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Desert Dawg Build for New Titan PRO-4X

26K views 89 replies 14 participants last post by  Desert Dawg  
#1 · (Edited)
Hello everyone from the high desert of New Mexico!

New Nissan Titan owner here. I am a recent transplant from the Tundra forums along with prior engagements on a number of 4Runner, Chevy, Ford, Dodge/Ram, Jeep, Land Rover, and other forums with my many past builds (you can google "Desert Dawg" to find some of them if so inclined). But this is my first Titan and wanted to to show what I have been able to do so far.

First, I purchased this 2018 Titan PRO 4X brand new primarily for my business. I wanted the PRO 4X package since I actually take my vehicles "off-roading" in the mountains and deserts of northern New Mexico as well as Colorado on a regular basis. I also wanted my build to be consistent with my past projects in which I strive to build a daily driver for business, family, and light hauling use but with enough chops for moderate off-road adventures.

I am really enjoying this vehicle. I went fully loaded including the leather heated/cooled seats, Fosgate audio, and all of the other goodies and so far really happy with it.

The problem I found after my purchase is that there are very limited aftermarket items available for the new gen non-XD Titans (although still limited, it is much better for the Titan XD models). One of the first things I did was to replace the Bilstein-based suspension that comes with the PRO 4X package with a more capable ICON system along with larger, more aggressive performing tires while pushing the wheels out towards the fenders more along with adding a great sounding exhaust system from Magnaflow. I also custom fabricated some light mounts since I couldn't find any light bars for these trucks yet.

As it currently sits:



My modifications to date include the following:

• Nissan-ICON 3-inch Suspension Lift System
- Adjustable ICON 2.5 Series coil-overs
- ICON 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks
- Custom ICON rod end bearings
- ICON Delta-joint upper control arms
- Rear lift blocks
• Nitto Ridge Grappler Tires
- LT285/70R18 (34 –inches tall)
• Borla Billet Aluminum 1.5-inch Bolted Wheel Spacers
• Bodywork Trimming
- Lower wheel well sheet metal, fender flare, and liner
• PIAA 6-inch Off-Road Lights
- 520 Series All-Terrain Pattern (ATP)
- Custom fabricated light brackets
• Air-on-Board LED Light Bar Switch
• MagnaFlow Stainless Steel Catback Exhaust System
- Polished Tip
• RetraxPRO XR Locking Aluminum Retractable Bed Cover
- Integrated Trax Rail System
• AMP Research Power Retractable Side Steps
• Maxout Chrome Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher
• Falcon Zero F170HD+ Dash Cam with GPS
• Escort Max 360 Radar Detector
• VIAIR 400P Portable Air Compressor






I will add more items and pics as I get them. In the meantime, happy to be here and hope to hear from folks!
 
#2 ·
Great looking ride Desert Dawg! Below is my build page (needs to be updated a bit) and current photo of where it stands at the moment. I’m always looking for and researching new ideas and upgrades. Will be following you for sure!

https://www.titantalk.com/#/topics/415601
 

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#3 ·
Thanks BIGSTUF; you have a good looking rig too! I tried following the link but it took me to the forum front page but saw your build in the signature. Love the way this 1/2-ton drives compared to my Tundra as the Titan is more responsive with great steering feel too.
 
#4 ·
oh boy this thread is gonna be litty!!! i've followed your builds for a while, can't wait to see how this one ends up. Solid start too.
 
#5 ·
i'm guessing you did significant trimming at the Pinch Weld (PWM)? "Lower wheel well sheet metal, fender flare, and liner"
those Boras set off those stock wheels perfectly.
 
#6 ·
oh boy this thread is gonna be litty!!! i've followed your builds for a while, can't wait to see how this one ends up. Solid start too.
Imagine seeing you here! :cheers:

Thanks man, always good to see a friendly face!

Yes, had to work the PWM; banged away on lower sheet metal lip to roll it back, trimmed the fender flares, and then the liner. I tucked the liner behind the rolled sheet metal lip so it is pulled back and secure without deforming the liner. Also, painted the lower lip to ensure no rust and to blend it all in. Looks good and no rubbing but definitely could not fit anything larger than the 34 inch tall tires. Since I wanted to keep the factory PRO 4X wheels but also wanted a better stance by pushing the wheels out to the fenders, I purposely kept the tire widths fairly narrow too.

But I think I got close to the overall look I wanted. Thanks!
 
#9 ·
I can’t even wrap my head around buying a 45,000 to 75,000 dollar truck then dropping another 5-30,000 on after market mods lol. I am not knocking anyone if you got the cash and your not starving your kids to do it more power to ya. I guess I am just Jealous lol. Awesome trucks you guys. I just want a 120-170 dollar noisy muffler and I’m trying to figure out how I’m gonna afford that.....okay actually how I can get it pass the Mrs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#11 · (Edited)
Yeah, I hear you on the spend side, for sure. While I can afford it, I still always budget for mods from proceeds arising out of sales of my former vehicles. I have owned over 70 vehicles and have built up a good portion of them (trucks and sports cars) and typically do very well on resale (I say typically but not always...lol); there is quite the market for well-done builds that are very functional, aesthetically pleasing, and retain daily drivability. Of course, that is very subjective and not everyone appreciates all of them. But I have had a professional hockey player, several doctors and law enforcement folks engineers, etc. fly out to purchase mine. I even had several vehicles featured on vendor and auto sites here in US and in Europe. I think I have still some featured with Nitto Tires, N-Fab, Gobi Racks, and so on and been sponsored by some. Search “Desert Dawg” on Pinterest as some of my more recent ones are shared there with some taken off vendor sites.

My last build on my Tundra was setup for more serious duty with a King suspension and lots of other goodies that I got to test out:



Anyway, I just enjoy getting outdoors with my 4x4s and like sharing in case I can give ideas. I usually post my off-road adventures on the forums so folks can see that I actually use them and not too much of a poser…lol. I used to have dedicated Jeeps and such but hated the fact that they mostly sat in the garage waiting to be used (my old Broncos where a testament to that). I rather have my sports cars sitting around waiting for weekend drives...lol. So if I am going to use my daily driver for my impromptu weekend adventures (I live very close to NM mountains and also to Colorado), it is very convenient to just load the family and go with a truck that is already well equipped. Unfortunately, the places I like to go are typically not too friendly with a stock factory truck (especially the newer ones with lower front ends and less clearances) without some enhancements. Even with that, my current setup will still need more tweaking if I want to go to my usual places.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Glad to see someone else from New Mexico. I’m about 5 hours south of you in Lea County.

I’ve got the same truck as you except for I went with the solid pearl white instead of two tone. I also didn’t opt for the heated/air conditioned seats. I’m not a fan of them and would have been wasted money for me but I got everything else in it.

I was thinking of doing a lot of the same upgrades to my pickup but have decided to leave it stock. It’s my daily driver and I rely on it a lot. I’m setting some money aside and I’m going to sell a couple bikes to buy a Can-Am Maverick X3 RS turbo-R for off-road fun. I can beat it up and just drag it home. If something happens to it, I still have a pickup.

It’s still a fairly good pickup for mild off-road play in its factory form. Ground clearance is fair, not great, and the factory tires are fair too. That’s the only thing I’m going to change. I’m thinking of trying some **** Cepek Fun country tires.
 
#17 ·
Hey there neighbor!

Yeah, those Can Ams are perfect for some desert running so we see a lot out at the Rio Puerco along with the dirt bikes.

I had run the Cepek Fun Country tires on my old full-sized Bronco setup years ago so it was a not the newer gen design. Ran the BFG KM2s and Nitto Trail Grapplers which are great but noisy and a little squirrely in wet conditions. Been a fan of the Cooper STT PRO and Nitto Ridge Grapplers (which are best IMO since the Ridge Grapplers are the quietest for an aggressive design with really good on-road performance and turnkey off-roading use in loose sand/mud/snow conditions).
 
#18 · (Edited)
I had an inquiry about installing the PIAA lights since there are no aftermarket light bars offered for the non-XD Titans yet. I simply fabricated the mounts myself with 10-inch long x 1/8-inch SS bars and 6-inch SS angled bars purchased from Home Depot; I drilled out the existing holes to fit larger 3/8-inch SS bolts and hardware. I painted the bars with hammer-steel gray paint and attached the bars to the existing frame bolts that are located behind the front sonar cover plates. The angled bars had to be drilled out more for the 1/2-inch PIAA mounting bolts. The bars extend through the slot between the top of the bumper and front grille; I also glued some rubber bump strips on the bars to keep the metal away from the paint. Eventually, I will remove the bolted mounts and have everything welded, filed, and powder coated for a more permanent fitment.

For wiring, I had to remove the front grille and snake the harness into the engine bay. I used wire loom until the wiring passes through the firewall so everything looks factory clean inside the engine bay. The light switch is an Air-on-Board LED switch that fits in a factory blank located in the dash next to the Cargo Lamp switch; again, everything looks like factory and works great!





 
#19 · (Edited)
For the lift, wheels, and tires, I was trying to keep more of a factory look but also wanted better performance with a slightly more aggressive stance. Also, since I really like the factory PRO 4X wheels, I was not going to go aftermarket like on many of my other past builds.

Since I do take my daily driver vehicles off-road, I prefer coil-over lift systems (which provide better on-road and off-road performance) so I try to refrain from going with true drop-bracket lift kits (which require cutting/welding, typically result in a higher center of gravity which reduces on-road performance, and provide limited enhanced off-roading performance although they do afford more room to run larger tires); I have certainly used them in the past (i.e., Rancho, FabTech, ProComp, BDS, etc.). At the time of my Titan purchase, the only suspension systems offered for the non-XD Titans were the Rough Country 3-inch system (that uses a front spacer system which restricts off-road performance) and a 6-inch lift which is fine for getting the lift and stance but is too high and designed mostly for street use and light trailing and not very suitable for moderate off-roading on harder mountain trails or desert running (not to mention that RC components and similar systems are not in the same league as Rancho or BDS, etc. so not confidence inspiring when you're traversing a mountain trail at +12,000 ft....lol).

However, I do find the newer drop-bracket hybrid systems intriguing that integrate quality drop-bracket components with higher performance coil-over suspensions like the BDS 4-inch coil-over systems that keep the center of gravity relatively lower but provides the performance of the Fox 2.5 Series remote coil-overs and allowing up to a true 35-inch tire; unfortunately, BDS (like most of the other higher quality suspension manufactures) do not yet offer anything for the newer non-XD Titans. So I opted for the Nissan-ICON package that utilizes the ICON 2.5 Series adjustable 3-inch coil-over system (with ICON UCAs) and rear ICON shocks. You cannot purchase this system directly from ICON as it is only offered through participating Nissan dealerships but the goods news is that the system is fully warrantied by Nissan. ICON is a well respected, quality, high performance product similar to Fox and King. The downside is that the package also includes the additional Nissan components such as the side steps and sport bar that is mounted in the bed (which limits bed covering options). So I ended up selling the unwanted components back to the dealership. Once installed, the vehicle was realigned very closely back to factory spec.




After installing the ICON system, I also needed a slightly larger, more aggressive tire that would serve me well both for daily driving and weekend-warrior duty. Over the years, I have run several brands and tire types including BFG (KO, KO2, KM2), Cooper (S/T Maxx, STT PRO), Nitto (Trail Grappler, Rigde Grappler), Goodyear (Duratrac), Cepeks (Fun Country), General (Grabber), Yokohoma (Geolander) among others. My all-time favorite tire to date is the newer hybrid (relatively speaking) Nitto Ridge Grappler as it is very quiet even at highway speeds with no intrusive humming, provides great dry handling performance and turn-in feel, and superior wet condition performance in rain, snow, and ice. On top of all of that, the Ridge Grapplers are excellent moderate off-roading tires for loose sand, slippery rock/hard pack mud, and boulder trails. The only condition I have not tested them on is in deep mud where they probably won't do quite as well as a true mud tire. But I am not setup for deep mud trailing anyway since I purposely maintain a lower center of gravity with under 35-inch tires specifically for trails in the Southwest and Rocky Mountains (and the fact that deep mud in the Southwest is a rare occurrence anyway...lol).

The Nitto Trail Grappler tire I selected is a LT285/70R18 size which is basically a 34-inch tall tire. However, to get the stance I wanted, I also installed 1.5-inch BORA bolted wheel spacers all around. This required removal of the front mud flaps, substantial trimming of the fender flares that extend in the wheel wheel, performing the Pinch Weld Mod, and cutting the wheel liner so it would tuck back in behind the folded sheet metal. I sprayed painted the mod so everything blended in for a clean look. Being able to tuck the liner further back behind the sheet metal lip created during the PWM meant I didn't have to heat up and warp the plastic liner; very clean result and no rubbing at all on any components or body parts. I do have very mild rub on the liner at hard lock turns when backing up but no rubbing at all during hard forward turning. For off-roading, the tires have plenty of clearance for full wheel articulation with the new suspension and allowing the treads to unpack.







Will be interesting to see how this setup performs once I get it out on the trails. My previous Tundra build utilized the King OE Performance system with adjustable King coil-overs and extended-length shocks with remote reservoirs all around married up with Total Chaos UCAs and other good stuff so I know my Titan setup is not quite as built-up. But my previous system was also slightly over-built as you really can't take a full-sized rig too fast on desert runs without a long-travel kit anyway; the new Titan ICON Stage 1 based system will still provide much better performance over the factory Bilstein-spec offerings.
 
#21 ·
Agree. Really like when the mods look factory direct. Clean !
 
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#22 ·
lights are clean! Not my style (obviously since i had 11 cubes on the front of mine lmao) but solid work DIY'ing it.

FYI 1st and 2nd gen suspensions are the same. all the stuff from say DirtKing, camburg, fox, king etc. will bolt right up to your truck. someone correct me if i'm wrong tho. mike at Offroad warehouse would know tho.
 
#31 ·
Cruise on over to phoenix, i got a buddy who has a machine shop who would build you one.:devil:
 
#32 · (Edited)
For those considering the power side-steps, I highly recommend them as I have installed them on at least five of my trucks with never an issue. The steps tuck nicely under the body which leaves more clearance for off-roading unlike most other side steps (especially factory ones). The steps have a great drop depth so very easy for smaller or older passengers to climb in. Also, you can keep the sidesteps extended by keeping your foot on them while closing the door which is great when you're cleaning the vehicle or needing access to the roof with the doors closed. The steps are relatively quiet and provide almost instantaneous response when opening and closing the front and/or rear doors.

Steps extended:




Steps retracted:




The cons; the steps are expensive and by no means serve as rock sliders (they will just crush) so you'll get raised eyebrows out on the trail...lol. Also, it has been reported that in colder climates the actuators can ice over but I have not seen that myself.

Installation is pretty straightforward for the average-joe mechanic. The only issue I had was drilling into the high-strength steel to insert the mounting rivets (only done for the first hole on each side as the rear uses the factory pre-drilled holes). I did not bother installing the LED step lights as I have puddle lights already and just didn't feel like having any more wiring under the truck than necessary.
 
#34 ·
Surprised the forum police didn't come in here and b1tch at you already lol

this thread is great, don't stop.
 
#35 ·
Yeah, I forgot the post I was reading but someone mentioned the OP was posting in the wrong Gen section so that confused me until I saw I was doing the same thing...lol. Been doing forums a really long time and you'd think I know better.

Thanks for the encouragement; I do have more to share and hopefully will have some off-road adventures as well.
 
#38 ·
For the exhaust, I went back to MagnaFlow as it has been my favorite to date on a number of my trucks; Flowmaster tends to drone too much, Gibson is almost too mellow, Full Race doesn't make one for the Titan, and Borla has not come out with anything for the new Gen yet either (I didn't look into Corsa). But the MagnaFlow cat-back system is aggressive sounding at initial start and WOT but mellows out during normal cruising RPMs so it doesn't drone. I love starting the Titan with the remote start while walking into the parking garage and hear it roar to life way on the other side of the garage...lol.

The system (part#19421) is made with 3-inch 409 SS piping so those in the rust belt may want to opt for a 304 SS system. But overall, it sounds great, comes with a polished exhaust tip, and very good quality.



 
#39 ·
Same EXACT system I went with. You are absolutely correct about the sound, aggressive rumble but not obnoxious. Highly recommend to anyone else
 
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#41 ·
I got it installed locally for approximately $180. I’ll try to get a video shortly and post it to YouTube. Check back for a link in here...
 
#43 · (Edited)
Even though I purchased the Nissan-ICON suspension package that came with the sport bar and side steps, I knew I was going to switch out for the AMP Research power retractable side steps and a hard tonneau cover for the bed. Keeping the sport bar would also interfere with any current hard bed covers that are available so I sold both components back to the dealer. For the tonneau cover, I prefer the retractable versions; typically, these covers are available in polycarbonate or aluminum. While the polycarbonate versions are cheaper, I really didn't like the fact that they are not near as durable or protective as the aluminum versions.

I have used Pace Edwards and Truck Covers USA aluminum covers before, but this time around I gave Retrax a try. I opted for the RetraxPRO XR which integrates their Trax Rail System with the tonneau cover and allows for the installation of Rhino Rack, Thule, or Yakima rack systems; this was important since I like carrying my skis and bikes on top of the bed for long travel trips (keeps the bed free for luggage and/or other gear while also preventing the bikes from getting beat up if in the bed). I will be installing a Yakima system since I already have the bike mounts from my previous Tundra setup:





Installation was fairly straightforward and supposedly requires (2) people but I was fine lifting it into place by myself. The cover allows you to keep the factory Utili-Track system without having to relocate it with drop brackets and is key lockable in any position. The system is very sturdy, quiet and looks great to boot with a nice clean, low profile design. The downside is you do lose about 12-inches of usable in-bed storage length due to the storage canister so not ideal if you actually haul a lot or need the space for dirt bikes, etc. But you do retain some load space for wood, gear, or luggage under the canister (the under-canister space works well for me since that is where I secure my utility case for extra gear when off-roading or traveling). All in all, very functional and will post pics once I get the Yakima system installed.



 
#46 · (Edited)
I was able to do a really quick video of the Magnaflow exhaust system on my PRO 4X; unfortunately, I didn't have time to setup a drive by at different speeds and so this quick video doesn't do the sound justice when under load and WOT. You have to take it for granted (for now) when I say it sounds great under load and not intrusive when cruising at speed.

 
#47 ·
Two-Tone paint looks badass on the Titan !
 
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#50 ·
We have got to get you on the BajaDesigns stuff man. LP6's would be baller on the front end. I'm running 4 of the peasant level squadron sports and love them.
 
#51 ·
Totally! I had the LP6s on my initial list of mods but didn't want to invest in them without a more beefy (and attractive looking) mounting system for the front end. I was hoping to find a custom "light duty" front bumper as I am not a fan of the massive Fab Four offering (too heavy looking on the new Gen 1/2-ton front ends) or maybe another N-Fab style light bar (I had initially contacted them since they are using one of my other builds on their website and thought they might be excited about trying one out for my new Gen Titan...but the answer was "no"!).

The way I custom fab my own is just fine for the lighter and thinner PIAAs but not for LP-series. Even then, my fab is not the long term solution either. If I can figure out a light bar solution, I would absolutely love having the LP6s (I think the LP9s are too big for my setup).



I haven't had the time yet, but I am thinking of fabricating my own 1.5-inch dia. light bar. The front end behind the grille is useless since there are no structural supports that are easily accessible and the whole space is taken up with the active shutter system (and so no room in front of the system even if you did have some structural components to tap into). So you have to tie into the front tow hook locations way down low (and possibly lose those) and design some creative bends to get the mounting bar in front the grille; need to fab some custom brackets to bolt to the side of the front frame extensions (using the existing tow hook bolts and pre-drilled mounting holes), bring some welded side arms out of the lower bumper area while allowing enough space to not interfere with the front sensors, extend the arms up to just over the bumper line, and extended out just far enough in front of the grille to clear the thickness of the LP6s while looking attractive at same time...lol. I think it's doable but will take some time to create a mock up first. No wonder no one has offered a quality looking light bar for the new Gens yet.
 
#52 · (Edited)
The "Defiant" brand light bar I ran went in through the lower grille opening and bolted to the side of the frame rails to the existing holes. it made it ridiculously solid.Like you said, they had some nice metal work/bends to make it work. I bought it used, and now a current member is still running it. so that's proof to how well it was built.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j393/honda250xtitan/IMG_5692_zpsgwre4w6f.jpg

https://photobucket.com/gallery/use...a250xtitan/media/cGF0aDpNb2JpbGUgVXBsb2Fkcy9pbWFnZV96cHNqaWx4cjB2NS5qcGVn/?ref=

I bet any decent shop could built it for you.

WOW i forgot how buggy photo bucket is...good luck on those links lol
 
#53 ·
#54 ·
Great, I don't think you'll be disappointed!


Yeah, I paid full price since I got it through the dealership, along with the new ICON suspension and tires, when I initially purchased the vehicle. The upside is everything is covered under warranty (parts and install). The downside is I paid more than I usually would. :serious: