by advanced | Dec 19, 2019 | Featured Clients
We convert a lot of vans, but a 4×4 Nissan Van just left our shop that was worth mentioning. Strictly speaking, Nissan 4×4 Van conversions have two options. You convert it at stock height, or request the conversion with a 2″ lift. With either option, you end up with a vehicle that has increased traction both on and off road. But… you haven’t done much to change its appearance. Adding four wheel drive is cool, but this van that just left took things to a whole different level. It had two additions that made it really stand out. Accessorize to Stand Out First, was the high level of personalization. Nissan 4×4 vans are cool, but when you outfit them with the right accessories, they become real head turners. With this van, the customer ended up with custom wheels and tires, a front bull bar with Hella light kit, low profile Aluminess roof rack, and our signature nerf bars and rear access ladder. Roofracks and Bumpers We’ve been installing accessories like bumpers and roof racks almost as long as we’ve been converting vans. So, we have almost 40 years to hunt down the best of the best. With very few exceptions, Aluminess produces almost all of the bumpers and roof racks we install today. If the name didn’t clue you in, Aluminess makes every accessory from sturdy, light-weight aluminum. Compared to standard steel bumpers and roof racks, the aluminum construction cuts the weight you are adding to you vehicle by hundreds of pounds without compromising durability. Plus, their products are arguable the coolest looking accessories on the market. This particular van was equipped with...
by advanced | Dec 5, 2019 | Cool Gear
We recently took a Nissan 4×4 van with a roof rack to a trade show. After two kayaks, coolers, backpacks and other gear, we still couldn’t use up all of the cargo space of the full-size Aluminess roof rack we had bolted to the top of the van. The roof racks are huge. During the show, a lady stood back looking up at all the gear and exclaimed “That is a lot of stuff!”, then after a short pause she asked, “How do you get it down?” That was a perfect opportunity to show her one of our latest Advanced Four Wheel Drive inventions – our rear door, no-drill access ladder. The ladder is manufactured from 1.25″ sturdy steel tube and powder coated with a durable long lasting semi-gloss finish. Translation: the ladder is durable and looks amazing on any Nissan NV 4×4 Van. Because the ladder fits securely on the back door, you don’t have to worry about increasing the side profile of your van or having the ladder catch on trees, branches, or rocks when you are off road. It’s one less thing to worry about smashing when your are traversing rough off-road terrain in your Nissan 4×4 Van. Most ladders on the market require drilling holes in the body. Our ladder was engineered with a unique bracket system that attaches the ladder securely to the rear door without drilling. Using basic hand tools, the average 4×4 van owner can install or remove the ladder in under 10 minutes. If you are looking for a great looking, durable access ladder for your Nissan 4×4 van, this is...
by advanced | Aug 11, 2015 | Destinations
Let’s be honest, we sell 4×4 van conversions, so any arguments we make about why 4×4 vans are the most amazing vehicles on the planet are going to be unavoidably biased, no matter how objective we try to be. We’ve been converting vans for almost 40 years while at the same time operating one of the largest general 4×4 drivetrain shops in the western United States. While we might not be totally objective, we do have some great insight into what makes a 4×4 van the ultimate SUV. It is hard for one vehicle to be all things to all people. If you are choosing an SUV for your family, you’ll use different criteria than if you are a business transporting passengers to and from a ski resort. Most SUVs are going to serve one group of people well and be virtually useless to the other. Over the years, however, we’ve seen 4×4 vans meet the needs of people in almost every situation imaginable. Whether its passenger capacity, cargo room, versatility or price, a 4×4 van will beat every other SUV on the market, hands down. Passenger Carrying Capacity If you need to move people around, there simply isn’t a better option than a 4×4 Van. Most SUVs max out at 8-9 passengers. Vans start at 12 passengers and most are also available in 15 passenger configurations. Vans give the added benefit of multiple seating configurations. True, most SUVs will allow you to remove a rear seat to increase the amount of cargo space, a visit to Nissan’s commercial vehicle website claims that the new NV series vans have...
