Did a day off-roading in a Nissan Frontier make me want a 4x4?

What do you do when you have access to a truck? Truck stuff.

We currently have a new Nissan Frontier in our care. It’s a 2025 Nissan Frontier SL Crew Cab 4x4 with the long wheelbase.

New for this year is a refresh that includes a redesigned grille and front fascia. The long-wheelbase configuration is offered across the entire range, …

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like a bit of ground clearance goes a long way in boosting confidence when you go (soft) off-roading.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Oh yes. 

For a while, we had an F150 following us. 

Then we didn’t.

I’m assuming they turned off. 

Did you do anything you couldn't do in, say, an Outback or a Crown Victoria?

Come out here, I'll get you hooked on off-roading :)

In reply to Keith Tanner :

We do extensive soft reading in our Outback.

For anything serious I'll be riding my fancy Italian dirt bike.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I don’t think a Crown Vic would have had the ground clearance, assuming it wasn’t lifted. Lifted Subaru with skid plates? Maybe. I wondered how my old Impreza would have done. The point, though, was that I got off the road and had fun. 

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I don’t think a Crown Vic would have had the ground clearance, assuming it wasn’t lifted.

Maybe not, but you could drive it around Sabotage style (bonus points if you put a spinny light on the roof):

In reply to Colin Wood :

I would totally do that. 

So, one of the trails took us very close to I-4. It was a little funny being “deep” in the woods, only to hear the interstate traffic.

Also, check this out: an old brick road here in Central Florida.

This is the old US-92 here in Volusia County. I have driven past this a zillion times yet never made the turn. So, the things you discover when you get off the usual. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

That's way cool. I gotta save that on my maps for future reference.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Looking at the map, I see that it’s aptly named Brick Road. I don’t there’s even a mile of bricks as it eventually transitions to dirt. Still, cool to see.

I did off road in a Samurai after joining a club.  You and I can put a car in any position or into any slot or skid; but with off road you have no reference until you're in almost over your head.

I like it anyway .     =~ )

Seriously, though - if you want to do an article on the very grassroots sport of four wheeling I'd be happy to be a host for a trip to Moab or the Colorado mountains. Get Jeep to loan you some random Wrangler and we'll do the Alpine Loop or some interesting but non-fatal Moab trails. I can probably even hook you up with someone who makes his living teaching people how to wheel safely and responsibly. Actually, he's a corporate trainer for Rivian right now, hmmm.

 While it's possible to spend insane amounts of money on a rig, it's also possible to apply a lot of creativity and ingenuity. Sounds like track driving!

I'll just leave these here.

And for the classic motorsports crowd.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Very rad. Thank you for sharing. 

I have some friends on the inside at Rivian, I'm seeing if I can get you a vehicle :)

Can we make it a GRM off-roading meet? I miss wheeling utah!! The Grand Cherokee is good enough for the easier side of things. 

4 wheeling is definitely fun. I have basically no pictures of overlanding in this thing but it's amazing where even a stock SUV with decent clearance and articulation can get you. This thing has been places I never would have thought possible. Looking forward to more nonroad GRM content!

Not sure how I totally forgot about this legend:

Trail-tackling Off-Roadster | Your Cars

I detailed my process of stumbling into a nice-but-not-too-nice FJ60 in another recent thread here.  I'm currently baselining the service and maintenance, and I'm definitely looking to do some offroad adventures with it this winter.  I'm a little burned out on road racing so I'm looking forward to this being a nice motorsports diversion.  Initial read after some goofing around is that this thing could definitely handle some stuff off road.  It doesn't have locking diffs but it does have plenty of ground clearance and articulation.

Hell, even my GX550 gets in on the action!

Keith Tanner said:

Seriously, though - if you want to do an article on the very grassroots sport of four wheeling I'd be happy to be a host for a trip to Moab or the Colorado mountains. Get Jeep to loan you some random Wrangler and we'll do the Alpine Loop or some interesting but non-fatal Moab trails. I can probably even hook you up with someone who makes his living teaching people how to wheel safely and responsibly. Actually, he's a corporate trainer for Rivian right now, hmmm.

 While it's possible to spend insane amounts of money on a rig, it's also possible to apply a lot of creativity and ingenuity. Sounds like track driving!

I'll just leave these here.

And for the classic motorsports crowd.

With just some very minor tweaks, that XJ will best 95% of the rigs one will meet on the trail.  

In reply to A 401 CJ :

It's got a couple of tweaks in the diffs and suspension, but it had to stay streetable so no ridiculous tires or larger lift. It also had to look era-appropriate and classy so no sawzall :) It's a nicely set up rig.

The old Land Rover atop the cliff is an incredible photo. 

These pics are the stuff of my dreams.  Off to pretend 4x4 online shopping I go.  

Once I sort out a few more things on this ol' gal, I'd like to see what it can do off the beaten path. It's been on my list of things to do since I bought it.