2013 Nissan Frontier

2013 Nissan Frontier Review

If you are one of those people who do not need a full-size truck, but still you want the advantages of having a truck, then we have the right vehicle for you. It comes from Nissan: the 2013 Frontier. This vehicle is more versatile that you think; it can help you move, transport bikes, haul trailers and it can take care of pretty much everything you and your family need. Nissan is a company which has the longest history in the United States when it comes to automakers that sell midsize and compact pickup trucks. The 2013 Nissan Frontier is available with V-6 or four-cylinder power, in four- or rear-wheel-drive versions. With all of its awesome features, the Frontier can compete with the Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma.

The Outer Appearance of the 2013 Frontier

The 2013 Frontier has a smooth outer appearance, rugged all in a perfect unique package. The chrome touch brings some shine, while the contoured wheel arches brings a bolder stance. The cabin is spacious and comes with real-size doors. The rear bench is also spacious, allowing comfort in the seating. For amazing storage versatility, there is a dual level glove compartment and under-seat storage tray. Some of the features are off-road styles 16” alloy wheels, fog lights, Bilstein-brand off road shocks, special badging and decals, floor mats, back-up camera, bed extender, dual-zone climate control, trailer hitch and spray-in bedliner. Due to the better aerodynamics and lower engine friction, the 2013 Nissan Frontier has a great gas mileage.

What Are the Features?

Although full size trucks, especially those from Ram and Ford, have made some huge gains in the fuel economy in the last few years, mid-size and compact pickup trucks have been left out. Thankfully, the model from this article changed that. In general, The 2013 Nissan Frontier has two changes. The first one is subtle – it boosts fuel economy, and the second one is not that subtle – the price drop. Two engines are offered: a four-cylinder which is available in rear-wheel-drive, and the V6 which is the more powerful alternative. The transmission choices include 5-speed automatic and 5- and 6-speed manuals. The tow rating is respectable with 3,500 pounds in four-cylinder models, while in V6 models it has an amazing tow rating of 6,500 pounds.

What’s So Special About 201 Frontier?

Among the other features, the 2013 Frontier also includes 2.5 liter inline-4, 171 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, 152 hp at 5,200 rpm, EPA city-highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (2WD automatic) and 19/23 mpg (2WD automatic). In both passive and active safety, Nissan has checked the appropriate boxes and we all know that pickup trucks are not usually paragons of either. The power-assisted steering, 4-wheel disc brakes which come with standard ABS and the reasonable handling which is coupled with a composed ride all contribute to the active safety. Eight colors are available, including three new ones: Graphite Blue, Cayenne Red and Glacier White. During the last few years, the compact pickup marketing has been getting narrower; however, Nissan still does not let the Frontier go and thus they had decided to refresh the market with this new vehicle, says Electric Cars Daily.

Diesel Truck Transmissions

Diesel Truck Transmissions:  The Weak Link

The transmission is often considered the “weak link” by most industry professionals. Diesel engines are capable of creating so much additional torque that the transmission in many cases cannot harness the power. Add to that the fact that many of these trucks are pulling loads over the vehicle’s towing limit and you have a recipe for failure. Cummins and Allison transmissions are the leaders when it comes to truck transmission.  They are built tough to handle the higher workloads.  But they can be also expensive to maintain and repair.

You Can Help Avoid Costly Transmission Repairs with a Few Simple Practices:

1)      DON’T EXCEED YOUR TRUCKS TOWING LIMIT:  You place your truck’s transmission in jeopardy when you exceed your vehicle’s towing limit. Transmissions are designed to work hard enough to move the vehicle they power, as well as any additional weight up to the limits specified by the manufacturer. Exceeding the recommended towing capacity causes the transmission to work harder than it’s meant to, which creates more heat energy. This heat breaks down the transmission fluid that lubricates the transmission’s moving parts. Without proper lubrication, the transmission can seize up and cause major damage.

2)      PERFORM REGULAR MAINTENACE: Fluids and filters should be changed and checked on a regular schedule. Check your owner’s manual for the exact maintenance schedule for your transmission.

3)      SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY:  Never move from the Park position to other gears while the engine rpm is higher than normal. Never shift a moving vehicle into Park position.  Always stop and then make the shift.

4)      NEVER OPERATE A TRUCK IF IT IS OVERHEATING:  Overheating issues often trigger transmission problems.  If you continue to operate the vehicle it may well bend the metal parts and toughen the rubber seals of the transmission system causing fluid leaks.

5)      IF IT DID OVERHEAT PERFORM MAINTENACE ON THE TRANSMISSION:  Hot and dusty conditions; towing, hauling, stop and go conditions and cooling system breakdowns all increase the load on the transmission and its internal temperature. Those high temperatures will cause the transmission fluid to start to break down and loose efficiency.

6)      IF YOU SEE A FLUID LEAK SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT AWAY:  Regularly check your parking space for leaks and if you see any, make an appointment with a transmission repair shop before a lack of fluid can cause damage.

These six simple steps can help to prevent costly transmission breakdowns. But, if it’s time to visit a transmission repair shop, don’t wait until the problem becomes worse.  Transmission problems never disappear by themselves; they only get worse and more expensive with time.

Owning a diesel truck and the transmission that comes with it can offer many years of enjoyment if you take care and follow the recommended repair and maintenance steps.

Gear Heads Relaunch Trucks Design Info

Trucks Design has been down for quite some time now. It was recently aquired by the gurus over at Gear Heads. We hated to see such a great site go to waste so we brought back a little bit of the content on trucks reviews and plan to keep this site on track with being about truck reviews and designs instead of just being about new cars in general like GearHeads.org. If you would like to contribute please use the contact form and we would be happy to work with you.

Toyota Tundra Double Cab

The Tundra is the only full-size pickup truck in the Toyota range of vehicles, which first saw the light of day in the year 2000. The first series Toyota Tundra although considered in its time as being a trend setter in the full size truck niche, was actually considerably smaller than the Series Two version which was launched in 2006 at the Chicago Auto Show. The Series Two Tundra has been assembled for the North American market at the Toyota plant in San Antonio, Texas since 2008.

As is the case with its smaller brand partner the Toyota Tacoma, the Tundra full-size truck comes no less than eighteen distinct formats, taking in three different cab configurations, ( regular, double cab and CrewMax) , three engine sizes (4.0 liter six cylinder producing 270 horsepower and 278 pounds per feet of torque, 4.6 liter eight cylinder producing 310 horsepower and 327 pounds per feet of torque and lastly a massive 5.7 liter eight cylinder producing 381 pounds of horsepower and 401 pounds per feet of torque) All of the Tacoma’s V6 engine configurations come with five speed automatic gearboxes while the V8 is paired with a six speed automatic gearbox.

There are also a few combinations of cabin size and bed lengths available with the full-size Toyota Tundra truck, kicking off with a single two seater cab, five seater Double Cab and the massive six seater CrewMax body The single and double Cabs comes with a choice of either a six foot six inch or an eight foot bed, while the CrewMax comes with a standard and shorter five foot six inch bed, each permutation coming with an easy lift tailgate.

To make for very easy access the Double Cab comes with front hinged doors, while the Tundra CrewMax provides tremendous roominess and comfort, with a sliding and reclining rear seat. Comfort is one thing and strength is another with the Tundra’s super powerful engine capable of hauling a payload of just over 2,000 pounds for the V8 engine and 1620 pound for the V6.

The Tundra has been handed a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds. To make the tow a lot less traumatic, especially for inexperienced drivers, all 2011 Toyota Tundra models come with a trailer sway control feature as standard.

Other driver refinements that Toyota have added to the 2012 Tundra specifications are a 26.4 US gallon fuel tank, extra-large disc brakes and calipers, an integrated trailer hitch as well as optional extra large automatically controllable tow mirrors that can be manually extended outward to increase driver vision around a trailer which can be more than eight foot wide.

Toyota Tundra

It’s not often that a working truck hits the market with the impact that the revised Toyota Tundra Regular Cab and its stablemates did back in 2007. In the intervening years its rivals have caught up a lot , but there are still many reasons to choose this truck, not least of which is the quality of its interior. First though, we need to look at its capacities as a workhorse – which is what the majority of people buy a regular cab for, rather then the roomier double or crew cab variants. The Toyota Tundra Regular Cab has two bed sizes, six feet, six-inches or eight-feet. Which you choose, whether you go for two or four-wheel drive and the engine size will all effect payload and trailering but maximums are 2,090 pounds and 10,400 pounds respectively. Those are the equal of, or better than, almost anything in its class, so you know it’s no weakling! It has strong underpinnings too. A boxed-steel chassis, plus independent front and leaf-spring rear suspension make it robust, but surprisingly light to steer. Definitely not a big old brute you have to wrestle with. Added to all that you also have Toyota’s legendary reliability – another good reason to choose this pickup.

The Toyota Tundra Regular Cab has three different engines so one is certain to be suited to the job you need it for. If you move large amounts of relatively light gear, the 4.0 liter V6 is probably all you need – and will bring considerable fuel savings. If you need to tow regularly, the 4.6 liter V8 might suit you better or, if you’ve really got to haul, the 401 lb-ft of torque provided by the 5.7 liter V8 at the top of the range will certainly do the job. There’s a 5-speed auto transmission for the V6 and six-speed units for the V8s, which can also have tow/haul mode if you’ve got the optional Tow Package. It’s useful when your Toyota Tundra Regular Cab is heavily loaded and has steep inclines to cope with. Another benefit is sway control, standard on all models, as is anti-lock braking, traction and stability control plus air bags all round. When it comes to the interior, you don’t expect much at what the entry-level – which is where this pickup is. However, with the Toyota Tundra Regular Cab you get a couple of things as standard which rivals usually charge for – dual-zone climate control and CD/MP3 to go with your AM/FM stereo. It’s not luxury limo specification but it is high quality and properly put together.

All of which makes this a very easy truck to like. It has the all-round toughness, proven durability and lugging ability you need from a professional vehicle, yet it’s much more than that. It’s not the family sedan but you wouldn’t be embarrassed to pick your partner up from the office in it – and they wouldn’t object to the ride home, or a drive across the state. The second generation Toyota Tundra Regular Cab set standards when it arrived and continues to do so today. An excellent choice.

Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab

If you’re looking for a tough, compact truck that is built to work hard, day after day, the Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab might be just what you are looking for. Styling might be a secondary consideration, so it’s a bonus that, in our opinion, the muscular stance looks good on it. Under the skin it’s no fashion exercise – it’s good, old-fashioned steel, rigidly put together. Toyota have a superb reputation for durability and reliability to you can rest assured it isn’t going to break any time soon. The box is a fraction over six feet, although there are bed extenders available if you need a bit more, and you can throw up to 1435 pounds in the back, depending on exact specification. You don’t need to worry too much about what you’re throwing in there either, thanks to the standard composite bed liner. When you need to hook something up behind, the Toyota Tacoma Regular Cabwill tow a maximum 3,500 lbs. All loaded up it’s still a composed vehicle to drive, with precise steering. Only empty does it get a bit skittish – which is what happens when you have suspension that is intended to carry considerable weight most of the time. Almost all trucks do it. It’s noticeable rather than problematic.

Getting the Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab moving on down the road is the job of an economical 2.7 liter inline 4-cylinder engine which delivers 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. It’s as potent as anything offered by its rivals and, for most uses, more than adequate. If you really need more power you’ll have to look at the extended or double cab versions which get a torquier V6. Inside the cabin the fit and feel is particularly high quality. There may not be a huge number of gadgets and goodies on this, the most work-oriented part of the range, but it’s all put together very well. Equipment supplied varies slightly between each model but basically you get air conditioning, full carpets and an AM/FM stereo with CD and MP3 compatibility as standard (it’s usually an extra) plus two useful 12 volt power outlets. Somewhere they haven’t cut down on is safety, with anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, tire pressure monitors and clever Smart Stop technology that can aid emergency stopping. There’s a full set of front, side and head-curtain air bags too.

The Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab is no luxury limo, but that’s not what it’s about. If you want more comfort you’ll probably be tempted by an SUV – but then what will you do when you’ve got a big load of dirty stuff to put in the back? This pickup has been built for the professional. The kind of person who has to work for a living and needs a strong, reliable partner that will put up with a bit of rough treatment occasionally. The Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab is that partner and we doubt anyone who buys one will feel let down by it.

Toyota Tacoma Truck

The 2012 edition of the Toyota Tacoma truck has been regarded as a front runner in the field category of mid-sized trucks these days. The first model of the Tacoma was made in 1995. It used to be a compact pick-up truck until it was redesigned in 2005 to a mid-sized truck. The newest version has been reviewed as the most stylish and high-tech of all the Toyota Tacoma trucks to date. It comes in four trim packages, all of which are competitively priced and perform well.

An online review of the Toyota Tacoma ranked it number two among the compact pick-up trucks in the market today. A close competition for the Tacoma is the leading 2012 Nissan Frontier and also the popular 2012 Honda Ridgeline. Performance wise, the Frontier was reviewed to be the best relatively responsive for the class of vehicle. The Ridgeline and Tacoma are almost at par with performance ratings of various review sites. The main selling point of the Toyota Tacoma is its very attractive pricing. While the Frontier and Ridgeline cost about $32,000 and $29,000 respectively, the Tacoma’s bottom line price is only about $17,000. Another good selling point of the Tacoma is its very stylish looks both in the exterior and interior. By no means is it a luxury car, and while that is not what anyone should really expect from a pick-up truck the design of the Tacoma exudes a certain suave and macho feeling to it.

The X-Runner version of the Tacoma is deemed to be the sportiest compact truck right now. Reviews on the Tacoma X-Runner make it out to be a proficient car both off and on-road especially when the TRD off-road package is installed. A lot of review sites also named the Toyota Tacoma the Best Compact Pick-up Truck of 2012 in terms of value for money. Compared to the older versions of the Tacoma, the 2012 model has also been winning in terms of looks and performance. Safety standards for this truck are also impressive with high rankings from both the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and the federal government reviews and crash tests. Five out of five stars was awarded by the federal government when they did a side-crash test. The all four-wheel drive model of the Tacoma also garnered a 4 star rating for overall safety.

Nissan Titan

Though the Nissan Titan Truck was only introduced on the market in 2004, the platform of the full-size pickup has been around for quite some time. The F-Alpha is shared between many Nissan models such as the Armada, Frontier and Pathfinder as well as with the Infiniti QX56 that was sold until 2010. Nissan created the Titan as entry into the full-size truck market that has otherwise been dominated by standard favorites. The goal was not to challenge those top contenders in the American market, but to instead give buyers a new and different alternative.

The Nissan Titan Truck has a lot to brag about with an interior that is roomy and comfortable and the ability to tow virtually anything. A stylish design blended with innovative technology is part of why the Titan was nominated for North American Truck of the Year in 2004. Being the first automaker to challenge the popular American full-size pickup was a risk for Nissan, but the quality of the interior and capabilities of the powerful truck has made it a successful one. A large engine, spacious cab and sturdy towing abilities have helped the Titan to become a contender in the American work and family truck market.

However, with no significant makeover since its release, the Titan is slowly falling behind the competition. While other models have more to offer when it comes to power and features, the Titan has remained on an even keel. That said, the Nissan Titan Truck is still a viable truck for both work and family transportation. A towing capacity of up to 9500 pounds, precise steering, a V8 engine and handling that is above average work together to ensure that no job is too big or small for this vehicle. It even comes loaded with features that make it an ideal work truck.

The interior of the Nissan Titan Truck shows that even a work truck can be a family oriented vehicle. The cabin is spacious and comfortable for all passengers. The controls are user-friendly and placed in easy reach of the driver. Plenty of storage is a bonus whether the items being held are work related or personal. Material-wise, the cabin isn’t as luxurious as some vehicles. Hard plastics and average materials make it functional at best. The rear seating folds up to allow more to be hauled inside the cab and the passenger seat folds into a work table. Doors open wider to allow easy loading and unloading for both items and people.

Mazda B-Series

While other truck models from various companies turned to the appeal of the bigger
vehicles the Mazda B Series remained compact. While the larger trucks will naturally
carry more cargo, the smaller and more agile Mazda B Series maintains a high standard
for maneuverability. Its use as a functional pick up was never compromised. The
compact truck can still carry an impressive load while handling the contour of the
roadway.

Over time, the Mazda B Series became a joint effort between Mazda and Ford. With
small changes and design alterations it eventually began to have a very similar look
and feel of the Ford Ranger. Introduced in the later 1990s and continuing to thrive up
until the 2000s the B Series came with one of three different engine choices. Any of the
three engines could give the truck an excellent review when it came to on and off road
performance.

The original Mazda B Series offered four wheel drive on most models. Eventually the
available four wheel drive was narrowed down to only one model. This did not go over
well with consumers who wanted the nimble performance combined with the off road
capabilities that the series was known for. It was possibly this change that led to the
downfall of the company’s compact pick-up effort.

Throughout the production of the Mazda B Series antilock brakes were one of the few
standard safety features. As other manufacturers began to add new technology such as
stability control or side airbags Mazda maintained its single minded focus and did not
offer these necessary features even as options on most of the models.

The engine line of the Mazda B Series started with the standard 2.3 liter four cylinder
that produced 142 horsepower. When the B3000 began production it was woefully
underpowered with a 3.0 V6 engine that spit out only 148 horsepower. This was simply
not strong enough to do the jobs of bigger trucks and the tiny step up in engine size
and capacity just didn’t justify the price. The larger price tag was supposed to represent
more changes within the vehicle but consumers didn’t find the promise of a more
powerful truck to be credible.

Each model year brought something new for the Mazda B Series. Features such as
power accessories, remote or keyless entry, alloy wheels, fog lights, skid plate, cruise
control, auxiliary input for the CD player, and a limited slip differential. There was a timid
attempt to introduce a sporty line of the B Series which didn’t catch on. Its two wheel
drive was an initial disappointment that sat upon a raised suspension. The overall effect
was supposed to be rugged. Consumers simply didn’t see it and did not go for the two
wheel drive raised vehicle.

As a used vehicle the Mazda B Series is considered to be rather standard for generic
purposes. If you need the basics that a pick-up truck offers and like the nimble handling
then you may find a well-cared for model. Most of the trucks on the road today will out
power the B Series but the B Series will ultimately out maneuver the other trucks on the
roadway today.

Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier Truck line was started in 1998 though it existed under different names based on the location. In North America, Central America, South America and the Philippines the truck is known as the Frontier. In Japan and the remainder of the Asian market it was known as the Navara. It was created to replace the Nissan Hardbody Truck and in 2002 the primary market was North America and production was solely located in Nissan’s Tennessee factory. Prior to that, there was a joint production in both the Tennessee factory and one in Japan.

The platform of the Frontier is the F-Alpha and is shared with such large vehicles as the Titan truck and the Armada SUV. The beginning Frontier was offered only as a four cylinder, but the V6 was added in 1999. When the Frontier debuted a crew cab in 2000 it became the first compact pickup to offer a four door model anywhere in North America. Later when the 2005 model was introduced, the Nissan Frontier Truck was bumped up from a compact pickup truck to a mid-size. It has been marketed as a truck that was both reliable and worthy for work tasks and also for family transportation.

Work is simple with the Nissan Frontier Truck because it has a design that is just rugged enough to handle those difficult tasks. Rough conditions are no match for this truck as it easily navigates both off and on-road conditions. With a strong and powerful V6 and easy handling, there is little that it cannot tolerate well. Drivers will be pleased with the performance and will appreciate the ability to tow up to 6500 pounds with the Frontier. Steering is exact and the suspension is tuned well to ensure that the driving experience is always satisfactory. It even rides quite comfortably for passengers.

Whether the Nissan Frontier Truck is successful for family affairs will depend on which model and style is chosen. The truck does boast ample features and options for a work vehicle, but there are some ways it lacks. Though the interior is designed to ensure comfort along with usefulness, the smaller models are not top choices for regular family transportation. The King Cab, known in most trucks as an extended cab, features a set of fold up jump seats. Though they do provide a place to sit for additional passengers, there is limited leg room and tough positioning when using them. The Crew Cab is a bit larger in the back and offers a large bench for up to three adults. Still, it is uncomfortable for a long ride and anyone besides a child will find the leg room lacking.

The Nissan Frontier Truck is perfect for hauling and great for work tasks. It offers the right blend of power and handling to make it a viable choice for those who need a reliable work vehicle. It will even work for the occasional family transportation. However, it would prove to be uncomfortable and cramped when used regularly by more than the driver and potentially one passenger.