radin2son

I saw an option for cabinets on a Sprinter build. Instead of doors on every cabinet, they used cargo netting. Not sure where it was sourced, but it looked functional. Things will bounce around on shelves... I haven't looked at Instagram, Travelogue, by Tim Lutz (?) in his NV in a long while. He had some interesting ways of organizing things. Now that you are back in school, you can do some serious day dreaming on destinations.

Why do you want to change the fluid?

Great idea regarding the bed. Will you store the panel on the other? Looks like you have enoughroom for bikes, front wheel off, which seems the most common way with fork mount bolted to floor.

Have you tried contacting Quigley or Advanced to see if they have any in the pipeline?

Looks good. Do your plans include water storage? If you haven’t done this before or not traveled in the west, you will need this. Doesn’t matter what system you use. If you are just going to go with containers, consider the rectangular store bought gallon containers. Easy to store and refill. Buy a gas funnel just for filling. We carry 30+ gallons, 20 in a tank, the rest in gallon containers. There are places where you will have no choice to buy water.

Natural look with linseed oil is a good look. Do you have a timeline for your build? Plenty of great public land out west for the time being. Saw an ad for an interesting coalition of wilderness, outdoor industry, and bullets/hooks.

Great job on the ceiling. Are you going to seal it as is? I’ve seen posts of silmilar wood build outs but never in a NV. I remember some of your first post. Are you going full on dirtbag or part time?

I would drive with it open if not too noisy. Unlike NVPs, there are no vents for the cargo area. It gets very warm back there. The ac and heat for the cabin area work well. No one has posted extending the existing duct work. One of our dogs will lie on the floor next to the center bin to get cooler. That may be the only place you could easily add a vent. Unless you need the height to stand up, I would think you could add a cross beam if needed. He has since sold his high top conversion, but Jon Nelson had a poptop installed. He needed the “very large hole,” not his words, to be able to stand up. It will be interesting to see how you will carry or store your bikes. I’ve always like the garage/bed platform. A rack is a pain when using the rear doors. A roof rack adds too much height. Keep the posts coming.

Daring project. Looks good. Both will let on a lot of day light when parked. At night, you will look like a regular work van. Do you plan to drive with the sunroof open? No one has mentioned noise from the ladder mounts.

That’s steep. The cargo front bumper is less complicated and expensive, no sensors or fog lights. All the more reason to try to fix, not replace.

Great for a solitary traveler. Maybe 1 dog.

I get it, but it is counterintuitive. Smaller engine, more payload. Nissan probably built in overload capacity (in terms of recommended payload) with minimal sag.

For whatever reason I didn’t scroll over far enough. Also interesting that the V6 has a higher payload capacity. Standard roof 2500 cargo V8 has 2920# payload capacity. 3720# for the 3500. High roof 2500 cargo is 2760#. 3720# for the 3550. Our NV SMB conversion curb weight is about the same as a NVP. Towing capacity is the same, 9400 for both.

A new front bumper is not that expensive and if the sensors are intact you will not have to replace them. The key issue will be the plastic that holds them in place. It cannot be repaired, you can try glueing it in. Ugly! You might try a local body shop to see if they can pull it out enough to stop the beeping and reposition the bumper if needed so it will keep it from damaging the facia above it if bumped again. A dealership shop will most likely just want to replace the bumper. I have a thing with boulders in the wilderness. I backed into one but convinced the dealership to massage it back in shape and position. Sensors were ok, Earlier, I had to replace one someone else bashed. Expensive! Rode up on a boulder pushing in/up the lower portion of the right front bumper. No body damage and the bumper stayed in place. Bodyshop manager at same dealership said leave it alone or replace it for $450 plus labor. (Rear bumper is twice that.) When I have to replace them, it may be time to look at Aluminess (? Spelling) bumpers.

5 Star Safety Rating for 2018 NVP Frontal crash: Not rated Side Crash: Not rated Roll over (single vehicle crash): 2 stars How deceptive this is based on the crashes above.

Nissan commercial doesn’t offer as much info as before, but dealerships may for each vehicle on the lot. Jim Click Nissan has a 2018 NVP SL, V8 ($43,315). It may be a 2500; sticker doesn’t indicate what it is. GVWR is 9480# and maximum payload is 2490#. No cargo vans on the lot.

There you go. We’ll be able to overload our 2500s faster than ASD Dad’s and Mark Rogers’ 3500s. Have you loaded your NV close to payload capacity? Our loaded van probably weighs 8000+#. We started with the known curb weight of the SMB conversion, then added up everything we put in... everything. I believe the payload capacity of the 2500 is 9100#. Looks suspiciously like the V8 towing capacity. Nope, but close. V8 towing capacity is 9400#. At any rate, I’ve never noticed any sag.

Doesn’t Randucci’s 3500 have a slightly higher payload capacity than my 2500 due the 3500 suspension and tires? 3/4 ton vs 1 ton? If so, then a suspension change could increase the payload capacity of the 2500. I looked on the commercial site, but only found the towing capacity difference between the V6 and V8. ASD Dad’s and your comments about sag are accurate... I love the assumption on the Roadmaster web site that the vehicle will be overloaded.

The addition of a leaf spring and bigger tires increases payload capacity for the 3500 vs the 2500? From your previous comments about towing, more cargo means lower towing rating. If you get it right, less sag would be better for towing?

CRL Windows. www.sportsmobile.com has a store listing windows that fit NVs. They have 3 locations for installation or they will ship them to you. I just ordered from Fresno SMB a hard wired carbon monoxide monitor after ours quit. Didn’t know they had be replaced every 5 years. Fixed windows for slider ($150), rear fixed quarter panel window ($200). Dual vent windows ($450) for slider or driver’s side. It appears the fixed slider window is no longer a Nissan NV cargo option. Rear door glass is and well worth the minimal cost.

If you are close to Charlotte, take it to Scott Clark Nissan (commercial dealer). Chris hasn’t posted in a long time, so he may have moved on as commercial and fleet manager. They worked on our van during a trip east. He is very familiar with how we use these vans. Just checked their web site. Chris is still there, most likely as busy as ever...

You’re welcome. Fortunately, my wife hates having her photo taken and I’m at the wrong end of the camera. I have to catch her unaware. Even she agrees one of the best photos was of her looking at a glacier from the seaward side in AK. Our NV is less reluctant...

KOFA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Quick trip to the mountains between Yuma and Quartzsite, AZ. This is a remote area you see on a map off I-8 or I-10 and drive on, unless you have a way to camp. No water, pit toilets, tables or place to get gas. All camping is dispersed and you have to cart out all trash. For us, it was a go see it and camp off the main, dirt roads. For others, it is all about 4x4. 14 day stay in the refuge per year, but it is surrounded by BLM land. On the way home, we stopped at Naked Dates, an organic date farm in Wellton, to get a date shake. If you have never had one, you have to...

This isn’t news. Without NVPs and campervans, posts would be nonexistent. A NVP travel blog would be great.

Are these posts on FB? ASD Dad, you and others have provided many useful posts on this. We are on our home from Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and witnessed the migration north of the snow birds. Population doubles in Yuma and Quartzite from October to March. Mostly RV coaches towing jeeps/atvs. High winds today and they are all over the road. Some of the very large 5th wheel towers also have a second trailer with a Jeep or multiple atvs. Tow vehicles seem adequate...