Mike you make a very good point regarding the climate where the van will be primarily used and the benefits of windows...my main concern with adding windows is that from what I read you cannot open them...at least the crew windows seem to be fixed...I would like to add ventilation options (ie screens) but if the windows are fixed the benefit is limited to light only.
The windows don't open, a hugely-disappointing situation. That situation is, I suppose, explained by the fact that if you have cargo in the back, it doesn't need fresh air, and if you do, there's a rear air conditioning option they'd like you to add for a lot of money. Indeed, most passenger vans will have rear AC on them. It's pretty much only RVers that need ventilation when the vehicle isn't moving.
You can get replacement windows for both the T1N and NCV3, but the situation is more better for the T1N. Both awning and sliding windows are available, and there's the happy situation that you can get windows sized to match the embossed stamping of the window frame area that exists in vehicles which didn't come with windows. But the NCV3 has very sexy flush mount slightly-trapezoidal windows and replacing them, or putting them in where none were supplied, is a bigger challenge. But you can get the windows; they're just not as good in that they are, at best, "flipper" or "t-slider" windows that only have the bottom quarter of the window, more or less, as the window opening. So you go to a lot of expense and effort for not all that much gain. (Serial production NCV3 RVs have the same windows, FWIW.) Look here:
http://parkin-acc.com/page42.html
to get a brief overview of the situation.
Nothing stops an NCV3 owner from cutting rectangular holes in the sides of cargo vans and putting in a window offering better ventilation. Well, except that it'll look a little dorky. The NCV3 window stampings aren't quite vertical at the front and rear edges:
Image Credit: The Sprinter Store
so there's no chance of making it look quite right. Still, an aesthetic
faux pas may be the least distasteful compromise.
With an NCV3 like your proposed crew cab, it'd be tempting to try to live for a while using the front windows, open side door and/or open rear doors as ventilation. Getting opening windows will be expensive and a pain, and they could be added later if they have to be.
But while the Sprinter's non-opening windows are unfortunate, they provide, especially on an NCV3, a really great view and a lot of light. The view out of, say, a 170 Passenger, is pretty compelling.
