We all fit! (New 2015 NVP 3500 SL owners)

[Mazinbenny]

Our family recently outgrew our beloved 2004 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited in mid-July.  Now that we have 8 in the family (and our minivan had 186k miles), we needed an upgrade.

 

We shopped around for a long time, comparing Sprinters, Ford E-Series and Transits, Chevy Express, GMC Yukons, and even used limo/party/shuttle buses.  We knew if we were upgrading we wanted at least 10-12 passengers.  As I said, we're 8 by ourselves, but we wanted the option to take along a couple friends or the grandparents when they are in town (I HATE driving multiple vehicles to the same destination).

 

We almost bought a used '13 SL in Cali when we were able to work a killer deal with our local dealership at the end of the month...  and so we got a new 2015 NVP 2500HD SL, with the tech package, in dark blue.

 

Even though we've only had the van a little over a month, we're already moving quickly on modifications.  We've added running boards.  We've figured out how we can have the second row reversed, and we'll soon be adding a custom-built/removable table that will make it nice for roadtrips or even around town (my wife homeschools our children, and no time is wasted, even riding in the van ;)  We're also going to add some screens in the back as well as some fun LED light strips (we had Christmas lights in our old minivan year-round)...  makes it a party-bus!  I've also purchased a roof rack (same time as our running boards), so we can continue to use our Yakima skybox for cross-country trips (we need a lot of stuff!).

 

Mostly we LOVE it.  Our nickname?  The Beast.  Nickname from our kids? The Big Blue Bus. 

 

Some initial complaints (mostly minor / we'll figure out a work-around):

• Reflection of the instrument panel on the side-view mirror at night.  I'm considering getting a cheap laptop polarized/privacy screen and cutting to shape over the instrument cluster to see if that makes it go away.  Otherwise, I'll probably just attach a piece or paper or something to the edge of the cluster that sticks out towards the steering wheel and blocks this on long roadtrips.
• Can't turn on the rear lights from the front?!  How is this possibly missed?  Hence the reason for some LED light strips which we'll turn on/off with the AC power inverter switch to get around this problem.
• Lack of information/knowledge online and even at our local Nissan dealership.  It seems the NVP is in this tricky middle-ground between commercial and regular vehicles and parts and documentation doesn't live completely in one database or the other.  Glad this forum is here to figure some things out!
• Nav/tech package is kinda wonky sometimes.  Maybe I'm just learning how to use it (and it is very different than our old nav unit on the minivan).  Why can't I be on the phone and see the map/follow directions at the same time?  Speakerphone is pretty weak (even with volume cranked) compared to other vehicles we have with Bluetooth capabilities.

[andy_george]

You'll love your new van, good purchase! Your mods are good ideas, and your minor complaints are the exact issues I had when we got our van last year. But I'm glad to say the positives have FAR outweighed the negatives for us 20,000 miles in. We love our van, and I'm sure you guys will to....!

[RICK]

On my 2014 I wrote up the same complaints about the nav tech features. Total waste of money as its pretty useless for my work. Yes the bluetooth sounds like a tin can and my customers complain we have a bad connection.

 

There is a simple workaround with the map and phone being used at the same time.

 

Turn your phone onto speakerphone, that will trick the nav and allow you to see the maps while on the phone. Or use google maps on your phone and you can navigate from the phone while on bluetooth with the van.

 

Rick.

[ASD Dad]

What roof rack are you getting?  What running boards did you put on?  I am still hunting for a good rack.  Yak seems way overpriced for what I need to build a decent rack (and I have owned Yaks in the past).  Aluminess looks the best but you pay for it!  Contractor racks like Topper Mfg look "decent" and so far is my current possibly buy choice.  I should be able to easily mod it for carrying what we want.

 

My BT and Nav work together but only when you have a route running.  When BT is active it just shows the next instruction on the screen - like turn left in 900 ft.  Ideally it would show the map and and have the phone number small, the number is a lot less important than the map!

 

The reflection bugged me a ton for a long time, especially the first time I saw it.  When I tinted the windows it helped somewhat but it is still there.  Now I honestly dont pay attention to it enough to really bother me and I tend to be really bothered by stuff like that!  No clue how the engineers never thought of that happening.

 

I am more bugged by the blindspot mirrors not having adjustment range.  I am 6'2" and I cant get them tilted enough.  The top of the mirror shows about midway down the van so rearward visibility stinks.  When I am towing I dont mind as much as I can monitor my trailer tires and it helps when backing but in daily driving I wish I could see more of the lane next to me.

 

The lights not turning on is a huge miss by Nissan.  Commercial or passenger that should be part of the system.  It cant be that hard to wire it in, when you open a door they all turn on together.

 

OH - how did you flip the seats?  I thought that wasnt possible due to the tracks being narrower in front vs. the rear.

[Mazinbenny]

I got the same running boards and roof rack as user "likeskites" as seen in the "Alberta NV" photo gallery, here: http://nissannvforum.com/gallery/album/45-alberta-nv/ The rack is a little lower to the roof than the yakima towers, and it was just over 200 (with discount code), as opposed to about 350 for the yakima towers/bars that I priced out on amazon.  It is the "H3 Style Aluminum 2 Bar Rack" from eurocampers, here: http://www.eurocampers.com/H3-Style-Aluminum-2-Bar-Roof-Rack-System-w-end-caps-for-Nissan-NV-Full-Size_p_1345.html

 

In terms of turning the second row around, the first comment is this: if you don't want to modify the floor or seats, it will only turn around into the extended-legroom/further-back location.  Also, because of the overhang of the seats vs. the legs of the seats, you can only turn around the 2-pod, and you have to remove the single seat.  I took a C-clamp and squeezed the front hooks on the seats for 30 seconds so as to make them approximately 1/16" skinnier.  I could actually fit mine in un-modified, but I wanted it to be a little easier to get in-and-out...  probably depends on how thick the welds are in your floorpan.  I plan to make a short youtube vid of this in the next couple weeks or so.  An added benefit: when the seat is reversed vs. a 3rd row with 3 seats, the passenger legs are offset almost perfectly.

Edited September 14, 2015 by Mazinbenny

[ASD Dad]

Thanks for the link to the rack.  Looks nice for the money and they sell bolt on kayak mounts already!  I think the rear ladder roller would also be handy for loading boats up there.  I could easily mod fork mounts for bikes.  I'd probably go with the 3 bar system for more mounting options but it looks nice overall.  

 

Shocked at the running board costs.  My kids climb in well as it sits stock but the boards would help.  My polished stainless bars with a lifetime warranty were only $275 for my Tundra!

[Mazinbenny]

Yeah, a little sticker shock until you remember they are 89" long. ;)  Those are actually some of the cheaper options...  I looked around quite a bit....  Even my 2yo was (kinda) managing, but it is SIGNIFICANTLY easier now that we have the boards on.  A worthwhile investment in my book.  The only downside: drilling holes in my brand new van. :(