Adding external storage to your Sprinter is essential for any serious van build, but many owners are hesitant to drill permanent holes into their rear doors. The Tec Vanlife No-Drill Gear Rack offers a robust, modular solution that attaches directly to your factory hinges. This guide follows the exact sequence of the installation video to help you get your rack mounted securely and professionally.
Tools You Will Need:
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Power Drill or Impact Driver
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Hex Bit / Allen Key Set
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Ratcheting Wrench
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Socket Set
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Level (Optional, for final alignment)
Step 1: Gear Rack Assembly
Before moving to the van, you must assemble the main frame of the gear rack.
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Lay the T-slotted rails and the curved tube frame on a flat, protected surface to avoid scratching the powder coat.
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Connect the vertical rails to the horizontal support bars using the provided hardware and a power drill.
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Hand-tighten the bolts first to ensure alignment before fully securing the frame components.
Step 2: Remove the OEM Emblem
The rack is designed to integrate with the door's factory styling, which requires removing the stock Mercedes emblem.
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Carefully pry the emblem away from the rear door.
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Ensure the mounting area is clean and free of any debris or adhesive residue.
Step 3: Prepare the Upper Hinge
The rack uses a "sandwich" mounting method on the factory hinges.
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Position the provided oval washer onto the upper door hinge.
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Insert the long mounting bolts through the hinge and washer, leaving them ready for the rack frame.
Step 4: Prepare the Lower Hinge
Repeat the preparation process for the bottom mounting point.
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Place the square washer onto the lower door hinge.
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Insert the mounting bolts through the hinge.
Step 5: Mount the Gear Rack
With the hinges prepared, it is time to hang the rack on the van.
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Lift the assembled gear rack frame and align the mounting holes with the bolts protruding from the hinges.
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Carefully slide the rack onto the bolts until it sits flush against the hinge brackets.
Step 6: Install the Replacement Emblem
The kit includes a custom Tec Vanlife emblem to finish the look.
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Position the new emblem into the factory mounting location on the door.
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Secure it firmly to ensure it is seated correctly within the rack’s cutout.
Step 7: Secure the Hinge Bolts
Now that the rack is hanging, you must lock it into place at the hinges.
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Thread the self-locking nuts onto the bolts at both the top and bottom hinges.
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Use a ratcheting wrench to tighten these nuts securely, ensuring the rack cannot shift.
Step 8: Hook the Lower Bracket
To provide additional stability and weight distribution, the rack attaches to the bottom edge of the door.
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Hook the lower support bracket onto the bottom edge of the van door.
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Align the bracket with the vertical rail of the gear rack.
Step 9: Final Tightening
The last step is to ensure every component is torqued down correctly.
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Tighten the bolts on the lower door bracket using an Allen key.
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Perform a final walk-around to check all hardware on the hinges and the frame for tightness.
Conclusion
Your Tec Vanlife No-Drill Gear Rack is now fully installed and ready for adventure! This system provides a rock-solid foundation for mounting spare tires, storage boxes, or recovery boards without any permanent modifications to your Sprinter.
For more visual details on the assembly and mounting process, you can watch the full installation video here: