I’m a passionate whitewater kayaker and love seeing the sport get attention. Nissan’s Frontier Rapid Runner 2025 SEMA show truck is whitewater kayak themed. It’s a very cool, capable build.
The midsize pickup aims to make a splash at the largest car show on the planet next week. It looks like all kinds of fun, but it may leave actual whitewater enthusiasts scratching their heads.
Let’s dive into what this shuttle rig is all about, from the impressive off-road capability upgrades to the puzzling kayaking accessory choices.
Nissan Frontier Remix
This exact truck was shown at last year’s SEMA show, as Project Trailgater. For 2025, it’s been repurposed and restyled with a whitewater kayak theme. The build was once again built by the team at POWERNATION TV.
The truck under these graphics and accessories is a Frontier PRO-4X. That already off-road–capable truck has been heavily modified for even more capability.
Truck Upfit
Nissan Titan and BILSTEIN suspension components, along with a 2-inch body lift, truly make this vehicle stand tall. A complete rear axle swap out of a Titan makes the running gear even more stout and widens the track width for stability.
All that hardware under the truck is designed to beef things up and allow the fitment of the massive 37-inch Yokohama GEOLANDAR X-MT (37×12.50R17) tires. That meaty rubber is wrapped around prototype NISMO Ascend (17-inch x 8.5-inch +20) wheels. Those big tires fit inside custom-widened fender flares.
Custom front and rear bumpers enhance the truck’s capability and aggressive looks. The Rapid Runner graphics package ties everything together, while the custom tube doors are just fun.
A prototype NISMO cold air intake and snorkel help the engine breathe cool, fresh air. But no, it won’t likely help it if the truck tries to actually run a deep-water rapid.
Inside the truck bed is a custom storage system with pull-out drawers and shelving. It stores coolers, recovery gear, solar panels, a portable power bank, and kayaking gear.
Inside, the Frontier Rapid Runner gets some bedliner on everything for durability and ease of cleaning. Bright yellow Covercraft waterproof seat covers make the interior pop.
Whitewater Kayak Shuttle Rig
While I applaud the effort to showcase whitewater kayaking, the build team really should have consulted with someone who actually does the activity.
To carry kayaks, a NISMO Off Road low-profile roof rack and high bed rack were fitted, along with two Yakima JayLow J-Cradle Rooftop Kayak Mounts. Each JayLow cradle is designed to carry one kayak, not two each, as done here.
The four kayaks on this build, the Jackson Kayak Flow in the Rio color scheme, match the custom truck wrap perfectly. Nismo ratcheting tie-downs are used to secure the kayaks on the roof, which is a bad idea all around. Cam straps are what you should use to secure kayaks to a roof rack, as they are a closed-loop system and won’t unattach from the rack like the hooks on the ends of a ratchet tie-down will.
The paddles on the vehicle are low-angle touring paddles, not whitewater paddles, which means they are too long and inappropriately shaped to use with these kayaks. Specifically, they are Werner Skagit fiberglass 2-piece straight-shaft paddles. Oh, and there are three of them for the four kayaks on board.
Nissan’s press release on the Rapid Runner build says it “boasts paddle and wetsuit storage.” Most kayakers don’t use wetsuits, but instead use drysuits and drytops — wetsuits are better suited for surfing.
I do like that a NISMO Gear rack shower was included, as a warm shower when you get off the river from kayaking sounds like a nice luxury.
Nissan also says there is “onboard air to inflate rafts.” I find this unlikely, as most onboard air systems are high-pressure and low-volume — great for tire inflation. Rafts, packrafts, inflatable SUPs, etc., all need high-volume and low-pressure pumps to inflate them.
Build Series Video
If you want to see the creation of the Nissan Frontier Rapid Runner, tune in to POWERNATION TV’s “Dirt and Trails” on November 7. There will be a four-episode build series on the truck.
I have little doubt this show truck will get the positive attention it was built to accomplish at SEMA and online. But I hope the next time a company uses a sport or activity as a theme, it consults with an enthusiast to help them make appropriate upfit choices.
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