Anyone tow w/ a Nissan Titan?

[Andy in Pa.]

I have been looking at these lately for DD for my wife, and towing duties too. The Titan has a 9500Lb tow rating. I have a friend that tows his TJ with one, and it works well for him. Titans have a 5.6L 32v V8, a tow mode, optional locking rear diff and quite a few other cool options too.

Anyone else tow with a Titan?

 

[Begster]

Andy, aren't the Titan's the one with the D44 rear, that is way undersized and usually require complete diff rebuilds?

I would check into that, because I have read that in multiple places.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

Andy, aren't the Titan's the one with the D44 rear, that is way undersized and usually require complete diff rebuilds?

I would check into that, because I have read that in multiple places.

Hmmm, good question. I'll look into that.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I would rather use a new GMC Canyon with the 5,3L V8, personally.
But, the Titan as a DD/Tow Vehicle is going to drain your bank account. The mileage is not where it should be, and they do not tow that great compared to other 1/2 ton pickups

 

[praetorian]

Kind of off topic, but I believe Currie is working on a bolt in Ford 9" for the Titan.

 

[mini=man]

Andy, aren't the Titan's the one with the D44 rear, that is way undersized and usually require complete diff rebuilds?

I would check into that, because I have read that in multiple places.

Yes. But they do have factory disc's and I considered taking the one from my Mom's friend's and shoving it in my Jeep.

If you look underneath that 44 look very out of place and small. Overall I was less than impressed with the design and layout of the Titan I drove.

 

[rysam]

my buddy has one and it tows his 20' Ranger bassboat without a problem. He lives 20 miles in the hills from the lake so his rig gets a workout.
The gas mileage sucks bad with or without a trailer, he's constantly bitching about it..

 

[r33pwrd]

my friend has the first year Titan and pulls a 21ft jet boat with it and it pulls pretty damn good. It does rub with the stock tires in the rear with just about any added weigth

 

[yossarian19]

Shrug. The Titan doesn't have meaningfully different mileage from the Chevy full size, no matter which drivetrain really.
The Colorado gets substantially better.. with 3 less cylinders it damn well should.

The Titan's rear end might be a weak spot. I'd go with a Tacoma or Tundra, personally. Worst I've ever seen wrong with a Tacoma was a leaky wheel cylinder - not that I noticed when I drove it from the driveway on to the lift. Since I started working on Toyotas as a pro, I've been more & more impressed.

 

[philagony94xj]

I've been on a few 13hr drives in an 06 Tundra delivering smaller cars on a Uhaul trailer, and it does it with no mechanical drawbacks. The gas-mileage on the other hand sucks with ANY load on the truck.

 

[machspeed]

I have never personally towed with a Titan, but here is my story about them.

About 3 years ago, I worked for a service station/towing company. Within a weeks time, 2 different Titan trucks towing trailers (one an Airstream, one a regular rv) came in after rolling over, both from the local interstate. I live in MI, so there is sometimes some mild wind, but the road is only rolling hills, no mountains or difficult roadway. I remember seeing 3 Titans that suffered roll overs while towing within 3 months, and I only worked part time.

It might be a coincidence, but it might not, I just found it odd because we only had one other roll over from every other vehicle that was towing during that time.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Shrug. The Titan doesn't have meaningfully different mileage from the Chevy full size, no matter which drivetrain really.
The Colorado gets substantially better.. with 3 less cylinders it damn well should.

The Titan's rear end might be a weak spot. I'd go with a Tacoma or Tundra, personally. Worst I've ever seen wrong with a Tacoma was a leaky wheel cylinder - not that I noticed when I drove it from the driveway on to the lift. Since I started working on Toyotas as a pro, I've been more & more impressed.

IF you read my post you would have noticed that they offer a 5.3L V8 with the Colorado/Canyon. Same 5.3L, lighter truck, better mpg.
I miss my dakota with the 318/46rh, full sythetic fluid wherever it would go, 24 mpg highway easy. 15mpg towing 5k+ lbs

 

[r33pwrd]

IF you read my post you would have noticed that they offer a 5.3L V8 with the Colorado/Canyon. Same 5.3L, lighter truck, better mpg.
I miss my dakota with the 318/46rh, full sythetic fluid wherever it would go, 24 mpg highway easy. 15mpg towing 5k+ lbs

IMO canyon / colorado is to small...

 

[xjintx]

I towed my XJ all the time with my Titan. I also towed a 5th wheel. Never an issue. I had added firestone airbags. Always used synthetic oil and synthetic gearoil in diffs.

I towed my XJ to Moab from here in TX with no issues!

That said I now have a superduty In my pinion any 1/2 ton is small no matter what the horsepower for towing... kind of like the tail wagging the dog.

Titan gas mileage was like 8-9mpg towing... I get 15-16mpg towing the same rig now. It obviously tows better too... forget I'm even towing sometimes.

 

[Led]

had an 04 titan , would pull any pass on 70 from denver to moab at 55mph avg 12mpg to moab and back haulin the jeep

 

[praetorian]

Also kinda off topic, but why is GM still offering the 5.3 Colorado/Canyon with the 4 speed auto and not the 6. Seems like a deal breaker there when everyone else is offering their PU's with either a 5 or a 6 speed auto...

 

[rmm727]

I would rather use a new GMC Canyon with the 5,3L V8, personally.
But, the Titan as a DD/Tow Vehicle is going to drain your bank account. The mileage is not where it should be, and they do not tow that great compared to other 1/2 ton pickups

Have you seen the sticker price for a colorado/canyon with a 5.3? Might as well go fullsize imo.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Have you seen the sticker price for a colorado/canyon with a 5.3? Might as well go fullsize imo.

I priced a decently equipped ext cab (bed space more important than back seat for me) GMC Canyon for 25k.. would be less with my employee discount.
Yes it is a small truck, but I would personally buy/use it vs a titan. If I were to buy a tow vehicle/DD pickup. It would be cummins powered. Or if gas was a must, a 6.0L GM pickup. Can get the 6.0L in the 1500 if a 3/4 ton is really not required.

 

[Darky]

Are you sure about getting the 6.0 in a 1/2 ton? Is that a new development? I know at least 3 or 4 yrs ago the 6.0 was only for 3/4 ton+

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Are you sure about getting the 6.0 in a 1/2 ton? Is that a new development? I know at least 3 or 4 yrs ago the 6.0 was only for 3/4 ton+

In 07/08 they started the "Vortec Max" option. 6.0L in 1/2 ton.
Definitely a good upgrade. Worked for GM then, for a short time, and work for them currently. The difference between the GM 4.8/5.3/6.0 (possibly the new 6.2) is cylinder bore.