Psyched

Dented- Who did your second winch mount? Would you recommend them to others? I'm looking for a winch mount that is more low-profile than the Aluminess.

That looks fantastic, I'd love to see if that would work on an NV. Once I have my 4x4 installed in March I'll look into it. We have a Summit Racing and a 4 Wheel Parts (AMP distributors) in my town, perhaps I can get one and return it if it won't fit?

Thanks ASD Dad. I certainly like the price of the Topper rack but my fan is white and I think the galvanized would look too "commercial" for me. I'll look up all the mods and tires you mentioned.

On New Years Eve I bought a 2013 NVP SV with 32k miles. I'm sending it to Advanced for a 4x4 conversion in February. This van will replace my Sprinter van and be my daily driver and family adventure rig (six kids). We just got back from a 2200 mile trip in Baja, Mexico; I wish I had the van for that trip, I might not have gotten stuck in the mud and sand so often! We tow a 3000 lb 6x12 camp trailer with off-road suspension. What are the "must have" or "wish I had" mods for this type of use? Lift? I don't really care about looks, so is a lift worth it? Will it significantly increase ground or break-over clearance, or will it just make it harder to get into? Will I need running boards, thus negating any clearance gains? Winch? I want to have a winch for self-recovery since we usually travel alone. Are there any winch mount options besides the Aluminess bumper? I'm not crazy about how huge that bumper looks. Rack? I plan to have Advanced install an Aluminess rack unless there is something comparable at a lower cost. We haul a roof box in the winter for skis and kayaks and "stuff" in the summer. Ladder? Which is preferable: Rear or side ladder? The side seems nice for loading skis into a roof box, but they look funny on the side of the rig. On our sprinter I just use a collapsable ladder. Wheels/Tires? What are the best tires, and what is the largest "sensible" size to put on? Does the lift change that at all or is the sliding door the limiting factor? Performance upgrades? Anything that should be changed? Any other things you wish you had? Thanks, we're looking forward to exploring Nevada and the west in our rig!

How much better is the new v8 vs the old one? How much difference will the addional HP/torque make if it's primarily a people hauler with occasional towing? I'm thinking right now could be a great time to get a good deal on a '16 v8. The 2017 price jumped up $1390. With an 8% improvement in fuel economy you would have to drive over 90k miles at 13mpg to see a financial savings. Pricing taken from here: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-announces-u-s-pricing-for-2017-nv-cargo-van-and-nv-passenger-van

Perhaps I'm hijacking this thread, but what about new '16 vs new '17? The 2017 details were released today ( http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/nissan-announces-u-s-pricing-for-2017-nv-cargo-van-and-nv-passenger-van) and the only change I see is the V8 engine/transmission and a price increase. I'm looking to get a NVP SL, and the new vs old engine doesn't seem that different to me since all my test drives the old engine was satisfactory for my needs. Furthermore, who knows how long it will take Quigley or Advanced 4x4 to put together a 4x4 conversion for the new drive train, which is key for me. I'm hoping with the '17s on the horizon I can get a great deal on a '16. Any advice? Also, any advice on buying it with/without a tax id and how to get the best price? I'm buying it as my family vehicle, but I own a business and have a tax id.

I spent much of the morning visiting with Advanced 4x4 about an NV conversion and with QuadVan about a Transit conversion. It seems like the NV is filling the void left by the E series vans (capable, burly, towing gas hogs), and that the Transit is taking over the territory of Sprinter vans (effcient, poor ground clearance, weak towing). The Sprinter is having a hard time keeping up with the competition, and Dodge rules for plain ugliness.

AS Dad - Thanks for mentioning the Armada. We just got back from a mission trip to Africa and I fell in love with their Land Cruiser Safari rigs set up for ten passengers. Unfortunately importing one of those into the US is nearly impossible. I have six children so we need 8 passengers minimum, but it seems like we fill up our 10 pax sprinter often. I looked at a Land Cruiser yesterday but the third row seating is not practical. I guess I really need to decide between towing capacity, passenger capacity, and reliability.

Thanks for your insights Mc2guy, sorry to hear about your hassles. I'm open to any vehicle, what I'm really looking for is: - reliability, 10+ passengers, 4x4, convenient passenger access. It would be nice if it has a towing capacity >6500 lbs and a comfortable, quiet ride. Any suggestions? We love the utility of the sprinter but not the reliability and no 4x4. Love the 4x4 of a suburban but not the passenger convenience. I'd really love a safari-version Toyota Landcruiser, but that can not be imported to the USA. So from my research I think the NV is the best compromise.

Thanks Chris! We really do love our sprinter, but it seems to be in the shop at every 3-6 months (a/c pulleys, turbo exhaust hose, glow plugs, etc). It's a 140" low-top passenger model. It's in good condition, there's not much market for it here in Reno but it's super popular in California for rock climbers and such, and in Utah for big families. Any idea when Nissan will put electronic collision warning/braking safety features into the NV? And is there anything big on the horizon that would make it worth waiting to get an NV?

I'm looking to replace my '06 Sprinter passenger van with something that has 4x4. (I had to put tire chains on nine times to go skiing this winter!) This is my daily driver/family van (six kids), and the second Sprinter I've owned. I love it but I'm getting sick of making repairs on it (only 110k miles). It's a pain to find someone who will work on it and has a clue what they're doing. I'm seriously leaning toward a Nissan NV with a lift and 4x4 conversion because it comes with a 5-year warranty vs. Mercedes 3-year offering, and it would be much easier/cheaper to find service when needed. Nissan NV: quieter, rides better, side-curtain air bags, tows almost twice as much as a Sprinter, lower roof without external a/c - better for garage and ski racks. Mercedes Sprinter: factory 4x4, better seating and more cargo space, full electronic safety package (blind spot, collision avoidance, etc). And I love the rubber floor of the Sprinter. Any real-world feedback or other options I should consider? And why doesn't anyone make a van with seats that recline?!!!