There is a specific kind of quiet you hear in open desert. No buildings. No power lines. Just wind, sand, and the static of distance. It is a place where vehicles are either trusted partners or liabilities. Nissan’s new Dune Patrol concept is built for the first category.
Born from the Armada PRO-4X platform and reimagined with true long-travel racing geometry, Dune Patrol was designed to serve not as a showpiece but as a support rig; the kind that follows trophy trucks, desert buggies, and rally fighters deep into remote terrain. Nissan describes it as the ultimate support vehicle for extreme off-road events.
This is not a mild lift and bolt-on weekend idea. The transformation is structural.
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The Suspension: Where the Build Earns Its Name
The core of this vehicle is the full custom CJD Racing long-travel suspension system, which increases suspension travel to 16 inches at all four corners.
Not approximated. Not adapted. Designed specifically for this project.
Front suspension setup includes:
- Custom fabricated upper and lower control arms
- Custom spindles
- 4340 heat-treated drive axles
- Bilstein M 9200 2.5 coilovers and 70mm bypass shocks
- Extended brake lines
- Custom tie rods, heims, and uniballs
Rear suspension mirrors the same philosophy, with:
- Custom trailing arms
- Extended upper and lower links
- Custom shock towers to accommodate matching Bilstein long-travel hardware
In plain terms: this is desert racing suspension geometry. It isn’t for looks. It is for continuous rhythmic abuse at speed. Washboard ruts, square-edge hits, dune faces, and sudden drop-offs: that is its job description.
Wheels, Tires and Stance
The Dune Patrol rolls on prototype NISMO Off Road AXIS true beadlock wheels, 18×9 with a +15 offset, wrapped in 37×12.50R18 Yokohama Geolandar MT G003 tires.
Beadlocks are a quiet signal to anyone who knows:
- This vehicle is expected to operate at low tire pressure on soft surface terrain.
- That means dunes, fire roads, deep sand, washouts, riverbed gravel.
- This is a rig that goes where GPS map coloration fades to beige.
Bodywork and Armor
A widebody is unavoidable when suspension grows outward. Nissan partnered with FiberWerx for prerunner-style fenders and quarter panels, adding 4 inches of bulge and 2 inches of rise over factory.
It is form dictated by geometry, not fashion.
The NISMO Off Road prototype bumpers, front and rear, are designed for:
- Approach and departure angle
- Recovery mounting strength
- Clearance for suspension travel
The rear bumper also integrates a swing-out spare carrier and accessory mounts for MaxTrax traction boards, because desert support vehicles cannot assume they will not need to recover something, including themselves.
Lighting and Gear Storage That Understands Nightfall
Out in the desert, darkness is not scenic. It is a hazard.
The roof rack system packs:
- A 40-inch NISMO Off Road LED light bar
- Additional 6-inch flood lights
- Chase light bar
- MOLLE storage for gear cases and water canisters
This is not overland vanity gear. This is functional loadout for long-duration work.
Inside, the Patrol features:
- Air-on-board integrated compressor system
- Seatback and MOLLE interior panels for tools and recovery essentials
It is a cabin built around people getting dusty and tired, not a leather-appointed showroom environment.
Exhaust + Sound
A prototype NISMO cat-back exhaust improves breathing and tone, but importantly, not in a way that overwhelms communication in cabin. Support teams need to communicate clearly, and this system strikes that balance.
Why Dune Patrol Works
There are builds meant to look good in convention halls, where lighting rigs and clean floor tiles create a story detached from real terrain. Dune Patrol isn’t that story.
This is a vehicle that embraces:
- Mechanical honesty
- Execution over spectacle
- Capability first
It fits into the category of support rigs that keep races alive, keep expeditions supplied, and keep groups safe in the middle of nowhere. These vehicles are the unsung heroes of motorsport.
