extra grease to the spare mechanism, just incase.

Really? Mine didn't. Sure it wasn't an option, or is this something they are doing for the newer models?

Originally posted by Goliath the X


Shuld, I believe people remove the gear basket because of the possibility of ice building up under it. Since water expands as it freezes it would be possible for the ice to either crack the basket or dent the roof as it freezes.

Just a FWI for the offroaders out there. I often find little rocks, or chunks of dried mud can get under the gear basket too. Driving around just makes those pieces vibrate against your paint. Good to check for when you get back from the days outing.

Originally posted by Schludwiller


Really? Mine didn't. Sure it wasn't an option, or is this something they are doing for the newer models?

2000's only came one way as far as I know, unless it was a Nissan (Canadian) mod early-mid year ? ( Got mine in Feb 2000 ). It was even marked as part of the winter package (standard) in the brochure. I'm sure you would have spotted the plug. Rhombus, do you have the block heater ??

I have the block heater and I got my X in September '99. Used in fairly often the first winter but haven't used it since.

just had snow and ice here in denver (monday 11-26) and it got down to 5 deg f and my 2002 x with lsd and 4x4 just dug in like no tomorrow. even with the stock generals 265-70-16 oem tires. i also had to try out the anti-lock brakes. what a TRIP. it gives you piece of mind. now if i could just make sure the other guy isn't going to hit me... :p

Uh, Xman, just for future reference, if the other schmuck wants to hit you, 1. make sure your rear facing battering ram is in place, 2. Let him buy you a new CalMini rear bumper when he finishes destroying your factory one. It worked for me! :D It makes accepting the damage not quite so difficult, know whut I mean?

hows your neck? i bet it was feeling better after that dude payed fer the bumper from calmini. i saw one. it looks cool. is it heavy?