[pounce]

Correct, no lights in the four rear grab handles. This is a 2021 PV Weekender.

I don't mean to come right out of the gate with complaints about the van. We've only had it for 2 weeks and are overall extremely exited and happy about it, but just have a couple of little pain points like the lack of rear lights that we'd like to address.

No worries at all. Since its a PV product I'd just have to suggest you contact them about solutions if you haven't. They are very responsive. @harleysitner

I know the new SCA bed frame headliner sort of added some complexity for some of the upfitters. You used to be able to mount lighting on frame. Now that's it's fabric things are different.

On the bright side I've found it very easy to run wires around with the top since you can just pull down the rubber trim. I don't think it would be difficult to add any lighting around the perimeter if you wanted to DIY it.

 

[TnRuss]

Our Driverge van has same lack of interior lighting. We had shopped at three different dealerships. The first two vans we looked at had the lighting, and we failed to notice the lack of lights in the one we bought until after purchase. For now, we are using puck shaped LED lights that we purchased from Amazon. They are USB rechargeable. We applied the magnetic mounts to the flat area right next to grab handles. Not the most elegant solution but we do like the 3-way switch (on,off,motion).

 

[icerabbit]

No lights in those passenger handles is a serious usability & passenger comfort oversight. Unless maybe for privacy to not light up the inside of the van when a door is opened. But I would have expected these to be standard on a passenger Metris? My town&country I bought in 2000 had those, click on/off as reading light or came on with an open door.

What about those blank squares next to the handle or the ac/heating duct?

Alternatively ... dimmable LED light strips or full band around, on a bendable straight edge tucked into a trim gasket or anything with an edge?

 

[Demetris]

Hi,

I know this info doesn't help your particular situation, but for a general FYI, I think you need to specify the lighting as an option if you're ordering a Getaway. I think that the dealer spec'd Getaways have less options in order to keep the price down.


Here's a picture of the inside of my 2021 Getaway with the rear lights on.
View attachment 19975

Our dealer-spec'd Getaway does not have the interior lights.
Also, a couple of other options that I would like to have are:

• active distance assist (Distronic)
• folding outside mirrors

AFAIK none of these can be added after the fact.

 

[pounce]

• active distance assist (Distronic)
• folding outside mirrors

I'm not sure if any 2021 van came with Distronic. It was in the DOG, but delayed. I wanted this also and decided against a 2021 because I could not order it.

Your mirrors fold.

 

[Demetris]

I'm not sure if any 2021 van came with Distronic. It was in the DOG, but delayed. I wanted this also and decided against a 2021 because I could not order it.

Your mirrors fold.

What I want is the electric folding.
Interestingly, in the owner's manual (page 88) it says "If you fold the electric outside mirrors in or out manually, you may damage the outside mirrors and they will not lock in place properly."

 

[pounce]

What I want is the electric folding.
Interestingly, in the owner's manual (page 88) it says "If you fold the electric outside mirrors in or out manually, you may damage the outside mirrors and they will not lock in place properly."

Gotcha. Yes, that's different language from my 2019 manual and would certainly make you think you have electric folding mirrors. I wonder if it's a manual mistake. I checked the Vito manual in case it was a copy/paste issue, but it's different in this area. The Vito does have electric folding mirrors. I suppose they could have intended them and then the supply chain issues happened just like the Distronic and inside digital mirror...

 

[schlabinski]

No lights in those passenger handles is a serious usability & passenger comfort oversight. Unless maybe for privacy to not light up the inside of the van when a door is opened. But I would have expected these to be standard on a passenger Metris? My town&country I bought in 2000 had those, click on/off as reading light or came on with an open door.

What about those blank squares next to the handle or the ac/heating duct?

Alternatively ... dimmable LED light strips or full band around, on a bendable straight edge tucked into a trim gasket or anything with an edge?

It's my understanding that the van had two additional overhead dome lights, but those were obviously removed when the roof was cut out.

I popped off one of those squares and had no idea what I was looking at underneath and I couldn't immediately think of any way to make use of it. With the cover on it would be a decent place to mount a puck light, but I don't care for how they look.

I have a couple of LED strip lights on the way that I will experiment with, just above the trim gasket as you suggested. I'll report back if they turn out any good.

I'm not sure if any 2021 van came with Distronic. It was in the DOG, but delayed. I wanted this also and decided against a 2021 because I could not order it.

Your mirrors fold.

Our 2021 van came with Distronic.

 

[pounce]

Our 2021 van came with Distronic.

Great! I tried ordering one in November of 2020 and it was not possible. How is working for you? Curious if you ordered or bought off the lot.

 

[schlabinski]

Great! I tried ordering one in November of 2020 and it was not possible. How is working for you? Curious if you ordered or bought off the lot.

We put money down with Peace Vans in January of 2021, indicating that we'd like to wait for one from their pool of vans with Distronic. I think I remember hearing that it was assembled in April and then we ultimately picked it up in Seattle early October. Honestly, I haven't even played with Distronic yet, but looking forward to it.

 

[focus805]

It's my understanding that the van had two additional overhead dome lights, but those were obviously removed when the roof was cut out.

I popped off one of those squares and had no idea what I was looking at underneath and I couldn't immediately think of any way to make use of it. With the cover on it would be a decent place to mount a puck light, but I don't care for how they look.

I have a couple of LED strip lights on the way that I will experiment with, just above the trim gasket as you suggested. I'll report back if they turn out any good.



Our 2021 van came with Distronic.

I overdid the lights on my cargo, but the additional costs were minimal compared to the 30A DC-DC charging, 100Ah LiFePO4 battery and 1000W inverter system which resides in the soon to be shrunken black box on the left. In addition to those shown on the pic, I have two "garage" lights separately switched on the rear lower left and right Con-pearl panels. The rear-most 4 headliner/ceiling lights are on a Blue Sea Systems 6A DeckHand dimmer, which allows multiple dimmer switch locations (forward and aft of the passenger lower panel). Last, I have separate "galley" and "entry" lights above the driver side CRL window and passenger side sliding door. I left the center headliner clear so I can add some overhead storage supported at the C-pillars where there are three M8 inserts waiting to be used.

Gotta say I am somewhat surprised the Driverge product lighting is an issue -- it's a pretty basic camping need.

If you do add lights, I highly recommend a dimmer of some sort if you can manage it without disassembling the whole interior. My cross-over 12/2 AWG sheathed tinned marine cable was pretty easy to fish up through and over the top along the roof rib at the C-pillars -- the rectangular headliner cutouts at the C-pillars are the factory design, which I templated from a factory center headliner. The over-cab lights I use for reading when the seats are swiveled are dimmed with a Facon product that has been surprisingly usable and was much cheaper than the DeckHand.

 

[MariaDomani]

We use 2 of these battery powered lights to provide light in the cabin area. They have 3 light level settings and the batteries have lasted 6 months so far. They hook into the AC
View media item 1535
View media item 1544
vent slats and are a good, inexpensive solution.

Hi, where did you get those soft storage things on the sides? Those are great

 

[pounce]

Hi, where did you get those soft storage things on the sides? Those are great

VanEssa Camping Module

Campingzubehör für Ihren Van - T5, T6, Mercedes

www.vanessa-mobilcamping.de