We have one - and it's early days . . .

[Simon & B]

We couldn't find any tailor-made seat covers since it's so new.  We decided to buy cheap "fits all" covers until we could get tailor-made seat covers.  But if they look OK, we may just keep using the "fits all" covers and replacing them as needed rather than investing in tailor-made covers and then needing to clean them.

 

We're planning to do a conversion for camping, but nothing fancy.  Minimalist.  We generally pull a small trailer, and the NV will allow us to go places where even the small trailer won't go.  Plus, it'll be our emergency evacuation vehicle in case of impending natural diasaster.  In 'a previous life' we traveled in a Westfalia.  We didn't even use most of its amenities.

Edited January 12, 2018 by Simon & B

[ASD Dad]

Welcome to the site!  

 

Be sure your seat covers allow for the seat airbag to deploy.  Last thing you want in an accident is your airbag to not go off correctly!  Most NV seat covers that are made for our vans have a slit or special pocket designed just for the airbag.

[radin2son]

Welcome.

 

Big difference between your NV and Westy. I would start every trip wondering what could go wrong with our Westy on the trip. Usually nothing major, but...You won’t have any worries with your NV.

 

After 5+ years of use, the cloth seats have stood up well. No covers.

 

Post photos of your build as it progresses.

[Mark Rogers]

I put some Scotchgard (automotive version) on my cloth seats when I bought the van 13 months ago.  Even with 5 kids, the seats still look like new.  I just wish I had taken the time to put some on the floor mats, too.  I think it's supposed to be reapplied every year or so.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Scotchgard-Fabric-Carpet-Protector-10-Ounce/dp/B001NPD7BK

Edited January 12, 2018 by Mark Rogers

[Simon & B]

There are a couple of posts about our 'conversion' (not so much) at http://oddstray.com

 

Early yet, but we're getting there.

[radin2son]

Enjoyed reading your blog.

 

Abe, take a look at the shelving photos with the bungee cords. This is similar to your plans.

[Simon & B]

We've recently returned from a multi-month travel trailer towing trip, and, by the way, we love the NV as a tow vehicle.

 

But some information about mpg might be interesting to some.

 

mpg is calculated by writing down the mileage when the vehicle is refilled on the receipt from the pump. The info is put into an Excel spreadsheet that includes mileage, # of gallons, cost, and then calculates mpg per fill up. We've kept records from the day the NV was delivered. The first data point is clearly incorrect. All others are valid.

 

Here's the data:

Date Mileage Event Cost # Gallons MPG

17-Jan 428 Costco - Carmel Mountain CA 68.43 23.444 18.26

24-Jan 719 Loves Yuma AZ 54.86 23.453 12.41

28-Jan 958 Loves Gila Bend AZ 46.52 18.617 12.84

29-Jan 1069 Loves Yuma AZ 20.96 8.735 12.71

6-Feb 1336 Costco Scripps Poway CA 70.97 22.466 11.88

27-Mar 1538 Costco Scripps Poway 58.19 18.189 11.11

22-Apr 1665 Costco Scripps Poway 37.60 11.468 11.07

4/29/2018 1883 Costco Scripps Poway 64.83 19.416 11.23

5-May 2167 Costco Santee CA 79.30 23.33 12.17

16-May 2249 Costco Scripps Poway 25.68 7.556 10.85

18-May 2468 Chevron, Yuma 47.85 15.995 13.69

19-May 2688 Circle K, Surprise AZ 47.46 16.04 13.72

20-May 2926 Shell, Show Low AZ 58.73 19.583 12.15

23-May 3154 Chevron, Milan CO 50.87 16.63 13.71

25-Feb 3404 Conoco, Durango CO 49.93 16.93116 14.77

26-May 3526 Bayfield CO 18.93 6.355 19.20

28-May 3679 Montrose CO 33.52 11.327 13.51

31-May 3875 Gunnison CO 44.01 14.202 13.80

2-Jun 4108 Wheat Ridge CO 43.07 16.51 14.11

5-Jun 4302 Estes Park CO 39.99 14.287 13.58

7-Jun 4516 Rawlins WY 45.06 15.871 13.48

9-Jun 4728 Lander WY 38.07 13.6 15.59

11-Jun 4962 Dubois WY 48.94 15.791 14.82

13-Jun 5150 Idaho Falls ID 47.60 15.511 12.12

14-Jun 5352 Lima MT 38.76 12.308 16.41

20-Jun 5651 Dillon MT 57.75 19.922 15.01

22-Jun 5802 Idaho Falls  33.43 11 13.73

23-Jun 6069 Orem Costco UT 54.54 18.18606 14.68

24-Jun 6284 Cedar City UT 46.08 14.588 14.74

26-Jun 6527 Nipton CA 85.72 17.863 13.60

6-Jul 6825 Costco Scripps Poway 77.27 23.143 12.88

 

Interpretation:

 

What seems to be clear is that when we go up in elevation, the mpg gets quite a bit better. That mpg of 19.20 is, honestly, absolutely true. We traveled the 'million dollar highway' between fill ups for that one (clearly at an average really low speed). ...Edit, oops, not true. we were running around Durango-ish, not hooked up to the trailer for that one, but the number is still true... 

 

The towed trailer weighs around 3500 lb.

 

These numbers are, in fact, slightly better than with the same trailer being towed by an Xterra in similar circumstances. I'm not certain why that would be the case, except perhaps if the bigger frontal area of the NV is 'sweeping aside' more air to flow over the trailer rather than the trailer buffeting into it.

 

We're geezers, so we don't travel at more than 55mph, anywhere, when towing.

 

Thoughts?

 

We're delighted :)

Edited July 20, 2018 by Simon & B

[radin2son]

We also posted that we noticed better mpg at altitude; you are the first to comment on your similar observation. We recognize most of those place names.

 

We did the Million Dollar Highway north to south with a dirt side trip west of Purgatory to look for a campground, which lived up to its “location.” Our mpg from fill up at Ridgeway, CO to Gallup (?), NM was 14.31. Drove it the wrong direction...