radin2son

We briefly considered a Sprinter conversion and looked at OV. Unlike SMB, the vans on their site were custom one offs. Way too expensive and flashy. I've tried to compare specs on the Nissan site and very little is different. If I remember correctly, the drive train, gearing, tires and wheels are the same. No mention is suspension differences.

Bamps, Have you seen Outside Van's NV build, Kodiak? Expedition Portal has more info as well. It makes sense that Payson is in the mix as the Nissan's test center is in the Phoenix area. I can see why race support crews will go with NVs. It really is the only new truck available for this. In Motor/truck Trend's truck of the year they used a high top NV. KMG, I have a very basic question. Why use a 3500 to convert to 4x4? Aside from 1(?) more leaf spring, what is the difference between V8 2500 and 3500?

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE National Park Service is 100 years old today. Free entry through the weekend. We are lucky in Tucson in that we have Saguaro National Park, formerly National Monument that I cannot stop referring to as such. There are west, Tucson Mountains and east, Rincon Mountains. We are close to the western part, so after a lunch we will drive over in our VW. Won't be the same as traveling in our NV, but we will be home in time for dinner. Speaking of traveling in our NV, next month will be 4 years of owning our NV and traveling. 20 trips, the longest 2 months. Most tended to be 3 weeks to a month. This year we stayed closer to home and trips were 7 to 10 days. As I have said before the interior of NVs shrinks after 30 days. Much better mpg in our VW tdi but not as much fun. 97* and a chance for rain...don't know about that. The Rangers were still in party hats but the cake was gone. Hope they do this again in another 25 years...

Never been to that part of the country, but too far for us to travel at this time. If you go, let us know what can be adapted to NVs.

I've looked at this link but have not used it. I see its importance as a resource for parts/price but are there any savings ordering or having it delivered to a nearby dealership. We have a Nissan NV dealership 5 miles from us and it is easier to swing by and have them order the parts. Even then, the warehouse for example sent 2 left, front splash guards and next attempt got the right side but no screws. It is far easier walking out than setting up a return.

Truck Trend said 18 mpg so 17 is probably spot on. I was looking at the overall benefits for your use. The family owned body shop I used is no longer in business. I think the entire shop retired together. Looks like you have found the right shop...

Good to see repairs are progressing and that you are enjoying the ASD Dad test fleet. I see you eventually in a 2017 NVP with the new 5.6 if... Can't imagine Nissan would waste time producing the old one. If they have a large stock, not likely with just in time manufacturing, they could offer them as a free upgrade in the 1500.

Thanks. I see you have a Arizona or Desert white NV. The Sportsmobile forum has a lot of good information. I may have been the only NV SMB out of 30 built that participated. No longer... Mostly Fords and Speinters. Be sure to watch the "magic" video. There is another video by a full timer. Both high top NV home builds.

Post #3. Not sure how you did this, but please edit out my profile info. It should only be available to signed in members. It this case it is available for all to see. Regarding photos, make sure you are on the full site, not mobile. Click on reply options or edit and you will come up with the way to attach files/photos. New Apple products make this very easy. For whatever reason, vertical photos don't attach well so try to take photos with your camera held horizontally. There is a lot of good info under conversions. Read everything to get some idea of what works and doesn't. You can also search van life and campervans to get even more info. Lots of VWs out there.

As near as anyone can tell, this is not a Nissan connected forum. No need to withold anything. The main problem with Jim Click is their lack of NV inventory. It's almost like they bought the commercial rights just to have it. The service is fine, mostly because NVs are very dependable trucks and need little beyond oil changes. Go by the service manual and not the extra service package they will want to sell you when you come in. Jeff Holbelson is the service advisor you want to deal with. He will get it that you are going by the service manual. I reccomend you get your service done there rather than a quick oil change place in the event there are nagging issues with your van. Our NV is from California and they have never balked at fixing things. Just take off the front plate Chandler Autonation plate... You can do your own service.

Would you believe, Roswell, NM has a NV dealership? We love getting off the interstate to travel through the small towns etc. Truck Trend did a first drive for the new gas Titan XD and they faulted it for only having a 26 gallon tank. 35 gallon tank would have been much better. They really liked the new 5.6 V8 and 7 speed transmission. 18 mpg.

Welcome. You will have the 3rd camperized NV in Tucson. The other is Daydreamer (?) but she hasn't posted in awhile. Did you buy your NV at Jim Click? Or did you go north? Jim Click has been good for service, mainly oil changes. Very few warranty issues and no recalls for years. Ask for Jeff if you call to set up service. Start your own build thread under Conversions and we will be able to find it. Post photos and ask lots of questions.

Great report. Where did you stay on your travels? Read your other post. Didn't realize you were relocating to Tx. Even so let us know where you pulled in each night, as some of your trip was through some very desolate territory, in August no less. We love early high desert mornings during the summer months, so getting a late start doesn't matter on a trip. It lets you drive until the sun sets and and starts to cool down again. The trick is timing the sunset with a place to stay.

Interesting transition from portapots to engine oil. What is Amsoil?

Welcome to the NV advance promotional corps. You would think after 5 years, Nissan wouldn't need us. Refreshing to hear from the start that NV mpg is acceptable, even better than your 'burg." It's really all about needs as opposed to mpg woes. Somewhere on this site is a caterer and now we possibly have a brewer. Still thinking meetup... Edit: "burn" the typo... Must still be feeling the "Bern." I'm still waiting for the campaign to begin, as in substance. Feels like the primary all over again.

If you get far enough south, stay at Humbug Mountain SP. Very nice campground, showers and nice beach. You can also hike to the top of Humbug Mt. Eat at the Crazy Norwegian in Port Orford. If you attempt to go any farther south, you will find few places to cross the coastal ranges if you don't want to backtrack. Tough choice...but you have 10 days. Definitely ditch the job and leave watching the Lahar to others.

Sometimes 2 things you enjoy, cycling and van camping, are combined. www.theradavsit.com (no relation) has 2 articles on Sprinter conversions for cycling. One is luxury and the other not so much. www.kitsbow.com is a cycling apparel company and has a short video on their "ambassador" van. www.swallowbicycleworks.com has a blog on their Sprinter conversion. Both are young couples, no make that really young couples, hitting the road part time. Interesting reading if you are tired of politics and the Olympics.

Our rear CRL passenger side window is fixed. SMB could just have well left it as sheet metal but probably wanted to avoid the issue KMG brought up. The extra light is good from the rear window, but it also lets a lot of heat in and it requires one more curtain or sun shade. Sprinter conversions have many more options in this regard. Laharview has posts on installing CRL windows, which would most likely be similar to HEHR instalation.

They work fine in the sliding door. Good air flow and no need to worry about rain. Never noticed any wind noise, but it might be masked by all the noise associated with the pop top. The only issues are: you need to pay attention to the sharp corner of the rear portion of both windows so you don't hit them with your shoulder or head. Minor hazard. Even when "completely" closed, the bottom portion will briefly flap open a bit from the air pressure when you close the slider. The screen frames with ours don't fit well but bugs haven't noticed. After almost 4 years of use, no problems.

The windshield shade fits well, held in place by the headliner and A pillars. There is a gap under the rear view mirror. Side shades stay in place when you gently close the doors on them. Stay in place until you open the door. This works for us... Möbius makes in house, Sprinter only, shades that have magnets sewn it. Good application for the front doors. We have some extra magnets from the side door screen we made. If we can figure out a way to attach them, I will post the results.

Rarely do home builds include water systems, perhaps because they can become complicated or are not needed. Möbius Concepts and Steph Davis came up with a great system. Two 5 gallon water containers at floor level. The one with potable water was connected via a pump and hose to the sink and the sink drained into the second, gray water. She carries 2 more potable water containers. All can easily be removed and replaced. Having had to carry water from a distant spigot, I would not be happy carrying 40+ lbs of water. I haven't seen this done on any NVs, but many Sprinter conversions only use 1/2 the side area for entry. In the above build, the sink is in a cabinet in the rear area next to the slider. There is a counter extension that folds up. Great use of space. In SMBs, only a 1/3 of the step is usable. The floor is extended for a little more space and storage underneath. To add strength (?), SMB covered the NV step with a wooden step. Only problem is that it adds about an inch to the step up and the rubberized coating wore through. I put multiple coats of water base, paint-on bed liner. No wear so far. Expensive stuff and I wish I could find more uses.

12 years to go from Titan to Titan XD... Yup, our current NVs should be classics by then. So will I, maybe not classic just too old to drive.

www.mobiusconcepts.com is a relatively new builder, a climber for climbers, using the extended Sprinter chassis. Form, function and quality rule. Check out their upfit packages configurator link. Great photos of their work even if they only build Sprinters. They are not as flashy as Outside Van, although OV does convert NVs. We like the open cabinets with bungee nets to keep things in place. We have 2 closets the we could modify... I believe the Sprinter photos are from the build for Steph Davis (www.stephdavis.com), a climber and base jumper. Somewhere on her site is a description of her van plans. (Just google Steph Davis Sprinter. 5 posts in all.) In short, she wanted a permanent bed platform and "always" made up bed with "garage" underneath for gear, a simple water storage system, multiple small containers hooked up to a sink and perhaps external shower, cooktop and open cabinets. Heat and goal zero solar were add ons I believe. Search her site for this if interested; it was/is a good read. Can't say I would have the courage to base jump in a bat suit. Then again, I have done some pretty stupid crazy things when young... Just don't like heights and falling.

Your insurance vs her's brings up a good point. You have to know your insurer and what's in your policy. It is definitely not just about the best price. If you get this great... Auto body shops can definitely clue you in on who approves repairs quickly and right. Just ask. Your NV has definitely lost resale/trade in value from last week to now. Good luck on getting this priced.

Good to hear that everyone is fine. Hope your Nissan body shop can fix it the way you want. A good independent shop may be able to come up with a "parted out" door. Fixing that rocker panel could be a tough one cosmetically. If you were a commercial owner, you would be happy with a workable door. We are starting to see a few well worn NVs. 3 of 4 sensors knocked out, brocken top brake lights and bashed roof along with assorted mangled bumpers. More important to keep it on the road. I guess the only way you would know the true diminished value would be to trade it for 2017 NV. Not that you would want this? Perhaps Chris_cm can help with this info so you can get it from the insurance settlement.