King Cab models come with 6 1/2-foot beds. Crew Cab models feature 5 1/2-foot beds, trading a foot of bed space for roomy back seats and more interior cargo room. With the tailgate lowered, the beds can accommodate 4x8-foot sheets of building material between the wheel housings. Four big eyelets are bolted to the insides of the bed for tying things down. Like the Ford and Dodge trucks, the load height (the distance from the bed to the ground) is high on 4WD Titans, measuring approximately 37 inches to the open tailgate by our tape measure. On 2WD Titans it's about 34 inches, a big difference. Higher may be better in terms of machoism, but lower is better when loading heavy cargo. A 2WD Chevy Silverado appears to be the lowest in this regard.
The optional sprayed-in bedliner looks terrific. The anti-skid surface keeps cargo from sliding around, prevents scratches and rust, and reduces noise. Unlike plastic drop-in liners, it doesn't trap moisture. Covered by the truck's warranty, the coating is applied at a $2 million facility specifically built for this purpose at Nissan's spanking-new truck factory in Mississippi. The anti-skid surface can make it harder to slide a box out, but this seems to be greatly outweighed by the upsides.
The available C-channel tie-down system is designed to accommodate a variety of scenarios. It features C-section rails mounted in the bed, two on the floor, and one each on the side and forward walls of the bed. Removable cleats slide into the channels and can be positioned anywhere along its length thus permitting customized securing of cargo. Sliding cargo trays, a sliding tool box and other modular storage units are being designed by Nissan for kayaks, bikes, and other needs. The bed channels feature protective caps that slide on to keep out debris when they're not being used. It appears to be a great system.
An innovative storage compartment integrated into left rear fender is convenient for storing at tow-hitch ball, work gloves, road flares, or a first aid kit. Measuring 11x15 inches, this small bedside compartment is double sealed to be weather and dust proof. Opening it is a little awkward because you must pry open a little springloaded cover with one hand then unlock the lid with the ignition key in the other hand; however, the key can then be removed because the lid automatically locks when it's closed.
Cargo lamps on the back of the cab light up the bed; perimiter lamps on the big outside mirrors illuminate the ground along the sides of the truck. The tailgate can be locked with the ignition key, making it harder to steal, a common occurrence these days. A power outlet inside the rear of the bed is provided for powering air compressors and other accessories. Next Page