radin2son

Saw a blog that millennials are getting into the campervan segment. I can understand dirtbag (their term) climbers and trail/ultra distance runners, but millennials? So there is a market for Metris, NV 200 and City Ram commercially built conversions. Can't wait to see them out there...

Testing is only required in Tucson and Phoenix, and all cars from 1967 on must be tested. If repairs are done and it still fails, you can get a one year waiver. Taken off the road or sold to someone else? They do have obd test lanes, but the regular lane I was in was faster until I slowed it down. Commercial fleets use a different system which probably accounts for NV unfamiliarity at the test site I went to yesterday. There were many warning signs not to bribe the testers...

SMB west also converts Chevys. These run $100K+

It's a sniffer. It seems redundant with all the sensors on modern vehicles to require testing.

In Arizona (at least in Tucson and Phoenix), emissions testing is required but waived for the first 5 years. I took our's in yesterday to the contract emissions testing site. This involves checking the gas cap, opening the hood, finding the catalytic converter and doing a tailpipeoscopy. They had never seen a NV so it took longer than usual. It passed, no surprise. Unrelated, Those are great photos just posted in the gallery. I thought they were a promo for the 2018 NVP.

No NV, but here's a look at other poptop versions: Mercedes Metris. One sold for $77K+ Ford Transit. Somewhere around $80-90K Mercedes Sprinter 4x4. "If you have to ask..."

Thanks for the follow up.

Thanks for the heads up... it makes you wonder if stress is put on this area when changing the air filter. Probably not. Can you determine how much air is being sucked in? As in use plastic wrap or thumb to see if it pulls in enough air to suck in the piece of plastic Is the air filter too clean for the miles driven? Both may help decrease/increase your concern about damage and next step. Car Talk had all sorts of stories about things being sucked into engines and generally they felt things burned up and just drive it. What can you do but drive it...

I've suggested and asked this before: Does this problem show up on the Titan forum? If not, is it related to the de-tuning of the new V8 for NVs? Regardless, the computer should have the correct shift points. Get what ever info you can before you go to the dealer, if only to educate their service department. When it wouldn't shift, did the revs and engine noise go up? NVPs are heavy vehicles and you may need a heavier foot than you are used to in previous vehicles; mpg won't suffer too much. Everyone gets about the same mpg range depending on use.

I saw a blog, Adventure Journal?, that also featured this Titan and they were not that comfortable in some 4x4 situations. The Titan tent option has appeared before. Remember the Pontiac Aztec? Whata vehicle... The RTT on a bed rack is a much better idea and very popular in this part of the country.

You'll be the first to take on the ding guard. How do plan to use your NVP?

30 of them out there, so plenty of time to convince your wife she really wants to camp in Telluride or drive to AK. I rarely look at the Sportsmobile web site. Did follow this one. Sportsmobile converts MB Metris and has one for sale for $74k+. Why and why does it cost so much?

We keep track of it primarily to see what our adventure costs. MPG has been very consistent. Main variable has been terrain. With those prices in $, I'm not sure I would want to know. In 2012, when we picked up our NV in California, I blissfully drove away. My wife then asked, "Do we need gas?" Almost beyond empty... Never had a tankful click off at $100 and still not full. No wonder Nissan only gave new car buyers their first tank on the house.

We have an early 2012 model and the gauge shows oil temp. The oil or service reminder can be reset, if not by you then by the dealer. Since these are commercial vehicles, the service reminder and road use time may be important to fleet managers. I've never reset the use time and have not had the service reminder come on. There are some who would change the oil at this point and every 3000 mi/1800 k (?) thereafter. If so, good time to put synthetic in. This reminds me of the old egr light that was mileage based. Our VWs had a button under the front bumper you could push to reset.

Welcome. That is quite the crew you have...

I meant moving web posts to the 2 classified sections already established... The post regarding wtb a used van could be moved from the buying leasing section.

ASD Dad, Sonce you are justifiably moving items for to Classifieds, I think WTB should go there as well. In the case of the seats, wtb prompted the for sale post...

The NV Sportsmobile sold. Hope they show on this forum. Even at just under $40k that was a great price for a conversion.

Interesting Titan options. The first is from the Titan site and the second is from trucktrend.com

Welcome. You will love your NVP if you buy one. I think Andy George put it best: "It's a truck with van capabilities..." or something like that. In late May 2013, we drove to Alaska from Tucson, spending 2 months in our camperized NV. The roads generally are in good shape, except for well marked gravel breaks and construction/repairs. There is very little in terms of elevation gain in part because the road was built for military use. You will not tear up your NV. Check out Mile Post that describes the route. You don't need to buy this, as the many visitor centers will give you all the information you need. You will use lots of very expensive gas. Drive the top 1/2 of your tank as gas stations are far apart. The good news is that they are often family owned and include a restaurant, bar and campground. No problem with credit cards. They were using chipped cards long before the US. The drive can be tedious which is why many use the ferry system. Same reason many fly and rent. Since you and your wife appear to be planning to buy a trailer but have differing views on size, have you considered the Titan XD?

Welcome. Did you also convert your E250?

MPG wasn't as low as feared. 14.2 mpg for an almost 1600 mile trip in the mountains. For those interested: 85 octane in the high country. One 86 and low country was 87. 85 and 87 are the norm. MPG by the tank came out .2 mpg less than figuring it on total miles and gallons used. This van was outside the ACE Hardware store in Telluride, the only store you could afford to walk into. It may a cooler? The dog is a mailbox.

Thanks. I haven't figured out mpg for the trip but it will be low. Spent a lot of time in manual mode on the dirt roads and long ascents as well as tow mode on the steep, long descents. One tank was under 11 mpg. That was right after our battery died and long idling didn't charge it. As I told you, we were able to use the "house" batteries to jump it and drive 60 miles to the nearest auto parts store in Montrose. Your entire family will love this area. Bring every toy you have... and dogs.

SAN JUAN SKYWAY COLORADO We just completed an 18 day van camping trip in this area. We started in Cortez and took CO 145 to Woods Lake campground. The 10 mile drive in to the campground is paved for 2 miles, then well maintained dirt. Narrow in places but you can tow your rv easily. Light use and no reservations. This was our destination because of all the trail heads from the campground; this trip was for our 12 and 14 year old dogs. Lots of biting bugs so bring a screened shelter or bug repellent. Also lots of rain. Woods Lake is off the grid. No hookups, but there is water and 3 two seater pit toilets with solar lighting. Bring drinking water as the potable water is heavily chlorinated. Dogs are "on leash" in the campground but on their own on the trails. If our dogs could talk, they would say it was paradise. They did wear bear bells. We had no intention of going to Telluride other than to be able to say "Yes, we went." There is a campground in the town park that is first come first serve. We were very lucky, got a site and stayed the maximum 7 days. Very close to town and free gondola. Map scale is 600'/inch Again, lots of access to trail heads. We are not into this, but bring a jeep or you can rent one. Lots of biking as well. Back to the highway. Return to CO 145 and head to Ridgway via CO 62 and pick up US 550 to Ouray and Durango. On US 550, there are 3 passes (11,075 10,910 10640). If drop offs bother you, drive this going north. Campgrounds are mostly reservation and heavy use. We camped 1 night at Sig Creek campground. 4x4 almost needed to get into the campground; the 8 mile road in was in ok shape. I two seater pit toilet. The men's side should have had a sign saying "If you can't aim, sit." I used the womens' side and... No water, but there was this fantastic pump almost as tall as me that should have produced water. Not a drop. One couple chose to camp just outside the campground. It was open range and they had a heard of cows near them in the morning.