How To Install OEM Roof Rails Onto A Mercedes Sprinter Van
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Roof rails are the first peice hardware that I installed in my van conversion. They are very easy to install, but there are some gotchas. This video covers them all.
Product Links:
Roof rails - search for "sprinter roof rails" on ebay (link is constantly changing)
Heat gun - amzn.to/35tkQ1k
Butyl Tape - amzn.to/2YSOWsA
Support the channel on Patreon: / seven_osavage
The butyl tape is great stuff for this application. For those who don't know it's actually putty, which is why the bolts on the rails went right through. It compresses under the rail as you tighten it up.
Thank you because the video didn't explain that
I wish I would have thought about doing this before I insulated and installed my ceiling. Just made extra work for myself.
Note to future installers: it's EXTREMELY easy to remove the plugs while standing inside the van. The heat gun process is the same, except you just need a punch or screwdriver to push the plug out. There's almost zero risk of making any scratches in the paint on the roof when doing it this way
I think I would have sprayed all the holes with rustoleum paint prior to adding the butyl tape. Great install!
These holes do not need primer, as there is no drilling, and the factory ecoat primer is already present from the factory. They paint this panel prior to gluing those plugs in, so it's good to go
Haha! Only at the plug removal 2:25 in but I didn’t know one should use heat gun to remove plugs. THANKS!
Great video just what I was looking for. Thank you!
Great videos, Seven. I admire your courage...
No washers? I will put big ones on my DIY roof rack installation.
Having lost one solar panel off my roof, because of poor installation by somebody else, I do not leave things for guess but rather overkill.
Also putting wide butyl tape for the whole length of the rail.
Ok good to know. I was going to try to use just butyl tape and silka flex adhesive to hold my Maxx fan down without screws. Lol buuuut maybe not?
This is great! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the video. Helpful info and relatively simple.
Apologies, I thought under the plugs were blind rivet threads that plugs were pressed into. Same question, did you try pushing plugs out from the inside? Heat gun and screw driver would have made me a little nervous with the paint.
You was just in van a pair of needle nose or regular plyers pinch the plug wiggle it the they come out easy
Question - OEM rails are supplied with the black rubber washers to seal between rail and roof - so why the butyl tape as well - seal on seal? What should these be torqued to?
Where did you purchase the oem sprinter rails?
Do you know if this is the same process the factory takes when installing the rail? I noticed that the bolt and washer are in-primed, as well as the washer torqued down pretty tight, causing the bare washer (yes, our factory installed rails, came with washers) to come in contact with the inside of the van…just worries that the tight contact will cause issues over time. Seems like if you were doing this again, you would use a delrin washer as well as a metal washer. True?
Curious, would you mind sharing the cost of these from Mercedes?
Nice video. Just wondering, did you try screwing a bolt into the thread from the inside to force the plugs out?
I was thinking that. Until I noticed there were no threads, that whole thing was the plug. When the plug was removed, it was just a hole in sheet metal.
Hi, great video thanks! what is the distance between each hole on the roof? contemplating using roof bars, but trying to work out space for solar and fans etc? thanks
im looking to make my own diy roof rails and was wondering what size bolts you used to secure the rails rails down? maybe m6? m8?
great video btw, super helpful
This is a super easy thing that everyone does, BUT where in the world do you get the T nuts that fit correctly?
Why not heat them from the inside and just push them out.
This method is much quicker and cleaner.
Great video, I’ll have to do this. Where did you get your OEM rails
As usual I’ve got the cart before the horse….. ceiling is in, and now I need a rack system for my canoe. Can I use plusnuts?
Hello…. Will plus nuts work?
With the way I'm mounting my solar panels, just so happens that that plastic bracket that connects the two parts of the rail that you installed is in the way. How would this system work if I remove that little plastic black bracket? do you think that would be a problem? Do you think that thing is necessary?
I have those same roof rails but I cannot find any bolts or channel nuts to fit the rails to mount a roof rack. Can you tell me what I can use?
Thanks again for making these videos. My parts are in and I’m starting now! Is there a reason not to put butyl tape all the way across? Does the metal of the rail rub on the roof and make noise? Thanks for your time.
You could definitely put butyl tape along the whole length of the rails. Either way will work fine though, as long as the butyl tape seals around the holes
Butyl tape is a great sealant, but a poor adhesive. Its main advantage is that it stays soft and tacky for years, making it easy to remove and replace if (when) needed. Use it only in the area where you need to seal.
Great video. Question, what is the diameter of the hole on the roof of the Sprinter? My interior is already filled w cabinets, so you think using rivet nuts can work to secure the tracks? Thanks.
How much did roof rails cost you? My local dealer quoted me more than $500, I dont remember the exact number but it was exorbitant. Thanks!
Jeez, that’s really high. I’ve seen them on eBay for around $200. I got mine as part of the original negotiation so I’m not sure how much my dealer sold them for.
@@seven_o_savage thanks for the reply ya not sure if they had the right part number but that's what I was quoted. Will give Ebay look $200 is not bad at all, considering various options I've seen.
firpofutbol the ebay listing I saw was OEM tails by a seller who was actually a MB dealership. I just remember it being challenging to find them in stock
Does anyone have a part number? Looking to put some on LWB.
Thanks Seven O! I don't really have access inside the van. Do you think it could be done using plus nuts with only outside access?
Nice!
You tha man JB!
Thanks for the video! Questions: Can you get these rails pre-installed from MB? How much is that compared to doing it your self?
You can! It’s an option if you custom order your van and it’s cheaper to do it that way. Unfortunately it’s pretty hard to actually convince a dealer to built this option in especially right now with the shortage of 2019 sprinters.
Hey I was wondering which Mercedes Dealer you purchased the OEM roof rails from because I have called over 6 MB dealerships in the New England are and all of them say that the MB parts catalog indicates the OEM roof rails are for Germany only.
Mine came as part of initial purchase negotiation, but if you're lucky you can find the OEM rails in stock if you search "sprinter roof rails" on ebay
will this fit the VW Crafter? 2006-2017
Does the tape come with the kit or did you purchase it separately?
I purchased the tape separately. If you’d like a link I can add one to the description.
same process on 2019 sprinter 1500 passenger van?
Yep!
I personally woulda put a long screw into the centre of those plugs and given them a bit of a wriggle out to mind my paintwork and slid some large washers in there (as Hakey suggested) but good job though