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They have thier place, and we're even looking at a couple of wagons for shooting around town.
But you might be skeptical and wondering: Are you just taking grocery-getting to a new level?
And is it a totally inappropriate thing to do, hauling mother and child around in a contraption like this? I can hear the admonitions now, sweet and distinguished Savannah accent perhaps, add a gentle smile, "Son, just what are you thinkin'? And with a baby."
It looks worse than it really is. And perhaps I make it sound worse than it really is - but I understand this truck radiates with a certain . . . stereotype.
Once you get beyond the heavy steel bumpers, roof rack, and over-sized all-terrain tires you'll come upon a 110-pound roof top tent attached to the top of the bed. And then - then! - you should recognize a truck that's just put together in a fashion to take us cool far-off places where we can bring a few comforts from home. That's all. Really.
.jpg) Nissan Frontier with expedition awning and privacy room
 She's a Nissan Frontier, D40 model actually. And actually (again) there's more to it. This baby's got running water - sort of like having indoor plumbing - so we can take showers. "Hey," you might be thinking, "a redeeming quality."
So think about it: self-contained travel to isolated Mexico beaches or populated National Parks. We have a comfortable place to sleep, shade and protection, a traveling kitchen . . . kind of like an RV without the large footprint, yet with agility for rough roads.
2005 Nissan D40 Frontier (Navara) Basic Specifications
| Make: |
Nissan |
| Year: |
2005 |
| Model: |
Frontier, SE Crew Cab |
| Engine: |
dohc V6, 4.0L, 241 cu. inches |
| Suspension, Front: |
Independent coilover |
| Suspension, Rear: |
Spring-over-axle leaf springs |
| Wheelbase: |
125.9" |
| Overall Length: |
205.5" |
| Overall Width: |
72.8" |
| Overall Height: |
70.1" (stock) |
| Curb Weight: |
4226 lbs (stock) |
| GVWR: |
5666 lbs (stock) |
| Standard Payload: |
1482 lbs (stock) |
| Fuel Capacity: |
21.1 gallons |
| Horsepower: |
265 hp @ 5600 rpm |
| Torque: |
284 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpm |
| Steering: |
Power assisted rack and pinion (engine speed sensitive)
20.4:1 ratio, 3.55 turns to lock |
| Bed Width: |
61.4" (@ C-channel) |
| Bed Length: |
59.5" |
| Bed Depth: |
18" |
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Protection
- Shrockworks rock sliders
- Shrockworks front winch bumper with Warn M8000 winch
- Kennesaw Mountain rear Multi Carrier with gas can and Hi-Lift mounts
- NISMO skid plates for fuel tank, oil pan, t-case
- Shrockworks differential guard
Suspension and Drivetrain
- Front PRG leveling kit
- Rear add-a-leaf packs
- Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags
- Old Man Emu N85 shocks
- 285/75r 16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires, load range D
Organization
- Deflecta-Shield Challenger 5920 LP truck bed tool box
- Custom bed cap enclosing the cargo bed, Yakima load bars, control towers mounted on top
- Custom storage drawers in truck bed
- Baja Rack Mule Rack
- Yakima load bars custom mounted to the roof
- Storm Case
Recovery
- Shrockworks front winch bumper with Warn M8000 winch
- Xtreme Hi-Lift jack (48")
- Hi-Lift Handle-All
- Tow straps
- StrapLock
- Rear Multi-Carrier incorporates two large clevis mounts
- Cheerful, enthusiastic friends
Communication/Navigation
- Uniden 520XL CB radio, mounted inside center console
- Yaesu FT-7800 dual band (144 MHz and 440 MHz) HAM radio with remote mount face
- Larsen NMO mount antenna for dual band radio, mounted on fender/hood junction
- Garmin GPSMap 76CS on a RAM Mount, w/ external Gilsson antenna
- Rear back-up camera with Kenwood DDX6019 monitor (touch screen DVD/CD player)
Camping
- Eezi-awn roof tent mounted over the bed on custom installed Yakima crossbars and control towers
- On-board freshwater system; 15 gallon tank, sureflo 2.8 gpm pump, trigger shower sprayer
- Custom sun shade awning made of ripstop nylon and converts into a privacy room or shower shelter
Other
- Lightforce 170 Striker lights
- 20 liter Scepter fuel can
- 20 liter Scepter water can
- Adventure Trailers can holders
- Dual battery system with Optima yellow top auxiliary battery and Wangler NW management
- Two auxiliary Blue Sea fuse blocks, one interior, one exterior
- No-Loss valve caps
- Engel MT 35 Fridge/Freezer
- Yakima 66" load bars mounted on roof with control towers and landing pads
- ScanGauge II with BlendMount
- Yakima SprocketRocket bike trays
Modification pictures:
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I like:
- Body styling
- Easy capacity for 32" tall tires
- Strong and trustworthyV6 engine
- Easy-to-customize rear suspension
- Robust drivetrain from the front constant velocity joints to the rear axle
- In-cab storage: dual glove box, compartments under rear seats, center console with 12V power
- Decent throttle and brake response
- Good highway economy (given the weight of this pig)
- Utilitracks
- Boxed frame
- The front seats - nice n' comfy for long days
- Spacious cab
I don't like:
- Not having solid low-end power. It seems to me that the Frontier D40 (Navara) is designed more for highway performance and towing. Hello . . . her max torque output is up at 4000 RPM. That makes her difficult to manage gracefully in the ol' technical terrain.
- Short bed: perhaps we should have waited to get a long bed version, which became available with the 2007 model year.
- Interior plastic is very maleable
- A recurring P1446 trouble code (vent control valve)
- Back seat is not nearly as comfortable as the Tacoma
- The short front suspension travel and low clearance height behind front wheels
- Electronic 4WD control is a little picky: shifting from 4-High into 2 wheel drive often requires turning the switch about 100 yards prior to hitting pavement to let the transfer case shift while on loose ground
- That I don't get to drive it more often
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Truck
