While not exactly “new” as the automotive press has already had a field day with it, Nissan did bring their newish Titan XD to the SHOT Show floor. And since they paid for my breakfast (and parked one right behind the scrambled egg warmer) on Wednesday morning, I felt compelled to check it out. What I found got me really, really excited about it. Namely, the number of guns and dead pigs I can put in one . . .
Since birth, I’ve always associated a diesel truck with “making it.” All the hardworking guys I knew growing up drove full-size Dodge, Ford, and Chevy diesels. When it came time to retire my 2003 Toyota Tacoma, I gave serious consideration to the world of full-size diesels, but the magnitude of that decision both literally and financially turned me off. Instead, I bought a nicely appointed 2007 F150, a decision I have yet to regret. Roughly a month after I signed on the line for my truck, Nissan released their Titan XD, a vehicle meant to bridge the gap between the full size trucks and the half tons.
But this is a gun blog! Never fear. The Titan has plenty of room for those too. Pictured above is the cavernous center console, large enough for even the most robust Desert Eagles and a few of their friends. In fact, Nick and I had a long discussion about whether a broken down .300 BLK SBR and a can will fit in there. If it does, it will bring a whole new dimension to the phrase, “fight your way to your rifle.”
The model Nissan elected to bring to SHOT is their top of the line Platinum Reserve edition, priced at a princely MSRP of $57,470. That’s an eye-watering amount of money until you realize that the Platinum dition F150 costs roughly the same and doesn’t have 555 (!) ft-lbs of torque.
Nissan had their floor model kitted out with an adventure style tent setup and appropriately large Yeti cooler that did a great job of covering up the thoroughly well-sorted bed that features a factory bed liner, storage boxes, an integrated gooseneck hitch, and the ability to still fit 4×8 sheet goods between the wheel wells. Want to tow a trailer with your ATVs or boat? Nissan has you covered with their integrated trailer controller and sway control system.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GUNS?!, you must be thinking. Well feast your eyes on the integrated lockable storage locker that sits under the rear seats. Lay your guns in there and fold the expanding shelf forward for a completely flat floor, perfect for the hunters among us who a) want to lock up their guns and b) load a metric crapton of gear or dogs back there.
So get this…Nissan maintains a huge press fleet in Dallas and their marketing team seems to like TTAG (go figure) so they’ve promised me a press truck to use for a yet-to-be-scheduled hunting and outdoor excursion. I’ve promised not to wreck the truck completely, but I am going to throw as many guns as possible inside and take it somewhere to get some meat. Expect a review of the PRO-4X some time in the coming months. That’s the model with the skid plates. We’ll probably need them.
won’t help them sell these. it seems they are trying to beat dodge on worst fuel economy.
“The model Nissan elected to bring to SHOT is their top of the line Platinum Reserve edition, priced at a princely MSRP of $57,470. That’s an eye-watering amount of money until you realize that the Platinum dition F150 costs roughly the same and doesn’t have 555 (!) ft-lbs of torque.”
But the F150 isn’t BUTT UGLY…
if truck had to be pretty to be good, we would still be driving rounded things with fins from the 60s.
A car review? Old habits die hard I guess.
I laughed fairly hard at this comment. Maybe they just like both things? I had to check the URL when this was at the top of the feed.
I’m waiting for another “interesting” Subaru review.
Good to see others remember.
I must have missed that one.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2005/08/subaru-b9-tribeca/
2nd paragraph is all you need, really.
That Subaru skewering is among the all-time classics, on a par with C&D’s assassination of the 1968 Opel Kadette
TTAC. The Truth About Cars.
“May I borrow your pickup truck? I’m moving next month.”
If I had to pick a “gun truck”, based on what is readily available to the masses, I’d have to go with a RAM because of the RAM Box system, huge center console, double glove box, and backseat hidden storage bins. Most if not all of them lock. I’m actually considering trading out my Raptor for a Power Wagon, but I’m waiting to see how the new ones at the end of the year are doing.
I love my 08 Titan. The fuel economy blows but it’s fast, comfy, and roomy.
I also drive an 08 and it has been a real jewel . 100 % satisfied and I have driven everything . 150s 250s 350s , Silverado’s , a Tundra once , Rams , and the smaller versions too , the z series Chevys , Rangers and Frontiers and I really love the Titan , it has the best getty-up from a stand still than all comers , never squats with my 33 foot camper or my double axle trailer when I’m hauling my JD around either . I love the box tie downs and all the other stuff and I have actually always considered myself a Ford man , I just got the best deal for a trade in back in 08 for the Titan and now I’m sold .
Ditto. Had an 06 that I really enjoyed. The F150 IMHO is showing its age and I don’t like that aluminum construction, that’s not going to age well.
Would love to drop that Cummins in my chevy 2500HD gasser. Would pull more than 12k Titan is limited to.
Don’t let Nick drive it!
Titan XD?
Does it come with an XD? All Titan XD’s should come with an XD.
Now that’s a marketing crossover that writes itself!
No but it won’t crank unless you are planted in the seat and have a firm grip on the steering wheel.
I’ll wait for the Titan XDm.
Don’t let Nick in the drivers seat. We’ve seen what happens when you do.
a bit off topic, but still lookin’ nice and thin, nick. congratulations on keeping it off 🙂
Not a big fan of the new Titan. It looks like a wannabe F150.
Truth is the Titan was the first to wear that dress to the party and the Ford boys got dressed in the bathroom after they got there . Not that I don’t love FORD , didn’t take the bail outs and always made a great truck but Titan was the copied at this party .
That 5.0l v8 Cummins is to the 6.7l Cummins what .223 is to .308.
It’s a shame this engine didn’t come out years ago, it won’t get the mileage of the diesel 1500 dodge, and it won’t increase towing capacity enough to justify the cost over a gasser.
That being said: props for packaging in many towing friendly options, which will make towing a big trailer or goose more pleasant, and props for even being at shot show. Good marketing move. I’m curious what other truck makers were on site.
My 6.0 gasser pulls 13k pounds bumper, 1k more than Titian which has 170 lb more torques. The discrepancy would be Titian’s transmission, suspension and rear axle. It’s the failure of Asian trucks, poor payload and real world towing mechanicals.
But the Tundra towed the space shuttle!!! 😀 😀 😀
Yeah it did. Couldn’t take turn though.
I would agree with regards to the Nissan – tiny little pumpkin in the back of that thing.
That said, if the end of the world still has gasoline, give me a Landcruiser.
The “limited” bumper pull and payload ratings on the XD, is the one reason I’m not looking at it. With that engine and the refinement of a half ton, it would be a sweet tow rig for a heavier trailer. But for a trailer at 12000lbs, with a 1400lb bumper weight, the rest of the truck just doesn’t quite keep up with the engine and presumably the drive train. Add a bike or two plus dome people and luggage, and, nope….. I do like the truck, though. And the truck guys at Nissan, are the most down to earth and unassuming guys in the business.
I’ve tried putting my trailer on the back of a reg cab Silverado gasser, and while it is rated for it, that is definitely more of a commercial (as in all and any comforts be damned) rating, than something someone would cherish puling from California to Prudhoe Bay. Aside from that, I love the old small block in the Silverado. Most hassle free truck engine ever. If the Taliban ever needed to trade in their Hilux’ for full sizers, that’s the one to get…
Dodge had one for 2-3 years which shares engine with a Benz and masartti and chevy bringing Colorado out with one also.
For the same price you could get a 6.7 Lariat with 860 ft-lb of torque. I think I’ll stick with my F-350.
The Cummin’s engine in V configuration, instead of their bread and butter inline configuration…
Color me leeriest.
Yup, that is odd for them. I’m a big fan of straight sixes, especially for heavy-duty work. There’s a reason the big-rigs still use them.
I tried hard to like Fords 6.7, even the 2015’s are having problems. Duramax seems to fair better.
Then I looked at Cummins mechanicals, specifically the wrist pin, piston skirt and connecting rod. Almost twice as much material than Ford or Chevy.
Fleets are moving away from diesel because emissions are driving up maintenance cost.
I haven’t liked the Powerstoke since the 7.3 of old.
The Duramax 6.6 is alright, it’s proven, enough, and I like what it’s bolted to; anything Allison is OK in my book.
I’ll take a Cummins any day of the week, and if it’s the old 5.9, twice on Sunday.
Now, all that being said, I drive a gasoline F250. Because like you brought up, cost.
Only gasoline V8 engines have any business being V configuration, everything else should be inline, IMHO.
Man, I’m feeling my age. I remember when japanese vehicles were smaller and cheaper than American vehicles. My 4runner is a 4 cylinder gas model. It’s all the hunting rig I need.
Make sure you maintain your catalytic converters on that thing – and be mindful it doesn’t get stolen. 1996-2007 Toyotas get stolen. A lot. Somebody tried to jack our old 2004 4Runner from our driveway. The same suspect was arrested by Brea PD for stealing a different Toyota about the same age about a mile from our house.
Maintenance and insurance. Gotta do both.
Buy Cummins! My oldest daughter works at the Columbus Fuel Systems Plant.
50k+. Ouch…I think I’ll stick to my paid off F250. Knock on wood, the ol’ 7.3 is still chuggin’ along great…and actually gets decent mileage for something with 444 cubic inches. Plus I’m kinda partial to my own rig.
I smile every time I am sitting at a stoplight next to one of the old 7.3l Powerstrokes. I always crack the window to hear that rattle the turbo spool and whoosh when they let of the throttle, just gets me going. All the new diesels are a lot faster but they just don’t make good truck engines like that anymore.
Hopefully Nissan doesn’t skip on what dodge did when it comes to their diesel lines. HP is nice but when your tranny and or rear end is laying in the street, you can pull much. $57k for a truck, didn’t we just come out of a recession?
We’re in a recession and it’s going to get worse. Car loan bubble is huge and it’s popping. Nobody is going to buy half of these new cars and trucks. If Elio can keep that price low once they come out (which I doubt), that’s going to be the sort of “car” people will be buying.
No stick equals no sale. When did we all start driving mom’s car?
Guys that made it drove diesel trucks?
I honestly have no idea about this. I didn’t grow up in a blue collar neighborhood. The people who “made it” around me all drove BMWs or Volvo station wagons.
I like trucks, but I’d never get one as a daily driver.