SMB-W Nissan Van 4x4 Camper Conversion Coming??

[TomH]

My wife and I made the 2 hour 50 min. drive down CA99 to SMB West today for our first factory visit. Alan is in San Diego for the week, so Jeff gave us the tour and then we milled around through the vehicles for about an hour. Pictures just don't do these machines justice!

I asked Jeff what they will do after 2013 when E series vans are no longer available. He said Nissan approached Alan (Yes, THEY asked HIM) about converting a new Nissan van into 4x4 campers. We shall see!

[ExpoMike]

So where are the pictures?

[cwsqbm]

Not really surprising that Nissan is interested. The Japanese seem to understand that filling niche markets can lead to brand loyalty.

Still, if you're not a Nissan fan, you can still choose a Sprinter, Express, or probably a Transit.

I've always thought Toyota should bring the HiAce here too. Might make sense selling them through Hino dealers.

[1leglance]

Nissan has their measuring session coming up soon and I am pretty sure Alan mentioned sending someone out there for that.
When Haven here on Expo first posted about the Nissan NV2500 I got in contact with Nissan and told them about Sportsmobile West (I was interested in a Disabled Explorers project if they ever come to market)....I am glad there has been follow through on Nissans part.
They have an interesting marketing plan in that they are showing at the commercial venues vs SEMA and such....makes sense with the van market being more commercial.

Ford has never given any love towards Disabled Explorers (even after contacting up the ladder past the Econoline brand manager) so I have nothing against moving to another platform, especially if it gets me out from under the current loan I have on the WAVE.

At first the word was the NV series was based on the Titan which meant there was a strong possibility of a 4x4, now in marketing and press materials make it sound like they are farther away from the Titan platform so not sure if Nissan will offer 4x4 or is SMB West will have to do the conversion.
Some of the nice factory features are the hightops that Nissan uses for full standing walk around ease, factory nuts welded into sidewalls for mounting things, and since it has a truck nose there is less of a doghouse to limit driver/passenger mobility.

Oh and just for fun here is a quick rendering that Stefan Blast (a friend from the FJ Cruiser forums) did when I was first looking into the project

[wanderer-rrorc]

the other thing not mentioned is the fact a few sites listed the cummins diesel as an option in the nv2500 and the awd package too...

I would love to see them...havent gotten any in my area yet...Im looking at them for when the kids get tired of the slide in camper...

[1leglance]

if you go to the Nissan Comm vehicle website they show a tour going around the country with the vans for people to see them, also a show schedule of where they will be.

It just says they are coming 2011, not sure when they will actually be at dealers...
I need to find the contact info of the Nissan people I spoke with and get an update on the reality of it all.

Diesel and AWD would be great....but I doubt it will be a reality, bummer too.
No mention of either on the website.

[cwsqbm]

Quigley is looking into converting Nissan vans to 4x4.

Given their philosophy, it will probably use as many Titan parts as possible.