andy_george

Dang, thanks a ton. That Y356 looks to be exactly what I need. A touch narrower than what I've used, but it would totally work. And the load rating is great. Seriously, thanks so much!

The LT tires are a great idea, something I've researched and considered before. The problem is that our older concession trailers have 14" wheels, and an LT tire that small is impossible to find. I should just check if I have clearance to move to a 15" wheel.... That would open up options I'd think. Thanks for the info!

Beautiful van! Congrats and welcome! It sounds like you're here for the same reason most of us are.... The need for a big van that can be asked to work and tow hard for a long, long time. You'll like it...!

I second ASD Dad completely on the cheap trailer tires. Our family has discussed on numerous occasions the complete garbage that is spit out as trailer tires. I've blown at least 4 personally.... And I check the tread and sidewalks regularly, make sure they are always at max inflation pressure, etc. I've also heard some of the Goodyear tires are junk and some are good....I'll assume the 2 Goodyears that blew out on me were junk ones. No warning, cracking, bulging.... And they just disintegrate on the next trip. So frustrating....

The NV has always been about pure function to me.... Not design. My old mechanic hated my Savana with a passion. His exact words were "if it were up to me, vans would be illegal to sell" becuase of the lack of working room around the V8. Does the setup of the NV have its drawbacks? Of course. But every design does. If you take away the "Van" label and call the NV a "truck" with "the most useable and accessible passenger compartment ever" it's a winner every time. ;)

Looks awesome. Good work!

What makes a person a moderator? Who decides? Isn't it often an active member of the forum?

I wish they'd take the NV or the new Titan, either with the Cummins under the hood, and sell it as a cab chassis. I'd love to make that package into a 12' box truck for our business...

My wife saw an interesting article in the Wall Street Journel about families wanting something better than a minivan. I can't read the entire article unless I'm a subscriber, but it may be an interesting read if anyone is interested! The NV looks to be the star of the article! https://www.wsj.com/articles/because-a-minivan-isnt-big-or-dignified-enough-1498132801

Haha, that's awesome to hear! Happy for you! My parents always had a breezeway when I was young, and it was one of the things we really wanted on a new build..... A place to catch all the mudboots/snowboots/heavy clothing required so often in Michigan, without cluttering the house or garage. Also makes a great place to store the NV seats when not in use. Awesome door sizes also. The van parks in the 16x9, and we also have 2 other doors, 8x9, for the CRV and side-by-side. We nearly bought a camper to stay in while our house was being built, but ended up renting a double-wide for 6 months instead. Pretty similar story to yours! Hope you LOVE the new place!

All very smart solutions compared to our plan of attack. We decided to put taller (9ft) doors on a new garage, with a new breezeway, attached to a new house ;) Not the cheapest or smartest solution, but I hate or vehicles sitting outside even just at the grocery store, so a garage was a must.

Looks awesome, congrats! Keep us posted on how you like the new drivetrain!

Silver NVP owner here too. Welcome!

Whoa, yeah, that does look a little ugly. Never seen a plug like that.... Keep us posted!

Are those of you looking to replace your chrome grill with a black one willing to sell? I like chrome, as ours is, and if I can find someone willing to sell cheap (becuase shipping is probably a killer) having a spare is a tempting thought....

Great write up! Welcome!

Looks nice!

Cool info, Jim. Thanks!

The passenger doesn't come with any, or at least my 2014 didn't.....

I'd also have to say it's a very well steering and stable van for its size. Maybe go test drive a different van to compare? Let us know...!

Awesome trip you have planned. I'll be leaving this Wednesday with our two youngest kids to meet my folks (who are heading north from a vacation in Florida ) in Louisville for the Mid America Truck Show. Lots of NVs taking passengers to all kinds of cool places!

Smart design! Moves easier and no scratching the floor. Well done!

I don't think I'd consider adding a handle, personally. But, I do agree with you that the stock plastic handle does make me a little wary of its durability to last 10+ years. It probably will, but it's a piece that Nissan should have put more time and an extra $10 into designing so it feels more robust and satisfying to operate. I'm big into the tactile and mechanical feel of switches, levers, etc. and there's a lot to be said for pieces that just feel "right".

And just a side note, I seem to always find a reason to brag about the brakes of the NV, and this post is no different. I recently helped a neighbor change pads and rotors on his '14 Sierra 1500. It's amazing that vehicle has quite similar tow ratings to the NV, but the rotor and caliper size and robustness are laughable compared to our Nissan. I love having things over-built, even if it comes with a weight penalty....

Same here... We pull a Keystone that weighs around 8000lbs, and the NV has great stability and brakes for towing a load that size. Power is fine.... Could always use more power and gears, but it's more than acceptable to me.