Skip to content

Install | NCV3 Bike + Box Carrier

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing the Bike Rack on Your Sprinter Van

Step 1: Remove the Interior Trim Panel

  • Open the rear door of your Sprinter Van.
  • Use the panel removal tool provided to detach the interior trim panel by pulling it off. There may be green snaps that secure the panel, so be sure to carefully remove them.
  • If you're working on the passenger side, remove the surrounding trim as well. Be cautious, as the trim may have plastic tabs that need to be lifted. Tools like a dental pick can help with this step.

Step 2: Install the Upgraded Door Bracket

  • Due to the additional weight of the bike rack, an upgraded door bracket is included. This bracket is larger and spans the distance needed to support the bike rack.
  • The bracket has a unique shape, resembling hockey sticks. Line up the bracket over the existing hole in the door.
  • Use one of the bolts to ensure proper alignment by sticking it through the hole to hold the bracket in place temporarily.
  • Mark the drill holes for the bracket. There are four holes to drill. If the bracket doesn’t span the gap exactly, that’s fine—just mark and drill accordingly.
  • Once the holes are drilled, set the bracket in place.

Step 3: Attach the Hockey Stick Bracket Supports

  • The hockey stick brackets are designed to slide behind the door’s sheet metal.
  • Insert the hockey stick brackets into position by sliding them behind the door panel and aligning the tabs with the holes you drilled.
  • Insert the bolts through the holes and finger-tighten them to hold the bracket in place. Once the bolts are in, use an Allen wrench to tighten them securely. You can apply Loctite to ensure they don’t loosen over time.

Step 4: Install the Hinges on the Sprinter Van

  • Next, install the hinges, which resemble a "C" shape. There are two hinges: one for the top and one for the bottom.
  • There are four bolts in total—three of them are the same size, and one is narrower for the bottom hole.
  • Insert the bolts and ensure that the bottom bolt is aligned properly towards the side of the Sprinter Van, as it might interfere with another part of the van if not positioned correctly.
  • Insert plastic washers over the bolts, followed by lock washers and nuts. Tighten them snugly, but do not overtighten just yet as final adjustments will be made later.

Step 5: Attach Hinges to the Bike Rack

  • Attach the hinges to the bike rack before mounting it to your Sprinter Van.
  • You should have one short hinge and one long hinge. The short hinge goes on top, and the long one goes on the bottom.
  • Tighten these bolts firmly, as they are crucial for securing the bike rack. You can tighten them to about 70-80 foot-pounds to ensure stability.

Step 6: Mount the Bike Rack onto the Sprinter Van

  • Now that the hinges are installed on both the Sprinter Van and the bike rack, it’s time to mount the bike rack to the van.
  • Use the provided bolts, plastic washers, and metal washers. The washers act as a buffer between the hinge and the bike rack to allow for smooth movement.
  • Insert a plastic washer on either side of the bolt, then insert the bolt through the hinge and secure it with a nylock nut on the other side.
  • Tighten the bolts to remove any up-and-down play, but do not overtighten to the point where the hinge cannot move freely.

Step 7: Final Hinge Adjustments

  • Once the bike rack is mounted to your Sprinter Van, check the alignment of the bolts. If any of the bolts seem misaligned, use a soft mallet to gently tap them into place.
  • Tighten all hinge bolts securely. This includes the bolts that attach the hinges to the van as well as those that attach the hinges to the bike rack. Make sure everything is snug and properly aligned.

Step 8: Install the Sway Link

  • Remove the magnetic puck inside the door by using a 13mm wrench. This will provide space for the sway link installation.
  • The sway link comes with three washers: a metal washer, a black neoprene washer, and a red silicone washer.
  • Place the washers in the correct order: first, the red silicone washer, then the black neoprene washer, and finally the metal washer. These washers help secure the sway link to the door.
  • Feed the sway link through the hole in the door and secure it with a nylock nut on the inside of the door. Tighten everything down securely to prevent movement.

Step 9: Final Tightening and Inspection

  • Once the sway link is installed, go back and tighten all bolts on the hinges, sway link, and bike rack.
  • Ensure that everything is properly aligned and tightened to prevent any rattling or shifting of the bike rack while driving.

Step 10: Mount Your Bike Rack Accessories

  • With the bike rack fully installed on your Sprinter Van, you can now attach any additional accessories, such as cargo boxes or one-up racks, to the tubes of the bike rack.
  • Make sure all accessories are securely mounted and properly aligned.

Congrats on installing your new gear from Owl!

Remember, Owl is the #1 manufacturer of Off Road gear and accessories for Adventure vans. We have our van experts standing by at our HQ in Arizona if you have any questions. Our gear for Mercedes Sprinter vans, Ford Transit and Winnebago Revel is Made in the USA, and many products are in stock and ship fast.

More soon,
John Willenborg