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So Nissan
is giving the Titan an extensive upgrade for the 2008 model year
that includes two new long bed models, a new 4x4 package, a variety
of mechanical upgrades, improved payload capacity, and a
freshened interior and exterior.
King
Cab and Crew Cab Long Wheelbase Models
The most
visible change is the addition of two new long wheelbase models. Titan
King Cab (i.e. extended cab) is now available with an 8-foot 2-inch
cargo box instead of just the standard 6-foot 6-inch box, while Titan
Crew Cab can be ordered with a segment-leading 7-foot 3-inch bed versus
the standard 5-foot 6-inch payload bay. Both the King and Crew Cab
long beds ride on a common 159.5-inch wheelbase.
Fisher explained
the market differentiation between the two extended wheelbase models.
“The
King Cab’s 8-foot bed is really for people who need
to haul 4x8 sheets of plywood or for guys who want to put a big toolbox
behind the cab and still have 6-feet of bed left in back. It’s
a very work oriented truck,” says Fisher, emphasizing Titan’s
new market push into E-grade territory.
But current
Titan buyers who like to play with their trucks and toys also benefit,
describes Fisher. “The
Crew Cab long bed is a newer animal in the segment. What we found when
we launched the Crew Cab short bed in 2004 was that people really loved
the utility of the cab but needed a little more space in the bed. So,
with our Crew Cab long bed we’ve got 7-feet of space now, which
will fit around 85% of the motorcycles out there on the market. Now you
can put a bike in the back of the truck and shut and lock the tailgate
and you’ve got ultimate
security for your very valuable possession.”
We briefly
drove a new Crew Cab long bed 4x4 between the deep farm country of
Wisconsin and Minnesota’s twin cities.
Independent
of make, long wheelbase trucks typically look off in their proportions,
because when you drop a seven or eight foot box on the back it unavoidably
skews the symmetry of a pickup’s three box architecture.
But the Titan Crew Cab’s four full size doors help balance out
the extra bed length and almost mute thoughts that the exterior designers
used the silly putty filter in the CAD software before hitting the production
button. It strikes an altogether different character from the LWB King
Cab. Well rounded, not strictly commercial.
There’s a side benefit from the Titan’s extra inches too.
Unloaded on the highway, this super lengthy hauler has better on-road
manners than the short wheelbase truck. Its longer chassis effortlessly
smoothed out buffeting and absorbed chop from rough road surfaces and
expansion joints at 65 to 75 mph. The better ride and handling also means
less driver fatigue during long trips and easier towing. And even though
it’s longer and heavier, the 317-horsepower / 385 lb-feet 5.7-liter
Endurance V8 had little trouble motivating and powering the LWB Titan.
If you want
to haul a load behind the cab, Nissan has raised the ‘08
Titan’s payload capacity ratings by 500-pounds, to 2,062-pounds
for Crew Cab and 2,012-pounds for King Cab. Changes were made to the
rear axle and suspension to accommodate one ton of cargo. The rear axle
has been beefed up with a larger diameter shaft and upgraded leaf spring
seats and brackets. Rear leaf spring rates have also been changed to
provide better damping. The rear suspension also receives stronger upper
and lower shock brackets.
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