Roof Rack / basket, off road accessories

[Anamagous]

hey folks,
just wondering what brand / size your roof baskets are? also what off road accessories you like the best and which ones have failed you. Just got my pathy and I would like to set it up for semi - off road use. I do alot of mountaineering / boarding so I want something that can handle trails but still be used as my daily driver. I am probably not gonna do a lift, and I know that there are some tire size threads out there already but i am thinking of going 255/70/ r17. I just dont konw the offest on my rims. I am using the three spoke infinity rims (17") right now and i dont know if the 70 series tires will fit. I also want to plasti-dip the rims and the fender flares. Have any of you done this. How does it hold up? I also know that exhaust is another huge thread on this site but it seemed to me that there was never a resolution on the exhaust thread. I am looking for something with moderate sound without pouring a bunch of money into it. Is there something I can do myself for this or do i have to take it to a shop? Sorry for so many questions, I appreciate your opinions / advice. Thank you in advance.

[Anamagous]

show pics if you got em

[shelby500krz]

I have done all that you have mentioned...
Roof-
I went with Yakima Load Warrior (the smaller of the two models available), the yakima spare tire adapter, and the yakima lights adapter. Everything has worked well. I have had it all installed for over a year now. I have occasionally taken off the spare tire and put lumber on the roof and it held with bungie cords. I did get some (2) 2x6x12 at one point and the whole basket creaked nonstop on the ride home. Yakima also sells an adapter for the hi-lift jacks.
*
On a side note, when I ordered the basket I was sent a basket with a visor that said Subaru. I couldn't return it or exchange it, so I flipped it backwards. After calling Yakima, they sent me some stickers, which worked pretty well. So it says Yakima on the front, but on the back it says Subaru.*

Exhaust-
I did a custom cat back exhaust. I can't remember if the stock pipe was 2 1/4 or 2 1/2, but either way I got a cherry bomb muffler that was dual inlet/ dual outlet 2 1/2. So hypothetically, you could simply use the same/similar muffler for a cheap build. I coupled this with a K&N cold air intake and together they give it a little more power and a better sound.
Painting -
I like towncivillian painted the fender flares and bumpers. I took it a step further and painted the lower half of the door panels. I used premium home depot spray paint. Towncivillian used krylon and someone recently used plasti dip, and so far all have worked. The spray paint I have been using has begun to peel and chip in one spot on my rear bumper so I think it made have just been wet or something when I did it, because everyone thing else is still looking great.
Wheels-
Instead of painting the stock wheels I got new ones. I went with 16" cragar soft 8's.
Pics:

[Anamagous]

Shelby,
Thanks for sharing, your truck looks pretty wicked. Looks like you have a lift? right? So to do an exhaust system all I will need to by is one cherry bomb muffler 2-in 2-out. do I have to buy any pipe and have it bent? I like what you did with the paint, looks great. What size tires do you have on their? Thanks for all your advice. Oh one more thing, where did you get your window rain guards?

[shelby500krz]

Yes 2 inch lift from automotive customizers. I am not 100% sure exactly what you would need for the exhaust because it depends on what you want. Tires are stock tire size, 255 65 I think. I would like to get some 31's but don't have the money right now. The rain guards I got from a local 4wd shop, because I worked there for a while.

[Anamagous]

which lift did you buy, Coils and shocks or just the coils? did you also buy the manual hubs?

[shelby500krz]

I purchased just the coils. Then I looked in Rough Country's catalog and found shocks that fit the measurements that I needed for the rears and purchased them through the shop where I worked. My pathfinder is 2 wheel drive so I did not by the manual hubs, because it would have been somewhat pointless.

[Anamagous]

Thanks Shelby, good information, I may have to copy you...thanks