radin2son

Shore power when we can get it. No genny because there is no place to store it or fuel. Do not want to go with a big box on the back. SMBs come with a microwave and sometimes a propane cooktop. NV SMBs only have a microwave. (We were told they could not vent the cooktop due to the proximity of the gasoline intake. Could be, but in the "Magic" video they put one in.) You need shore power or run the engine to use the microwave. We also take a toaster and coffee maker that can run off the house batteries and inverter or shore power. Everything else is 12 volt but can still deplete the house batteries in a matter of days. Without shore power, a 80 to 100 watt solar panel, if I recall this correctly, with keep the house batteries from depleting. We would still have to start the engine to be able to use the microwave; the toaster and coffee maker would work fine, but not running at the same time. Too much of a power draw. I have only seen one portable solar unit in use, a motorhome and he had to keep moving it around. Sort of like a solar shower bag. My hope is someone on the forum has used this... After 2 years of only using the microwave and quite a few recipes, we wanted a more varied menu. We bought an inexpensive Coleman propane stove, mainly because you can find fuel everywhere, and decided to do what most campers do, cook outside. Hence, the periodic (my wife says delete periodic) need for a bug shelter. Car camping ones run around 14 lbs., fit over a picnic table and can be folded up fairly small to stash in a vehicle. One thing I would add about solar during the build process. Have it pre-wired for solar. If you go with a pop top roof, go with electric, not manual, to have the option for solar panels on the roof and whatever rack you need for bikes, kayaks etc. There is one other option, a solar generator. In theory this should work, but works better for emergency use during residential power outages to run lights and a refrigerator. To make a pot of coffee in our van, you need a $1000+ generator. Too costly and too big.

We know NVs work well for both, but I have several questions not necessarily related to the van or choice between conversion or towing. 1. Solar? Although the raised "pent house" on our SMB can support 100 lbs. and fixed solar panels will work, my concern is manually raising the roof, parking the van in the sun when you really want shade and only needing solar to keep the 2 house batteries charged. Zamp makes a portable system ($700+) with 16-25' cord. There are cheaper and homemade systems, but my question is: Are they worth it and do they work well enough when parked/camped for awhile. Driving and overnight camping negate the need for solar. 2. Bugout shelters for car camping? Kelty, REI, Eureka and others make them. Wind, rain, collapsing and cheap materials/construction seem to be the most frequent complaints. We need one to set up for a cooking area outside and not become the main course. Any suggestions? If others have questions related to getting out into the great out doors, ask and I'm sure there are enough forum members with answers, maybe even opinions. Update: 3/21 Solar. All the ads and research can only give you so much info. Real world use; that is, somebody who has used this over time can only say it works effectively. For now,again, this in on the back burner. Bug screen rooms: If it doesn't say "noseeums," it isn't. LL Bean sells one that is very sturdy and heavy like the old family tents. "Gnats get in ..." We bought the REI screen room and rain fly. $300 is pricey for something that can collapse in wind or rain, and the poles may bend. But, if it works, we use it. If not, REI gets it back.

There are a lot of firsts, navigation, backup sensors and backup camera, for us with our NV. The only feature not on the general complaint list is the camera, unless it was included with the inside rear view mirror and head rests. Our backup sensors do not like shadows or drop offs. So, how do these options compare with those on Nissans or other manufactures? Are we talking about Nissan using old technology across the Nissan line? Just NV? "No vehicle is perfect" is not a great response; we heard this previously in a service complaint, not mine. Is "It (current technology) is what it is" any better? I did not know what to expect, but I'm surprised the sensor (and navigation) problem was not known by others prior to purchase and thereby a deal killer. So, we are left with an annoyance or work around. Or, Nissan comes up with a solution and fixes it

There are at least 2 posts regarding switching to Apple's system. (My current phone won't work with it, even with updates, so there is no point in switching out.) Nevertheless, I am interested in whether or not this is a better system and how it works relative to what we have. So, any NV Apple user reviews?

I will let you know when we are in the area. If you haven't taken a test drive or watched the various NV and Quigley videos, do so. This is one seriously, well built vehicle!

Our goal when we committed to buying the SMB was 1000/12000 mi a month/year and to keep it for 10 years. Why 1K a month? You have to drive 500 miles to start your trip from Tucson as the joke goes. Our last short trip was in December (too nice to leave AZ in the winter), so we don't always stick to this arbitrary goal. But in 2+ years we have driven 40K. Next trip is to Charlottesville, VA (via I-77 at some point) this spring. Not sure if we will continue north, but if the weather is good Newfoundland and Labrador, maybe, beckon. When in high school, I lived in Sept Iles, Quebec. There now is a road (Trans-Labrador Hwy) from Goose Bay, Labrador to just south of Sept Iles. 775 miles of wilderness on an asphalt/gravel road that is graded once a year. Will need new tires and possibly a battery if we attempt this, probably not. Eastern Canadians visiting Tucson say Newfoundland is a great place to visit. Have you heard the term stone drill? I hadn't so I need to consider some type of AT tire that help prevent this on gravel roads. (Travelers on the gravel Dempster Hwy to and past the Artic Circle in Yukon and NW Territories recommend 2 spares. The road seemed smooth enough but I guess rocks get caught in the tread, hence stone drill. We were turned back by a 15 kilometer section of flooded road.) Back to my original ? I looked at what is available on Nissan's commercial site and it is sufficient. It would be better if you could pull up dealers by state. Back to your ? Yes, we like road trips, the more secondary roads the better. Our longest road trip has been 2 months in the SMB. Gets smaller and smaller after 30 days.

I know you said Nissan is committed to NV production and may/will add another shift, but what happens when the new Titan starts production? One thing not clear in the promotion of the new Titan. It appears there is a Titan Lite as well. I went back and re-read sales numbers and what others have said, NVs are doing well. The "cab only" version should do well as well. Watched Truckumentary #4 and winced big time at what they put the Titan through... Truck Trend gives you access to all 4.

Jon, I didn't know you could reprogram them. The system seemed oblivious to over inflation when when we had the rotation issue. We had the system reset at a new non-NV dealership in Wyoming, and the service manager mentioned that Titan owners would get a TPMS low psi warnings when they installed new tires "radically" different from OEM. If you lower the pressure below 50/80 psi when you drive in sand, I wonder what will happen.

I've done both what you suggest as well as a Google search on a trip to the Everglades. Ended up at a new dealership in Panama City. This worked out fine, but it would have been easier having a list before our trip to figure out where we could get service depending on destinations we were considering. Your second suggestion actually is doable online if kept simple; that is, list NV cities by state. AZ Mesa Phoenix Scottsdale Tucson Not sure how many states or provinces are covered by forum members, but they could post the numbers for their state/province. A separate list would be needed and edited by 1 person. Edit: Unless the already is a list, it is not worth the effort.

Starting to see quite a few Transit passenger vans, but only 1 low top cargo van in Tucson. White vans with commercial plates. Not sure where they were purchased. If they are fleet, they could be from anywhere. Very few ProRams. All cargo.

It is kind of comical when we drive up to Jim Click Nissan and dwarf all other vehicles as we approach the service entrance. Then reality sets in. Watch the mirrors! They barely fit. Never looked up, so don't know if a high top has to watch the mirrors and top. Still, it is great having NV service 5 miles away...

I didn't think each dealer would have this, but Nissan Corp I'm sure does. If mapped, it would look like the early cell phone coverage maps with lots of blank areas. If just listed by state, it would be less revealing but useful. I still think it is a problem for NV owners not being able to use any and all Nissan dealerships for routine service.

Staff, Do you have and can you make available an online list of NV dealerships in the US and Canada? This would be helpful both in terms of purchase and service, the latter particularly when traveling. The way it is now, I search "Nissan NV dealers in ? State" and get all the extraneous stuff that google loves to provide. Using Nissan's site is not much better as it wants a zip code and/or other info and a mile limit search. Even a "wants to know your location" would work better. rad

Jon, your conversion is looking good. Reminds me of Kodiac. What progress have you made on the interior? With your new tires, is the recommended psi the same? If not, have you permanently disabled the TPSM, or just ignore it? Also, did you install new batteriies? We have trip, if spring ever arrives in that area, to Congaree NP, the Smokies, Shenandoah, the latter before or after we visit family in Charlottesville. If you, Chattanoga or anyone else have any suggestions, please post under "events and gatherings." rad