Nissan Trailgater Part 1

[ Joel ] You're watching Powernation!

[ Joel ] Today we're conquering a different kind of terrain as we get our hands on a brand new truck and shape it into a one of a kind concept. [ Eric ] That's right, we're getting our hands on all the best Nismo gizmos to get our new rig off road ready and lay the groundwork for some modifications that you have never seen before. All that and more today on Music City Trucks. [ Music ] [ Joel ] Nothing cooler than an old pickup, am I right? [ Music ] [ Eric ] Underneath all this dirt there's probably a pretty good truck. [ Joel ] Today we are starting literally a brand new project, that of which you have never seen before, and we're gonna build it in a way that's never been built before. Sure it's gonna have the offroad recipe of big tires and wheels, lift kit, few bolt on go fasters, but that is just the beginning. [ Eric ] Oh yeah, we here at Music City Trucks are no strangers to all types of off road rigs from mild to wild but this one is gonna present some unique challenges that are gonna have us building on a whole new frontier, specifically this 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro-4-X. The Nissan Frontier was introduced as a replacement for the Nissan hard body truck in the US market in 1997. It was designed to be a more modern and versatile vehicle compared to its predecessor. Initially it was known for it's robust build and off road capabilities, and it was available in both two door and four door configurations with a range of engine options including a 2.4-liter inline four and a 3.3-liter V-6. [ Joel ] You could also get it with a five speed manual transmission or as a four speed automatic. The new 2025 Frontier is boldly going where it's never gone before with Nissan unveiling major updates including a redesigned exterior and a host of modern technology features. These updates include more advanced safety system, improved interior quality, and updated infotainment options. What we've got our hands on here at Music City Trucks has literally just rolled right off the assembly line. Now since our friends at Nissan are right up the road right here in Music City this isn't the first time that we've helped them come up with a one of a kind off road rig. Powernation and Nissan have teamed up before to build a pretty cool off road rig in the past. The 2017 Nissan NV Cargo-X. That thing stood seven and a half feet tall, had 35 inch tires, and was powered by a 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V-8. We took that one of a kind off road rig on a few dusty trails in Arizona's national forest, but for our build we're not gonna go quite that extreme but it's gonna be equally unique in mind. Now we've once again teamed up with Nissan to revolutionize the way you spend your leisure time. Whether it's off roading on a dusty trail with your buddies or kicking back, grilling out, tailgating on gameday. [ Eric ] But what if you wanted to do both at the same time? When we get done with this truck you'll be able to trail blaze all day and tailgate all night in this project that we're dubbing the Nissan Trailgater. [ Joel ] The Pro-4-X has always been known for its offroad prowess. It comes with offroad tires, skid plates, and even a locking rear differential. Those trucks are often praised for their versatility, which makes them popular amongst blue collar guys and even weekend warriors. With a 3.8-liter V-6 pushing 310 horsepower along with some offroad performance shock absorbers this Frontier literally comes out of the box to overcome any terrain you may encounter along with all the necessary components to add on all the cool extras you may need to build your perfect trailgating truck. And this collection of Nismo parts you see spread out across the floor is just phase one of this build, including performance exhaust, running boards, eye blazing off road lights, and some all terrain tires that are gonna complete the ensemble of one mean green offroad machine. [ Eric ] For phase two of this project we're going to bed or going to town on the bed. Back here we're gonna install our cooking station, not one but two t-v's, a sound system, everything you need to tailgate like a true fan. [ Joel ] And finally we're ripping out the back seat of this thing and adding a few kitchen appliances including a refrigerator, slid out drawer, maybe a coffee maker or two if there's time. [ Eric ] But there's a lot of steps in the way before we get to that point, and the first one of those is to get this up on the lift and get it tore down. [ Joel ] Guys we are ready to kick off our Nissan Trailgater build by initiating phase one. Gonne get these tires and wheels off and see what we can do about lifting this thing's spirits. I don't think I'd ever make it on a NASCAR team. [ Music ] [ drill humming ] [ Music ] [ Joel ] Come on big guy. There we go. A mistake a lot of guys make when they're putting in their first lift kit is not realizing that you need longer brake lines to make up for that extra height. We didn't run into that issue on this project but it's just always something to keep in mind. And take a look at that. That is a sharp looking assembly right there. It's gonna give a little bit extra ride height, nice aggressive stance, probably a much smoother ride too. Let's go ahead and get the rest of this stuff put back together. Now this right here is one of the first rookie mistakes a lot of guys make when they're doing their first lift kit. You've got to realize that your brake lines only got so much length to them. So make sure you hang them up if you take your caliper completely off or whatever you've got to do because you don't want to tear that hose. Like Tina Turner used to say, be good to me. [ Music ] I've got just a couple more things to button up. Then I'm gonna kick over to the other side. While I do that Eric's gonna tackle the rear. Coming up, we do a sound check and add some rumble to our exhaust.

[ Eric ] Now just like Joel did up front we're gonna be replacing our shocks here in the back. Not that there's anything wrong with the ones that came from the factory but we definitely need to give them an upgrade with what we plan on doing to this truck. Overall this is just a commonsense upgrade that is super easy because it came straight out of the Nismo catalog. So you know for sure it's gonna bolt right in. Let's get them installed. [ drill humming ] [ Music ]

[ Eric ] There we go. [ Music ] I did leave the band on cause generally when you put new shocks on that band will actually hold that shock tight enough for you to get the top end put on. Then you can cut that tie and the bottom will just slide itself into place. In this case, since these shocks are meant for a slightly raised ride height they're already a little bit longer than the factory mounting with the rear end at full droop. Here's something I just noticed that I really gotta give props to Nissan for and that is these lower shock bolts. The threads actually don't go all the way through. So if you need to give them a tap to get them in or out you really don't have to worry about messing up your threads, and that is pretty smart if you ask me. The next step is to get our remote reservoirs mounted to the body of the main shock. What we're gonna do that with is these brackets that come along with the kit. When mounting your remote reservoir you want to make sure that you've got clearance. So we're gonna put this around the inside where it's safest, and once you get that second bolt in don't forget to pull your first one back out and put some thread locker on that too. Call that good. We've got our first shock installed. So it's time to get the other side done, torque everything, and call it good. [ Joel ] As a lot of you know there are many benefits to adding a performance exhaust system to your ride. Increased air flow usually means better performance, cooler sound, and a lot of times improved fuel economy. When we first rolled this thing in here one of the first things we had to do, just like a couple of kids with a brand new toy, is fire this thing up and give it a couple of bumps with the throttle. [ engine starting ] [ engine idling ] [ engine revving ]

[ Joel ] Now the exhaust that's on this Frontier is perfect for a daily driver and it's got a nice, clean sound, but for what we want to do with this thing we want a little bit more performance all the meanwhile remaining 50 state compliant. [ drill humming ] [ Eric ] Besides the fact that this is a brand new truck the way this exhaust system is designed in here actually makes it really easy to get out. I've definitely had worse times than this pulling exhaust out. [ Music ] [ metal clanging ] [ Music ] [ Joel ] Now our stock exhaust system had two separate pipes going off the collectors and then into the muffler but what this system does is consolidate all of that into a Y-pipe. What that does is cut down on all your restrictions on your air flow and also gives you that little bit of reverberating sound for that cool factor. Hello friend. [ Music ] [ drill humming ] [ Music ]

[ Eric ] And the last one. [ Joel ] By far one of the best features of this exhaust is the fact that you don't need a welder. It literally just bolts into place of the factory setup. And it even comes with all the hardware you need for an easy installation, and the sound is gonna give your truck a whole different personality. [ engine staring ] [ engine revving ] [ Music ] [ Eric ] Up next, we rack up a few accessories and shed some light on Project Trailgater.

[ Joel ] We've got big plans to outfit our Frontier with anything and everything that you and your friends are gonna need when you're out trailgating. One of the most popular accessories a lot of you guys like to install on your rig is a roof rack, and honestly when you consider all the benefits involved I can kinda see why. Whether you're hauling hunting and camping gear, recovery equipment, or anything and everything you're gonna need to outfit for a tailgate party these things are super handy to have around. However depending on what manufacturer you're working with these things can get a bit invasive, meaning you've got to drill some holes. Luckily the guys at Nismo have designed this setup specifically to more of a clamp style. So no drilling required. With a few basic hand tools you can knock this out in no time. This D-41 Frontier roof rack is made from weather resistant black powder coated aluminum. So it's super robust, insanely light, and makes it to where it's an installation you could literally do on your own with just a few tools you've got in your drawer. The no drill application utilizes door jamb clamps giving you extreme rigid and secure vehicle mounting. With this roof and bed rack we're gonna be able to install whatever we dang well please. We're gonna be throwing everything and maybe even the kitchen sink at this project once it's all said and done. This is one of my many vices. Now you may have noticed I extended our table out a little bit more. That's because you need a nice, level platform while you're assembling this because you want everything straight. That way it sits on the truck nice and straight. It doesn't bounce loose down the highway when you're out trailgating about. [ Music ] Does it look centered? [ Eric ] We'll definitely have to measure it still. That's looking pretty close. We can measure it once we get all the rest of the hardware started on here. [ Music ] [ Joel ] For an hour's worth of work. [ Eric ] If that. Honestly it's not nearly as heavy as I would have expected. It looks heavy duty, and it feels heavy duty. [ Joel ] She's sturdy man. [ Eric ] Definitely not heavy. That's always a huge plus. [ Joel ] Or drilling holes. [ Eric ] It's not quite as light as the roof rack but definitely a lot lighter than it looks. [ Joel ] More awkward than heavy, like me. That's about the center of the wheel well there. It's about the same height as the roof rack. A little bit shorter but looks good. [ Eric ] Now just like the roof rack this thing is heavy duty, light weight, and it installs with no cutting or drilling directly into the factory equipped Utili-track system right here. Like you probably guessed, this isn't the only thing that Nismo makes that can bolt into these tracks. This is a super versatile system and the brackets to bolt things in look like this. It's just a little rectangle with a couple of carriage bolts run through it that allows you to bolt things in. With as simple as this system is if you felt like fabricating your own mounts for something you might not be able to find on the aftermarket this track gives you a great base to build off. [ Joel ] Tight on your side? [ Eric ] Looking pretty good over here. [ Joel ] Oh yeah! [ Eric ] You're shaking the whole thing from inside of the bed. I'd say that's on there pretty good. Double check these up here real quick. [ Joel ] That's a pretty solid setup. [ Music ]

[ Eric ] One of the most common things that you're gonna see on any type of offroad build is gonna be extra lighting. One thousand and one different types of lights out there and a million and one different places to put them how do you decide which setup is right for you? At the base of the lighting setup you've got to remember what it is you're gonna be using your truck for. In our case with this Nissan we want to be able to see all around this truck all the time. With that in mind we called up the guys over at Nismo and had them send us this assortment that you see on the table in front of me. We've got these six inch round driving lights that are gonna go up on top of the roof rack, four inch round lights that are gonna sit on these Nismo brackets right at the base of the A-pillars, and these square fog lights that are gonna go out back. I'm gonna get this last driving light set up and then we'll start our install. I hope at the end of the day this makes its predecessor, the old patrol, I hope it makes that proud cause that's one of the baddest offroad rigs I've ever seen. [ Music ] [ Joel ] Dueling measuring tapes. [ Eric ] This town ain't big enough for the both of us. [ Joel ] Mine's metric anyway. [ Eric ] Oh yeah! [ Music ] [ Joel ] Heck yeah! She's starting to look like a real deal offroad truck. Let's go ahead and throw those A-pillar lights on. [ Music ] [ Eric ] Got a nice big tool tray up front there. [ Joel ] That's mighty handy. This new Nissan has got everything. [ Music ] [ drill humming ] [ Eric ] Nice! [ drill humming ] [ Music ]

[ Joel ] Ooh yeah, installed! [ Eric ] Looking a little bit more serious now. [ Joel ] That's an offroad rig if I've ever seen one. Coming up, we get hitched and slap on a new pair of shoes to complete our offroad ensemble.

[ Joel ] If you're the kind of person that's into this build so far there's a pretty good chance you've got a couple of toys. Whether it's a boat, maybe a u-t-v, a dirt bike, all of those things require one thing, a trailer. What does every trailer need, a receiver hitch. We've got a couple of other recreational activities in mind for this truck and this receiver hitch that we're gonna get into a little bit later. Now the first step in this installation process is gonna seem a bit unorthodox but as per the Nissan installation manual it is a necessary part of the process. Now on the back side of our bumper we've got a little bit of a keyhole that's gonna work as our guide to where we need to cut the bumper out in order to fit our trailer plug-in. I'm gonna drill this thing out with a pilot hole first and then come back over with a panel saw and cut it the rest of the way out.

[ Joel ] One of the easiest techniques I find for cutting these kinds of things out is start by making our way to each of the corners and then follow it along about an eighth of an inch to the inside edge of the perimeter. [ saw buzzing ] [ Music ] [ Joel ] This little guy just slides right into place, perfect! The next step is our pigtail harness, and this thing just plugs directly into the back. Then you've got two more pigtail plug-ins on the inside of your frame. Couldn't be any easier than that. [ Music ]

The only thing you really need to check is that you've got a clean connection, and tuck in your wires to make sure they don't get pinched. [ Music ] I could tell you a pretty good wire joke here but I don't want to shock you. Try to stay grounded here on Music City Trucks. [ Music ]

[ Music ] Appreciate the help man. Didn't mean to wake you up from your nap. [ Eric ] That's alright. I'll get back to it once we're done here. I might need a nap after what we've got coming next. I've got a feeling that we're gonna be wheelie wheelie tired after that. [ Music ] [ Joel ] As is life. [ Eric ] You got it from here? [ Joel ] Yes sir, appreciate it bud. [ drill humming ] [ Music ]

[ drill humming ] [ Joel ] Looks like she's nice and solid there. Last thing we've got to plug in is this little pigtail harness that goes up underneath that dash. Once that's in we're done. For the icing on the cake on Project Trailgater we're gonna be installing these Yokohama Geolander M/T's measuring at 275/70 R17s. It's gonna give us a little more tread depth, a little more height, and give us that offroad sinister look that we've been looking for. [ Eric ] You might notice that the tires aren't the only upgrade that we're making here. These are brand new wheels from Nismo that are freshly designed and new on the market that can be run as regular wheels or as a true beadlock like we've got them set up here. We're also replacing our factory lug nuts with Nismo's heavy duty open end forged lug nuts. That's just gonna make sure that we don't have to worry about one of these things coming off. [ drill humming ] [ Music ] [ Joel ] Guys phase one on Project Trailgater is officially complete, and this thing's a prime example of little details making big changes. The best part is if you've got one of these trucks at home all these Nismo parts bolt right to it. [ Eric ] Now that we're done finding Nismo for all of our offroad stuff we get to move on to all of our tailgating accessories. Fridge, t-vs, and some other cool things we've got planned. [ Joel ] We're calling it a day for now but you're gonna wanna stay tuned for the next episode because that is when we're really gonna get this party started.