Titan XD Diesel vs F250 2017

[bhbdvm]

I know the F250 is a better towing vehicle but I’m trying to determine what makes the most sense for me. I’m picking up a new to me Flying Cloud 27FB this weekend. I have two young boys and my wife and out gear. We will be mostly hanging around the southeast and the Smoky mountains for long weekends and the occasional weeklong trips. My first impression is the F250 is too much truck for to also serve as a daily driver. However, the Titan XD is supposed is to fill this midway in between niche but the payload is not impressive. Just throwing these thoughts out there.
Thanks
Brian

[70CT]

I seriously considered the titan xd, but lost me on payload. I didn’t want my TV to limit what I could bring on a trip. Ended up with the 3/4 ton with the camper rating and heavier springs. Ride isn’t terrible, but it’s not great either.

[slowmover]

Get Air Miles or one of the other Titan owners to post a TARE weight scale ticket (driver, max fuel, and only permanent gear aboard). That, compared to door sticker axle limits shows what can be worked with.

And TT TW isn't payload, per se.

And take your own junk to the scale after a TARE weight of that vehicle to get a handle on what you can leave behind.

You'll need some food and clothing. But none of the rest is necessary.

A spreadsheet never got anyone a good TV.

[joshjack]

The Titan XD is a pretty large truck, I’m not sure you’re really gaining much “drivability” by going with that if that’s your main concern.

There’s a lot of us on here that DD 3/4 trucks. We hang out in the same areas you’re talking about, I’ll be in Townsend for much of November with our 30’. I DD a Ram 2500 MegaCab and don’t look back. I’ve driven it in downtown Nashville and Chattanooga. If you can parallel park a smaller vehicle you can parallel park one of these especially with the backup camera to help :-)

[RandyNH]

If you haven't actually driven one of the new 250s, then be sure to do so, they don't drive like they used to. Short of having to city park a crew cab long bed, they are actually quite nice as a daily driver.

[bhbdvm]

I am a little scared to test drive the F250 because I am sure I'll like it. Having said that, I am going to test drive one today. I'll drive it home during lunch to make sure it fits in my garage. I currently drive a Ram 1500 Ecodiesel so I am not concerned about parking etc. but sometimes when I drive my wife's car I am thinking wow this is fun being to park wherever I want to ). Including my camper top my payload limit is 900 pounds. Wasn't sure how my Equalizer hitch will increase the payload? If at all. Tongue weight on the 27FB with out being loaded is ~840 pounds. Thanks for everyones input.

[Andrew T]

The Titan's rear axle capacity is 4000 pounds and looking at the size of it I am sure that is a very conservative number. The rear axle empty weight with full fuel is 2380. This was a crew cab diesel 4x4.

That leaves 1600 pounds of rear axle capacity. The Airstream has 1100 pounds of hitch weight loaded for travel. Connected properly approx 600 will go on the back wheels of the truck leaving 1000 pounds for cargo. Few 1/2 tons that are connected properly are overloaded.

The advantage in the Nissan is that it has independent front suspension and a lower center of gravity than a 250. Handling is quite a bit more stable and steering feel is much better. Also, the 5.0 Litre cummings or the 5.6 gas have plenty of power along with an extra gear. Nice working truck.

For a family and a daily driver though you might want to consider a 2018 Expedition with the 3.5 Echoboost, 10-speed transmission. The full length aluminum body eliminates the chassis flex that is in all pickups, 4 wheel independent suspension gives it a much better combination of ride and handling plus all the interior space for people in a more compact package.

Just a thought.

Andy

[Drennanb]

I tow with a 2017 Titan XD. I have the 27FB Tommy Bahama. The truck is a towing monster. The RPMs run the same with the trailer and without. I get 20MPH HWY and 13 towing with the 5.0 Cummins.

Truck is very comfortable to drive unloaded. I daily drive it. And often do 12 hour drives between FL and AR without trailer for work and the truck is easy on me for those distances.

I have never gone over payload when fully loaded for camping. This is with the bed loaded with various gear.

I can't speak to the F250. But I LOVE the Titan XD with the diesel. Feels a lot like the Ram 1500 I had before as far as everyday driveability.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by bhbdvm

I know the F250 is a better towing vehicle but I’m trying to determine what makes the most sense for me. I’m picking up a new to me Flying Cloud 27FB this weekend. I have two young boys and my wife and out gear. We will be mostly hanging around the southeast and the Smoky mountains for long weekends and the occasional weeklong trips. My first impression is the F250 is too much truck for to also serve as a daily driver. However, the Titan XD is supposed is to fill this midway in between niche but the payload is not impressive. Just throwing these thoughts out there.
Thanks
Brian

The only reason this truck is touted to be a "tweener" is because it's GVWR is higher than a 150/1500, and lower than a 250/2500......but, as is noted throughout these threads is the fact that payload is anemic. What does this mean? IT IS A HEAVY CURB WEIGHT truck, not a more capable truck. Now, I am not saying that it isn't a fine truck, just that this hype of filling a niche, or being a 5/8s ton truck is pure nonsense.

So why did Nissan choose to make a heavy truck? Some would say, "heavier means tougher". Not so...look closely at the specs. It just means that Nissan used heavier, less expensive components and materials. Bad or good???? You decide.

[sb55]

You might also consider a GM or Chevy with the Maximum Trailering package. It gives a heavier rear axle, springs and cooling.
I just got one and it is quite different than the “regular” 1500.
My payload is 2075 lbs. with the 6.2 motor.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by sb55

You might also consider a GM or Chevy with the Maximum Trailering package. It gives a heavier rear axle, springs and cooling.
I just got one and it is quite different than the “regular” 1500.
My payload is 2075 lbs. with the 6.2 motor.

And mine is 2034#s.

[n2916s]

You might consider that the Titan XD has a 5 year/100000 mile nose to tail warranty.

I am almost home (Miami) from my summer job (Yellowstone). My average mileage from the YNP east gate to Palm Beach is, as I type, 13.1 mpg.

The truck tows my ancient 31' beautifully. No fuss up the hill or down, carries everything I need. Extremely quiet and comfortable ride.

Do hate diesel pumps, though... Always a puddle of spilled fuel and I have to carry gloves or I get to enjoy the aroma of diesel on my hands all day. DEF is also a pain in the behind...

[m.hony]

Any gas 1/2 ton can do what the Titan XD can do.
The choice should not be between a Titan XD and a Ford 250, but between 1/2 ton in general and 3/4 ton in general, all makes, or gas vs. diesel, all makes.
Titan might be my last choice...

[loft47]

Resisted buying F250 for 10 years, didn’t want a truck. Towing a 28’ CCD. Bought a new F250 diesel last month and love it. Also use it daily.

[Bill M.]

"I currently drive a Ram 1500 Ecodiesel "

What limits the 1500 Ecodiesel that won't be the same for the Nissan diesel?

Sounds to me like you are really ready for a 3/4 ton if the current 1500 Dodge is not enough truck.

[dmslawson]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

. . . The advantage in the Nissan is that it has independent front suspension and a lower center of gravity than a 250. Handling is quite a bit more stable and steering feel is much better. Also, the 5.0 Litre cummings or the 5.6 gas have plenty of power along with an extra gear . . .

Andy

F-250’s come in a lower stance size: two-wheel drive.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by loft47

Resisted buying F250 for 10 years, didn’t want a truck. Towing a 28’ CCD. Bought a new F250 diesel last month and love it. Also use it daily.

I resisted it for 3 years and at 100 K miles I gave up the F-150.
I not only did I go with the F-250 diesel I also went with the 6.5 bed. Now I throw everything in the truck and all my camping hookup and breakdown items are at my fingertips at the rear gate rather than scattered in storage.
No problem with parking once I got used to its geometry.
One huge plus for me is maneuvering in heavy traffic with the get up and go of that 925 fp of torque and the big honking diesel.
Every year I have to negotiate the insane congestion of Miami, Atlanta, Chicago and some other lesser ones.

[bhbdvm]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

"I currently drive a Ram 1500 Ecodiesel "

What limits the 1500 Ecodiesel that won't be the same for the Nissan diesel?

Sounds to me like you are really ready for a 3/4 ton if the current 1500 Dodge is not enough truck.

I'm not saying the Ecodiesel couldn't pull it but probably not as safely as a different truck. Reason being in my case with my configuration of the crew cab, 6.5 foot bed, 4x4 outdoorsman with 20inch OEM wheels, the payload is 1,072 pounds. Add a 180 pound camper top and we are down to 900. Add 1000 pounds of tongue weight and we have exceeded. Add a weight distribution hitch and maybe we have taken 500 to 600 pounds off the rear axle. So now we are back in the positive by a couple of hundred pounds. Now add 4 passengers and gear and I have easily exceeded what my truck is listed to legally hold as cargo. Also, now take my tow limit on THIS truck at 8,800 pounds. Ideally, I should not tow more than 75% of the max which is 6,600 pounds. My 27FB will weigh most likely over 7,000 pounds with water, gear, etc. So now I feel that I am really pushing the limits of THIS truck. Can I pull it, sure. Can I stop it safely in an emergency situation? I'm not sure. Will the truck work too hard over time because it is at its limit? I don't know? That's why I'm looking at the other options. I'd love to keep my Ecodiesel but just not sure it makes sense safety wise. I also drive a truck everyday hence my apprehension about getting a heavy duty vehicle because of their size and overkill for my application although I would feel very confident when towing. The other part of all this is, I don't plan on taking cross country trips for weeks at a time so I wonder if my concerns are even warranted.
The Nissan XD has a ~11,900 pound tow rating and the payload while not great for a truck with its engine (because it weighs so much) is greater than my Ecodiesel. Heavier duty breaks, etc. Theoretically, it does hit a sweet spot in this case. Hopefully, this explains my question
I am thinking about one suggestion of the GMC Sierra 1500 with Max trailering package. Using the 6.2 liter gas engine in the configuration I would want has a tow rating of ~11,800 pounds (I have seen a listing of payload for this truck). This may also be a good option but MPH may suffer since it is a big gas engine.

[dznf0g]

I assume you meant MPG and not MPH? I get 12.4 mpg consistently, towing a 30 classic. Outliers of 10.5 and 14 with headwind and tailwind respectively.

[bhbdvm]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I assume you meant MPG and not MPH? I get 12.4 mpg consistently, towing a 30 classic. Outliers of 10.5 and 14 with headwind and tailwind respectively.

Yes, MPG. Thanks.