The Titan XD with the new 5.0L Cummins is Nissan’s answer to the 1/2 ton diesel truck market, and from initial impressions they seem to have created a great new combination with this truck. The Titan XD is basically a 1/2 ton truck with the engine of a 3/4 ton truck, which really makes it fall into a class of it’s own.

Considering it puts out an impressive 310HP and 555 ft. lb of torque in a less than 8,000 pound truck, the XD sure seems to be punching well above it’s weight class.

All New Powerplant

At first glance, you’ll notice some very impressive materials and packaging used on this engine to make it as lightweight, compact, and powerful as possible.

The construction of the 5.0L is nothing short of high tech, with Cummins opting to use metal technologies like CGI (Compacted Graphite Iron) to make the block thinner and more lightweight while staying as strong as possible. Aluminum was used to cast the heads which heavily contributes to the 5.0L being much much lighter than any of the older diesel v8’s that we are used to.

The packaging was designed for a small footprint, using tricks such as tucking the turbos deep into the valley pan area, with the intake manifold just about being molded right around them.

Clean and Quiet

A lot of emphasis was put into making sure that the 5.0L Cummins V8 would put quietness and cleanliness at the forefront of their design.

The Bosch piezo injector system has the ability to fire five times during each combustion event, keeping the pistons from slapping the walls and creating unwanted noise. Cummins even took into consideration the timing of the fuel pump, and by running the Bosch CP4.2 off of the timing chain, they were able to set it with precision to sequence the combustion cycle.

And of course, because of modern diesel regulations, the 5.0 has all of the usual emissions equipment that you would find on any new truck.

The Problems

Just like every other modern diesel engine, there are always trade-offs. Namely the DPF, SCR and EGR systems. They’re what really hold this engine back from it’s full MPG and HP potential, while contributing to future failures.

Don’t get me wrong, when these systems are operating properly they do help to greatly reduce emissions and are generally a good thing. They’re also a requirement if you live in a country with regulations on diesel pollution. While they are good systems for reducing tailpipe emissions, they definitely have the trade-off of collateral damage that they can cause that becomes a concern for the longevity of your truck’s engine.

Fortunately, there are still options for those of us who don’t live in the United States, or who only use our trucks off-road.

How to delete the Titan XD

There are only a few parts that you will need to delete your 5.0 Cummins; a tuner, an exhaust, and a some way to block or turn off the factory EGR system. All of these parts together are what most will call a full delete kit.

We’ll start with the most important part first, the tuner. You won’t be able to run a deleted truck properly without it, so it is definitely a must have in order for everything to work.

Best Tuner for Deleting the Titan XD

EZ LYNK Tuner For 2016 2017 2018 Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins

Check Price
Ebay.com

as of November 20, 2020 2:11 pm

Features:

Read / Clear Diagnostic Trouble Codes
Monitor Vehicle Specific Parameters
Record / Play / Send Vehicle Datalogs
Reflash / Update Engine Control Module
PPEI Tuning
Compatible With Emissions Compliant & Emissions Detached Applications


Single Tune HP Levels:

20 HP – Economy
40 HP – Tow
60 HP – Street
120 HP – Race
140HP – Max Effort

**EGR DELETE DPF DELETE CAPABLE**

Titan XD DPF/DEF/Cat Delete Exhaust Kit

4" Delete Exhaust for 16-17 Nissan Titan XD Cummins

Check Price
Ebay.com

as of November 20, 2020 2:11 pm

Features:

| Mandrel Bent 16GA Stainless Steel |
4" Diameter |
Deletes Both The Diesel Particulate Filter and Catalytic Converter |

EGR Delete Options

Unfortunately, there really aren’t any readily available delete kit options for physically blocking off the EGR system on the 5.0L Cummins, instead most everyone simply turns off the EGR function with the tune.

As someone who really values a clean engine bay free of unnecessary junk, I would like to see the market respond with some more options for EGR block off plates for this truck.

Stay tuned here for updates, we will make sure to post any new delete kit options as they become available.

Conclusion

I hope this guide has helped you to understand what parts you’ll need to delete your 5.0L Cummins equipped Titan XD.

Feel free to reach out to us in the comments below with any questions or suggestions. Thanks for reading!

Have you ever had your hands full while trying to open your tailgate? If so, you’ll already realize that if you don’t hold it on the way down, you’ll be greeted with a big slam as your tailgate freefalls – until the cables catch it and jerk it to a hard stop.

This not nice and easy on the cables or the mounting hardware of the gate. Fortunately, there is a way to fix this issue and have a nice and smooth opening tailgate, without you having to hold onto it all the way down.

The answer to the dropping tailgate is a simple little hydraulic damper, or assist. These little shock absorbers (or struts) attach directly to the tailgate and bed, slowing the tailgate down for a nice and easy descent.

There are a few manufacturers that make these tailgate dampers, and below I’ll go over the best options and deals for each of the different model trucks listed. If you are installing one of these assists yourself, you’ll find that it’s pretty straightforward for the most part, installation difficulty for most of these kits is about a 3-4 out of 10.

Tailgate assist for the 2015-2017 Ford F-150

• Ford OEM Tailgate Assist Kit FL3Z-99406A10-A

Without a doubt the best tailgate damper kit that you can get for the 2105, 2016 and 2017 Ford F-150 would be the one made by Ford. It’s designed to fit directly into factory mounting points, so no messing with aftermarket accessory fitment, which can be tricky in some cases.

Genuine Ford FL3Z-99406A10-A Tailgate Shock Assembly

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 3:42 pm

Features

• Genuine OEM

Tailgate assist for the 2005-2014 Ford F-150

• DeeZee F-150 Tailgate Assist DZ43200

If you own a 2005-2014 F-150 then the best option for a tailgate damper is this retrofit model by DeeZee. The kit comes with everything you need to add it to your truck, including the strut and all required hardware. Only one damper is needed, there’s no need for a second kit.

Dee Zee DZ43200 Tailgate Assist

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 3:42 pm

Features

• This tailgate assist fits 2004-2014 Ford F150 and 2004-2014 Lincoln Mark LT. Does not fit Flareside Models.
• NEW and IMPROVED – We have improved the nutsert. You no longer have the little bottle of blue thread lock to mess with. The nutsert comes with thread lock on it and ready to be installed. You do not have to worry about applying the thread lock and getting it on your fingers, clothes, or your vehicle.
• Easy to use. The Dee Zee tailgate assist makes the use of your tailgate an ease. By simply installing this on your truck will give you the ability to release the tailgate with one hand and not have to worry about that loud bang when it comes down. The smooth controlled drop allows your children to safely lower the tailgate.
• By adding the heavy-duty tailgate assist to your truck will ease the strain on the cables and hinge point by not free falling. You also will no longer draw attention to yourself when everyone hears the bang as your tailgate slams down.
• Installation is a breeze NO DRILLING required and the parts are all specific to the year, make, and model truck.

Tailgate assist for the Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty

• DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43203

This kit is the one designed for the 1999-2106 Ford Super Duty trucks. Just like the other kits from Dee Zee, this one includes all required hardware and installation instructions in the box.

Dee Zee DZ43203 Tailgate Assist Shock

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 3:42 pm

Features

• this tailgate assist fits 1997-2003 ford f150 and 1999-2016 ford super duty f250/f350. it will not fit the f150 supercrew or flareside models.
• new and improved – we have improved the nutsert. you no longer have the little bottle of blue thread lock to mess with. the nutsert comes with thread lock on it and ready to be installed. you do not have to worry about applying the thread lock and getting it on your fingers, clothes, or your vehicle.
• easy to use. the dee zee tailgate assist makes the use of your tailgate an ease. by simply installing this on your truck will give you the ability to release the tailgate with one hand and not have to worry about that loud bang when it comes down. the smooth controlled drop allows your children to safely lower the tailgate.
• by adding the heavy-duty tailgate assist to your truck will ease the strain on the cables and hinge point by not free falling. you also will no longer draw attention to yourself when everyone hears the bang as your tailgate slams down.
• installation is a breeze no drilling required and the parts are all specific to the year, make, and model truck.

Tailgate assist for the Dodge Ram 1500-3500

• DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43301

If you own a Ram 1500 from 2009-2017 or a Ram 2500 and 3500 from 2010-2017, then this is the tailgate assist made specifically for your truck. As always, DeeZee has provided a Dodge Ram specific all-in-one kit that includes everything you will need for am easy, complete install.

Dee Zee DZ43301 Tailgate Assist Shock

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 3:42 pm

Features

• Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
• Custom Designed For Each Make And Model
• High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
• Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
• Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle

Tailgate assist for the Chevy/GMC 1500, 2500 and 3500HD

• DeeZee Tailgate Assist kit DZ43102

In the more recent model years, the Chevy trucks have finally started to include a tailgate dampening system in the higher trim trucks like the SLE/SLT and LT/LTZ packages. However if you have an older truck or a base model, you were out of luck as far as having this installed from the factory.

Thankfully, once again DeeZee steps up to the plate to offer their all-in-one kit for GM trucks. This is certified to fit the 2009-2017 1500/2500/3500 and is more of a universal kit that can be adapted to a lot of the Chevy/GMC platform tailgates.

Dee Zee DZ43102 Black Tailgate Assist

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 3:42 pm

Features

• Safely Controls The Drop Rate Of Truck Tailgates
• Custom Designed For Each Make and Model
• High Quality and Extensively Tested For Heavy Use
• Works In Conjunction With Factory Cables
• Only One Tailgate Assist Required Per Vehicle

What do the truck owners have to say?

DeeZee has made quite the good name for themselves in the truck accessories market, and you can see that in their reviews, which reflect a lot of praise for their products.

Like anything aftermarket, there will always be a couple of hiccups in how the product fits initially or wears over time. This is standard for all aftermarket accessory manufacturers and doesn’t necessarily mean that the products are junk if they have a couple of issues across a wide range of models.

What really matters is how the company handles feedback from their customers about issues that need resolving in the next iteration of the product, and also how they handle the current customers that have the issues in the first place.

Below, you’ll see how they’ve dealt with the only real problem with the DeeZee assist kits and how they have resolved the issue going forward.

 Tailgate assist common problems

The early versions of the Dee-Zee assist in particular did have a frustrating issue that has since been fixed. The issue is with the nutsert that they provided to install the strut with. The nutsert allows you to add threads to a bare hole in your tailgate that wasn’t originally designed to have threads in it.

The problem is that the early version nutsert had a tendency to loosen up in the hole with the repeated rotation that the end of the strut subjects it to. Either the nutsert was just a little off in size, or didn’t have enough friction to hold itself in the tailgate.

Good news is that Dee-Zee has realized the issue, and eliminated the nutsert problem for all the new versions of their kits, and has even been assisting previous customers in fixing the original version.

Conclusion

Hopefully this overview and guide for the options available to add a tailgate assist have helped you in the search for the right kit for your truck. As always, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below if you have any questions or something to add to the conversation. Thanks for reading!

Starting in 2013 and continuing still to this day, the Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 turbo diesel trucks all have a pretty significant design flaw.

Yep, that’s a fuel filler that comes from the factory with no cap. A cap-less fuel filler design, really?

What were you thinking Dodge!?

How exactly is the mediocre seal on the fuel door supposed to protect against water and dirt getting into the fuel filler neck?

Of course, Dodge will not admit to this being anything other than the design as intended, but they did release a part number for the people that inquired about missing “gas” caps; the Mopar part# 52029561AA, which is a quite thin and cheaply made green plastic wedge style cap. These do not seem to be durable at all, and still are questionable in their ability to keep out contaminants.

Fortunately, there are a couple options aside from what Dodge has (or hasn’t) provided:

Aluminum Fuel Cap

Thankfully the aftermarket has seen this issue and noticed that people in fact actually want to seal their fuel filler necks from getting crap down into the tank.

The main problem that you’ll have when trying to add a normal fuel cap to one of these dodge trucks – there just isn’t enough room for a regular old gas cap to sit in there and still have the fuel door close.

This is why these billet aluminum caps have such a low profile, so that they can actually fit perfectly in the filler, seal it with an o-ring and still have space for the door to close.

2013-2017 Dodge Ram Diesel Fuel Cap Billet Aluminum Magnetic NEW EASIER GRIP DESIGN

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 10:06 am

Features

• ✔ PROTECTION - This fits RAM diesel, fuel cap stops dirt, water and other debris out of your fuel tank saving you costly engine repairs. (May not fit 2019 models)
• ✔ CONVENIENCE - New raised grip design makes it easier to remove and put back on compared to other cap designs
• ✔ PERFECT FIT - Includes 2 Sizes of O-Rings so you can pick the size that fits best for your truck, better than the red plastic cap
• ✔ MAGNETIC - Strong permenant neodymium magnet holds the cap to the truck while you fill up
• ✔ LIFETIME WARRANTY - If you ever have a problem we will replace the cap with no hassle, order with confidence like many others

Fuel And DEF Cap Combo

If you prefer a more uniform look, there is a combo set available that combines the DEF and fuel cap replacements together in one kit.

2013-2017 Dodge Ram Diesel Magnetic Billet Aluminum Fuel Cap and DEF Cap Combo

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 10:06 am

OEM Style Plastic Cap

Aside from the thin green plastic cap, Dodge actually has another style of cap that is more robust and seems like it would do the job of protecting the open fuel filler system.

The part number for this cap: Mopar/Chrysler 82214609.

It does also come with a tether to keep the cap attached and from being lost, a nice feature for those of us that sometimes misplace our fuel caps when refilling our trucks in the morning before coffee.

Dodge Ram Fuel Filler Diesel Cap With Tether Non Locking NEW OEM MOPAR

Check Price
Amazon

as of November 18, 2020 10:06 am

Features

• Non-Locking fuel cap for 2014-2016 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500
• Non-Locking gas cap for capless fuel filler housing
• Plastic capless cover and tether to prevent dust and debri from entering the fuel system.
• Diesel only

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has helped you to find the best options for replacing your truck’s missing fuel cap. If you have any more questions or input about this issue, feel free to drop us a line below in the comments. Thanks for reading!