My son decided to remove the roof basket and deflector off my 2004 because he wanted to see what it looks like without. After doing so we discovered that the gasket under the deflector has shrunk and there is some scratching of the paint underneath. We cleaned up the roof, used a clay bar and polished the scratched areas then used Black on Black on the deflector and roof basket to restore them to like new. I discovered I can't buy that gasket any more so... I created a replacement gasket using two layers of neoprene (the material used to make scuba diving suits). This material is about 1/8th of an inch thick, water proof, heat and cold resistant, soft and squishy. It's black so it's not immediately noticeable when looking at the vehicle.
My question is, is there something different or better I could have done? Was it a clever hack or a bad idea for some reason? Thanks in advance for your input!
Agreed. You use what works. Especially as parts become more and more difficult to find. Another option is the foam gasket material that's used for truck canopies/campers. It's sold in rolls and is adhesive on one side.
I actually prefer the look with the basket and deflector, but I don't have a sunroof. To me it's a part of the aesthetic design that sets the Xterra apart from the rest. I also like the side rails, but I don't off-road, so I'm not worried about snagging them.
The gen 1 Xterra had so many cool little details that set it apart from the competition. Some, such as the stadium seating in the rear were the byproduct of using the Frontier ladder frame.
Of course aesthetics are in the eye of the beholder and everyone will have different preferences and the changing many of these options are simple and reversible if it ever comes time to sell.
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