Hey all, to start off i did read the post about the Xterra vs other 4x4s, but this is more specific. anyway im a newbie here in the 4x4 world and am coming from the racing world (no drag racing crap!). anywhoo.... im looking into gettin a 4x4 and doin some 4x4ing!

heres the deal.. either a Frontier, Xterra, or Renegade Liberty. Which will do best offroad/onroad? does the frontir/xterrra have skid plates like the liberty? which one will take the abuse best? reliability? also what would you recommend doing to a vehicle to set it up for some pretty moderate offroading and what would it cost?

thanks in advance guyz!

If you opt for the Liberty, try to get one without painted bumpers. It'll look like crap REAL quick if you wheel a lot.

The Xterra has skid-plates, they do work somewhat, but not too well. You can get aftermarket ones fairly cheap though.

People will say the Liberty is better off-road, but quite honestly, I'm not sure. And my personal opinion may be slightly biased, since I confronted the same decision some 2 years ago, and it's obvious what I chose.

I just realized this has been covered recently

thanks alot man! i actually read through that entire post, i was just asking more specifically. and in that post most of the people were talkin bout a stock liberty. i believe the renegade is slightly different, skid plates, 1" more ground clearance, diff wheels/tires etc... but thanks for the reply

I'd say that they are similar for the most part, but one important factor in my mind is that the Liberty comes from the factory with less ground clearance than an Xterra. It's not a lot of difference, but sometimes just a small increase is the difference between clearing things and banging around on them. I don't know how the Liberty skids compare, but I doubt they are anything special either. I've never wheeled a Liberty, so that's as far as I can go.

On the road, the Xterra has a more comfortable ride than the Liberty, and the interior is more roomy and comfortable, IMO. The Liberty doesn't have much shoulder room so unless you're toothpick thin you may not like it. I also prefer the more "legs out" driving position of the Xterra, but I may be in the minority there and that may not matter to you. The Liberty does offer better acceleration performance, being lighter weight and having more power.

Without question, the Xterra has more room for carrying your wheeling/camping gear, and I believe it has a higher tow rating...things to consider. That "kicked in the ass" look of the Liberty really eats up cargo room.

Although any vehicle can be problematic, I think the Xterra is a better bet in that department.

I'd agree that the two vehicles would be pretty similar offroad. The Liberty has better approach/departure angles, but the Xterra has much better ground clearance. The Xterra is built a bit tougher, with a truck frame and beefier axles. A stock Liberty will only allow about a 30" tire, as opposed 32s on a stock Xterra - which makes the ground clearance advantage for the Xterra even bigger. The Liberty is faster and rides more like a car (although I thought it bobbed around too much on the highway). Cargo capacity is heavily in favor of the Xterra, and I like the cabin of the Xterra better. Like Chuck said, reliability can be a bit of a crap shoot, but your odds are quite a bit better w/ an Xterra.

I'd personally recommend an Xterra (obviously). I went thru the same decision before I bought my X and I'm extremly glad I did - I still don't think I've ever seen a guy driving a liberty, just chicks!

Nissan Xterra Vs. Jeep Liberty from Four Wheeler dot Com...

Pretty good comparison test between the two.

At Camp Jeep 2000, they ran a Liberty against a Ford Escape and an Xterra.

They REALLY disappointed the Jeep people - they ran the Escape, it did it's usual bad job. Then the Xterra - one obstacle people bitched because it was obvious they didn't give it some momentum that it needed (down a ditch and then back up a 45 degree hill straight on). Then it made it fine over the articulation field. The Liberty was up next - and since it was raining they balked. The crowd started booing. So the guy, exasperated, got into the Liberty and promptly got it stuck sideways in the second obstacle (the one that they didn't give the Xterra the momentum it needed).

People walked away pretty much laughing at what the Liberty did.

Look at the back of a liberty... the gas tank is right behind the read bumper.... not something I really care for

everyone - thanks alot for the input so far. keep it comin!

ERIC - thanks man! exactly what im lookin for.

however it was my understanding that the jeep liberty RENEGADE a slightly different suspension and 1" higher clearance? i could be wrong but thats what i was told. i also heard it was better set up for offroading.

if it makes a difference, i would ideally be putting on a 2.5 - 3" inch lift and tires (maybe exhuast too.. VRRROOOOOOM!!)

I don't think the suspension is any different - at least I didn't see any mention of a difference on the Jeep website. If you're planning on lifting, I'd strongly recommend a Xterra. It's got better axles, far more ground clearance, an actual truck frame, and you can fit bigger tires.

As far as actual ground clearance goes (as opposed to mfg #'s), I saw on a jeep board that guy's with a 2.5" lift on pre lowered KJs (so 3.5" over current stock) with 31" tires have about 10.5" to the front diff. My X just has a torsion crank and 32s and I'm in the 12.5" range (off the top of my head) up front. Also, the LCA's on the KJ hang very low at least a foot in from each tire - and they're more in the 6" range.

On the plus side for the KJ, I think they are somewhat cheaper to lift.

A few of us watched a stock Liberty traverse Golden Crack with ease. None of the Xterras made it without a spare tire thrown in the hole. Food for thought....

I remember that day. I've also seen Isuzu Rodeos and Amigos, Honda Passports and Dean's R50 Pathfinder take the same line across. The secret (as far as I'm concerned) is that the coil spring suspension on those vehicles doesn't unload as fast as our leaf spring, and allows them to carry the front right tire over in the air as opposed to dropping into the crack.

I made it without tires in the crack, but I'm not stock either

Ian, Mosi gave me the Moab video of you almost making it and, uh, teetering on your slider (that was cool! ). Looked like maybe lockers would have carried you through OK.

Give us a look-see, yes? If only to prevent oneself from having the same predicament..

I would but it's on a DVD and I don't have the technology to post it on the internet. Maybe Ian can post it if he doesn't mind? I will say if I were in the truck I would have crapped my pants!

No video, but here's a pic...

SWEET FANCY MOSES! I see feet behind you in one pic where you're very tippy(w/ golden crack caption). Was anyone giving support at that point through ropes or sheer muscle? Do you have a rear locker Ian? Also, there doesn't appear to be anything stuffing the void (ie-tires), is that the proper line and method of crossing you'd recomend?

Holy crap! The Golden Crack pic is amazing.

those pics rock. anwyay, just got back from test driving a renegade. i really do love it, it feels really tight and nimble. although i must say the stock tires kinda suck. i went trhough a good 8" of snow in a parking lot and u could feel how crappy those tires were.

the only thing i would do to the vehicle would be a 2.5-3" lift + tires.

hopefully an exhuast so it sounds badass... anywhoo... its a toss up. the jeep jamborees are sweet as hell, and its nice that i could get mopar stuff and still have it all warantied lets here some more talk

I'm confused. Your post on the goneMOAB site says you've driven Golden Spike...

No locker, no support. In frames 5-7 there is a single tire and two logs I brought along in the crack making it a lot easier.

Man, You made me check my records. We (AZXC) did drive Golden Spike last year, for some reason no one led me to this obstacle though. Probably one too many brushguards in the bunch..

With the size of the group we had- we stopped at Skyline and went back because a huge storm seemed to be rolling in.

Plus, there was no way I was going to try it.

It depends on how you frame it. The Liberty is more car-like in that it has unibody construction (with additional reinforcement rails). The Xterra has a ladder frame. The Xterra would be better for towing, the frame can handle more offroad challenges, and body damage to the X would be less costly to repair.

RENEGADE REVIEW , with several Xterra references.

electrobuzz-thanks for the input.

it would be a daily driver. like i said - all would be done to it would be a lift kit and tires (maybe exhuast). i would use it for day to day use and do some offroading - nothing that whacky. i want a compromise for a good raod ride with good off road capability - good waranty/service - dependable ya know?

so far im leaning toward the renegade. i know ima get beat up here for saying that but hell! lol just playin anywhoo... that article was good thanks again dude.

Ahh... you were about 6 hours of scraping and banging from the crack then.

You'd think with all the scraping and banging we did that day we'd never do it again! For some wierd reason I can't wait to go again. Strange.

Nice pics Ian

That's exactly the way I feel. I haven't got lockers yet so I'll probably have to wait till next year but I really want to do the Crack without any tires or outside help.

I've got a picture of that Liberty going over and he had about 10 people pushing and holding him over. I'd like to get through without somebody standing on the bumper.

I can also give you a perspective from the other side. I too looked at the X when we got the Liberty. The room in the front,(hip,shoulder) is greater in the KJ. I know I compared both at the auto show. I was too cramped in the X. The X has more rear seating room and cargo room, however.
Towing: Based on what I read here, The KJ is a lot better. It's rated at 5000lbs. I tow my 20ft F/S Glastron(3600lbs), my 18ft RV(2600lbs), and my race car(4800lbs). I have gone across country with them and the KJ did much better than I would have ever thought; mainly due to the weight and power.
Offroad ability: Honestly, their both pretty close. The X has more clearance stock. The KJ better approach and departure-a big deal on the trails I go on. I think crawl ratio and flex is slightly better as well on the KJ.
Unibody vs frame? Of no advantage when your talking the small lfts. Don't forget the Cherokee is a unibody and will go places neither of these 2 vehicles will go when modified. Moreover the KJ unibody is light years ahead of the Cherokee in strength anyway. Although I do like being able to do a body and suspension lift on a framed vehicle.
KJ LCA hang lower,but are much beefier; take your pick.
Suspension: I prefer coil springs over leafs for offroading and clearance. But leafs can be made to do very well.
Axles? I believe the X to have a strong rear, but I wouldn't bet the farm the're any stronger than the 29 spline ones in the KJ. I believe the diameter is larger in the KJ. I race on the 27 spline one. You won't break it on measely 32s.
Quality? Side-by-side I thought the KJ used better materials throughout.
Reliability? Anyone's guess. The drivetrain is proven in the KJ, but you may get nickle and dime stuff. I'll say maybe the X for overall dink stuff because it's a Nissan.
Tom

I'll go point by point w/ you (but more briefly)

Interior: Subjective, pick for yourself.
Winner: Too subjective to pick

Towing: KJ has more power, so will pull loads easier. Both rated at 5000 lbs, though, and Xterra has a truck frame.
Winner: KJ

Offroad Ability: Pretty much the same, but I'd say the Xterra ('cause I'm not a neutral observer).
Winner: Too close to call

Suspension: KJ has coils, so more "car-like" on road ride. Xterra has leaf/torsion. Flex is similar. Up front the KJ's LCA's are literally less than 6" off the ground stock.
Winner: Ehh, why split hairs, neither one handles very well and flex is similar.

Axles: If memory serves me, the KJ is a D35. The Xterra's axles are more comparable to a D44 (I think I saw somewhere they were a bit beefier, but still close).
Winner: Xterra

Frame: KJ is unibody, so it's weaker. Xterra is truck frame, so it's more durable.
Winner: Xterra

Reliability: Crap shoot if you're unlucky, but your odds are much better w/ an Xterra.
Winner: Xterra

Overall winner: You decide.

Thanks for swinging by Tom!

If you really want a off-road machine get a Toyota Land Cruiser and get it over with.





And a quick look in action: Fun Race Venezuela

I owned a 2003 Jeep Liberty with the Offroad Package (bigger tires, skids, Trac-Loc Differential,tow hooks & aux. transmission cooler). I also went to Jeep's Route 2003 demos and test drives. I am selling my Jeep and buying an Xterra for the following reasons: 1. Jeep's ground clearance IS LESS than Xterra. Specifically, I have scraped many rocks in the Jeep especially at the front arms which hang quite low (look beneath a Jeep). The skid plates on the Jeep are very tough, but I got sick of bottoming out when my friends in 4-Runners drove right over the same rocks. 2. Jeep does have excellent 4-low gearing (4-Runners got stuck, not Jeep), however I will take the Xterra's superior ground clearance. 3. Jeep is unibody construction and not frame construction. Altough Jeep is great on the highway, the frame strength is not the same as the Xterra. How do I know this? My Jeep was hit on the front/side by a compact car at very low speed and the Jeep frame was twisted like a pretzel. What should have been a $1,000 fix cost $6,000. 4. Jeep offers ABS as an option, but it is not normally available with the Offroad Pkg. Jeep people say that "true offroaders" don't want ABS. ABS is necessary for highway driving an has saved my ass plenty of times. 5. Liberty's back seats do NOT fold flat! This is a source of constant annoyance since I haul quite a lot of stuff & DOGS. DOGS LOVE NISSANS!

FYI. the backseats in the Xterra don't exactly fold flat either. There is a slight "tilt" to the cargo area when the seats are down. There is also the little problem of where to put the seat cushions once you do have the seats down.

Amen to that. My newly adopted pooch loves going for rides in the truck. I just picked up my keys and he jumps up and down.

Truck... frame....

only way to go.

Whew! It was tough waiting nearly 6 months for someone to sum it up!