Long trip with Titan, interesting stories... (long)

[bvstone1]

So, my wife and I go back to her inlaws up in Northern MN for a few days. We also spend time with my folks for their Anniversary party. This was the first long trip with the Titan... had some interesting stories. A little long...

First, the travelling stuff:

I averaged about 15mpg with the Titan LE CC with 4x4 and Big Tow. Averaged around 72mph with the AC on. Not bad at all. My Tundra V6 would never make it the 350 miles home on one tank.. The titan could easily. But, I still stopped to refuel in the normal spot a little over halfway to stretch the legs and let everyone pee.

The ride was quite comfortable. Had the AC on the whole way back and forth. No water showing up inside the cab. Seats were pretty good, after about 3 hours, had to shift a little. The XM radio performed flawlessly... I still love that thing!

It is now official, both my wife and I agree the headrests suck big time. I hope we can find replacements that tilt.

The center console was a perfect spot to put a pillow on top of and let our little ****apoo rest... she loved it... especially with the vents blowing on her face..

Now the "fun stuff":
The in laws live in a very small town. My father in law and I took the titan into a larger town about 20 miles away (pop around 2000, which is big for the area) to help the Knights of Columbus set up tables for a big hamburger hotdog grill at a bank that he is on the board for.

We got done early and walked around town. His 1970s Scottsdate pickup was in the Chevy dealer getting some work done, so we stopped by there to kill time. He's good friends with everyone there. So, I started trying to deal on a new Silverado for him. He wanted nothing to do with it, but I could tell he loved to watch me deal. The salesman was cool, half knowing the deal wouldn't happen, but also, just in case, showed interest.

After that we went to the lumber yard where he also knows everyone. Out front was a pretty nice Chevy 2500. The guy who owned it and his other buddy that worked there came out and saw the titan... staring for a few minutes then saying "Wow, that's quite a piece of machinery..." Then asked all the normal questions including "ya, but will it squack the tires?" I started to explain yes, but with the EBS it was difficult, but stopped and just said "yes, pretty nicely...." He kept staring at it, then at his 2500, parked next to it.. back and forth.. back and forth... it was pretty cool.

So we headed back to the bank to eat dinner and meet my wife and mom-in-law. On the way we passed the Chevy dealer where the salesman was crossing the street.. he saw us coming, stopped to let us pass, and when we did he got this look like "what the heck is that!" Then as we passed my father in law waved at him, then took his hand down and said "he probably wouldn't like to see me in this! LOL!" The salesman looking at the truck like he'd seen a ghost, then saw my father in law and realized who's truck it was.. the look on his face was priceless! Mainly because before he was bragging that he had just bought a new Colorado... LOL!

That night leaving the bank after eating, people all over, as I drove out I got a lot of stares... it was neat.

Stopped by to pick up groceries on the way home. Got out of the truck and this guy on a harley in the lot I swear was buring a hole in me staring at me and the truck... I almost felt like I didn't want to leave it there alone, afraid I might come back to see it on fire... LOL!

Then, Sunday we go to church in their small town (pop around 200). Afterwards again got a few weird looks. Stopped at the local gas station to fill up before heading home that day. Inside a guy in his 50s, and an older guy said "is that your truck? What is it?" I explained it was a nissan Titan. They asked the normal questions again... myself happy to brag.

The younger man asked "isn't that made by the (insert derragatory asian term here)"... I then explained that it was assembled in Mississippi. I then explained his Silverado was most likely assembled in Mexico. He said "you're right, it was.. hmmm..." then the older guy who had an S10 said "I think mine was assembled in Cananda..." The looks the gave each other were priceless... It was nice to make old farmers think.

So, all in all it was a good trip... My Tundra never got 2nd looks in those areas, but man, the Titan really opened up some eyes. and I got to edumacate a few old farmers. Still wish my father in law would have let me buy him a new truck.. LOL! His old scottsdale is either ready for restoration or retirement. But he does only use it for hauling stuff around the farm.

Brad

[natit]

Interesting stories! I had a 2002 V6 Tundra Access Cab with automatic transmission that had a range of 500+ miles (averaged about 21mpg on highway). Gas tank capacity on Tundras is 26.3 gallons. Your V6 Tundra only averaged 13 mpg?

[bvstone1]

My tundra had a 20 gallon tank. IT was a 2001. I could get maybe 300 miles on a tank. After 300 on the Titan, I still had at least a quarter tank or more.

[GemInI]

Great Stories!! I haven't had my Titan long enough to get responses like that. I live in FL and there are alot of Ford loyalists down here. I have a feeling arguments are going to arise in the local watering hole soon.

BTW. Where in MN were you? I grew up in Duluth, MN and went to college at Bemidji State.

[bvstone1]

I'm in Mankato... We went up north near Theif River Falls (Brooks, actually).

[natit]

Originally Posted by bvstone1

My tundra had a 20 gallon tank. IT was a 2001. I could get maybe 300 miles on a tank. After 300 on the Titan, I still had at least a quarter tank or more.

Not to be argumentative, but look it up. All 2001 Tundra's(regular or access cab, base, SR5 and Limited models) have a fuel tank capacity of 26.4 gallons. Maybe you never let it get below 1/4 tank before you filled up. If you weren't getting at least 18 mpg gallon on the highway or 475 per fill up from a Tundra V6 you should have gotten rid of long before the Titan came along.

[nikmac]

we just got back from our 3000 mile trip to the grand canyon, bryce canyon and Zion nat. parks from oregon. the titan was so awesome for this type of road trip. avg 17 mpg (@ 75 mph). The temperatures (on my rear view guage) ranged from 90 to a whopping 123 (in vegas) and the titan never acted even slightly hot even with the a/c on full blast all day!

[Fontana Titan]

Originally Posted by bvstone1

I'm in Mankato... We went up north near Theif River Falls (Brooks, actually).

OMG. I grew up in Thief River Falls. DIdn't think anyone else outside of that town even knew it existed (even though it's home to Arctic Cat). I've been to Brooks too. Didn't mean to stop there but had to so I could sign a speeding ticket. Got the same treatment in Plummer also which is just north of there on 59. Used to travel back up there after we moved down to the Twin Cities to visit relatives in TRF and Red Lake Falls. I have relatives that own Solheim Furniture in TRF and Wilcox Furnture in Red Lake Falls.

[bvstone1]

LOL! Red Lake Falls was where the KofC cookout and Chevy dealership was. Thiessen or something like that.. The Ford Dealership was right across the street. Quite a few nice new F150s on the lot. Ever eat at Third Base in Brooks? The ribs are to die for.

My grandparents lived just outside of TRF (That Great Big Busy Town) for a long time. My grandpa started Stone's Mobile Radio. If you're from TRF, you've probably heard of that.

I spent many a day out on the Grand Parents farm riding an Arctic Cat mini bike through the shelterbelts. I belive it was a prowler... not sure. 3 speed auto pull start minibike.. that thing was a hoot!

[PHOEBISIS]

bvstone1,great story!Say what is a shelterbelt?Doesn't sound like anything we have in New Orleans,but maybe we call it something else?Thanks,Charlie

[bvstone1]

Originally Posted by PHOEBISIS

bvstone1,great story!Say what is a shelterbelt?Doesn't sound like anything we have in New Orleans,but maybe we call it something else?Thanks,Charlie

A shelterbelt is commonly a row of trees surrounding a field to help prevent erosion. My grandparent's farm had 3-4 rows of trees with enough room between the rows for some serious mini-bikin..

[FLfinfan]

Cool stories. Looking forward to our long summer trip from FL to DC and RI.