Truck & Trailer Combp - Page 2

ptgarcia · 06-15-2005, 08:38 PM

Oh yeah, I needed weight distribution! I'm using the Reese setup with 1200-lb bars and their dual cam sway control. I wouldn't want to pull my trailor without either, although I did pull it home after we bought it without the sway control. And I did experience some sway. Since installing thedual cam all is good.

rizzo · 06-29-2005, 09:00 PM

I will be pulling our old 24' Terry (5700lbs dry) all over AB and BC in the next few weeks. I use a Tekonsha Prodigy (I gave my dad the first one and bought another after using another brand for a while). I also use a DSP WD system that has worked great on all my other trucks (all of them 3/4 to 1 tons). So far, the Titan seems to pull pretty good for a 1/2 ton and I don't expect any problems.

I broke in the truck pulling a 3,000 lb flat deck trailer to Calgary and then put a newer Buick on it, and drove it back to Edmonchuck. I kept it around 80kph both ways and it just about killed me. However, I feel my truck is properly broken in for pulling a trailer and am looking forward to pulling my Terry to see how the Titan performs.

Like I said, it seems good for a 1/2 ton and I like the truck. I'm still thinking I should have bought a new 3/4 ton though. But which one? No more diesels so it would be a Ford 5.4 (I've had a couple and the motor is good but not great for resale in a 3/4 ton), Chev (ya right!!!, try updating your stuff once in a while GM!!!!), or Dodge (the mere sound of buying a Dodge sends shivers up my spine. Nice enough truck I guess but resale is terrible and quality is lacking...although I've heard it's getting better). Anyway, I'll see how it all goes and will check back in after I return. I'm really looking forward to getting away from work for a while.

Take care guys!!!

rizzo · 07-26-2005, 11:15 PM

Great trip!! The Titan pulled better than any other gas engine I've pulled with, and it got amazing gas mileage as well. I average about 12.5 MPG driving through B.C. as well as on Vancouver Island. The only thing holding this truck back is the sheer size of it. The trailer pushed and pulled it around more than I'm used to, but afterall, it's a half-ton.

Overall, I'm dissappointed with the lousy build quality of the truck, but the engine/tranny is fantastic. Everything the dealer said he fixed before I left for the trip was NOT fixed. I guess it goes back in for service again. I've never had a truck give me this many problems. Nothing major so far, knock on wood, but stuff that is annoying on a new truck.

Gotta go to work in the a.m. Back to the grind.

hunter · 07-27-2005, 06:22 PM

I just recently returned from a summer trip of around 3,700 kms across Saskatchewan and Alberta plus travelling from Jasper to Banff to Waterton National Parks. My trailer weighs around 5,600 lbs and I averaged 13.1 mpg (average speed around 100 kph). I was pretty happy with the mileage what with battling high winds and the mountains. The Titan's engine definitely has the power to pull and with no wind and in O/D speeds of 120 kph was no problem for maintaining good gas mileage

tccart · 08-07-2005, 11:36 PM

I also recently returned from holidays with our Titan and 25' holiday trailer. We left home with 1350km on the odometer, and put on another 1450km while travelling east to Ross Lake (near Elk Point), down to Calgary, then west to Mt Kidd in Kananaskis, back north to Ol' MacDonald's Resort on Buffalo Lake, and home.
The '80 kph break in for 800 km' kinda sucked. Watching bald-azz prairie go by at 80kph was almost painful. We probably averaged 85 to 88 kph for the first 800km. I figured the flat land towing was relatively easy on the driveline.
By the time we were headed into the mountains west of Calgary, the official break-in period was over.
I only checked mileage on the last tank, when we averaged around 107kph with A/C on most of the time. Worked out to a respectable 12.5 MPG, using Imperial gallons.
Overall, the Titan pulled great. I'm very happy so far.

rizzo · 08-29-2005, 10:04 PM

Although I know it is very stupid...I hauled a new Bobcat on a 3,500lb trailer yesterday. Our F-350 dually wasn't available so I picked it up with the Titan. It had lots of motor for it, but hauling a Bobcat with a half ton is a really stupid thing to do. Overall, it did really well but I'm not anxious to do it again. My Terry 24' is enough for the little half ton.

Still thinkin · 09-08-2005, 10:18 AM

I have to admit I did the same thing .

rizzo · 09-13-2005, 10:15 PM

I can even one-up myself. I now hauled our tractor which weighs about as much as the Bobcat. When we pulled it up on the trailer, it actually lifted my Titan's back end off the ground!!! Like and idiot, I pulled it across town once it was loaded and then pulled it back when the job was done. Good thing Sherwood Park is a small town!!!

I never pulled the tractor or Bobcat once while I had my F-350 diesel...but now that I have a little half ton, I pull start pulling them!!!! I think I'll leave it up to our F-350 dually from now on.

woodchopper · 10-09-2005, 06:07 PM

Wonder ir the 2004 Titan's would benefit from a change to synthetic oil in the rear axle and the finned aluminum cover like the 2005-2006 have? Looks like there was a problem with heat if Nissan made these changes.

ptgarcia · 10-09-2005, 09:30 PM

A TSB was issued by Nissan that specifies 75w-140 synthetic gear lube for the 04's.

woodchopper · 10-11-2005, 07:41 AM

The technical service bulletin says to use synthetic? Does this mean the fill at the factory is the proper lube? For 2004 production year? If so, there's no point in me doing a fluid change. Anyone get a whine from the ring and pinion on deceleration from 60km-40km. I complained to the dealer about this and he said it was normal, and that other owners of Titans and Armadas have reported the same faint noise. That's why I'm questioning if a fluid change may help this problem.

92TripleBlack · 10-11-2005, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keane

Maybe thats why I blew my front diff/axle and burnt the paint off my rear diff. I didn't tow within my first 1600kms but I did exceed 80KM/H when I towed my TT when I was around 4000kms. They did say that the front end was a known problem, though.

So everyone else knows what he said, let me translate.

Maybe thats why I blew my front diff/axle and burnt the paint off my rear diff. I didn't tow within my first 960 miles but I did exceed 48 mph when I towed my TT when I was around 2400 miles. They did say that the front end was a known problem, though.

92TripleBlack · 10-11-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodchopper

The technical service bulletin says to use synthetic? Does this mean the fill at the factory is the proper lube? For 2004 production year? If so, there's no point in me doing a fluid change. Anyone get a whine from the ring and pinion on deceleration from 60km-40km. I complained to the dealer about this and he said it was normal, and that other owners of Titans and Armadas have reported the same faint noise. That's why I'm questioning if a fluid change may help this problem.

I donlt knw about the rear or transfer case. They are different in the Mada. What I can tell you is they changed the spec. for the fluid for '05 forward, and retro to '04. Also, they changed the diff. covers, and many people say to change the diff. oils after brakein because they use some kind of gasket sealent that goobers up the oil in the initial break-in but doesn't after first fluid change. I changed mine to Mobil Synthetics with factory specs for '05 after 1500 miles. As for whine, I've never had any.

rizzo · 10-13-2005, 10:49 PM

I changed my rear diff fluid at @3500kms to a 75w90 SS Amsoiil. I pull more often than not and haven't had any probs. I did notice that it was drastically underfilled from the factory when I replaced it though.

prairiedog · 10-29-2005, 02:06 AM

Since I am an Alberta resident I will join in on the Canada forum. I have a 2004 which I took delivery the last day of March this year. I've have about 19000 kms on it now.
I also got us a TC524 Trail Cruiser 5th wheel after getting the truck. We were signed up for a regular trailer when we bought the truck and I was enfluenced to change to a 5th wheel and since we hadn't taken delivery of the trailer the dealer switched us over to a 5th wheel for a small difference in cost.

After trying out the truck trailer rig a couple of times at Pine Lake we left for Alaska on July 12th. I now know that we took too much stuff with us. But the truck pulled just great. I got smart after seeing the gas gauge drop all too fast that I should drive by the tackometer and not just the speedometer. At first I tried using 3500 as a limit but then dropped to 2500 as my limit and take what ever speed it gave me on grades.

The total Alaska trip was 40 km short of 10000 km over a period of 6 weeks. On Sept 21st we left to drive down to southern California with the truck only to see our children and grand children before the snow sets in. We had planned to start for home on Tuesday Oct. 12th.

During the last three or four hundred miles to our destination I notice a noise when I let up on the gas. It wasn't going away so I found a Nissan dealer local to my son's house and got an appoinment for Friday the 7th. I got the bad news that the diffential was coming apart! This was at around 16000 km. I was told it shouldn't be driven so they took me my son's house. It wasn't until Monday afternoon that they finally had formal permission to go ahead and do the repairs under warranty from Nissan Canada. I got the truck back on Wednesday afternoon. So we left for Alberta on Friday morning. The truck drove just fine. Just like most everyone else I really like to drive this truck. The power, the ride, the roominess and so one is great.

I went on line after getting home and wasn't pleased to see that the rear differential may be a weakness on some of the 2004 Titans as well as the brakes. I have not noticed any brake probems yet! I probably am easier on brakes than a lot of younger drivers. Even when towing I use the engine and the trailer brakes when on a down grade. The brake problem appears to be over heating. I guess that is the differential problem too?

My truck is the 4WD. I believe that all the 2004 included the heavy tow package.

This last trip down south was a total of 3520 miles. Overall gas mileage for all driving was 16.5 miles per US gallon.