Titan Build Options

[kmroxo]

I originally bought my Titan for increased towing capacity over my previous Xterra. And I am currently using it by traveling around for 15 months in a travel trailer with my wife and two yellow labs. At the end of the trip I was considering selling the truck and going back to an Xterra, 4Runner or even a GX470, but I think I am just going to keep my Titan and slowly build it up as needed.

It is a 2012 Crew Cab SL and I have added Firestone RideRite air bags and a Leer 100XR topper with roof rack. Inside I have Weather Tech floor mats front and back. Currently in the rear seat area I have the seats folded up and the dogs have the entire floor area. I am considering putting the seats back down and getting a bench seat cover the Ruff Wear Dirtbag or some other dedicated seat cover. This will open up the ability to use underseat storage or even place things on the floor in front of the seats for easy access.

Nissan has a factory underseat storage option that I can get from Amazon

I also found this set up from Du-Ha. I think I like the Du-Ha better, but wanted to see if anyone had any experience with either of them.

For the cargo area I was considering getting a bedslide or cargoslid, but then I found Decked. I have seen some guys make sweet custom drawer and slide systems, but being on the road and then going back to an apartment when I am done combined with having some long working hours I think the Decked system would be better for me than trying to build custom. I also know that Decked is currently trying to work out a solution to add a bedslide on top of their system. That would be really sweet.

Once I put the seats back down I need to measure if an ARB or National Luna fridge will fit between the front and rear seats. It would be nice to keep the fridge inside while traveling, but it could easily live in the bed also.

Since I got the SL and not the Pro4X I have the 20" wheels. I know that the 18" would be better for having more sidewall, but I think my money might be better spent on other things first. I know the Project Nissan was able to fit 35" tires with a PRG 4" lift, but I wonder if they had to get new wheels to make that happen. Suspension and wheels are definitley a way off since I am still towing a lot right now and not doing much off road.

Eventually I will want a winch bumper and I kind of like the ARB. I do need to research skids as well, but I plan on leaving the stock side steps as long as I can. My wife and my dogs use them - my dogs are getting old.

What do you guys think about the rear underseat storage options and the Decked vs bedslide options? And why are my paragraphs not separated!??!?! Disregard paragraphs seem fine on home computer and per goFWD.

 

[goFWD]

(Your paragraphs appear to be separated when I'm reading, so I think it is ok.)

Since you have a top, I think either the bedslide or the Decked system would work. My only concern would be securing items with the bedslide system so that they don't bounce around everywhere (using totes, netting, etc).

I don't have a Titan, I instead have a 2012 Frontier crew cab, but I too have been thinking of how I might put a fridge inside the cab rather than in the bed. Lately, I've been keeping my rear seats folded up and started wondering if a fridge might fit behind the driver's seat, although it might require building out some kind of platform to secure it to (the area isn't flat enough, and in the event of an accident, I'd rather not have it land in my lap). I have a Pro-4X with some upgrades, so it already comes with underseat storage on the passenger side and then a plastic box that houses the Rockford Fosgate subwoofer on the driver's side. A fridge definitely wouldn't fit between the front and rear if the rear seats were folded down in a Frontier, but they might in the Titan.

The Du-Ha underseat storage appears to be deeper than the stock Nissan storage; however, I can say the netting that comes with the stock system is nice to have for securing smaller, loose items (while the seats sit on top of the bins, I don't recall them being a tight fit). Either way, the underseat storage is a great option to have; I keep my Utili-trac cleats, jumper cables and similar items under the rear passenger seat.

 

[kmroxo]

Ha ha, paragraphs seem fine on my home computer, but looked off on my work computer.

If I can fit a fridge between the rear and front seat sideways then I can do a full under seat storage and the dogs will have the full seating area to lay on. Two 85lb yellow labs tend to take up some space! Another option is to split the 40 part up and have the fridge there - you might be able to do that in the Frontier.

If I did the bedslide I would mount some tie down points to secure stuff like you are mentioning. The Decked system has the ability to add two tie down rails and between those and the Utilitrack I think I could secure things pretty well. I just got home so I'm going to go measure between front and rear seats to see if I can get 11.2 inches that ARB says is the width of a 37 or 50 quart fridge.

Edit: looks like I have at least 12" between the front seat and rear seat with the front at near full back position.

 

[justbecause]

i think the OEM seat storage in my frontier is junk.
the Decked looks pretty cool.

your titan is going to offer a lot more room, and versatility than the 4runner/X/GX.

Titan runs 6x5.5 right? wheels should be easy to find for you, unlike those of us who are running 6 on 4.****** was nissan thinking.

 

[kmroxo]

I have 6 lugs on each wheel. What does 6x5.5 mean?

 

[justbecause]

I have 6 lugs on each wheel. What does 6x5.5 mean?

its the bolt pattern.
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=92

 

[kmroxo]

Oh, thanks. I didn't realize there was a difference in diameter. I guess I figured all wheels with the same number of lugs would fit.

I saw on another forum where a guy said that he typically sticks with stock wheels for no other reason than it is easy to get cheap replacements since so many people do change their wheels out. The used market is full of stock wheels. But my suspension and wheel upgrades probably won't happen for at least a year.

 

[Camelfilter]

I run Nitto Terra Grapplers in 295/70/r18 on my Titan, which nominally turns out to 34.25". I think in actuality when new they are little taller. I personally wouldn't go any bigger, unless youd like to do it for form rather than function.

They fit my stock suspension with a bit of front rubbing, especially wheel lock to lock & backing up - as in parallel parking or turning while going over speed humps/drive entrance bumps. I have a Pro-4X though, so I ?think? the stock front end is a touch higher than other models due to the springs.

I have since done some slight suspension modifications: Bilstein struts set at the mid perch (mostly eliminated tire rub), then added a 1.5" leveling disk on top of the struts- the disk is actually only ?.8" thick if I recall correctly. It's now extremely rare if I have tire rub. I have not cut the pinch weld, a seemingly simple modification which I could have done when I was stock to eliminate rub. Just never did.

On the OEM under seat storage, skip it unless you come acrossed one for $40. I have one & used it a bit. Then I took it out for my cross country move. Haven't put it back in yet, frankly I like the full flat storage space on the floor a bit better when the seats are up. I might put it back in, but really haven't had a need to. My plastic storage bins fit better back there without it in.

For your situation you might be better served completely removing the rear seats & building a flat bench back there for the dogs, provided they can get in, or use a ramp/steps type system for them. Could have decent storage under the bench, plus more room for them.

As for bed storage, those commercial ones you mention are pretty nice. You could also fashion up all kinds of stuff using the utilitrac rails-you can add them in (I think) if your T didn't come with them.

In my bed I bolted some 1/2" ply to the floor rails. To that I installed 2 homemade slide-outs, one for my chuck box (Google army medical chest with tables), the other slide out for my fridge. I also have a table / storage shelf on top of the fridge, hinged to the utilitrac. Near the truck cab I have a bench which I slid into the trac, made from 3/4" press board & reinforced with a 2x4 and a couple 2x4 legs. I stand on the bench to get into my flip sleep area so it's pretty sturdy.

Point is with the floor rails & bolting some ply to it you now have a base to build up all kinds of stuff. I'm thinking I might better use some side space behind my chuck box slide out for another smaller bench/storage box or the porta-potti. Might make for a decent winter project for me...

 

[kmroxo]

Thanks for the ideas. I want to keep the rear seats because it will make it easier to also carry extra people when the need arises. Otherwise, your platform idea would probably be the best way to go. The Decked system can also have tie down tracks mounted to it so one could still make slides like you mentioned for the top of it. I like that idea as well.

 

[Camelfilter]

Just checked Amazon, that decked system does seem nice! Claimed weight is about 200lbs, so keep that in mind.

That's one of those situations where what will your time be worth to build your own (from an apartment no workshop) vs just buying there setup outright.

I've built up all of my stuff from a duplex, no garage. I was lucky enough to be first floor plus had basement storage at the time. For a while the dining room was a workshop, so that usually doesn't go over so well if your a couple.

The larger pieces I've needed I've had Home Depot cut to size. At one time I made my own 3 piece hard tonneu, the hardest part would have been cutting the pieces to length, but Home Depot did that perfect. I only needed to reinforce each piece & paint them. I rattle canned them with bedliner. When I traded that Titan towards my current one, the dealer owner liked my homemade tonneu so much he wouldn't let me take it off for the trade in!

...however, I saved a whole bunch & got it setup mostly the way I like it, and learned a bit while doing so.

 

[kmroxo]

Yup, the time/cost balance along with current lack of tools is what makes me lean toward the Decked system.

How do you like the performance of your level kit with the Bilsteins? That seems like a relatively inexpensive way to go vs a mid-trave kit from PRG or Dirt King. However I hear those mid-travel kits are the best for maximing Titan off road capabilities. Also, from my research there is no difference in the springs on the 08+ Titans, just that you had the Rancho shocks, beefier skids, and 18" wheels and I have the regular shocks, small skids and 20" wheels.

 

[Camelfilter]

I really like the Bilsteins. Tough to describe well, but the ride is firmer/more responsive. No change with adding in the level disks, just as nice. However loaded I'm a bit lower in the rear, a ride I don't like. I'm shortly going to put my ride-rite bags back on & that will fix that.

I currently have roadmaster active suspension springs back there, & I couldn't fit the ride rites on with them. I'm hoping some weekend I might be able to modify the Firestone perch to fit with the RAS system. Worst case I pull the RAS, but I like that system so hoping to get the best out of the 2 systems.

...on the "no tools" issue, I hear ya! Think about it from another angle though, if you build up your own storage system you'll get 3 things: savings to buy your own tools (easily!), skills developed & built the way you want. It'll take time though.

My power tools are all Ryobi (Home Depot). They are mostly portable battery pack - 18V, and I've picked up most of them used off craigslist for 1/2-1/3 the price new. I started by buying a new combo pack a while ago, then just added to it when used stuff comes up. A few of them I have are wall socket plug ins, again used. I only mention Ryobi as that is what I have & am familiar with. There are several brands worth buying, but the batteries aren't interchangeable between brands.

The really nice thing about building up your own tools is the ability to tackle more repair & maintenance jobs on your own - HUGE savings. And further developing skills.

I've installed the Bilsteins & level disk myself (I did have to have a shop compress the springs & swap out the old struts & put the Bilsteins into them-then took them home to complete the install) - that portion of the job cost me $50, but I saved $250-300. The RAS I installed myself, couldn't find a shop that would give a factual price for that, so saved at least $150. Ive also installed my CAT back exhaust-bolt on super easy, but to have a shop do it I would have had to buy a new exhaust from them, I bought used for $300, so easily saved $600 perhaps more (it's a NISMO cat back).

Some weekend soon I'll be replacing my emergency brake pads as preemptive maintenance before they grenade. The dealer quoted me $350 for the job. Rock auto has pad sets & spring hardware kits for $50, so I'll easily save $300 doing that myself.

I installed a Fumoto oil drain valve & can cleanly change my oil in 10 minutes (the drain valve connects to a hose, so the used oil drains directly into empty gallon windshield washer jugs - no mess!). I use 10000 mile filters, so change the filter every other change. Doing this costs a 3rd the price compared to taking it to the dealer & is literally 15 minutes (for filter change too). The last time I had the oil changed at the dealer it was well over 2 hours of my time (driving there, waiting & back). The really big thing is that I know it's running synthetic & it's done correctly!

I've also installed my sliders & rear shock guards myself.

Plus setting up my rear storage area, at the time there weren't any commercially available options for Flippac (camper type) organizer/storage systems. Now there is, and they likely cost thousands...they are super nice though. I might just paint mine when I do the add in bench over the winter.

As I've tackled jobs, I may have had to buy tools & / or hardware, but doing the jobs myself I've also developed my skills & doing the job myself has paid for any new/used tools I've needed (which I use again for other jobs...).

For example I needed a torque wrench, so bought a new one from harbor freight. That I use every time I take a wheel off, so it lives in my tire changing box. I needed an odd sized drill bit, so bought a decent set (also harbor freight), but have used that set hundreds of times...& so on.

...all without a garage.

 

[kmroxo]

Been a while since I posted on here. My wife and I have been on the road for 12 months now with our 28' toy hauler. The Titan has been very good overall. I did have to replace the brakes and rotors a few months ago (around 35,000 miles with probably 10,000+ of towing). Over New Year's we were in Death Valley and did some pretty hard core 4x4 roads - at least for me. We had some minor scraping on the bottom of the side steps, but otherwise it handled it very well. In fact a few Jeeps didn't think I was going to make it, but by that point I couldn't really turn around either.

Considering that those were about as hard core of roads I would want to do anyway I have decided against any major suspension changes and have opted to just change out the shocks/struts and keep the stock tire size (about 33" anyway). I got a full set of Bilstein 5100s for all four corners and will be installing them tomorrow or next weekend.

As for the under seat storage and having the dogs on the rear bench seat - they didn't like the bench seat much so I decided against the under seat storage for now. One of my dogs passed away a few months ago, but his sister is still going strong and she really prefers to be on the floor.

As of right now I'm tempted to continue to keep the bed area stock without any platforms or anything. I figure between totes, the utili-track and tie down straps I can have things pretty secure and organized without a big investment.

I did pick up a recovery strap, some soft shackles and an ARB X-jack. Next on my list is going to be some Maxtrax.