Rooftop Cargo Boxes

2012 Nissan NV 2500 HD: A van that puts the 'you' in utility

This is an accidental review. The 2012 Nissan NV 2500 HD van arrived in my driveway. It was a big commercial van — square of face, long of body, bereft of passenger amenities other than a front seat covered with washable fabric.

I planned to leave it where Nissan parked it until Nissan came back to pick it up. Mary Anne, my wife, had different ideas.

The yard needed topsoil, a couple of tons of it. The basement needed to be cleared of obsolete office equipment and seldom-used exercise bikes. And there was the matter of dormitory junk brought home and “stored” by daughters who have long since finished their studies and moved on to professional careers.

For Mary Anne, the van presented the perfect opportunity to do these often-delayed jobs. For me, it symbolized a ruined weekend — until, quite by happenstance, it became a journey of discovery.

We live by different meanings of “work” in this country. For many of us, especially those living in the Washington area, it means moving words from one computer screen to another in the discussion and formulation of “policy.” For others, it means constructing, servicing and supplying the buildings and offices in which policy is discussed and formulated.

The people who do the gritty physical labor usually rely on pickup trucks and commercial vans to get through their day.

For decades in the United States, those vans have been supplied by Ford, General Motors and, at one time, the Dodge division of what is now the Chrysler Group. Models such as the Chevrolet Express cargo van and the Ford E-series van are so prevalent on the American commercial landscape, we tend to ignore them.

Nissan, however, has been paying attention — especially to the needs and desires of those people who drive commercial vans for a living. If the unsolicited reaction to the NV 2500 HD van in my possession is any indication, Ford and GM should start paying attention, too.

There are simple things in a commercial van, such as illumination inside the cargo area, or the way the rear doors open, that make a difference in daily labor. On Ford and GM vans, the rear doors tend to swing open and lock at 90-degree angles, often forcing workers to move around those doors to load and unload supplies.

The rear doors on the NV 2500 HD can swing open and lock at angles of 90 degrees. But if more utility is needed, they can be made to open and lock at 243 degrees on flat land and hills. That makes loading and unloading stuff a lot easier.

Thule 667ES Excursion ES Rooftop Cargo Box

The Thule 667ES Excursion Rooftop Cargo Box is a mid-sized roof box that is ideal for hauling a wide range of equipment. Compact, yet heavy-duty in design and wider than other rooftop boxes in Thule’s classic Time Travel series, the 667ES Excursion allows for 13 cubic feet or up to 110-lbs of cargo per box. It also features a opening at the rear for access to cargo. The box is constructed UV and impact-resistent ABS plastic, ensuring years of durable wear. It is compatible with all Thule base racks, as well as most any aftermarket or factory roof rack, and installs and can be removed from your rack in minutes without the use of tools via the Thule Easy-Snap mounting system. All the necessary mounting hardware and straps are included, and the unit is covered by a lifetime limited warranty.

Thule’s cargo boxes are designed with your active life in mind. Compatible with all Thule rack systems, as well as round bar and most factory racks, they allow you to get your gear out of your car and onto the top of your roof – saving precious interior space, keeping moisture out of your vehicle when hauling snow sport or water sport gear and securing items that would otherwise roll around during transit. They are innovative, built to last, are easy to load and unload and break down quickly and easily when the time comes. Finally, Thule’s assortment of rooftop boxes gives you many options to transport your gear safely, easily and in style. Simply choose the one that best fits the length of your vehicle roof and rack and experience the difference they make in your travels.

Installation and/or removal of the Excursion Rooftop Cargo Box from your rack is easy and fast via Thule’s Easy-Snap mounting system. This tool-free mounting system allows you to attach your rooftop box to virtually any roof rack in minutes. Each corner of the Excursion ES has a series of four pre-bored holes aligned along the length of the box. Included U-bolt hardware is slid up from the bottom, across the crossbars of your rack and into two of these four holes. Once through, the hardware attaches to one of the four supplied Easy-Snap clamps. Simply twist the top of the clamp for a secure hold that you can count on, and easily remove as you please. Also included as part of this system are four rubber gaskets to protect the box’s finish, and vinyl hole covers to protect block the holes not in use. Because of the pre-bored holes, the Excursion ES requires a minimum spacing of rack crossbars of 23⅝”, and a maximum spacing of 31″.

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