The mighty buford
To be able to make this epic journey, the first thing we needed was the vehicle. Our choice was the Nissan NV 1500, which was named Buford. He earned the moniker "The Mighty Buford" after proving himself to be unstoppable! Without the features and comfort of Buford, this trip would not have been possible - plain and simple.
The Mighty Buford in the Wild
Driving into Death Valley from Arizona, I found this lonely stretch of road, with nary another vehicle in sight. I wanted to make sure Buford had his own photoshoot, so I pulled across the highway to grab this shot. Now THAT'S a good lookin' van! =)
The NIssan NV 1500 - a solid van built on a truck frame.
The NV - facts and figures
In the review by Car and Driver, they said "Although it looks like the offspring of a Titan pickup and an armored car, there’s a lot to like about this unorthodox van. Choices of regular and high-roof models, three payload configurations, and a standard 261-hp V-6 or optional 317-hp V-8 are designed to meet the needs of business users. The NV3500 HD passenger version offers seating for 12, tinted side windows, curtain airbags, and a navigation system, making it an attractive proposition for livery service, sports teams, or big families."
You can read the whole of their review here -
http://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/nv1500-2500-3500
A very special Thank You goes out to Weston Nissan in Weston, FL, who sponsored us by getting Buford tuned up for the journey, andespecially for donating money to cover the fuel on this trip!
In Nevada, middle of the night. It was around 1 am, and I needed to get to my next location. Note the shooting star in the middle of the power lines.
Buford for comfort
While at heart Buford is a cargo van, I made him to where he was extremely comfortable! I found online (Amazon - can't say enough good things about Amazon Prime!) a foldable memory foam mattress. Luxury! I kept it folded up in the back, and would lay it out when I was ready to sleep. Everything I could need I had - kitchen, crock pot, electric kettle, fan, shower, internet, a hammock for afternoon naps that I would hang from the ceiling, and much more! Knowing I was going to live in Buford for three months to keep expenses down, I had to deck him out with all the bells and whistles.
photos
