Nissan Titan XD Diesel

[Driller]

Is anyone towing with a Nissan Titan XD Diesel?

5.0 Cummins with the Aisin 6 speed transmission. I'm looking at trading my current vehicle and wondering if this truck is the one. Price and options look decent with the Platinum Reserve model. Looks like their offering 7 years and 100,000 miles on the CPOs.

Looking for some input.

[NautiGirl]

Is anyone towing with a Nissan Titan XD Diesel?

5.0 Cummins with the Aisin 6 speed transmission. I'm looking at trading my current vehicle and wondering if this truck is the one. Price and options look decent with the Platinum Reserve model. Looks like their offering 7 years and 100,000 miles on the CPOs.

Looking for some input.

Having just done some truck shopping I can tell you I looked hard at something that burned "the correct dino for towing". In the end we dont pull the boat enough to justify the extra maintenance costs associated with a diesel engine. The new EPA emissions requirements really caused some maintenance headaches. MPG while towing would be better than our ecoboost but I only have the boat behind it maybe 5% of the total miles put on the truck so the turbo gasser was a good compromise.

I have heard ok things about the Nissan,I do think they had some issues early on, so maybe look at a later model if you can. If you are not towing a ton I would look hard at a F250 /w the 6.2 Gas engine. You get the extra payload of the 3/4 ton truck but the lower maintenance cost of a gas engine. Hell depending on tongue weight the F150 /w the ecoboost may not be a bad choice.

Key thing to look at is hitch weight carrying capacity b/c who wants to mess /w an Weight distribution hitch, and payload capacity of the truck. Most 1/2 ton trucks run out of payload before towing capacity. 2/3 Ton diesels often have the same problem because the damn engine is so heavy. I have seen F250's with payload ratings around F150 territory just b/c the powerstroke eats up so much weight.

Our F150 has a 1565lb payload, figure 500 - 600lbs on the hitch leaves us with ~900lbs for crap in the truck plus me and the wife. We can make it work but if you have a large family or haul a bunch of extra stuff in the bed you could get over that rating real quick.

Good luck, only thing more fun than boat shopping is truck shopping.

[NautiGirl]

OK when I said "I have heard ok things about the titan"...yeah forget that: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/20 ... est-review

Buy an F250 or a DirtyMax.

“It is just too big for its own good and really shows Nissan’s inexperience with this class of vehicle.” —Joseph Capparella

“Just over 8300 miles on the odometer and the power-steering pump feels as if it’s failing.” —Drew Dorian

“This truck is just shockingly bad. Previously, I had only been in the Titan with a trailer attached. Sadly, it drives like it’s towing even when it’s not.” —Jeff Sabatini

“Never have I jumped into a vehicle this new and been this unsure of its capabilities to make it home issue-free.” —Nathan Petroelje

“This truck feels as if it’s already falling apart—lots of rattles and vibrations from the interior and we’re not even at 10K miles yet!” —Joseph Capparella

[NautiGirl]

Man driller, just looked the 242 is "only" 4600lbs dry. Thats the same weight cobalt lists for our 222. The F150 /w the ecoboost pulls it fine, hell Sooner is pulling a R7 /w his, dont know if you really need the diesel.

Looking at specs the 5.0 in the Titan Diesel makes 310hp and 555ft/lbs. New Ecoboost makes 375/470, pretty close numbers. If you are looking at leaving the boat on the lift the majority of the time and only towing it now and then you may really enjoy the ride quality of the F150 vs a 3/4 ton truck. W/ the 10 speed 3.5 Ecoboost powertrain the F150 really does perform above its weight class. It does drink gas when you are towing though, think 8-10mpg. Just something to think about.

[Big Block Power]

Jeff how come I think your just answering yourself.lol
I'm getting the small dirtymax in my next truck

[Driller]

Thanks Jeff. I really like a Diesel engine, but most of the trucks only have the really large ones, that’s what atttacted me to the Nissan and the Cummins / Aisin combo.

Looks like I’ve got to do more reasearch.

[thunder550]

I used to be a die hard GM guy, so you might say I'm biased when it comes to trucks. Food for thought...

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/01/201 ... on-coming/

Yes, a half-ton 2019 Silverado diesel is coming. That much we already know thanks to Chevy’s official announcement on Saturday. We also know that the diesel motor that will be available in the new Silverado 1500 will be an all-new 3.0L Duramax in an inline-six configuration and that it will be mated to the new GM 10-speed automatic transmission.

[Big Block Power]

Gm has put this off way too long!
Get in the suburban and yukon quick. It will be big coin but I want one. The ram diesel right now is a mess. No matter which engine you get. Can't get rid of the check engine light.

[thunder550]

GM really dropped the ball when they shelved the 4.5L Duramax several years ago IMO. And the Dmax in a 2500 SUV would have been a no-brainer too. I'm sure it was proposed and some bean counters at GM axed it, if Duraburb can do it then GM could have done it from the factory with very little redesign work. As I said in a different thread, I was amazed at how it took next to no fabrication work to stuff a LLY into a 1/2 ton pickup.

[NautiGirl]

Thanks Jeff. I really like a Diesel engine, but most of the trucks only have the really large ones, that’s what atttacted me to the Nissan and the Cummins / Aisin combo.

Looks like I’ve got to do more reasearch.

Understand, I was really excited about a diesel in a 1/2 ton until I did the research. The engines are so heavy the 1/2 platform just cant support them plus any meaningful payload. Add in the extra DEF and emissions crap, the additional fuel filters and expensive oil changes and they just don't make a ton of sense until you are towing very heavy and very often, and if you are towing heavy and often you are most likely going to want the extra stability the 3/4 Ton offers. Since boats are by nature pretty aerodynamic they tend to tow better than a giant travel trailer so you can get by with a bit less truck at the same weight.

As BBP said I have heard nothing but terrible things about the Dodge 1/2 EcoDiesel. Several design flaws including putting the intercooler in a location where it heat soaks like crazy. The engine also makes pretty disappointing power.

Ford is putting a 3.0L diesel in the F150 starting in 2018.5 model year. Specs on the engine look ok, I don't know if they are making the engine or if they outsourced it. They did have to play with the power numbers so that it wouldn't eat into EcoBoost market share. It's also a pretty expensive option at like 7k. Based on Ford's diesel engine history I don't know if I would want to be an early adopter.

The Chevy Colorado can be optioned /w a 2.7L DirtyMax, max tow is 7,700lbs, we have put the 222 behind my wifes Colorado with the V6, it did ok but it is a much smaller truck than you may want to put a 25ft trailer behind. It will be interesting to see what the 1500 Silverado gets.

I would love to have a F250/2500 truck, diesels just sound cool, plus all that torque down low does make them fun to drive, but as a daily driver I just couldn't do it. Didn't want to deal /w the harsh ride, trying to park something that large around town, plus it wouldn't fit in our garage. I know you said you like the diesel option, but really go drive the 3.5 Ecoboost if you haven't. It makes full torque by 2,700 RPM and I think something crazy like 70% of that at 1,900RPM. In may ways it drives more like a diesel truck than a gas engine. No cool diesel noise, but you can hear the turbo's spool on the eco so that's cool at least?

Oh and Katie was very offended that you thought I posted this instead of her, not sure how you could have guessed it wasn't her. lol.

[BobRae99]

There will be Ford diesel 1/2 ton for 2019. As to diesel maintenance as compared to gas, I haven’t owned one since my 2004 Ram 2500 Cummins, but in 3 years of pulling a 30’ 2 horse with living quarters gooseneck, all I ever did was change the oil. Also, while any 1/2 will tow a 6,000 lb load and you don’t need the extra torque, there is definitely a difference between 470 lb ft and 555 lb ft.

I don’t own a Ford eco boost, but from everything I’ve read, there is a big difference between the EPA fuel economy ratings and actual consumption when the vehicle is working. Based on past experience, I think the best combination (daily driver/tow vehicle) will be the F150 with a diesel. While Dodge isn’t my favourite, I loved the way it pulled my horse trailer. Just set the cruise control at 65 and when a headwind kicked up or I encountered a mild incline, the Cummins just seemed to lean into it without having to downshift. And I was always impressed,with the fuel economy.

[NautiGirl]

There will be Ford diesel 1/2 ton for 2019. As to diesel maintenance as compared to gas, I haven’t owned one since my 2004 Ram 2500 Cummins, but in 3 years of pulling a 30’ 2 horse with living quarters gooseneck, all I ever did was change the oil. Also, while any 1/2 will tow a 6,000 lb load and you don’t need the extra torque, there is definitely a difference between 470 lb ft and 555 lb ft.

I don’t own a Ford eco boost, but from everything I’ve read, there is a big difference between the EPA fuel economy ratings and actual consumption when the vehicle is working. Based on past experience, I think the best combination (daily driver/tow vehicle) will be the F150 with a diesel. While Dodge isn’t my favourite, I loved the way it pulled my horse trailer. Just set the cruise control at 65 and when a headwind kicked up or I encountered a mild incline, the Cummins just seemed to lean into it without having to downshift. And I was always impressed,with the fuel economy.

The F150 with the diesel is an interesting option that so far we really don't know much about. Its rated at 250-hp, 440-lb-ft which is well under EcoBoost numbers. You are correct, the EcoBoost drinks fuel when the turbo's spool up, but daily driving I am seeing 20ish with mixed city and highway. Stay under 70mph and you really get better mpg's the F150 has the aerodynamics of a brick.

Comparing the F150 /w the 3.0 diesel to the Dodge 2500 that pulled your horse trailer really isn't a fair comparison, the 3/4 heavy duty truck is really a different animal than the 1/2 truck. Case and point, we drop the 222 on the ball of my aunts 2500 and the truck doesn't move. Same load drops the F150 a good 1.5 - 2 inches, the 1/2 Ton is designed for comfort while getting groceries first, towing second, the 3/4 is the exact opposite. If I was towing heavy enough where a big diesel made sense I would want the extra suspension the 3/4 platform offered.

Where the EcoBoost really shines imho is a good daily driving truck that still has the power to occasionally tow 7,000lbs without hating life. If you are towing more than that or towing all the time a diesel 3/4 Ton is really where you want to be not a 1/2 Ton truck no matter the engine option. Just my opinion of course.

[thunder550]

Jeff and/or Katie, you make a great point. The smaller turbocharged gas motors are light years above the big naturally aspirated V8s of even a few years ago. Never did I think we'd be happy with a 6000+ lb load being tugged along by a V6, but I have been nothing but impressed. The turbo makes a huge difference.

[Driller]

I have the 3 liter turbo diesel in my current vehicle. Just not enough engine for heavy towing. I think the same would be true with the other smaller diesels.

That's why the 5.0 appeals to me. Right in the middle between the small trucks and the big trucks. I have read that the Titan XD is built on a frame very similar to the 3/4 ton trucks. Don't know if that is true or not. However, I can't stand a problem with reliability. I run my vehicle about 600 miles a week and taking time out to have it repaired (whether or not it is under warranty) is a pain.

I have trouble going back to gas as I have been driving diesels for over a decade. I just like them.

[NautiGirl]

I have the 3 liter turbo diesel in my current vehicle. Just not enough engine for heavy towing. I think the same would be true with the other smaller diesels.

That's why the 5.0 appeals to me. Right in the middle between the small trucks and the big trucks. I have read that the Titan XD is built on a frame very similar to the 3/4 ton trucks. Don't know if that is true or not. However, I can't stand a problem with reliability. I run my vehicle about 600 miles a week and taking time out to have it repaired (whether or not it is under warranty) is a pain.

I have trouble going back to gas as I have been driving diesels for over a decade. I just like them.

Bite the bullet, F250 / Chevy DirtyMax or the Dodge /w the Cummins. Hell depending on what you are towing a Single Rear Wheel F350 may make sense, they are not that much more expensive than a 250 and you get a ton more payload.

You live in Texas, arn't you required to have a big truck to live in the State?