radin2son

White Sands National Park seems to have become a must see NP. Be sure to check if US 70 and park are closed due to missile testing. Usually just a couple of hours. Closures are posted well in advance on park website. Roads are plowed due to drifting gypsum. In photo below, water table is inches below the “road” surface. Gypsum dunes are much finer and cooler than sand dunes, so the ambient was much cooler than outside the park. Bring something flat to ride down the dunes. In the past you could rent a board at the visitor center.

Andy, How is your conversion working, full time or otherwise?

Sometimes you just have to wait until you download photos to a lap top… BLM Three Rivers Petroglyph site. This may be 1of 2 campgrounds. Visitor center closed and camp host (?) not available. The second campground is 10+ miles closer to the mountains, but website listed it as closed due damage from past forest fire. No indication it was closed on sign going in. BLM Valley of Fires campground and lava flow. Sites are on a ridge overlooking the lava flow and paved foot trail (1 mi). Tent sites are off the ridge, up against the lava flow.

50th NV trip. Took longer than we planned to get it done. Loop trip to SW New Mexico. Planned to start out in Silver City and end in Las Cruces before heading home. Weather forecast flipped this. Started out at Aguirre Springs campground (BLM) on the east side of Organ Mountains National Monument. Beautiful area and views. Next up was Valley of Fires camp-ground (BLM) with stops at White Sands National Park and Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. (Skip this if you have seen other rock art. Not well maintained by BLM.) Valley of Fires is a lava flow. (OK to use tents only area if not towing.) Last destination was Datil Wells campground (BLM). Another beautiful area with views. Cold at 7000’. Snow as well.

Just back. All BLM, except for a coffee, 2nd or 3rd breakfast, in White Sands National Park. No different from when it was a Monument. BLM has upped their game in web sites and pdf links.

Didn’t know downshift beeps, then prevents downshifts. Guess I have been too cautious in getting speed down before downshifting. Not worried about 4-5000 rpm…

Crusty, Just out of curiosity, at what maximum speed/rpm would you downshift to 3rd with manual mode on a steep downhill? I don’t think there is a problem with NV brakes; rather, these are heavy vans that pick up speed quickly on long downhills. Paying attention to gradient, brake check and runaway ramp signs goes a long way to finding the right gear at the top.

I don’t think this is what he was asking. But… you are right about downshifting. Engaging tow mode also helps.

No clue.

Yesterday, I was wondering about the view of the Lahar. Whereabouts in the sw? A short trip “in the works” to NM north of Silver City and west of Socorro. BLM land and campgrounds. Too hot in May even in the mountains.

Was that an available on the SL? If so, you may be able to find one. Moot if you have an SL.

Tim Dahle Southtowne Nissan (385-247-1855) in South Jordan, UT may or may not be able to help with your questions as they converted NVs to 4x4 using Titan parts. Website suggests they still do. Mixed reactions to their response on this site. timdahlesouthtowne.com has a bunch of videos of their conversion.

This is based on the NV 2500, so I don’t know the front/rear psi for your van. TPMS most likely not recalibrated when tires rotated. If you have the recommended psi in the front tires, and TPMS registers them as rear tires, it will trigger the warning. Put recommended rear psi in the front tires and see if it goes away. Or another possibility is one or more of the stem sensors is dead. Batteries typically last 5-7 years. You will have to replace the stem and assume the others will go bad soon if not previously done. And yet another, you may be using the spare, or more likely a replacement wheel which doesn’t have a sensor. Same result as a dead stem battery. Then you can go through the reset process… or rotate the tires back to the way they were or run the max rear psi on all 4 wheels, the same as most cars.

2017 NV high top V8 for sale. $26k. 123,000 mi. Not mine but looks very familiar.

This isn’t the topic I wanted personal experience, but I lost 1 key and fob on last trip. Interior got a great detailing looking for a misplaced key. No such luck. Everything I read suggested biting the bullet and going to the dealership for NVs. 1 key blank (part #H0564-7Y010) $47.60 1 key fob (part #28268-ZT03A) $140.42 Dealership had to get code from Nissan Corp to be able to program key and fob. (Nissan limits keys to 5 copies.) $179.00 Problems started when first key was improperly cut. “Machine malfunction.” New key ordered. Then they couldn’t program the new key/fob. Left van there and told them to call me when new key/fob worked. Took 2 1/2 days. New, before programming, and remaining key worked in all doors except the driver’s door. In almost 12 years, I never used the actual key to open door locks. My guess is the driver’s lock never worked. Total cost for this misadventure was $401.70.

2019 NV2500 high top camper conversion for sale. $69k V6 or V8? Not mine, but worth a look. Another 2019 NV high top (V8) partial conversion. $46k. This may have been posted here awhile ago. Also not mine. Or if you want a 2009 Cube? $14k Definitely not mine.

Surprisingly, Nissan NV 2011+ is still listed in their catalogue. Driver’s side (FW801L) is on clearance. Passenger (FW805R).

You may be able to get by with replacing only the slider window. You can buy screen material and make screens for the driver side tilt out and front door windows (think pillow case for these).

I would leave the rear window as is. CR Laurence may still make side windows with lower half awning vents for NVs, slider and driver’s side. They come with screens. There are other manufacturers but problem will be availability. With all those windows, it will be like living in a fishbowl at night. You can make your own roll up thinsulate panels. Can you just put a subfloor over the tracks?

I believe there have been several diy heater installs. Try switching your posts to conversions to get a better response.

There has been some talk about making this a National Park. Did this years ago with Sahuaro National (Monument) Park. Ranger at the time pointed out this didn’t mean a bigger budget. Read today that USFS is opening a new campground at Rucker Canyon south not too far away toward Elfrida. There used to be a lake until a huge forest fire and flash floods eradicated the lake. Should be open this spring.

Consider modular units that can be set up or removed as needed. Ventilation may be an issue. Roof fan or front window vents (someone here has these) would help. Good luck.

Quick 2 night trip to Chiricahua National Monument. Plan on making a reservation as campground is full most of the time and there is fenced ranch property all around, so no nearby dispersed camping. You can take Pinery Canyon Rd (dirt and closed in winter) to USFS campgrounds. Haven’t been up this road in a long while, so it may mean not maintained. Cold with overnight rain and snow, more like frozen rain. Ground was warm enough to melt the snow at 5400’. Park Service plowed the road to Massai Point at 6870’. Dogs not allowed on the trails, except for the trail from the campground to Far Away Ranch and Bonita Creek. 4 miles total.

Aluminess sale. 20% off.

Gone. Sold?