Hi folks... Looking at TVs that can carry a number of people and tow relatively big. The NV with the V8 supposedly will do ~9k towing. Anyone here own one? Like to hear your experiences...

Be careful with the fuzzy math. Any passengers in the NV vans deduct from the advertised 8700 lb tow rating. Not any different from all the SUVs, but that's not how Ford rates their vans. Just be sure to look at the GCWR and make sure you will have enough.Also, the NV 3500 has a payload as low as 2,480 lbs and max payload of 2700 pounds. That's less than a Ford E150:E The problem isn't GVWR in this case, its actually a very hefty curb weight approaching 7,000 pounds. That's 1,000 pounds more than an empty Ford or Chevy 1-ton van.

If I were considering an NV van, I'd wait a model year to see if by chance a heavy-duty version with the Cummins 5.0L becomes an option.An NV van with the small Cummins, again assuming they would offer a HD version with a nice payload, could be a very interesting package for RVers who need lots of passenger capacity in their TV.Or rather than waiting you can get a very nice E-series or GM van with plenty of capacity and be done with it.

I don't disagree at all with the fact that the E van is a better towing platform. The new ones with the Torqshift and the V10, with the right axle ratio cannot be beat. I have a friend with a 2V V10 F350 and sometimes I think I'd have done just fine with a V10 truck instead of my 7.3 and had less to think about.But the fact of the matter is (at least what I've seen) is that the E vans are spartan on the interior and basically stripped of any kind of creature comforts that are even on entry level Ford cars. You cannot get an E van with side curtain airbags for all rows, proper head restraints, etc. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong). Nissan fills the gap with the NV 3500 in the SL trim for people who just want a little more from their van experience. I think it fills a niche for people with large families who want to pull more than a pop-up or smallish trailer. Which, for all of us who watch our numbers, is all most third row SUVs are good for once you load them with passengers and cargo.So I was curious if anyone had actually bought one, towed with it, and had some real world weights to share :)

I hope someone that actually owns one chimes in for you; here in Phoenix I see many of them clearly in commercial service but I'm not sure I've seen one yet that at least appeared to be for personal/family usage.Any interest in the GM vans, or not your cup of tea? Off the top of my head it seems I notice many HD GM vans that appear to be personal-use vehicles, particular van conversions. I hear that 6.0L/6speed is a great combo, and at least one forum member (can't remember his name) has one and is VERY happy with it.Back to the NV, any idea what its rear axle rating is? You may have a hard time staying with GVW with multiple passengers and a TT hooked up, but I'd be curious as to the rear axle and its capacity.

I tow with the van in my sig., but I am definitely going to look at the mew Ford Transit, for 2014-15 (when they come out). Available Eco-boost V6, 3 roof heights and 3 body/wheelbase lengths.The E series is a great tow vehicle, but the Transit will(should) provide all the up to date safety features.

Anyone tow with a Nissan NV 3500 van? | Good Sam Community

SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Nov 29, 2013
TriumphGuy wrote:
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
bmanning wrote:
5800lb is a fairly beefy rear axle...good job Nissan.
If they were calling the van a 1500 model,
5800 lb RGAWR would be worthy of ALOT of praise! :B
But, they're calling it a 3500 model, in which case,
5800 is just below the expected norm (6000+) for a 1-ton.
Nissan is just barely squeaking into the 1-ton category here....
True I guess that's is squeaking ... my 3/4 ton rear GAWR is about 6000. Still I was somewhat surprised that it was so "high" compared to their Titan.

IIRC the NV 3500 rear axle is tire limited, I looked up the load ratings for the LT245/75R17 and they seem to align with the NV axle rating.
Most 3/4-ton and 1-ton SRW trucks/vans/suv's rear axle weight ratings are limited first by the tires/wheels, second by the springs, thirdly by the brakes, and lastly by the axle itself. This is especially true of SRW trucks using Dana 70's, Dana 80's, Ford 10.50", AAM 10.5" and AAM 11.5" axles, all of which have far higher ratings for the axle itself, than for the tire/wheel and spring ratings the truck is equipped with.
TriumphGuy
Explorer
Nov 29, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
bmanning wrote:
5800lb is a fairly beefy rear axle...good job Nissan.
If they were calling the van a 1500 model,
5800 lb RGAWR would be worthy of ALOT of praise! :B
But, they're calling it a 3500 model, in which case,
5800 is just below the expected norm (6000+) for a 1-ton.
Nissan is just barely squeaking into the 1-ton category here....

True I guess that's is squeaking ... my 3/4 ton rear GAWR is about 6000. Still I was somewhat surprised that it was so "high" compared to their Titan.

IIRC the NV 3500 rear axle is tire limited, I looked up the load ratings for the LT245/75R17 and they seem to align with the NV axle rating.
mcsurveyor
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
We tow with a Chevy Express 3500. Looked at the Nissan NV 3500, but couldn't find one in stock at the time. Still can't. Looks like a nicer vehicle overall, but the Chevy has it beat in the drive train, tow rating, capacity, and interior volume. Still, if Nissan puts a diesel in the next version and doesn't charge an $11k premium for it (ala GM), I would have to give it a closer look.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
bmanning wrote:
Having low expectations is a very underrated and under-utilized key to happiness in life. :B
That's the truth right there.
carringb
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
bmanning wrote:
5800lb is a fairly beefy rear axle...good job Nissan.

E350 and Chevy 3500 vans some with either a 6400# or 7800# rear axle. Of course, both of those are actually limited to 6080 pounds because of the 245 tires.
bmanning
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
I guess I just had low expectations for the RGAWR, LOL.

Having low expectations is a very underrated and under-utilized key to happiness in life. :B
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
bmanning wrote:
5800lb is a fairly beefy rear axle...good job Nissan.
If they were calling the van a 1500 model,
5800 lb RGAWR would be worthy of ALOT of praise! :B
But, they're calling it a 3500 model, in which case,
5800 is just below the expected norm (6000+) for a 1-ton.
Nissan is just barely squeaking into the 1-ton category here....
bmanning
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
5800lb is a fairly beefy rear axle...good job Nissan.
TriumphGuy
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
Heavy Metal Doctor wrote:
TriumphGuy wrote:
Hi folks...
Looking at TVs that can carry a number of people and tow relatively big. The NV with the V8 supposedly will do ~9k towing. Anyone here own one? Like to hear your experiences...

We have one. Largest passenger vehicle on the market from one review I saw.
The tow rating on a CARGO version of the NV3500 HD is 9500lbs. But on the the PASSENGER version it drops to 8700 because of the interior (seats, trim, etc).
We tow a TT we are pretty sure loaded (have not weighed it to verify yet as we just got it last month) 7000 - maybe 7300 with no trouble.
I have driven all sorts of other vans and I will say I like the NV much better. The 3500 is basicly 1-ton single rear wheel chassis. It drive as solid and stable with the TT behind it as it does empty.
In tow mode, the trans will downshift going down a hill and give you what amounts to engine braking (startled me the first time it did it).

We really like having all our "junk" inside the vehicle with us and being able adjust positioning or to take out the seats allows you to make the best use of the space. Our kids are grown, but travel with us often. Take out the back seats and there's more space for luggage than we ever had in a Tahoe or Suburban while still having 2 rows of 3 seats each behind the driver. Room for everyone to "spread out" and relax on a long ride. We love it.

YAY! Thank you for responding ... I knew there was someone out there. If you ever get a chance to weigh your combo, I'd be really interested to know how the weights work out. Also what TT do you have?

I did not get a chance to look at the NV last weekend - it actually sold before I got there. Wow. I think it was on the lot for about a day.

One number that I couldn't find online was the rear GAWR. I finally got someone at the dealer to call me back about that one - the NV3500 has an axle rating at the back of just over 5800 lbs. Way higher than a Titan - and close to my Ford. Looks like Nissan is in the 1 ton market, but did it with a van before a truck :)

Thanks again and if you have any impressions on towing grades I'm all ears...
LarryJM
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
All the parts of the rear air system are available from Ford parts dept for the E-series vans. You do not have to buy the Club Wagon to have rear air.

Tire size for the E350 is 245/75-16E, on our 2005 anyways.

The full size Transit van does indeed sound very interesting. I like the little Transit Connect. :)

GM and Dodge have a long row to hoe if they ever want to catch Ford's F150, Ecoboost engine and HD Payload/Max Tow package trucks.

I found that true when I ordered the cargo version in my signature. I even got the SS swing out "rec" mirrors. The only option I couldn't get was the multiple CD player (0nly the single) and that was because of how the options packages were listed. My Van has every option available except IIRC the Al. wheels, rear second Heat/AC pkg, dual alts, the aux fuel port and PTO(I think that was an option). I might have missed something but this was over 12 years ago. I was able to get the one up front GAWR and AIC that are/were popular on the ambulance prep pkgs. I have the full headliner, carpeting, running boards, power everything, cloth bucket captains chairs, chrome bumpers and step towing bumper, etc., etc. It did take some finesse to get somethings like the SS "rec" towing mirrors could only be added if you picked a couple of the other options in a particular order:E ... so that was just a quirk in the ordering system that one had to get around so to speak.

I've been towing/RVing with a full sized Van since the late 70's and think they can't be beat unless you are going really heavy or long in a bumper pull trailer.

Larry

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Anyone tow with a Nissan NV 3500 van?

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