Before the Nissan Terra came out, the ‘rugged off-roader’ segment of the North American market was occupied by the Xterra. This 2009MY example, converted into a highly capable overlanding camper, will soon go on an exploration journey spanning both continents from Alaska to Argentina.
The first thing that grabs the attention is a pop-up tent on the roof that’s welded to the body of the car and is accessible straight from the cabin via a freshly cut-out hatch. The trim inside mostly consists of handmade tweed upholstery.
Amenities on board include a kitchen sink, a microwave, some storage cabinets, and two beds inside the roof tent. Solar panels on top help recover electricity for the appliances inside.
From the overlanding point of view. the unique 2009 Xterra features a rugged suspension system, a snorkel to feed the engine air when wading water and traversing dusty desert environments, and protective plating all around.