Daydreamin520

sounds wonderful... definitely keep us updated! congrats.

Would it be wrong to assume there'd be a few in Utah? lol... My Dad was Morman with 9 kids in his second marriage and they always joked about owning a big van.

I appreciate info and advice. Quote just came back for two 4000r fan-tastic fans installed with wiring, SRM24 battery, battery box, vent for box, fuse box, etc... at $1583. I am going to think it over. I mean, how much would an AC unit installed be? I know I have to separate, in my mind at least, the cost of the battery installation... but do I really need it if not "living" n van? (yet...) I'd rather do solar and I like your suggestion of pre wiring AND wiring for shore power. For immediate upcoming trip, I am going to go buy a Schmacher XP2260w 6 in 1 at Walmart... lol. 100 bucks. I'll be able to jump van or charge little stuff anyways. Thanks again!

What is your house battery setup? I want to be able to run a microwave occasionally, a couple lights maybe, and charge 2 phones and 2 laptops. I wish I could bring my 1000w Ninja Blender in the van, too, but I am guessing "not." I went over to B & C Marine Supply in Tucson today, about a Fan-tastic Vent fan and I guess I will be getting a quote on that with install and wiring and house battery setup... in a few days. I THINK I want an AGM battery because I want to avoid maintenance that I would most likely forget to do. The more I research, the more unsure I am as to what makes the best sense for my van.

Chris Dempsey - If you check out the Slicklocks, they are not technically a surface mount. They attach under the original door lock plates so only the disc lock is seen from outside vehicle... no drilling at all. Really not a bad option for only about $190 for both rear and side doors, locks and plates included. Tanunka - I'll take your word for it... kid tested! lol.

To radin2son.... the steel plate lock security system you saw is one from UK that prevents that "punched" entry from happening easily.

UPDATE: Pete from Jim Click Nissan very helpful. Explained that I may have an aftermarket alarm. But, with further convo', I realized not true. He explained that the standard alarm installed does NOT have motion sensor. It will only go off if: ---door is opened ---window is broken ---dome light is left on (it will alarm after a few minutes to notify you.) SO.... when my alarm went off by accident, it was because I had the side door open when it was triggered. Just went out and, with the van "off", did the lock and rock test.... NO ALARM triggered. Yay! I have learned, tho', that many commercial vans do install exterior locks, such as Slicklocks and Milenco, because to break into those side and rear doors all one needs to do is punch door above the lock to disable it. Good idea if one has expensive tools/equipment in there. Take care!

So, in other words, you cant lock van with alarm off while inside it, unless you have motor running the whole dang time (not an option. I know)? Hmm. If I was dead asleep and with 4 doors as options for 2 or more people to open at once, I don't think dogs, guns, mace, or wasp spray would do the trick. One guy, maybe, but I doubt it. Maybe I will call car alarm people tomorrow. I did find a link that had external padlock/locks for side and rear doors and that would limit entrance to only two front doors. I just don't want to trap myself in the back, either. Will research further. Thanks.

How can one sleep in van with doors locked without causing alarm to go off? I haven't tested this out yet but, one time, I accidently locked doors while I was inside van working on it, and the alarm went off when I barely moved. Is there a way to temp disable it but keep doors locked? Could I remove a fuse or something? If I cant figure it out, I will buy chains and padlocks at Home Depot and run 'em all thru' the door handles...lol. Help! Thanks all!

Many thanks all.

Before I ruin any of the predrilled/threaded holes in my cargo van interior... I did search thru' forum topics and did not find the answer... - Does anyone know what SIZE screw fits in those holes?? I am assuming I should get a "for metal" screw. And if there is a recommended type, as far as strength and durability, please advise. Many thanks.

I have always been a "regular" gas user. I used to use Chevron, for the magical Tekron (lol) in it - whatever that is - as I had read it did help car. I KNOW, from reading, that being faithful to one brand or another, in general, is a waste of time. ... Even tho' my Dad used to be a Shell guy, I now pretty much fill up wherever, even (gasp) Circle K. I do know ... 1-best to pump slow to get more, 2-best to pump in early morning, 3-best to look at last inspection date of pump for when its accuracy was checked. Was at a station the other day where Regular was checked in 2014 but the other "better" grades were checked in 2010 and 2011! So, before I keep pumpin' in the 87 stuff... any words of wisdom would be appreciated. PS - I did not see a "Performance" category to post this in.... if there is one, feel free to move this. Thanks.

Is it just because of the longer NV "nose" compared to what you driven in past? I have not had a problem. But my prior car, Honda Element, had TONS of blind spots, so I've been drivin' blind for over ten years... lol.

I just did a daytrip, 309 round trip. Slow incline upgrade on the way there, AC on full blast most of the one way 'cos grandson was "chillin'" in the back watching redbox movie. Super crazy winds the whole time, some dust clouds, and even 4 or 5 "sun showers." When I refilled tank at home, I had averaged 14 MPG. I say not too bad, considering. Now where the heck can I wash this thing? Went thru' a cricket swarm or something!

If you go to the nissancommercialvehicles DOT com website, then click on Find A dealer on left lower side, the put in a city or zip and search for just Business Certified, it works. An industrious person... not me... well, not me today... could go state by state and mark 'em on a AAA paper map.

harold50 - when you go to reply to this thread, instead of clicking "Post" in the lower right corner, you click on "More Reply Options", where you will find a place to "browse" and add pix.

UPDATE - Got in van this a.m. and it was DEAD. No noise, no lights, no power. Called Jim Click Nissan first to ask them if there was anything I should know about battery before AAA guy got here and tried to sell me a new one. Spoke to Frank, the service manager, I think, and he said if it was the original, it was still under warranty. Said I could come right out after it got jumped. AAA guy, Paul, very nice. Said the battery was fully charged. Told me to drive straight to Nissan place without turning off the van. Halfway to place, van died at a light but restarted instantly as I hollered out, "noooooooo." Almost died a second time, gauge needles fluttered, warning lights blinked, two lights from place. Once there, all folks nice and helpful. Because it died/almost died while driving, they did a few other tests (alternator?). Said battery was fine and the only thing they found was that the positive battery cable was super loose. I asked if AAA guy coulda done that and they said maybe and were surprised he did not notice it, if it was not his fault. So... one hour later, drove home. No stalling out. We will see how it goes... BTW, they did tell me I had a missing power steering cap, which will cost $39. to replace. suggested I go ask CarMax to order/pay for it. I said, ya, but over 30 day warranty by about 2 weeks. Will still go ask on Monday, tho'... what the heck, can't hurt. Later all. (AAA guy loved the van... and -politely- asked how much was it. Still, did act incredulous that it was my daily driver and not bo't for some work related reason... lol)

lol.

says "to the first retail buyer" on that warranty. So, with only 29k on my 2013 NV, as a second owner... no go for me?

Thanks rad'. I actually may have pressed the panic button this morning, when I let my two boxers into the side door, because it did go off, right as I first let them and myself in. I just hit the unlock button twice and that stopped it. Hmm, maybe that factored in to the stall thing. Yes I did get it from Texas... it is a 2013 with 28k on it. Maybe all batteries need a switcheroo... but I will wait and see and, for a little while, keep my adventures confined to paved road with good phone reception... lol. Thanks.

For future reference, in case I ever get stuck somewhere. How should an NV be towed? (high roof SV V6 2500) Should I refuse if they show up with a truck that only puts one set of wheels up off the ground? Seems like I've read somewhere someone getting damage from a tow. (or was it a tire change?) Thanks.

1 - Had not driven van in a few days. Cold morning, for Tucson. Half a tank of gas, engine light still on C, oil indicator in the middle. Drive less than 2 miles from house, get into a left turn lane to go into the Burger King and I suddenly notice van has stalled. Only thing I noticed was that the red "BRAKE" indicator was on, as if parking brake on, I guess ... but it was NOT on. I turned key to off and then on again... brake light off, good to go. I can not imagine what caused this but hope it can be explained that maybe I didn't have it into "drive" all the way? Or low battery, maybe? As I said, it had sat for 3 days and I did have a lot of things going all at once... heat, both defrosters, the radio, ran the windshield wipers to get frost off, driving lights probably on. Should I be concerned? 2 - Is there a way to lock up van but NOT have the alarm on? Like, if I have my dogs in the van, I'd like to lock it if I run into store or gas station for a minute. Tried once... and alarm started going off when dogs moved around inside. Thanks.

...especially with a happy wife. Congrats!

Go to top of group main page and search "for sale". There's one that was just posted by... (CORRECTION: listing by "beesigner") Good luck. I used Autotrader and CarMax, among others, to find my NV. It took 6 months and paying to get it transferred to my city but so worth it.

Not a funny comment, but something I have been asked more, in a month of ownership, than any other vehicle I have ever owned... ... "How much did this cost you (set you back, etc...)?" ...like, once a week, so far. It catches me off-guard, just a little. I really can't think of any other time, in my life, that some STRANGER has bluntly asked me the price of my car, until now. They always follow with ... "I'd like to buy one..." so I guess it's a good thing. Just kinda weird...