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Old 01-14-2013, 11:59 AM   #1
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Alaska in a Nissan SMB

Hi everyone, particularly the other NV owner. Used to have an '83 VW that we sold in '99, so we chose the same floor plan with the penthouse. Picked our NV up on 9/26/12 at SMB in Fresno, rather than the dealer in order to have a larger water tank and flat plate installed. NV is a V8 with nav and tow packages. Best mpg was 17.02; worst was 12.08 mpg, based on fill ups. Overall mpg for 4954 miles is 13.34, most likely due to using the engine to run the microwave and charge the system as we rarely had access to hookups; computer says 15.3 mpg. Taken the NV on 3 major trips so far in all types of weather. Met all our expectations. Tried to attach photos, but too many pixels. SMB has a video of the interior/exterior on youtube and vimeo for those interested.

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Old 01-14-2013, 04:27 PM   #2
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Re: Nissan SMB

Well, welcome to the group. I'm still interested in seeing pics of your vehicle, especially in the field. If you resize your pictures off site, the download will go smoothly.
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Old 01-14-2013, 04:49 PM   #3
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Re: Nissan SMB

I tried that, but it didn't work. Later, I posted pics on the gallery without downsizing them; it accepted them. The pictures are there. I haven't taken a photo with the rear doors folded back; this is a great feature.
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Old 01-14-2013, 07:00 PM   #4
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Re: Nissan SMB

Looks like your putting it through the mill Do the Nissan's have a heater besides the vehicle heater?



Looks like it got kinda cold there in Moab.
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Old 01-14-2013, 08:08 PM   #5
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Re: Nissan SMB

No. Alan and Nissan set up the NV as take it or leave it. Adding the larger water tank and flat plate was easy enough to do, but we could not add a stove top. We carry 2 backpack stoves, but haven't used them.
We got caught in an early winter storm and would not otherwise have attempted to deal with the cold. We are looking into "very" small propane or ceramic heaters.
We will have to see how the Nissan/SMB dealership/sale setup works out. The best way to use this chassis is to give Alan the bare van to work with. We are, however, very happy with the "50" floor plan.
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Old 02-28-2013, 08:18 PM   #6
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Re: Nissan SMB

Update on the Nissan SMB relative to tarps and bug screens.
Both the low top and high top NV versions have 10 (low) or 8 (high) roof rack points for work racks and heavy loads. The Penthouse, however, covers both channels with the rack points, negating their use when the top is down. Otherwise, the rack points would be very secure for tarps, on the side(s) and/or rear.
Contacted Chuck at Skreenz to see about getting screens for the driver/passenger windows, sliding door and rear door. He had never heard of the NV, no wonder given the lack of marketing by Nissan, and did not have any patterns for the screens. He would need to see and measure the NV driver/passenger doors, then pass on the cost ($150) of the pattern to the buyer. This is in addition to the $98 for the set. He no longer makes screens for sliding doors, and until he can measure the NV, he cannot make a screen for the rear door. (The Sprinter screen will not fit.)
In the alternative, we ordered driver/passenger screens ($43) from http://www.theskeeterbeater.com on Monday;arrived on Thursday. Composite magnets sewn in pockets hold it in place. The fit is fine. Custom screens are not available, but screen material (54"x36") is available by the yard. Magnets also are available. We plan to make our own side door screen.
The NV sits while the temps in Tucson are more tolerable than other compass points. Temp is supposed to be in the 80s this weekend. Travel to resume in a couple of weeks. Canada and Alaska are on the agenda, starting mid-May.
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Old 02-28-2013, 08:36 PM   #7
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Re: Nissan SMB

I'd kinda like to see a picture of those.
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Old 02-28-2013, 08:51 PM   #8
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Re: Nissan SMB

I just bought a Coleman Black cat perfect temp catalitic propane heater from WalMart.com for $50 for my van.Works great if not too cold.My Little Buddy did too good of a job on low,but in snow storm would be just right.I use a refiller from Harbor Frieght and re-use the 1lb cylinders.
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Old 03-01-2013, 03:12 PM   #9
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Re: Nissan SMB

Right now, we are trying to figure out how many magnets (52 ±) we will need, and whether or not we need the ceramic (?) magnets, which apparently are "heavy duty." I'll post photos if this works, or not, for the sliding door. http://www.theskeeterbeater.com has photos and a video. Much different approach than skreenz' "pillow case" design.
Thanks for the suggestion regarding the heater. Our main concerns are "tip over" (2 dogs) and too much heat in a small space. Where do you safely place one?
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Old 03-15-2013, 04:19 PM   #10
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Re: Nissan SMB

Nissan NV screen update: It again took Skeeter Beater only a couple of days to get 2 yards x 54" wide screen and 50 magnets to us for a total of $62 (included $20 shipping) to cover the 51" wide by 62" high sliding door opening. We replicated the magnet pockets on the driver/passenger door screens we purchased from them, but set the magnets at roughly 6" apart rather than 4". I got it wrong about the "ceramic" magnets; they are not more powerful than the composite magnets. We therefore only used 1 ceramic magnet in the area where we will start to pull the screen off the opening.
Basically, we fit the screen around the weather stripping and the metal bottom of the lower step below the the step buildup by SMB. The magnets let you slide the screen around to get a better fit/no gaps. We may be able close the door with the screen in place, but only if a bear is peering in... When not in use, the screens fold up in a sack and can be stowed anywhere.
We are not sure if we will make a screen for the back door (67" wide by 54" high). There are 2 ways to do this. The first requires 1 yard of screen, velcro and a dowel, but will only cover the area above the bed platform (50 floor plan) from the closet edge to the passenger side. This basically will keep the bugs out when the back doors are open, then shut immediately. The other way involves 2 yards of screen and magnets to follow the weather stripping around the door opening. The screen will have to be seamed in the middle or held together with velcro/magnets, as well as need an additional couple of inches of screen to reach the bottom. We are not sure if it is worth the effort. The side door required a lot of work.
Hopes this helps others considering a screen for a sliding door, regardless of the chassis you own.

Edit: Forget the 1st option with velcro. Read the thread on money wasted on what seemed like a good idea at the time. "Velcro didn't work" for the most part. We were thinking of tacking it down to the cloth covered "padding" near/under the top weather stripping to add strength to the adhesive backing. It probably would pull the material off with the screen. Option #2 will require 4 yards of screening and lots of magnets. (We used the rear screen in our '83 VW, but had to because the ventilation was inadequate.) Still not sure the rear door screen is needed for the 50 floor plan.
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