2005 Pathy OffRoad is this truck a serious off road vehicle?

FastMover · Jan 24th, 2006, 09:05 AM

Hey Guys, I just purchased a new 2005 Pathy OffRoad and I would like to get your opinion on how this truck stacks up as a serious off roader. I currently live in Florida but I will soon be moving to the Smoky Mountains of Tn. Reliable transportation in the winter time mountains was my primary motivation for buying the Pathy OffRoad but I would to try some recreational off roading. So what do you think is this truck a serious off road vehicle?

SD Frontier · Jan 26th, 2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastMover

Hey Guys, I just purchased a new 2005 Pathy OffRoad and I would like to get your opinion on how this truck stacks up as a serious off roader. I currently live in Florida but I will soon be moving to the Smoky Mountains of Tn. Reliable transportation in the winter time mountains was my primary motivation for buying the Pathy OffRoad but I would to try some recreational off roading. So what do you think is this truck a serious off road vehicle?

serious off road vehicle? what do you mean by this? can it run the paris to dakkar rally? can it climb the nearly vertical slick-rock ledges of moab?

i would assume (just from experience and little knowledge) that the answer to those two questions would be and emphatic "No!"

an off road vehicle is only as good as the person behind the wheel. for example, i'd take Ivan Stewart in a bone stock Frontier (although he drives a Yota) over myself (or the majority of the people on here) in a fully built trophy truck. Rock crawling is a whole other beast, so i wont even touch that.

I'd say with practice, common sense, patience, more practice, you can have fun in an 05 Pathy. I've taken my Frontier on mountain trails and have done just fine (even without the rear locker).

giancarlo93 · Jan 30th, 2006, 09:00 PM

hey..
take a look at this forum..you can have all the info u want about the 05 pathfinder....and older ones..

http://npora.ipbhost.com//index.php?act=idx

littlefish · Jul 1st, 2006, 05:34 PM

I agree with SD Frontier - I have driven farm trucks since a long time ago and have been able to take a 2wd and go places a 4wd driven by someone else became stuck in. Go slow and use common sense. Try your hand at easy courses first before you decide to tackle something like Engineer Pass or Black Bear Pass. I have seen brand new trucks with large 36" tires get stuck and torn up becuse they did not use common sense or tried to go too fast. Best of luck. - littlefish

Andrapple · Nov 7th, 2006, 09:00 PM

i havea similar question and didnt want to flood the forum with another post.

I hve a 06 4x2 pathfinder that i have taken camping before. I have done some very light off roading (small mudd holes inclines, ruts about 6.8 inches deep, etc.)

I was wondering if anyone has taken a 4x2 any firther?
How does the pathfinder door seal hold up
Floorboard seals?

stinky · Nov 9th, 2006, 07:32 PM

Yes and No...

Very few of the entry level 4x4's now adays will stand up to continous use off the pavement, much less off road...Especially w/the American Made 1/2 ton trucks and SUV's.

Now, that said, I had a stock '76 Chevy PU that never let me down and in many ways was a real beast.

I replaced it w/my '86 PU....which is still in the works. I expect the same service out of it...meaning that I don't expect the body or frame to crack in normal use (I would expect the body to crack on vehicles in the Exploder, RAV4, and etc class) and I don't expect to ever break an axle, shaft, spring or anything else due to normal wear. Now that doesn't mean that I expect it to fare as well as my Chevy did when I backed up and hit a rock REAL hard and end up w/one tire sitting on a rock 2' in the air and the other one on the ground. On that occasion, I drove off hte rock and couldn't find any damage, but MAN I HIT IT HARD (I was stuck in the mud and snow and I had the coal poured on to get out and I was turning into a spot to get out of the hole that I was in and didn't see it).

A-arms are not as good as straight axles, but most people will never know the dif.

Get you a locker in the rear and listen to your gut...when something tells you this ain't a good idea...TURN BACK.

Get you a winch, or a 4000# come-along, w/a looooong strap and chain and you'll never have a problem. Also, chains really healp out in the mud and snow, atleast 3 of em (you want it to steer don't you).

As mentioned, GO SLOW, the time I got stuck, above, I slid off the road, in the snow and ice as I was going too fast...BTW, it had snowed 2 feet the day before. If you have to use momentum to get through, then it may be time to turn back.

For light offroading, your 2wd will do just fine. BUT, BUT BUT, a sage once told me this...When you need fourwheel drive, you need four wheel drive. You ain't going there, no way, no how in your 2wd if it is bad. But I don't expect you were talking about that.

**88pathoffroad** · Nov 13th, 2006, 02:02 AM

Good points all. ^^^

I'd think it would be fine to take most places as long as you don't try rock-crawling or mud-bogging with it. Know your limits and don't go places you can't see the other side of first.