This Franken-Van Has a V8 and a 10,000-lb. Winch. Hide.

Ever hear that one about the ugly duckling?

By The Editors
March 16, 2017 9:00 am

It’s hard to imagine a big, boxy Nissan NV cargo van being described as anything other than “functional.” But this one’s deserving of a superlative or two (“rugged,” “brawny” and “badass” come to mind) thanks to the addition of a Cummins four-wheel drive V8 engine. Cummins makes engines for heavy machinery, but does some one-offs for auto-geeks looking to beef up their vehicles. Ian Johnson of Xtreme Off-Road did the work on the Nissan, also adding 37-inch off-road tires, an Aisin six-speed transmission and a 10,000-pound front winch. The video, shot on the rugged Pyeatt Draw trail in Arizona, shows them using that winch, as well as some sweet shots of the undercarriage as the van jostles over tricky terrain.

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