11. Headliner Storage Shelf
Living life on the road in a Sprinter van is a fun and exciting way to road trip and explore, but it often comes with the challenge of making the most of limited space. Enter the headliner shelf—a fantastic addition for a van build. that maximizes the space above the cab creating a large amount of useable storage.
The headliner shelf is a simple solution for turning the space above the cab into a useful storage cubby. It is an easy install that doesn’t require any modification or fabrication making it very popular among Sprinter van owners and builders. Positioned above the driver's and passenger's seats, this shelf takes advantage of otherwise wasted space without sacrificing valuable living areas.
Installation Guide
Installing the headliner shelf in your Sprinter van is a manageable DIY project. It does not require any drilling, cutting or modification. You really only need a flat head screw driver or small pry tool, a T25 Torx driver, and a Phillips head screw driver.
The first step is to pry off the factory coat hooks and back out the mounting hardware. Place the installation brackets for the headliner shelf here and re-mount the coat hooks.
The second set of mounting brackets will be secured to the grab handles above the cab doors. Back out the Torx head screws of both grab handles and place the front mounting brackets for the headliner shelf between the handles and the headliner. You may need to wiggle the grab handles a little to slide the brackets into place. Re-secure the handles with the hardware.
The shelf comes with an adhesive backed felt liner. This is great for controlling noise and rattling of items on the shelf once in use. Remove the backing from the liner and place it on the shelf. The best way to do this is to set it in place, and start removing the backing from one end while pressing it into position firmly. Once one end is lined up , you can roll the backing off slowly pressing the liner down as you go. This method ensures you get a properly aligned finish.
Next, set the shelf in place on the brackets and secure it with the included hardware. Once everything is set, tighten all the hardware.
Maintenance and Safety Tips
To keep your headliner shelf in top condition, regular maintenance is key. Periodically check the shelf and its brackets for any loose screws or signs of wear, tightening and reinforcing as needed. If it’s going to loosen, it will be shortly after initial install while things are still settling, but this ensures long-term durability and safety on the road.
When loading the headliner shelf up with gear, be mindful of weight. Avoid overloading it to prevent strain on the brackets and potential damage. Its also smart to try and balance the weight across the shelf. Distribute the weight as evenly as possible.
Items can of course shift during transit, so consider securing gear with bungee cords or other methods to prevent unexpected falls or spills while driving.
Final Thoughts
The headliner shelf offers a large amount of storage from otherwise unusable space. This small upgrade has a significant impact. At this early stages of my build it gives me a space to place and transport gear that I don’t have otherwise increasing the current capability of my van. This new storage space should continue to hold the highest value long-term in my van build as it is centrally located, and will likely always be the most easily accessible storage location.
