External-Rear

Back of the RV

Click Link for More Information:
1 – Backup Camera and 3rd Brake Light
2 – Door Hinges
3 – Door Handle Rear Passenger Side
4 – Tail Light Assembly
5 – Rear Backup Sensors
6 – Trailer Hitch
7 – Hitch Step
8 – Spare Tire
9 – Propane Tank
10 – License Plate Mount
11 – Rear Fog Light
12 – RvXplor.us sticker
(13) – Door Mounted Bike Rack
(14) – Door Insulation
(15) – Rear Dually

TIP#073: Rear Fog Tail Light – Some Mercedes vehicles have a rear fog light on the driver’s side. This is a source of great mystery, as is why it is only on one side.  A rear fog light is mandatory in Europe and has the same brightness as the brake light. The purpose is to reveal the position of your vehicle when driving in fog, snow, or other conditions that limit visibility. The left corner is used to show other passing vehicles where your vehicle is.  Of course, in Florida, everyone drives in the left lane, so it is less effective. 🙂

Bike Rack

An option offered by Coachmen is a door-mounted bike rack.  

(Our previous Galleria had the bike rack, and we notified Coachmen that their backing plate was installed incorrectly for the load.  To distribute the weight of the bikes better, we added a 1/4-inch thick aluminum plate bonded to the inside of the door skin).

Unfortunately, the door skin on most vans is not sturdy enough to handle the weight of the bikes.  The bouncing flexes and strains the door skin and eventually splits the skin open requiring replacement of the door.

A swing-away hitch mount is recommended and can carry more weight.
(Warning – Swing bikes away at night to provide easy rear exit in an emergency).

Update – Some newer style racks like the Thule Elite Van XT have crossbars top and bottom to distribute the weight better on the door.

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Locking Hitch Pin

The Sprinter trailer power connector makes it difficult to use a locking hitch pin with trailers or bike racks. Master Lock Receiver Lock is an option because the key lock is 90 degrees to the pin for better access.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AVSIOI/

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Trailer Connector

The trailer connector used on Sprinters is a 7-pin flat (blades) connector.

Wiring code for 7-Pin Blade:
1 – White = Ground
2 – Blue = Electric Brakes
3 – Green = Running Lights
4 – Black = 12v Power
5 – Red = Left Turn & Brakes
6 – Brown = Right Turn & Brakes
7 – Yellow = Auxiliary / Backup Lights

Adapters to change from 7-pin to 4-pin are available at Harbor Freight, Home Depot, U-Haul stores, Amazon, and others for approximately $10.

Wiring Code for 4-Pin Flat:
1 – White = Ground
2 – Brown = Running Lights
3 – Yellow = Left Turn & Brakes
4 – Green = Right Turn & Brakes

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TIP#160: Warning – Rear Doors / Rear Windows – Use caution when the rear doors are open and the rear set of side awning windows are open because the doors can swing 270 degrees and impact the windows. There have been instances where the wind has swung a door around and broken the side window.

TIP#239: Door Strap – The installation of a door stop strap can limit the opening of the rear door to 90 degrees. This will eliminate the possibility of breaking the awning-style windows.

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2 – External – Passenger Side
3 – External – Rear View
4 – External – Driver’s Side

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Door Hinges

These hinges allow the doors to open 270 degrees and be parallel to the van body.

CAUTION – If you have the rear awning windows open all the way, the doors could contact the windows and break them.

Door Handle Rear Passenger Side

After opening the passenger side, you can access the rear driver’s side door handle.

Tail Light Assembly

Brake Light/Turn Signal, Backup Light and Parking Lights.  These lights are LED and rarely need replacing.

Rear Backup Sensors

These sensors will detect obstacles while backing up as well as cross traffic behind you.  If you mount a carry pod, it will interfere with the operation of the sensors.

Trailer Hitch

The Sprinter hitch is rated at 5,000 pounds and can also be used for a bicycle rack.  A swing-away mount will allow the bike rack to swing to the side for easy access to the rear doors.  CAUTION: Remove any racks or pods or swing them to the side at night to allow emergency exit through the rear doors.

Hitch Step

(Optional) hitch mounted step will help when reaching for articles stored inside.  We recommend metal because plastic ones flex too much.

Spare Tire

The spare tire carried under the van is usually mounted on a steel rim and uses different lug nuts than the aluminum rims.  Coachmen should have supplied the steel wheel lug nuts.  If not, you can request them from Coachmen or purchase them directly from Mercedes dealership. (MB Part# 000 990 53 53).  The weight is a tire and rim is approx. 75 lbs.

Propane Tank

The propane tank holds 9.7 gallons of propane (41 pounds). Located in the propane box are an ON/OFF switch for the flow of propane, a fill connection, and a quick-connect for connecting a grill or other appliance.

License Plate Mount

License plate mounting and light.

NOTE: If you install a hitch carrier box or hitch bike rack with bikes covered, make sure the license plate is visible or you may be stopped by the police.
WARNING: Make sure you can get out the back door in an emergency.

Rear Fog Light

Some German built Sprinters have a switch on the dash for a white rear fog light.  This rear fog light is only on the driver’s side tail light.

RvXplor.us sticker

You do have one of our stickers don’t you?     😉

If you want one, drop us a line and we will send you some.

Door Mounted Bike Rack

An option offered by Coachmen is a door-mounted bike rack.  There is a recall because the door skin is not sturdy enough to handle the weight of the bikes.  The bouncing flexes and strains the door skin and eventually splits the skin open.  Our previous Galleria had the bike rack, and we notified Coachmen that their backing plate was installed incorrectly for the load.  To distribute the stress caused by the weight of the bikes, we added a 1/4-inch thick aluminum plate bonded to the inside of the door skin.
(We Do not recommend purchasing Coachmen’s door-mounted rack.  There are much better options).

Door Insulation

None of the doors contain any kind thermal insulation, possibly to reduce the chance of the insulation interfering with the operation of the door mechanism.

Rear Dually

Pressure 58 psi on our Galleria. Rim Options are:  Aluminum rims, Alcoa rims, Mercedes standard steel rims.  NOTE: Alloy rims and steel rims use different lug nuts.  Torque nuts to 133 ft lbs.  Weight of tire and rim is approx. 75 lbs.  Our dually uses 215/85R16 size tires. The inner duallys and spare are usually steel rims.

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