When it comes to Sprinter Vans I have learned a lot. You know what I’ve learned most? That they are absolutely the best way to camp and travel on the road today! Well, in my humble opinion anyway. I’ve also learned the essentials that need to be added to your van to make your experience using it the best it can possibly be. Things like the value of a good mattress, and one of my favorite upgrades…the SB Filters extended gas tank.
What about the exterior of the Sprinter Van though? Do you really need all that stuff? In short, yes. Well, if you’re building a capable, “hit the trails” kind of adventure van you do. There is a pecking order of importance that will allow you some breathing room in between purchases though.
Let’s start with what has quickly moved from my want list to my need list, side steps. Side steps are actually way more important than I ever gave them credit for. Coming from a strictly Jeep background I’ve adopted this idea that side steps are not necessary if they are not what off roaders call “sliders”. A slider is simply a piece of armor that gets installed in the same place as a side step, the difference is that they are built to protect the body from damage as well as being used as a tool to navigate the trail. Rocks for example are nice pivot points when needed. It is also nice being able to slide over something without damaging the vehicle. Sprinter vans, especially the AWD and the 4WD models are pretty tall however, so side steps are important. Plus I’m old and need the assist.
Ok, now that we understand what they are, how do we choose the right set? Let me share my criteria, hopefully it helps you make the right decision.
–Trust. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with poorly made side step. It is important to be able to trust the products build quality. Mounting points are also crucial. The last thing you need is to step on your step and have it not only fail, but rip some kind of bolt out of your van, and welds can also crack and not hold if they aren’t welded with a proper technique, using proper materials. Know and trust the manufacturer.
–Clearance. A good side step will give you an easy step up and maximize the ground clearance as well. It is important to minimize the risk of catching the step on a rock and tearing it right off of the van.
–Function. A side step needs to be a side step. You need enough of a platform to safety step, but not to much to where it’s some weird looking eye sore popping out of the side of your van.
–Protection. Although side steps, are not sliders, if build right, they can still be a great piece of protection, and we want that as a consumer.
–Aluminum. I am a big fan of aluminum products, they are lighter weight and maintenance free. Aluminum is a bit more rigid than steel so they will not bend which can be a plus and minus. For example, if you hit your aluminum step on a rock really her it may break. Not probable but possible. A steel slider would probably dent up and bend. That however mess up the step and break the finish which would cause rusting and look pretty ugly. You would need to repair it anyway. If I damaged a side step it needs to be replaced, therefore I’ll use the best materials up front and not worry about it…aka aluminum.
–Design. When it comes to anything you install on your van I assume the way It looks is a big factor for most people, me included. I want the best looking side step, made from the best materials, with the most clearance, from the guys that are manufacturing a product I trust.
THE ANSWER:
Owl Vans Side Steps. I happen to be a fan of the brands components, along with the bulk of the industry I suppose. Owl Vans lead the pack when it comes to manufacturing and selling Sprinter Van stuff and there’s a good reason why.
Looking specifically at the Side Step Explorer all my boxes were checked as far as side steps are concerned. In fairness I have been looking at the Owl Vans side steps quite literally since I picked up my Sprinter back in 2021. The idea was actually pretty simple back then, I want the best components for my van. Although I was new to the adventure van world back then, I had decades of off road adventure experience so finding the best stuff was easy. The more I learned about the brand and it’s story the more I knew these were the right steps to get. Fast forward to about a week ago and I finally picked up my new Explorer Side Steps and couldn’t wait to install them.
EXPLORER SIDE STEPS:
Details:
- Available for 144″ and 170″ vans
- Tested by Mercedes-Benz Engineers
- Material: Tig Welded Aluminum (with a steel tread plate)
- Tread Plate Included
- Pet Friendly
- Works with Owl Side Ladder and Gray water drain on Revel
- Color: Powder Coated Black
- Mountable – Sherpa hole design allows cargo mounting (limit 20 lbs per side)
- DIY friendly install
- Mounting Options: Sprinter, Revel, and Storyteller
- These are not intended as structural sliders and you cannot jack up the vehicle on them
- Rivnut tool needed for DIY and Revel kits. Please see link below
- Made in the USA
Compatibility:
- Sprinters 2007-Present NCV3 & VS30 2500/3500 2WD/4×4/AWD
- Revel 2021-Present (requires a rivet nut gun and moving the front bracket backward)
- Storyteller – Order DIY kit. WIll require swapping mounting bracket
Retail Price: $1999.98
The installation of the side steps is actually pretty easy. It does take time though, so carve out the day. Owl Vans will also install at one of their install centers, but honestly with the help of their install video, almost anyone call do it. Take your time, don’t cut corners and make sure you use the right tool for the task at hand. You got this!
Overall I have found that Owl Vans manufactures the best side steps in the industry. I absolutely love the way these steps, not only help when im climbing in and out of my Sprinter Van, but the way they have changed the look of the van. To check out the Explorer Side Steps of a full catalog of Owl Van products just click the link below and have fun transforming your Sprinter into the next great adventure van.
Rob Spencer