'15 Nissan Titan pickup will get new Cummins diesel engine

[TDRadmin]

The scary thing is how many people will be 'overloading' and exceeding all legal regulations of weight carrying capacity and towing ability of a 1/2 ton pickup just because it has a 'diesel. ' Money is always the deciding factor, and since it will be considerably cheaper than a full-size 3/4 or 1 ton diesel equipped pickup, I can see many uninformed, 'ignorant of the facts' people opting for the 'cheaper' truck, putting us all at risk... ... fasten your seatbelts!!

Ouch, same can be said about our 2013 Ram with its maximum weight rating of 37,000 pounds. But, this is another subject for a different day and not a thread hijack.

We now return back to the topic at hand...

Robert Patton

 

[Wayne M.]

Does anyone know where this new V8 cummins engine is assembled?

Regarding brand loyalty, I was always a MOPAR OR NO CAR guy. Chrysler as far as I'm concerned is dead. I now know what a Packard, AMC or studebaker owner feels like. Next truck or vehicle coming, it's a clean sheet of paper for me. Can you imagine a Cummins powered Armada SUV?

 

[jjdiesel]

Ouch, same can be said about our 2013 Ram with its maximum weight rating of 37,000 pounds. But, this is another subject for a different day and not a thread hijack.

We now return back to the topic at hand...

Robert Patton

Didn't mean to hijack,... sorry. I thought Joe's thought provoking questions/comments early on sort of danced around, or hinted at this important aspect. Either way, it will be a factor as to who buys these trucks and who does not. Just a thought!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

With the advances to the Ram and to the 3500 in particular, that is the proper platform, imo, for towing any trailer bigger than one for yardwork. If I wanted a half ton, it would be for hauling a sack of seeds, and/or excellent mileage while saving the miles put on the Ram 3500. The little Italian diesel vs. the large Cummins, if they end up being apples to apples in comparison, suggests to me that the smaller engine would be a better choice to give high mpg, weigh less, and fit with the general purpose of a half ton "pretend" truck. I would not buy a half ton with either diesel and try to do what is much better and safer with the real Ram.

 

[EGroeneveld]

I question the logic in offering a diesel in a half ton pickup at this time. I get it - huge torque and good fuel economy compared to their spark ignited counterparts.

But the problem is that diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. Your average 1/2-ton consumer, who visits a fuel station weekly and can plainly see that diesel fuel is costlier, will be unlikely to choose a diesel option in his next 1/2-ton buy.

If you're someone who lusts after 3/4 and 1-ton diesel trucks, you're not going to settle for a half ton. Instead, you're going to save up for the bigger truck. "Go big or go home" mentality.

We've been talking for awhile on this site about how it's becoming very hard to justify buying a diesel pickup. Anecdotal evidence suggests that even fleets are buying more gas-powered trucks.

I just don't see this thing selling in any significant quantity.

-Ryan

Agree, a lot of it is very dependant on the cost for the diesel upgrade verse what kind of mileage improvement you would likely get. We all know lots of people with pickups that really use them as a wagon, they don't tow much if at all. The bed is still perfect. I know guys with F350 Diesels only for their little tiny boat that could be pulled by a Toyota Camry the two times a year they use it... . for fleets its all about the numbers. If you're not towing too often the new gas motors work just fine and the diesel option is not worth it for the mileage improvement. With today's motors the gas motors can last as long as the diesel motors for a fleet company.

For me I'd rule out the Nissan Cummins just because the Nissan dealership near me sucks.

 

[jjdiesel]

With the advances to the Ram and to the 3500 in particular, that is the proper platform, imo, for towing any trailer bigger than one for yardwork. If I wanted a half ton, it would be for hauling a sack of seeds, and/or excellent mileage while saving the miles put on the Ram 3500. The little Italian diesel vs. the large Cummins, if they end up being apples to apples in comparison, suggests to me that the smaller engine would be a better choice to give high mpg, weigh less, and fit with the general purpose of a half ton "pretend" truck. I would not buy a half ton with either diesel and try to do what is much better and safer with the real Ram.

Amen. Well stated.

 

[PDM]

With the advances to the Ram and to the 3500 in particular, that is the proper platform, imo, for towing any trailer bigger than one for yardwork. If I wanted a half ton, it would be for hauling a sack of seeds, and/or excellent mileage while saving the miles put on the Ram 3500. The little Italian diesel vs. the large Cummins, if they end up being apples to apples in comparison, suggests to me that the smaller engine would be a better choice to give high mpg, weigh less, and fit with the general purpose of a half ton "pretend" truck. I would not buy a half ton with either diesel and try to do what is much better and safer with the real Ram.

I'm not really disagreeing with you Joe, because I have a 97 3500 chassis with a flatbed and an '03 2500 extend cab. I have done lots of heavy towing with both, and I am very happy with their towing ability. That said, as fuel prices near $4/gal. an empty trip to town to pick up tractor parts in a 7000 lb truck is harder to justify. I also own a single-axle box trailer for 2 motorcycles, and a half-ton truck with some torque is all that is needed to tow and control such a trailer. I have towed this type of trailer with an old F150 straight six, and other than gas mileage it was very well matched to the task, and had the torque to start the load and avoid downshifting on a small grade.



What I'm trying to get at is a nice little diesel in a half-ton truck will satisfy a lot of peoples towing/hauling needs, and still make sense driving around on "empty" trips. Instead of a 7000 lb truck that is overkill for their 3000 lb towing, or 2 sheets of plywood from the big-box, or commuting to work, they can own one do-it-all truck that weighs 5000 lb. and returns better fuel economy. I think there is a market for such a truck, and honestly I'm surprised at how long it has taken to bring them to market.

 

[DonFitzwater]

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that even fleets are buying more gas-powered trucks. "

BP/Conoco Phillips on the North Slope of Alaska are getting away from the big F-350 diesel fleet trucks and opting for Ford F-150 crew cabs as they work better in the cold and the gas powered engines are holding up better for extended idling as well as better heat output in extreme temps. I don't see any fleet purchases of this VM powered Ram, hopefully it will be a hit with "regular Joe".

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I agree with your points, PDM. I just hope no one tries to pull their 8000 lb. box trailer, or 9000 lb. travel trailer because the little truck is what they have, and the salesman assured them it was plenty because after all it is a diesel.

 

[jgillott]

I agree with your points, PDM. I just hope no one tries to pull their 8000 lb. box trailer, or 9000 lb. travel trailer because the little truck is what they have, and the salesman assured them it was plenty because after all it is a diesel.

It unfortunately already happens all the time. The tow rating on my 1/2 ton gasser work truck is 7000#+ from the factory I believe with the 4. 7L V8 and 3. 92 gears. Some with the 5. 7L are factory rated darn close to 10K if I remember correctly. I have never had the need to tow anywear near that rating with mine. The couple of times that I have pulled in the 5000# range with it, it has been fine but definately feels like it would be uncomfortable with much more. By the way, the gas gauge moves faster than the tach when towing more than a small utility trailer, but that's a story for a different day.

 

[firefighter_2000]

I definitely didn't buy my newest truck (2013 2500 mega cab 4x4) for towing. I bought it for two reasons... 1. Cummins 2. Mega Cab.
I don't tow, nor do I haul much, but the option is there if I decide to. If I were to buy a similar size truck with a gas engine, the fuel economy would be much less. I think a reliable compact diesel in a half ton truck would fit a lot of people pretty well. Extra fuel economy, less maintenance, better tow ratings(than a gasser for the DIYer) and better longevity. People are keeping vehicles longer, so the diesel will be the ticket.
Craig

 

[ACerf]

My question is, Does TDR let Nissan with the Cummins into the Club?? I know that we are about Dodge/Ram Trucks, but we are also about the Cummins Engine as well!
I think it would be great to have them in TDR, it might also give as us other venues to have the TDR rallies. I think a new place would be a welcome change. We have not been for a couple of years, because my wife refuses to go to Pahrump!

 

[firefighter_2000]

My question is, Does TDR let Nissan with the Cummins into the Club?? I know that we are about Dodge/Ram Trucks, but we are also about the Cummins Engine as well!
I think it would be great to have them in TDR, it might also give as us other venues to have the TDR rallies. I think a new place would be a welcome change. We have not been for a couple of years, because my wife refuses to go to Pahrump!

I think it's a great idea. It's called the Turbo Diesel Register. I don't think we should leave them out. If its a pickup truck with the Cummins, we should welcome them. We already have a cummins conversion forum too.
I liked the idea of "Nissan Titan First Generation"
Craig

 

[wvdearbeck]

I agree that there will be a strong market for a half ton diesel and also think that the Ram 1500 3. 0 will be the leader in this segment. I have a Dodge 6. 7 and a VW touareg with the 3. 0 diesel that has about the same HP/Torque rating that the Ram diesel will have. Pulling a 6000 lb boat my Dodge 6. 7 MMPG drops to 11 MPG, while my Touareg tows the boat as well if not better than the Dodge and gets 20 mpg easily. If the RAm 1500 diesel performs as well as my Touareg, I will be buying one as I don't need the power and poor fuel economy of the larger diesel trucks. I will have exactly what meets my needs

 

[DZink24]

Great. now a whole other group of unknowledgeable truck owners who will be saying "CumminGs" and "CumminGs is owned by Ford". IMO, the motor is a bit large for the truck it is in. i would think that knocking off half the cylinders could double the MPG. but for the ones that know, Cummins is by far the leader in making a reliable diesel engine. a quarter century (in pickups) and untold hundreds of millions of miles, and even more smiles :-laf i may take a look. after i get tired of my 2004. maybe in 8 more years

 

[crispyboy]

Chrysler screwed up royally by not going with the Cummins engine. All the marketing for a good combination of truck/engine is already there, why ever would they want to start from scratch... ... ... The only way Chrysler can save their butt is if this 3. 0 VM engine turns out to be economical and reliable.

It would be a wise business decision for TDR to bring the Nissan/Cummins folks in to the fold. You could also start a separate TDR for the Italian diesels as they are probably going to be around for awhile.

 

[TJJEEPER]

The early Titan's puked rear ends left and right until the engineers fixed the problem. A friend was a parts guy at the local Nisan dealer, they had pallets of new rear ends waiting to replace the ones that went away. Notice the BIG finned diff covers on a Titan? Ever see that on any other 1/2 ton?

Lets hope engine engineers help with the entire drivetrain!

 

[Jim W]

Chrysler screwed up royally by not going with the Cummins engine. All the marketing for a good combination of truck/engine is already there, why ever would they want to start from scratch... ... ... The only way Chrysler can save their butt is if this 3. 0 VM engine turns out to be economical and reliable.

It would be a wise business decision for TDR to bring the Nissan/Cummins folks in to the fold. You could also start a separate TDR for the Italian diesels as they are probably going to be around for awhile.

I would think when Chrysler cancelled the contract for the 1/2 ton diesel from Cummins back when they were having finical trouble, Cummins started to shop around for another truck manufacture to use this engine. By the time Chrysler/Ram started to get back thinking about a ½ ton diesel engine option Cummins may have been under contract to Nissan already.

Just a theory of mine; but I do know how long it takes to develop products for production usually 6 to 7 years. And with the Nissan truck being introduced for the model year 2015 that would be about the time Chrysler cancelled the contract with Cummins.

Jim W.

 

[RustyJC]

Wonder why Nissan didn't go with the V6 Cummins instead of or in addition to the V8? With the CAFE pressure on the manufacturers, it looks like the V6 would be a good arrow to have in one's quiver.



Rusty

 

[PDM]

Wonder why Nissan didn't go with the V6 Cummins instead of or in addition to the V8? With the CAFE pressure on the manufacturers, it looks like the V6 would be a good arrow to have in one's quiver.



Rusty

RustyJC, that is a question I have as well. The torque of that V8 Cummins would seem to overwhelm the entire Nissan drivetrain. I wonder if the Cummins V6 was already under contract to another brand?