Nissan Van - NV 3500

[Caroyl]

Does anyone here tow with a Nissan NV 3500, 12-passenger van! We are considering one to tow our 1964 Overlander that is fully rebuilt... new axles and on up. We would like additional passenger and cargo capacity.

[wave man]

I remember reading someone's talking about it, somewhere... had some advantages if you can get past the looks... 🤣 ...confess I considered it but ...

[OTRA15]

There are recent threads on this FYI. We drove one but could not "get by the looks," as wave man just said, and that huge nose projecting out.



FYI: https://www.google.com/search?q=niss...=airforums.com

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...le-134174.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...-144015-2.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...an-117018.html

Have you driven one? Curious for your thoughts after you read some of the other feedback.

Good luck,

Peter

[uraljohn]

I currently tow a 2017 23D at about 5600 lbs with a 2013 Ford E150 XLT Premium van with factory tow package. After test driving the 2017/2018 Titan SV King Cab with tow package, I drove the NV3500 van. That will probably be my next tow vehicle. The Titan has a less than desirable 2.93 axle ratio that is not suitable for towing. The NV3500 van has a better but not perfect 3.36 axle ratio. It will do a fine job towing your Airstream. Go for it. I have always towed with a van. I will not buy another Ford product as a result of transmission failure at 67k miles and zero response from Ford on there defective 4R75E transmissions. I have heard good things about the Titans of the past so I will roll the dice with the NV3500.

[n2916s]

My 2004 Titan 5.6 liter gas pickup (same mechanicals a the NV 3500) had 213000 miles (80000 of it towing my 31') when I traded it in Fall of '16, It was still quiet, comfortable and everything worked but the CD player.

[wildhorses]

Originally Posted by uraljohn

I currently tow a 2017 23D at about 5600 lbs with a 2013 Ford E150 XLT Premium van with factory tow package. After test driving the 2017/2018 Titan SV King Cab with tow package, I drove the NV3500 van. That will probably be my next tow vehicle. The Titan has a less than desirable 2.93 axle ratio that is not suitable for towing. The NV3500 van has a better but not perfect 3.36 axle ratio. It will do a fine job towing your Airstream. Go for it. I have always towed with a van. I will not buy another Ford product as a result of transmission failure at 67k miles and zero response from Ford on there defective 4R75E transmissions. I have heard good things about the Titans of the past so I will roll the dice with the NV3500.

I completely agree, towing with a van is the best solution I have ever had. I have towed with every type of truck over the years but since trying a van I am a van lover forever. I am looking at the NV3500 Diesel as my next TV.

[KWN306]

I have a good friend that has the NV 3500 and pulls a 32' brand "X" with two slides. He purchased the van because they have six boys, all the boys are either Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts they are out camping as a family at least twice a month from May through October. His RV weighs 8200 #'s empty and he swears he gets 15 mpg. The van has over 100K and no problems.

[JayTheCPA]

I looked into the NV Passenger and it does seem like a nice tow vehicle with awesome room for passengers or cargo when not towing. On the Nissan forums, I saw where the NV3500 / Passenger was very capable at towing in the 7,500# territory.

Two limitations that may affect the calculus for use as a tow vehicle are RWD and a 28 gallon tank.

The RWD is fixable by an aftermarket outfit which installs almost all of the Titan's 4WD parts into the NV.

For the 28 gallon tank, am not seeing anybody coming up with a mod to fix this. Couple that with a fuel burn of about 10 mpg while towing and the safe range is about 200 miles.


Toward commentary about waiting for the diesel to arrive in the NV, I had read where there were a couple of unexplained crank failures around 100K. So might want to wait a bit to see if that is a fluke or something that needs correction.

[slowmover]

Low COG. And with the shortrear overhang its far closer to “designed to tow” than any pickup as inherent stability is greater.

4WD doesn’t add to, but is subtractive.

As to fuel range, I’ve covered North America more than once with a 170-180/mile fuel range (80% capacity). Hardly a burden.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by JayTheCPA

I looked into the NV Passenger and it does seem like a nice tow vehicle . . .
. . .

Have you ever driven one? We did not like the large protruding front, and relatively poor driver vision from the low seat. More like a pickup IMO.

Our Ford Transit 350 fits the bill just fine for the FC20. Unfortunately, Ford does not have Transits which can tow much more that 6,000 pounds, like our old E-350 van could handle the 25' way back when.

Cheers,

Peter

PS -- See Post #25 et seq. here for further details on our TV:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...se-171397.html

slowmover makes a number of good points there as well, and there are also some Nissan NV comments.

[uraljohn]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Have you ever driven one? We did not like the large protruding front, and relatively poor driver vision from the low seat. More like a pickup IMO.

Our Ford Transit 350 fits the bill just fine for the FC20. Unfortunately, Ford does not have Transits which can tow much more that 6,000 pounds, like our old E-350 van could handle the 25' way back when.

Cheers,

Peter

PS -- See Post #25 et seq. here for further details on our TV:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...se-171397.html

slowmover makes a number of good points there as well, and there are also some Nissan NV comments.

The Ford Transit Van Wagon (Van with an Interior, not the cargo van) Has less than a 5000 lb towing capacity. Even the cargo style vans are no more than 7000 lbs. They have no frame, there unibody. Also, I believe that in the owners manual it states that no WD hitch is allowed. Yes, on the hitch that Ford mounts from the factory it has both Ratings on the sticker attached to the hitch. However, owners manual says no WD. Ford quit making the E150/250/350 van that had very good tow ratings and were full frame. Big loss. The NV3500 is a great substitute. The 2017 and newer models have 8400 lb tow rating, 386 HP, 390 LB FT torque, with a 3.36 axle ratio. Decent combo. I drove one and it is quite nice. I will raise the seat height couple inches when I get one as the factory setting makes you feel like your setting to low.

[OTRA15]

I believe the Transit owner's manual says WD "not recommended" but does not outright prohibit it. Further discussion is available in the VANS thread linked earlier, where the Transit's limitations were discussed in more detail. No need to tow that conversation over here.

If you get a Nissan NV and raise the seat, please let us know how it works out. Low roof or high roof?

Cheers,

Peter

[wave man]

I'm following this for further feedback, if the choices had been more in the Van side of the house I would've been thrilled. I remember the old ford lines mentioned in the earlier posts fondly... Please, keep us appraised of your impressions and observations!

[wildhorses]

Originally Posted by uraljohn

. I drove one and it is quite nice. I will raise the seat height couple inches when I get one as the factory setting makes you feel like your setting to low.

Before buying our Van our TV was a Freightliner with airride seats, my wife regretted not having those seats in the van so I bought a pair and installed them. You can make an airride seat whatever height you want and you will always have a smooth ride.

PS. As an added bonus you can install train horns and everyone will get out of your way. ;-)