Anya Murphy August 24, 2023 Drive Online
Those of us who are constantly on the go (and we’re confidently betting that’s most of us) know just how much easier life is when your mode of transportation is always ready to go. There’s great satisfaction in investing time and effort into building a vehicle that doesn’t only just do its job but actually plays a part in getting you out the door quickly and more often. That’s what Johnathan Smith’s 2022 Nissan Frontier does for him. Armed with a full quiver of accessories and upgrades and modified to suit his exact needs, the Frontier is his key to getting out faster and staying out longer.
“Armed with a full quiver of accessories and upgrades and modified to suit his exact needs, the Frontier is his key to getting out faster and staying out longer, too.”
Smith has been off-roading since he was old enough to drive. Never having camped as a kid, he first got into the scene at 16. His first truck, a 1994 Isuzu Rodeo, was the tipping point. “I threw some BFGs on it and hit some local trails in the San Bernardino mountains,” he tells us. “[I’ve been] hooked ever since.”
Since that first ‘94 Isuzu, Smith has piloted quite a few rigs, but the work he’s put into his Nissan Frontier and the adventures he’s taken in it make it stand apart from the rest.
For someone who’s on the road as much as Smith is, putting in the work to build a perfect adventure companion is a serious undertaking. While the truck of course functions as his dedicated overland rig, he notes that it’s designed to be used for a little bit of everything, from off-roading to bugging out when needed. “Oh, I can’t forget about mall crawling as well!” he laughs.
Its main purpose, though, is to be a basecamp for Smith to live out of during extended overland trips so he can enjoy the outdoors in comfort. “I’m always on the go and I wanted to maximize my time being outdoors so staying in the truck and sleeping near the area I wanted to explore just made more sense than driving home and unpacking every single time and starting over again for the next trip,” he explains. Always focused on the next adventure, and not wasting time dealing with unnecessary loading and unloading of gear? Sounds like just about every overlander’s dream come true.
“We drive the Frontier everywhere we can,” Smith notes. And he’s got the evidence to back it up, too: they’ve put about 30,000 miles on the truck in just about eight months of driving. Long trips and extended adventures contribute to that, including the roughly 3,200-mile round trip trek from Orange County, California, to Springfield, Missouri, for MOORE Expo back in April 2023.
Staying just a bit closer to home, Smith can often be found in one of his favorite spots, Moab, Utah, enjoying the beautiful scenery and wheeling on some of the best trails in the country.
“Always focused on the next adventure, and not wasting time dealing with unnecessary loading and unloading of gear? Sounds like just about every overlander’s dream come true.”
A recent trip found him spending four days in Moab with a skilled crew of off roaders as he joined Rogue Overland’s 2023 Winter Expedition. Onion Creek, Hurrah Pass, and a drive through 7 Mile Rim in the snow were highlights of the trip, during which 25-30 rigs caravanned through the area.
Unfortunately, “The trip was cut short due to weather conditions making some of the areas impassable,” but, ever the optimist, Smith insists, “The four days we explored was one of the best trips I’ve ever had, and the Frontier performed flawlessly… It was a blast.”
It took about eight months to fully build out the Frontier, with the help of All Dogs Off-Road, LTW Motorsports, and Peak Suspension. All Dogs gear provides the muscle behind his suspension, starting with their Parabolic Leaf Springs. All Dogs Enhanced Extended Travel Fox coilovers with heavy coils pair with High Clearance upper control arms to give a smooth ride with a bit of extra clearance up front. Meanwhile, another set of Enhanced Extended Travel Fox shocks hold it down in the rear.
“Beyond being well-prepared for extended overland adventure, Smith’s Frontier has all the mods it needs to handle some serious off-road terrain, too.”
Starting with a solid base, the 3.0L V8 under the hood is plenty of powerhouse for Smith, cranking out 310hp and 281 lb.-ft. of torque. An ARB Diff Cover and All Dogs Off Road Rear Differential Breather keep things working smoothly.
Just like Smith’s very first Isuzu, the Frontier rolls on BFGoodrich KO2s, which, paired with his Method Race Wheels 301s, give the rig plenty of grip.
Beyond being well-prepared for extended overland adventure, Smith’s Frontier has all the mods it needs to handle some serious off-road terrain, too. White Knuckle Off-Road Rock Sliders pair with a full set of accessories from CBI Off Road, including a Covert Bumper, Bull Bar, and Full Overland Skid Plate covering his engine, transmission, transfer case, and gas tank, to provide extra damage protection.
Baja Designs Light Bars keep everything illuminated, both on the trail and at camp. An S8 30-inch Light Bar in amber secures to his CBI bumper, while an S8 40-inch Light Bar is mounted on the Prinsu roof rack. Baja Designs S2 Sport side area lights and Sport chase lights round out his lighting setup. He’s got a Warn Zeon 10S winch on the front bumper as well.
In the bed, a Front Runner Outfitters Nissan Navara D40 Drawer Kit keeps all of Smith’s gear organized.
In the cab, we find more organizational equipment and tech. The backseat is home to his ARB Zero Fridge 38Q powered by a Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium battery, plus plenty of other gear he stores there.
On the dash is a RAM Mounts Quick Grip Phone Holder, as well as a GoPro Mount and Mic Mount. Midland Radios handle all of Smith’s comms through an MXT275 Micromobile Two-Way Radio, MXTA 25 Ghost Antenna, MXTA 22 ditch light bracket mount, and MXTA 24 Antenna. An AGM Battery with a SwitchPros SP9100 keep all of his tech powered and controlled.
The first thing we notice when glancing over at Smith’s Nissan Frontier is the GoFastCampers Platform Camper. It’s no surprise to us that the truck topper/rooftop tent combo is Smith’s favorite part of his setup. The GFC is easy to set up and break down, which, according to Smith, is “paramount” on busy days and after long drives. “It feels like home even when you’re away from home,” he explains.
“…they’ve put about 30,000 miles on the truck in just about eight months of driving.”
Atop the GFC is an Overland Kitted Boomerang MaxTrax Mount that secures his MaxTrax Xtreme recovery boards to the top of his tent.
At the end of the day, “I think the truck is perfect just the way it is,” he says, “It has been a pleasure for me to drive on these adventures, that’s for sure.” But while he gives props to Nissan for “really nailing” the 3rd-gen, Smith deserves just as much credit for building off that solid foundation to create the perfect truck for himself.
2022 Nissan Frontier Pro 4x
Engine: 2022, 3.8 Liter V6
Suspension: All Dogs Off-Road Parabolic leaf springs; (front) All Dogs Off-Road Enhanced Extended Travel Fox coilovers with heavy coils, High Clearance upper control arms; (rear) All Dogs Off-Road Enhanced Extended Travel Fox shocks
Wheels & Tires: Method Race Wheels 301 Standard Matte Black 17-inch; BFGoodrich KO2 tires, 285/70/17
Interior Accessories: RAM Mounts Quick Grip Phone Holder, GoPro Mount, Mic Mount; Midland Radio MXT275 Micromobile Two-Way Radio, MXTA 25 Ghost Antenna, MXTA 22 ditch light bracket mount, MXTA 24 Antenna; Odyssey AGM Battery;SwitchPros SP9100
Exterior Accessories: Baja Designs S8 30-inch Light Bar, amber; Baja Designs S8 40-inch Light Bar, amber/ clear; Warn Zeon 10S winch; Front Runner Outfitters Nissan Navara D40 Drawer Kit; White Knuckle Off-Road Rock Sliders; CBI Off Road Covert Bumper, Bull Bar, Full Overland Skid Plate
Additional Modifications: ARB Diff Cover, All Dogs Off Road Rear Differential breather; Prinsu Roof Rack (custom cut to half rack by Peak Suspension); GFC Platform Camper; ARB Zero Fridge 38Q; MaxTrax Xtreme; Overland Kitted Boomerang Maxtrax Mount; AVS in channel Visors; Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium battery; UnderLand OffRoad Molle Panel; Baja Designs S2 sport side area lights; Baja Designs S2 sport chase lights
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