Resources · Sprinter ·May 18, 2026

First Upgrades for Your New Sprinter Van: Where to Start

You just bought a Sprinter, or you're seriously thinking about it. Congratulations. Now comes the part that trips up every new owner: the aftermarket is enormous. Hundreds of accessories, dozens of brands, YouTube rabbit holes at midnight, and every forum thread devolving into arguments about what you absolutely have to install first.

Here's the thing: there's no universal answer. The right first upgrade depends entirely on how you plan to use your van.

This guide is a build roadmap, not a top-10 list. It's structured so each phase builds logically on the last, saving you from rework, wasted money, and having to work around things that should have gone on earlier.

Everything here applies to the 2019+ Sprinter (VS30 platform), both 144" and 170" wheelbases, in high-roof configuration.

Before You Buy Anything: Know Your Use Case
Phase 1: The Foundation
Phase 2: Exterior Protection & Utility
Phase 3: Interior Build-Out
How to Pace Your Build
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Start Your Sprinter Setup?

Before You Buy Anything: Know Your Use Case

Before we get into products, you need to be honest with yourself about one thing: how are you actually going to use this van?

Most Sprinter content skips this step. The result is guides that assume everyone wants to blast through Baja on 35s, leaving weekend campers and full-time van lifers without useful advice.

There are three broad Sprinter owner profiles:

Profile	Description	Upgrade Priority
Weekend Warrior	Mostly stock or lightly set up. Camping trips, ski weekends, beach trips. Daily driver during the week.	Comfort and convenience first
Full-Time Van Lifer	Living in the van full or part-time. Needs a functional home on wheels.	Interior livability first
Overlander / Off-Road	Taking the van off pavement: forest roads, BLM land, expedition travel.	Protection and capability first

Most people are some mix of all three. But knowing which way you lean tells you where your first dollar should go.

Throughout this guide, each section notes which profile benefits most. Jump to whatever fits you, or follow the phases in order for a complete setup from the ground up.

Phase 1: The Foundation (Every Sprinter, Every Use Case)

These upgrades apply to every Sprinter owner, regardless of how you use the van. They come first because everything else builds on top of them.

1. Roof Rack

The roof rack is the single most important first purchase you'll make. It's the foundation for a wide range of upgrades that can go on now or later: solar panels, awnings, decking panels, cargo boxes, rooftop tents, Starlink mount, and more all use the roof rack as the base.

Flatline Van Co. offers three full roof rack configurations for the Sprinter:

Low Pro Roof Rack: Sleek, low-profile design with reduced wind noise. Best for daily drivers, stealth camping setups, and weekend warriors who don't need maximum cargo capacity.
Standard Roof Rack: Modular crossbar system with heavier load capacity. The workhorse choice for setups that will carry solar panels, gear boxes, and cargo simultaneously.
Safari Rack: Full-length expedition-style rack for maximum capacity. Built for overlanders and anyone running a serious off-grid setup.

Not sure which rack is right for your Sprinter? Check out the Sprinter Roof Rack Buyer's Guide for a deeper breakdown.

2. Side Ladder

Once the roof rack is on, you need roof access for loading and unloading gear, cleaning off the solar panels, or just climbing up to take in the view. A side ladder is the obvious next step.

We offer several options:

Sprinter Side Ladder: Standard mount, available for driver or passenger side.
Wheel Wrap Side Ladder: Mounts over the rear wheel well allowing T-vent or pop-out windows to open, and provides a clear view out the window.
Apex Side Ladder: A more robust option with more ground clearance than any other ladder for Sprinter on the market, that also sits further back around the wheel well for clear views.

Low-roof variants are available if that's your configuration. All ladder options are designed to integrate with our roof racks, and they're also compatible with the Sprinter Surf Pole and Surf Hooks if you're carrying boards.

3. Side Steps

Sprinters sit high. If you ever plan to lift yours, which is common once you get deeper into the overlanding world, they sit even higher. Side step running boards make daily entry and exit safer for everyone in the van.

Since you'll be getting in and out of this van every single day, it's worth getting this sorted early.

We offer the Sprinter Side Steps and the Winnebago Ekko Sprinter Side Steps for a premium fit and finish. Both have a non-slip design that doesn't collect mud, snow, or rain, keeping the non-slip traction intact at all times.

Phase 2: Utility & Exterior Protection

With the foundation in place, Phase 2 is where you protect the van and add exterior utility. This is also where the three user profiles start to diverge, since a weekend warrior and an overlander will make different calls here, and that's completely fine.

Worth noting: Phases 2 and 3 are interchangeable depending on your needs and use case. If interior livability and sleeping in your van sooner than later is your top priority, start with interior upgrades that you know you need first.

4. Awning

Shade and rain protection at camp transforms the experience. An awning mounts to the roof rack, extending out over the side of the van to create a covered outdoor space wherever you park.

We carry Fiamma F45 and F80 awnings. Both are proven options across the van world. The Sprinter Low Pro Roof Rack specifically fits the F80 awning, and the F45 is compatible with all other Flatline Van Co. roof racks.

Awnings can be added to our roof racks at any point, but doing it together saves time and simplifies the process. This is particularly true with the Fiamma F80, where installing the awning alongside the rack is the more efficient approach.

5. Rear Tire Carrier

A dedicated rear tire carrier frees up undercarriage space for a water tank or auxiliary fuel, keeps your spare tire clean and accessible rather than buried underneath the van, and handles oversized tires that won't fit in the stock spare location.

We offer a Sprinter Rear Tire Carrier as a standalone solution, or the Sprinter Ladder Tire Carrier that combines ladder and tire carrier functionality into one rear-mounted system. Both options fit any Sprinter tire size.

Pro tip: Pair your tire carrier with the Rotopax Tire Carrier Adapter. It lets you mount Rotopax fuel or water containers directly to the carrier, so the same footprint does double duty for extra diesel or water storage.

6. Rear Door Storage System

The rear doors of a stock Sprinter are completely blank. Rear door storage gives your wet gear, muddy kit, fuel cans, and outdoor accessories a dedicated home that stays separate from the living space inside the van. It all starts with the Sprinter Rear Door Platform, the base that every add-on in this section mounts to.

From there, the platform supports a wide range of add-ons to suit how you use the van:

Van Rear Storage Box: Weatherproof, lockable enclosed storage for gear you want secured and protected from the elements.
Ski and Snowboard Locker: Dedicated weatherproof storage for skis and snowboards. Keeps gear outside the van and organized for easy access at the mountain.
Van Rear Storage Box Slim / Small: Compact versions of the enclosed storage box for setups where space or weight is a factor.
Wet/Dry Storage Box: Enclosed storage box with drainage slots. Ideal for gear such as wetsuits or a bundle of campfire wood.
Adventure Van Fold Down Table: A flat tabletop surface that's ready to use at any point in time, with a molle panel exterior as a bonus for carrying molle-friendly attachments.

Bike-carrying options for the rear door platform are also in the works. If getting bikes out of the interior and onto the van is on your list, solutions for carrying your bike on a Rear Door Platform are coming soon.

7. Front Bumper

The stock Sprinter bumper does its job in everyday driving, but it wasn't designed for anything beyond that. Once you start taking the van off the pavement, or simply putting serious miles on it in varied conditions, the limitations show quickly. Aftermarket bumpers are built to provide real front-end protection, mount off-road lighting, and most are winch-capable with integrated skid plate protection of critical components underneath the van.

We offer two full bumper options, plus a lighter alternative:

Sprinter Van Front Bumper: Full-width coverage winch bumper with integrated light mount provisions for off-road or auxiliary lighting. A bull bar and skid plate are available as add-ons for off road lighting and underbody protection.
Sprinter Van Core Front Bumper: Center-mounted design with a more targeted footprint. Like the full bumper, it's winch-ready with skid plate and bull bar options available. A good choice if you want protection and winch capability in a slightly more compact package.
Sprinter Van Bull Bar: Not a bumper, but a front-end upgrade made for mounting auxiliary lighting, with a bolder look. Integrates with a skid plate option for underbody protection.
Nudge Bar: Not a bumper, and not designed for front-end protection, but worth mentioning as a third option. The nudge bar mounts to the front of the van and gives the stock front end a sharper, more purposeful look without a full bumper replacement. If aesthetics and auxiliary lighting are the goal and true off-road use isn't in the picture, this is a clean, straightforward upgrade.

Phase 3: Interior Build-Out

With the exterior sorted, you can move inside. Starting with the exterior gets you protected and out adventuring while you finish the interior at your own pace. And as noted above, if interior livability is your priority, there's nothing stopping you from tackling Phase 3 first.

8. Bed System

The bed is the anchor of your interior. Everything else, including cabinets, galley, and storage drawers, positions itself relative to where the bed lives. Choose your sleeping setup first and the rest of the interior falls into place.

Our bed options:

Sprinter Van Murphy Bed: Wall-fold design that folds the bed out of the way, maximizing floor space and storage. Ready to house electrical cabinets and wheel well water tanks, with a built-in bed system.
Sprinter Bed System: A great fit for anyone who still needs to haul gear, furniture, or large loads regularly, with panels that can be removed with tools. Available in North-South and East-West sleeping orientation.
Sprinter Van Modular Bed System: A complete bed system with storage cabinets as the base. Panels remove in seconds without tools, and it’s available in North-South and East-West orientations.
Solo Bed: A right-sized option for solo travelers who want a dedicated sleeping setup without committing to a full-width platform or Murphy system. It’s also perfect for kids’ beds in the Sprinter van when paired with the Sprinter Bed System.

Supporting hardware includes Bed Brackets, L-Track Brackets for modular mounting, and custom-made Mattresses purpose-built for each system's dimensions.

9. Cabinets, Galley & Overhead Storage

Cabinet and galley placement depends on where the bed goes, which is exactly why bed comes first. Install cabinets before settling on your bed layout and you may find them conflicting with a slide-out or using space you needed elsewhere.

Our interior storage lineup includes:

Sprinter Headliner Shelf: A lightweight overhead shelf that runs along the ceiling and a must-have for all Sprinter vans, adding ample storage in a dead space without using floor or wall space.
Sprinter Upper Cabinets: Enclosed overhead storage available in different widths and depths to accommodate your needs. Shallow cabinets are an ideal depth for over the bed or anywhere you want more headspace, and the full-depth cabinets can be used anywhere you want sizable storage.
Galley Options: Galley cabinets are available to pair with overhead storage, giving you a cohesive kitchen and storage area that works as a complete system.
Ceiling Structure Kit: Mounting framework that keeps interior wall and ceiling panels straight and aligned, and made for easy mounting of overhead cabinets, lighting, and accessories to the van's ceiling structure.

For any interior storage, look for latching or locking mechanisms that you can rely on to keep contents inside. Anything that shifts while driving can become a noise problem and a safety issue quickly.

10. Access, Storage & Finishing Touches

The final layer of upgrades takes care of the smaller things that make daily life with the van noticeably better:

Sprinter Hood Strut Kit: The stock manual hood prop is something most everyone agrees is annoying. The Hood Strut Kit replaces it with gas-assisted struts that lift and hold the hood open on its own.
Pull Out Tray: A slide-out drawer for quick access to heavier or frequently used gear without unloading the whole van.
Sprinter Slider Grab Handle / Rear Door Grab Handle: Simple additions that make daily entry and exit safer and easier.
Sprinter Rear Step: Easier access through the rear doors.
Sprinter Passenger Floor Riser Compartment: A foot stool that makes sitting in the passenger seat more comfortable and doubles as a storage compartment.

How to Pace Your Build

Most Sprinter owners phase their purchases over time, starting with the roof rack and adding on as their budget and use case evolve. There's no pressure to do it all at once. Each phase in this guide stands on its own, and every upgrade you add makes the van more capable and more dialed in for how you actually use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first upgrade I should do on my Sprinter van? Start with whatever your van is missing most for how you want to use it. For most people, that's the roof rack, since it's the foundation for solar, awnings, cargo, and more. But if getting a comfortable night's sleep in the van is the priority, starting with a bed system makes just as much sense. There's no single right answer, just the one that fits your use case.

How much does it cost to upgrade a Sprinter van? A basic exterior setup of roof rack, ladder, and side steps is a solid starting point in the low thousands. A full exterior and interior setup with a bumper, bed system, cabinets, and storage goes significantly higher depending on configuration.

How do I know which Sprinter van upgrades are right for me? It comes down to how you use the van. A weekend camper and a full-time van lifer have very different priorities, which is why this guide is built around use cases rather than a single recommended list. Start with the upgrades that solve your most immediate needs and build from there.

Should I upgrade the exterior or interior first? For most people, starting with the exterior makes sense. It gets the van protected and ready to use while you work through the interior at your own pace. That said, if interior livability is your top priority, there's no rule that says you can't start inside. The phases in this guide are a recommended order, not a strict requirement.

Can I install Sprinter van upgrades myself? Most Flatline Van Co. accessories are designed for DIY installation with basic hand tools. Roof racks and ladders typically take two to four hours. Bumpers and winch setups are manageable for confident DIYers, though some prefer professional installation for those components. Flatline Van Co. provides install guides and video walkthroughs for most products.

What Sprinter model years do these upgrades fit? Everything in this guide is designed for the current-generation Sprinter (2019 and newer, VS30 platform), covering all 2019–2026 model years. Flatline Van Co. products are available for both 144" and 170" wheelbases.

Do I need different accessories for the Sprinter 144 vs. 170? Most accessories, including bumpers, ladders, tire carriers, and the majority of interior accessories, are the same across both wheelbases. Roof racks and bed systems are wheelbase-specific. Flatline Van Co. offers dedicated options for the 144, 170, and 170 Extended configurations.

Ready to Start Your Sprinter Setup?

Whether you're starting with a roof rack, a bed system, or something in between, the goal is the same: a van that works for how you actually use it. The phases in this guide are a recommended starting point, not a strict rulebook, but keeping the build order in mind as you go will save you time and rework down the road. Browse the full Sprinter collection to see everything we offer, or use this guide as a reference and build from there.