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Yes, that is good mpg. Of course considering the CD friction, the tall vans should be getting at least a couple of mpg better than the Standard height vans (even if they look like $80K SUV's.) The exact tilt of the plywood would make a huge difference, but maybe you hit the optimum air flow angle the first time as evidenced by your good mpg rates. MPG would be my only concern, but not anymore. Good project van you have going so far and thanks for your documentation, pics, feedback, and all.

Yeah, but 2012 to 2016 were exactly the same from what I've noticed. 2017 is a new model year, when the efficient v8 will be matched up with a new 7 sp transmission. The new engine should include new efi gas, and cylinder head technology for the next 5 model years which mirrors the reported performance and efficiency gains. But more than that, new technology engines are a lot more responsive than 8% efficiency would indicate. The new 2016 NV SV v8 I drove a couple of weeks back was the best ride I've ever ridden (just like the 2012 I'm sure), but if there was one slight deficiency, it would be performance responsiveness and gas mileage. And responsiveness and mileage is where efficient new technology engines are improved most (like the Ford 3.5L econoboost v6 and Ram's Maserati v6.) The difference is efficient v8 with 7 speed transmission: a more reliable combination for a tall HD van. Crown Vic's were remarkable v8's w/good gas mileage for example with efi and cylinder head design innovations: that they now just sell to cops and taxi's because it is too good a deal for retail customers - sunk cost of capital for 20 years. Chris Commercial is the expert here, and if he is out of breath in between selling them, that's good enough for me. That's NOT JUST 8% more efficient engine, it's: - 375/317 = 18% more hp (about same torque, still very good), - 8% more efficient engine (as reported by Nissan), - 7/5 = 40% more efficient in gears transmission (the MOST innovative change of all!), - 14.5/11 = 32% reported city mileage increase, AND - 20/16 = 25% reported highway mileage increase: That's incredible(!) and I want the Nissan NV innovative model for the next 5 years. What a deal. You WANT (Engine + Trans + Van) that is the best combination of value together, and the NV SV 3500 Tall is that best combination of a vehicle assembly in today's market place (w/ Ford's noodle frame Transit's and Ram's underrated minivan transmissions.) There is no alternative, and the 2017's seem to be an innovative model year with value for the next 5 years at least. So the model years should be (1) 2012 - 2016 and (2) 2017+. I'm really looking for a shift in the knowledgeable HD tall van owners in 2017 towards the NV 3500 Tall's.

That's really looking nice! Do you track your gas mileage closely? I thought the panels placed as close to the roof as possible may help mileage, but there has to be some break-off point somewhere, unless you had something like a hood deflector in front of it. You have a big pooper-scooper behind it too, but it has it's own built in deflector (8,75' + deflector height - high van.) Everything fits real well on your roof though, and looks very professional.

Wouldn't backup sensors, like in the rear bumper, be a better Warning signal, than a camera you have to watch? Maybe both would be good though, since it sounds like a natural blind spot.

Wouldn't backup sensors, like in the rear bumper, be a better Warning signal, than a camera you have to watch? Maybe both would be good though, since it sounds like a natural blind spot.

Global material handling looks about like the bottom dollar vendor, with expert service within 3 day service tickets. I like Global, other than being the most economical because they are not restricted to a particular brand or type of jib crane. I don't really need the the light weight 30 lb. crane and the steel 140 lb. crane may be best so I can leave it up. The 30 lb. crane would still be easier than a ramp, but leaving it up tense (w/wheels resting on the ground) with 2 tie downs seems optimum if possible. The videos of the operators swinging the bikes around the poles looked like they were handling raw eggs carefully and holding their breath. As well, I asked about if the manual crane would be better so the leverage of the DC motor does not crunch the jib crane with a quick button push. I'll ask Northern Tool & Equipment's online experts too, and will be searching for a 3rd vendor with online experts: even if I go with the cheapest, but they are all pretty close in price. Getting the right application is the main thing, but that may be the cheapest too??

Charley, the current trend from what I've seen is body shop is a clean particle and hazardous waste environment, so most dealers don't want the added headaches. They just tack on 25 to 50% for their liability and middle man troubles I'd guess. From looking at custom films for my motorcycle, most (but definitely not all) of those guys know everything about detailing. You just have to find them. They will be the ones with 15 brand new Maserati's fenced behind the shop. Detailing is an art and is big business in CA. I searched several shops out and found the one with the Maserati's, talked him down, and then figured I'd just try to paint it myself with expensive spray cans, ha ha. I bought the film too, but chickened out first. There is no 'one way' to do it. I'd suggest to look for a hyper film/detail owner who does his own work and just works only when he has business. I don't think it's something you want minimum wage hands doing. A small owner's shop will give you the flexibility in products to give you a value job, versus employees of a franchised product/process. You will see exactly what they are or are not working on when you visit them; and they have their own body shops they use. I liked the few experts vs. the 'village' approach :-) The finished product experts is the approach I'd take anyway to minimize processes in between for a better finished product. ymmv.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0jUR7FIXvA&feature=youtube_gdata_player Botta Bing, Botta Boom. Once more, in reverse, Botta Boom, Botta Bing: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=+spitzlift+JLTV&t=hc&iax=1&ia=videos&iai=BarFngWQgfo Of course I'd have a locking tire chock plus one additional tie-down: add 30 seconds, lol: just saying. Don't be so serious. It's just an alternative method that has a purpose. I used to design cranes, lifts, and hoists for manufacturing systems, so it's not such a far fetched idea and they last a lifetime with no maintenance. The one shown in video is about $2K complete, but may get off up to 50% off that by shopping around: it's a buyers market. My lower back feels much better already. And one last alternative :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LQEFOxI7Hg Wait, there's more. At around 4 of 12 minutes, it shows closeups of the webbing to lift the motorcycle up. It also goes into all the various types of lifts too. It's very educational compared to the other films. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl3qkRnZzX0

Floor space is exactly why the jib crane is the only subset of alternatives. Not only is it easier, but it allows near horizontal placement of the motorcycle, instead of making 6' of cargo space highly cramped that limits allowing a much roomier cargo space of rv alternatives. Ramps suck, are hazardous using, and take up space and time handling. They rattle too. A jib require a 10" x 10" area (plus 13" in counterbalance direction) all the way near the back corner ledge (a strength position of bent steel - possibly the strongest structural position in the van), they fold back against the wall, and naturally pick-up and place the bike in position with ease. The steel cargo area strength was supposed to be a selling point of this van, remember? Reinforce? Steel jib base [Made for VANS/PICKUPS] on steel bed on steel bed frame. What am I missing, another steel reinforcement plate in between? Seriously? So comparing not even stepping into your van ONCE vs. tying down a ramp/ walking up and down in rainy conditions several time/ pushing/holding bike on steep ramp by yourself/ ... it's not even a close comparison in effort, time, cost, or safety. It is near impossible to carry a bike full time pulled straight in AND have a reasonable custom rv conversion van. [0% chance] It is improbable that a RV conversion floor plan could not be mapped out with only part of the far back 3' taken up [Pr Success > 95%] Yes, there are interface issues to be addressed, but nothing very challenging that an 8th grade shop student couldn't handle with ease. It's always easy to accept marginal minutia solutions that don't require any thought, but when it effects you, a little thought is all it takes and then it opens up many new possibilities that were near impossible before, especially simultaneously. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Systemic (Simple) Simon!

If anyone has any NV floor layouts with 1' squares overlaid, that would be nice for starters. :-) I really don't want to buy aCAD Lt if I don't have too $$$. But for 3D accuracy, eventually it would be a good thing to have it on file :-(

(2017 V8/7 sp of course.) To allow room for a motorcycle and a RV conversion, I have to make the motorcycle reside in the last 3' space of the cargo bed, ergo (preliminarily) a $129 jib crane: lift/guide/couple of tie downs on wheel chock.(I also got $4K off MSRP in LA from Truecars.com 3 quotes :-) http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_material-handling+hoists-lifts-cranes+truck-cranes These are made for vans and pickups. The link above has plenty of alternatives and the best one would be worth additional monies.Below is a manual lift through leverage, but I need to understand the lift points better: I have crash bars for stabilizer lifts, but need something else around the triple crown perhaps. The below pic shows an unusual shop lift by leverage alone. http://www.redlinestands.com/catalog/lifts-c-290/motorcycle-atv-lifts-c-290_110/overhead-crane-c-290_110_226/kl-supply-mc360-overhead-hoist-p-1317 The main idea is not to go past 3' from the rear door with the bike angled in there: lift/ guide into wheel chock/ 2 tie downs and close the door never stepping up into the rear of the van (that's the concept anyway.) There would still be plenty of light storage area around the bike for tools, pit-bull lifts, etc... http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-lift-gate/p/MC-LFT-GATE/ The pic above shows it may be possible to balance with one lift point and a sling, guided by the crash bars (the greedy heuristic.) On the above pic, of course, mine would be in the unused horizontal space, but it was a rv conversion layout with a motorcycle pic anyway. The jib crane concept is the heart of the layout and it looks very possible, as well as economical so far. Hopefully, I can get some aCAD Light layouts, cut paper dolls/paste, start number crunching, and start alternative layouts.

Farifield milk is 1,000% better than the alternatives I can get. It is processed and purified differently I think. It's in a little smaller containers and costs a little more, but it goes down clean. Bad milk can clog your plumbing up for weeks! Target carries it if you want to try one out: you'll like it. I am chemically sensitive anyway (1/8th Cherokee Indian), but now I can't drink other milk w/o tasting sour tastes: so I just quit drinking milk if I can't get Fairfield. Atlanta Dairies used to be good when I lived in Atlanta, but it was never as pure and clean as the Fairfield's brand: it comes in a light brown and white paper carton I think. I am in LA, CA, but I hope Target and Walmart (sometimes) sell it everywhere I go! But yeah, if it were in the clear bottles with cream at the top, that would rock too. With all the gaps and delays in the food-line process, it's hard to get good milk that doesn't taste a little sour; so I like the finely processed Fairfield milk which evidently takes a lot more to sour than the other commercial milks on the market, imo as a non-expert, but sensitive taster.

That last pic of the rear end looks cool like an armored car. With a Battery charger on the roof, I don't know if I'll need a ladder, but those gangster peep holes on the rear doors are the coolest I've seen yet :-) Always keep'em guessing!

You are in the heart of the country's automotive custom shops, so a busy van conversion shop is a good one. Follow through with that first while doing other insignificant cost alternatives first. No good shop in CA does not have a waiting list, and one week is not bad. (you should have waited for the stock - the Quality is Why they are on backorder - now your perfect van is defaced.) As a Mfg. Engineer, 3 quotes is a minimum, so you hear enough b.s. and cross check what each says until you get a good answer. By the time you get 3 quotes, you better know where you want to go and how to get there. All suggestions are worthy so far. Also,, temporarily, get some silicone sealant and put around widow edge and nuts until you get better solutions mentioned. Safety first! A small tube is about $4, but Home Depot has larger tubes that you will need a metal applicator. Get black color silicone and that may be all you need for about $20 complete :-) I hope that was not Cerritos Nissan or Downey Nissan :-(

http://www.rocklandnissan.com/vehicles.cfm/make/nissan/model/nv-cargo-nv3500-hd/year/2017/level/USC70NIV171A0/ Well, here's a dealer update in the header that says Late 2/17 for 2017 NV3500 Cargo S V8. Page down to the bottom of the link's page and they show all model 2017 NV 3500's due Late (month?) 2/17; and the one I like, the SV 3500 Tall is right at $35K (minus bonus and disabled Vet discount, $34K maybe.) So for planning purposes, 2/28/17 with tall van comparisons around mid Feb/17 hopefully. What a deal!

No word yet on 2017 NV v8 w/7sp trans? It is past mid month, and the busy Nissan dealer here never called after I left my info looking for a 2017 NV 3500 (supposed to be in last week - Mid month??) There are a few bottom feeder dealers who advertise on Google, but they don't have any in 2017 NV v8 stock either. Maybe Nissan is first-serve to Commercial clients which I can understand. The only hard part is differentiating the 2017 NV 3500 from earlier models since they assumingly will look the exact same, unless they have a new model badge. I'd really like to see a "Hands-on" comparison review between the NV 3500, a transit Med Tall 3.5L econoboost, and a new Dodge van. Unless it's at least 5K miles, the Transit's frame might not be bent yet (from lifting it up) effecting alignments and the Dodge underrated transmission might still be working. Still, a truck review comparison should be favorable for the new 2017 NV V8 w/ 7sp trans economy-wise speaking. I have never been a full size pickup truck customer before, but if I were, the new Titan V8 w/7sp trans really looks tight (in Pearl White!) I am expecting a big shift in the tall van marketplace, since Transit and Dodge Van owners probably do not like sitting at the Dealers service lounge frequently for the same reasons over and over(!).

That's the optimum solution, except for stealth and protection. It's going to be a significant part of my cargo area, requiring many hours of thought to take advantage of the vertical unoccupied space in the tall van. I guess I should start watching "Tiny House", ha ha. If there were an aerodynamic enclosure around the bike on the rear trailer hitch/bumper like yours, then that may be something worth pondering about, but I haven't seen anything like that yet. 450 lbs.for my bike would be enough weight hanging on the rear bumper, so the enclosure would have to be AL sheets like used on pickup-truck bed-dressings (rail tops, inside gate.) It would sure make things a whole lot easier to fit! ** With just your bike on the rear bumper, does your gas mileage take a big hit, or is the Drag Coefficient virtually unnoticeable by gas mileage? Thanks! *********************************************************************************** However, this may support an AL enclosure, but lots of details to investigate. But it's a lot closer than any other hitch-tote I've seen. This looks economical tool, minus the lift/winch/etc... to lift it. It looks sturdy and cheap :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H_Egu0f2f4 Combined with an enclosure like this except w/o curves maybe - ? (I need to study rear aero-draft spoiler shapes- ?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKV58DLC_Jw Or this looks like a mini-version, except only an email contact -? But actually, that's a lot of $,$$$ hanging off the bumper, not to mention the off-sprung weight for carrying near 100% of the time. Back to plan A, and if I need the room inside temporarily, I'll use your cost effective idea! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3vcKHCjpk

Thar's a real nice conversion with a lot of great space saving ideas in pics. Thanks!

Ditto, that's equivalent to 5 x 50 gallon barrels of liquid or 1.25 tons or 10 x 250 lbs. adults.

So 800 lbs cargo wt. is the difference between the 2500 and 3500? I max my motorcycle weight out, and I just have to pay special attention to tire clearances, bigger suspension, heavier fork oil, chain adjustments, tire wear, oil changes, etc... Smaller tires should get better gas mileage and the 2500 may be more comfortable too. So paying attention to minimizing your weight may be a good thing for safety and economy. You may have the optimum rig setup.Try it for a million miles first. An engineer axiom is make static structures about 30 to 50% stronger than the specs. However, a vehicle is dynamic forces, but you are staying within specs: so I would not worry about a Nissan within specs. The NV 2500 Tall V8 I test drove this week was the finest vehicle I ever rode in. Enjoy it! It is perfect in my book. Of course a pre- and post-trip weighing may be good until you are comfortable.

If you want gas mileage, get the high roof since it's drag coefficient is less (about 4 mpg more for high roof - it is not coincidence that all the high roof owners report significantly better mileage!) From riding a motorcycle, the wind beats the road directly behind a low station wagon-like vehicle like clapping hands. The extra height cargo ban resembles the spoilers on tractor trailer trucks, and the extra height must smooth the wind drag from behind the vehicle out. The low roofs look like an $80K luxury SUV, but if you want gas mileage (and have an 9' garage door), get the high roof cargo van. The 2500 v8 high roofs ride like a large luxury car in smoothness. Check out the drag coefficient (DC or CD) in Nissan specs in 2017 NV Press Kit (Specs in 3rd column, tab/roll 3/4's way down spec list: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/presskits/us-2017-nv-cargo-van-press-kit

They did not have a 2017 NV SV3500 v8 tall, but the 2016 NV sv2500 tall rode really nice and something I felt naturally comfortable with. It had a cargo floor mat w/thick insulation, back up indicators, passenger mats, lower wall board panels, and a radio. It is about how I would have one from the factory. The 2500 felt like a luxury car drive, although the bare metal ceiling and top walls had a distant 'bare-can' slight rumble (without insulation.) The v8 felt nice and the van handled like a minivan. The power was enough I never had to step on the gas to keep up with traffic on the expressway, but I could only imagine what 18% more hp and 40% more transmission speeds efficiency would be like in the 2017. The foldable side stacked mirrors were great and I never did miss the inside rear view mirror and rear door mirrors in heavy traffic. It handled like a champ with perfect visibility Compared to the 3500 I've yet to drive, the 2500 has to have a better/softer ride since the 3500 has a heavier duty suspension. The 2500 v8 SV felt perfect to me, and the best ride I've ever experienced yet! I'll have to do some calculations and then do a back to back ride with a 2017 2500 sv v8 tall and a 3500 sv v8 tall (if possible back to back.) I just have to figure the capacity/towing differences and probabilities of needing the 3500 capacity vs. 100% better ride of the 2500 (I assume.) All I can say is it is good as I was hoping for, and better. You lucky guys and gals: I'm more jealous of you now than ever before. ** Next week delivery on 2017' v8's and hopefully getting DC coefficient for Titan for closer estimate of new v8 / 7 sp trans for the 2017 NV V8 tall mpg (hopefully some comparison tests will be out soon anyway.) Yes,4 to 5 mpg difference is huge to me. Nissan is supposed to have some Motorcycle rack, ramp, and pulley options on sale too: along with some camera options (which the resolution of the picture may be in doubt from reviews.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTTgtPcxNRE It looks like it is more for parallel parking which is ok, but not worth what they probably want for it.

Bluetooth is a very harmful microwave type, if you have a rf meter handy to verify level of output. If at all possible, I do not use: bluetooth, but I used to say that about wifi too, ha, ha. Whenever I get any new vehicle of any type, I get an oem shop manual. They help me take better care of my vehicles, even if I don't work on them, except for small things that I can do without specialized tools or lifts. It's also good to help the mechanics speed their trouble shooting with an aware customer ($$$), and it helps to keep from getting ripped off by shady mechanics (there are a few, esp. in California.)

Aren't gravel roads dusty, to some degree?