Nissan titan xd Cummins turbo diesel tow vehicle question

[Greg in michigan]

Originally Posted by 007matman

I think that's why you should talk to one of the local Diesel shops. They will be able to tell you what they see.

I understand your concern. However, Diesels are well known for their ability to go 300-400 or even 500k or more. A Cummins is typically one of the most reliable engines out there. The likelihood is pretty high that if you sold that truck and bought a gasser, the truck you have now would outlast the gasser (especially if you've done the proper maintenance).

You've probably already paid most of the depreciation on that vehicle. I wouldn't rush to pay that again on a new one (unless that's what you really want).


I should add.. I'm not looking to get into the gasser vs diesel debate here. Any comments to this post about that debate will be ignored.

Believe me, I understand that sometimes it may be cheaper to replace a gasser engine than to address some issues on a Diesel. I just spent $6,500 to have my Diesel Bulletproofed. Personally, I'd spend it again.

Thank you for your input . It IS appreciated.
This is my 2nd titan. 1 gas 1 diesel .
My only concern is as far as I can tell the 5.0 v8 was only ever put in the titan, nothing else.
And they didn't sell many. So it's part availability is the issue.
Someone above told of other cars that they stopped making that you can still get parts but my guess is they may have made more.
I called 2 independent diesel shops in town and told them the issue. Each said the same thing, they can service and repair them.......
If they can get parts.

[robbiels7]

Yea for sure. I just did some work on a 04 saab 93. You have to be patient on some things but available yes. Most of the time the parts will be aftermarket but being a Cummins the should offer plenty of support.

Originally Posted by Greg in michigan

I dont it's under warranty for 4 more years and they'll have to fix anything.
After that will parts be available on a engine they only made 4 years and didn't sell many of?

[Tom911]

I was thinking about the XD with the diesel for my next truck? Glad I decided to wait a year.

[Greg in michigan]

Originally Posted by Tom911

I was thinking about the XD with the diesel for my next truck? Glad I decided to wait a year.

Wished I would have waited a year. Got mine june of 2018. Absolutely the best truck I've ever had in 30 years, as for as loving it. It's just a year old so reliability is yet to be seen.
Had a 14 year old gas titen before and love it so much that I "upgraded" to the xd diesel. If they would have kept the diesel or they used the same engine in another one of their vehicles I wouldn't have given this issue a thought.
I'll more then likely ride out the next 4 years since it's under warranty and they will have to fix anything that brakes and I have 4 more years of 0% interest till it's paid off then wife and I will probably move to a 3/4.
Darn shame as I really love this truck.
Here's a pictute of my 2004 titan and 2018 xd diesel.

[Tom911]

A buddy has the Titan gas that's about 7 years old and he loves it. I will still look at the gas XD. I am not impressed with Chevy or Ford. We want a 5th wheel in a couple years so a 250 or Chevy 2500 is still what we might end up with.

[Rennzfr]

I've been dying to ask a Titan diesel owner: what is the MPG you are seeing with that engine in normal vs towing modes?
Thanks!

[MT Biker]

I think a lot of people are missing the point that the Cummins diesel in the Titan XD is a one off, it is not the same as anything ever offered in any other vehicle and that is what would be my major concern.
None of these engines have been available long enough to have 3,4, 500,000 miles on them.
So the claim of how many miles you can put on a diesel motor does not apply in this case, the long use data just is not there like on the RAM Cummins, the Duramax, and some power strokes.

Hopefully if you decide to keep it you get 20-trouble free years out of it, I just know with my luck that would never happen!

[007matman]

Originally Posted by Tom911

A buddy has the Titan gas that's about 7 years old and he loves it. I will still look at the gas XD. I am not impressed with Chevy or Ford. We want a 5th wheel in a couple years so a 250 or Chevy 2500 is still what we might end up with.

If you're hauling a 5th wheel I'd look at a 3500 or an F350..

3/4 ton trucks run out of cargo capacity before towing. Pin weights on many 5th wheels will put you over.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by 007matman

If you're hauling a 5th wheel I'd look at a 3500 or an F350..

3/4 ton trucks run out of cargo capacity before towing. Pin weights on many 5th wheels will put you over.

Depends on the engine. 3/4 ton diesels are payload limited. 3/4 ton gassers are fine.

Generally speaking, a diesel (and some of the other additions that engine pulls with it) will eat up around 900 lbs of payload and 1 tons have 1,500 lbs more payload available than their identically equipped 3/4 ton brethren.

So, take an average mid-tier trim level 1 ton diesel with 3,600 lbs of payload. No issues with a moderate 5er.

The exact same truck in 3/4 ton would have 2,100 lbs of payload (3,600 - 1,500). Now, you'll have to drop a brick on the accelerator and run along side the truck to steer it, as there won't even be enough payload for the driver after adding a 5er hitch and dropping a light-weight 5er onto it.

But, swap the diesel for a gasser, and the payload goes up to ~3,000 lbs. Back to "no problem" land for small-medium 5ers.

[Greg in michigan]

Originally Posted by Rennzfr

I've been dying to ask a Titan diesel owner: what is the MPG you are seeing with that engine in normal vs towing modes?
Thanks!

Our trailer is 30 feet tip to tail, empty it's 6365 full 8000 max. Never weighed it.
Worst towing into the wind I had a hard time keeping it in the highest gear. That being said I try to drive 65 and it wont shift into high till 63 . I'm sure at 70 it would have stayed in high I just dont drive that fast.
So, with the wind worst towing and kept down shifting was 10.1. I got 7.5 in wind with gas titan worst case.
Best diesel towing must have had tail wind as I got 13.1. Best gas towing was 10 mpg.only happen once owning the truck 14 years. Made 10 trips from Michigan to Florida
Not towing with diesel best was 22.5 mpg. Best gas titan was 17.5.
Both trucks were 4x4.
Loved both trucks only reason we changed was a long camping trip out in the middle of nowhere no cell service so decided to change to make sure I didnt get stranded

[007matman]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Depends on the engine. 3/4 ton diesels are payload limited. 3/4 ton gassers are fine.



Generally speaking, a diesel (and some of the other additions that engine pulls with it) will eat up around 900 lbs of payload and 1 tons have 1,500 lbs more payload available than their identically equipped 3/4 ton brethren.



So, take an average mid-tier trim level 1 ton diesel with 3,600 lbs of payload. No issues with a moderate 5er.



The exact same truck in 3/4 ton would have 2,100 lbs of payload (3,600 - 1,500). Now, you'll have to drop a brick on the accelerator and run along side the truck to steer it, as there won't even be enough payload for the driver after adding a 5er hitch and dropping a light-weight 5er onto it.



But, swap the diesel for a gasser, and the payload goes up to ~3,000 lbs. Back to "no problem" land for small-medium 5ers.

That's exactly why I'd go with a 1-ton dually for pulling a 5th wheel.

Additionally, insurance is cheaper (at least it is for me), price was actually less on a used Dually 1-ton than a comparable 3/4 ton and nothing beats a dually for stability.

Diesels beat gas all the time in the MPG department as well.

If you're pulling your 5'er with a 3/4 ton and love it then good for you. All I'm saying is that it wouldn't be my choice.

[ludlow]

My understanding is that Cummins builds that engine for school buses as well. I think the engine parts will be available for a long time.

[jeffmcintyre]

You can get Cummins worked all over
You won’t have a problem dodge dealers still work on them as well as Cummins shops all over the country

[jdbunch1630]

The 5.0 motor was also used in some school bus and other platforms, it has a different turbo, but there will be plenty of diesel mechanics that will be around to help

[Cajun_Arkie]

Originally Posted by Rennzfr

I've been dying to ask a Titan diesel owner: what is the MPG you are seeing with that engine in normal vs towing modes?
Thanks!

I have a 2016 Titan XD diesel and just returned home Sunday night from a 4400 mile trip to Yellowstone towing my 33 ft Work & Play toyhauler with 2 Harleys in the garage. The Titan XD performed flawlessly. Granted my mileage was averaging only around 11.5 mpg, I was towing from Arkansas to Montana and back. For what I paid for it and zero issues with it I plan to keep it for a while.

Cajun_Arkie

[fanrgs]

It's really too bad that the Cummins 5.0L diesel V-8 didn't make it into any front-engine Class A motorhomes or lighter, less-expensive Super Cs. With 555 lb-ft of torque, it would have been far more torquey and lighter weight than the Ford 6.8L gas V-10. And the turbo would have made it more capable at the altitudes of the passes in our Colorado Rockies than any non-turbo gas engine.

Oh well, wishful thinking will get me nowhere!

[Jboshell1]

You can put a sign on anything and call it what ever you want but that does not mean it’s a Cummins. They are stopping building them cause it will not meet fuel mileage requirement or epa.

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by Jboshell1

They are stopping building them cause it will not meet fuel mileage requirement or epa.

. I believe that, if you check the history of that 5.0 L diesel, Cummins originally began developing it for either Ford or GM years before Nissan started using it. And a turbodiesel in a specific truck model (ie., Ford F-250, RAM 2500, etc.) will always get better fuel mileage than the gas V-8 offered in that same model.

[JCCarr]

That Cummins was a modified version of an existing Cummins engine. Parts will be available. It’s funny how the guys who love the big three always say the Titan isn’t reliable. My ‘14 went 5 years towing it’s max rated capacity and only ever needed scheduled maintenance and brake rotors, calipers and pads. I bought a used ford 3/4 ton In may and dumped it already because it intermittently failed to start and the dealer couldn’t figure out how to fix it. Now in a Chevy 1 ton. I loved my Nissan but the XD and regular version just don’t have the cargo capacity that they need. The diesel version doesn’t have enough for my tongue weight, wife and I and the loaded tool box I carry. I think that hurt their sales, not reliability. But if they had one with capacity I need, especially at 0%, I’d have bought it in a minute even if I knew it was an end of life model.

[SailorDan]

My cousin worked at Cummins as a mechanic. When we talked about the V8 going in the Titan way before it came out he seemed to know all about the engine. I believe it has probably been used in other vehicles, just not trucks we are all familiar with. My guess is you wont have any issue but may have to wait for parts once in while.