Air Spring-Loaded

Installing Air Lift’s Load Lifter 5000 Ultimate on a 2016 Titan XD diesel

Nissan’s new Titan XD looks good inside and out and the 5.0-liter Cummins diesel lurking beneath the hood looks even better. It’s there because Nissan understands the needs of its enlarged target customer base, those that need a diesel hauler but not a diesel brawler. Therefore, the Titan XD has a 12,500-pound tow capacity, the same as 2500s delivered back in the day. Comparatively, today’s 2500 and 3500s have three times that towing capacity and a price tag to match the capability. But many customers have the same 7 to 12,000-pound trailer and no need for more. That’s why Nissan delivered an all-new truck with a commanding appearance, a modern, fully equipped interior, and a full lineup of single, double or king cabs, and crew cabs into the market with diesel or gasoline engines. There’s the long wheelbase Titan XD with a diesel or gasoline V8, the Titan (no X or D) V8, and soon a V6 gas engine. (For a more detailed review of the Cummins powered Nissan Titan XD see the December/January 2017 issue of UDBG. —Ed.)

Nissan has offered us a long-term Titan XD loaner with Cummins power; it’s a truck that was with us on the original launch, a Platinum Reserve trim model with leather seats and every accessory the company has in its option bag other than a moon roof. Like all Titan XDs, it is equipped with a backup camera that, by switching camera feeds, makes it easy for a single person to drop the hitch onto the ball. It also offers the novel and wonderful one-person light check system (click a specific sequence on the remote and all trailer lights illuminate sequentially) for peace of mind and legal conformance. We do have the nicely integrated standard gooseneck hitch setup in the bed, plus Nissan’s Utili-track channels in the sides and exclusively in the bed.