How good or bad is a Nissan X trail for off road?

Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 18:12

ThreadID: 104480 Views:4924 Replies:6 FollowUps:10

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Johnnytasman

We may be going to WA and NT in the future and will be towing a small tinny. How well would the Xtrail do and what kind of off road tracks could I hope to get down?
Anyone with an Xtrail who had done this would and whjat they had done to the Xtrail to make it better!

Many thanks

Johnny

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Reply By: disco driver - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 18:39

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 18:39

Why tow a small tinny? I'd leave it home.
In many places where it is safe to use a small tinny, it's often possible to hire one.
They are not safe enough to use in rivers/estuaries where croc's are around.
IMHO it's hardly worth the wear and tear on both the boat and trailer towing one around Oz just for the occassional fishing excursion.

Cheers

Disco.

AnswerID: 518736

Follow Up By: Johnnytasman - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 18:40

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 18:40

point taken!

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Follow Up By: Kumunara (NT) - Friday, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:24

Friday, Sep 27, 2013 at 10:24

I don't know what size your tinny is but I agree with Disco.
I live in the Top End and it nothing unusual for a 4 m plus saltie to be pulled out of the Katherine River. That is small compared to what is in some of the other rivers.

Was in Derby years ago and one of the in-laws had an x-trail. I was surprised how well it went driving over the mud flats. They like all soft roaders have limitations - no low range.

Life's great and it just keeps getting better

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Reply By: toffytrailertrash - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 19:06

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 19:06

Save your money and take a charter at your various destinations, you will probably find it a lot cheaper and have more fun and fish.

Cheers

Merv

AnswerID: 518740

Reply By: Member - eighty matey - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 19:25

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 19:25

G'day Johnny,

X trail is a soft roader, so that will limit a lot of places you can go.

Having said that, there are a lot of places you can visit.
I would travel to Mitchell Falls or Kalumburu but I would travel the Gibb River Road in an X Trail.

Personally I don't like towing unless I have to but if you really love to travel with your tinny do it. It will save some room in the vehicle with tents and stuff in the boat.

Here's the Australian X Trail Forum in this link
I'm sure you would get some useful advice there.

Steve

AnswerID: 518741

Follow Up By: philw - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 19:38

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 19:38

I saw some very impressive off road work being done on another forum,by members driving modded X Trails. I bought my off road Cameron Camper trailer off an old bloke who towed it around Australia twice. So yes it can tow and with a few mods they are quite capable little off roaders.

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Follow Up By: Johnnytasman - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:16

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:16

thanks for your post. Are you saying NOT to travel Gibb River road?

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Follow Up By: Johnnytasman - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:18

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:18

Which forum?

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Follow Up By: Member - eighty matey - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:21

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:21

Johnny,

I have no experience travelling in an X Trail but I have seen them pop up in out of the way places.

Like most vehicles, an upgrade of the shocks and tyres before a big trip would be advisable, and don't rush it.

Check out that forum link in my previous post because they will be owners that are doing the trips you want to do.

Hoo roo,
Steve.

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Follow Up By: Member - eighty matey - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:24

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:24

Sorry Johnny,

where it says, "Here's the Australian X Trail Forum in this link" and "this link" is underlined, click that and it will take you to the Forum web page.
If you hover your mouse over it a thumbnail of the page will come up.

Steve

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Follow Up By: Johnnytasman - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:44

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 20:44

I've tried the Xtrail forum. It is without doubt the worst designed forum on the planet. I spent hours trying to register and finally it came up saying I was 'banned'.!!

FollowupID: 798641

Follow Up By: Penchy - Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 at 07:03

Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 at 07:03

4x4 Earth forum has a few guys with Xtrails. One has just got back from a trip through central Australia.

FollowupID: 798646

Follow Up By: Member - eighty matey - Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 at 19:45

Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 at 19:45

I was thinking 4wd Action forum would have some too.

FollowupID: 798679

Reply By: mikehzz - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 22:46

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 at 22:46

There are some guys in my club with XTrails and they are handy enough to go wherever it's possible to go with sub 30" wheels. There is a 2" lift for them and stick on some AT tyres. The diesel model is far superior off road.

AnswerID: 518744

Reply By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Friday, Sep 27, 2013 at 13:21

Friday, Sep 27, 2013 at 13:21

Just out of interest, I hear there's just been a recall on X-trail (2004 - 2013) for an accelerator sensor flaw. Does this affect Australia anyone know?