SV Sprinter Van Overhead Cab Shelf

The Overhead Cab Shelf bolts to factory mounting points above the front seats with hand tools. No drilling. Plan on 2 to 3 hours, and expect most of that time to go into starting the eight shelf bolts overhead.

There's no printed install manual for this shelf yet. The steps below and the install video on this page are your guide. If anything doesn't line up on your van, email products@sandyvans.com or call (619) 812-1903.

Before you start

Grab an 8 mm wrench (or socket), a 3 mm Allen key, and T20 and T30 Torx drivers. A step stool makes the overhead work much easier. A second person to steady the shelf is nice to have, but one person can do it.

Mounting the brackets

The taller, slotted brackets go at the rear, at the factory coat hook above each front door. Pop the rubber cap off the hook, remove the screw with the T20, set the bracket in, then reinstall the screw, hook, and cap. You can tuck the bracket behind the plastic trim for a cleaner look or mount it on top of the trim. Either works.

The shorter brackets go toward the windshield at the T30 screw location. That screw is under more tension than the T20, so keep the bit fully seated to avoid stripping it. These brackets can also tuck behind the trim.

Hanging the shelf

Each bolt goes up from below with a washer, through the bracket and the slot in the shelf, and gets a washer and small nut on top. That's two bolts per bracket, eight total. Start all eight by hand before you tighten any of them, so you still have play to slide the shelf into position. Once it's centered left to right and front to back, tighten everything with the Allen key below and the wrench above.

Mistakes to avoid

• Tightening the brackets before checking level. Snug them, then look from the side and make sure each one sits flat, not tipped forward or back. A crooked bracket means a crooked shelf.
• Tightening shelf bolts one at a time. You lose the adjustment the slots give you. Hand-tighten all eight first, position the shelf, then tighten.
• Dropping the bolt. On the rear brackets, hold the bolt from below with one hand while you thread the washer and nut on top, or it falls right back out.

Curtain rod (optional)

Pull the small rubber plugs at the curtain mounting holes, bolt an L bracket through each one with a washer and nut, then screw the rod into the brackets. If an upper cabinet blocks the factory hole, you can mount the L bracket to the cabinet instead. Then hang the SV Cab Curtain Divider.

How to choose an overhead cab shelf for your Sprinter

A headliner shelf is one of the simplest storage upgrades you can make to a Sprinter, and most of them look alike in photos. The differences show up in fitment, what's in the box, and how the shelf holds up on rough roads. Here's what to check, in the order customers ask us about it.

1. Does it fit your Sprinter's generation and roof?

The 2019+ Sprinter (VS30) and the 2007 to 2018 Sprinter (NCV3) have different cab mounting points. Some shelves are sold for both generations and accept a gap on the older van. Others are built for one generation only. Roof height matters too: most shelves on the market, ours included, are built around the 2019+ high roof cab.

How to choose: Confirm your model year and roof height first. If you have an NCV3, look for a shelf built for it rather than one that's "close enough."

2. Will you have to drill?

The better shelves bolt to factory mounting points, usually the coat hooks, grab handle, or trim screw locations above the front seats. That means no new holes in your cab and an easy path back to stock if you sell the van.

How to choose: Pick a shelf that uses factory points and lists exactly which ones.

3. Is a curtain rod included, or extra?

Many people want to close off the cab at night for privacy and to block light from the windshield. Some shelves include a curtain rod, some sell it as an add-on, and some build curtain rails into the shelf. None that we've seen include the curtain itself.

How to choose: If you want a cab divider, check whether a curtain rod is included, and plan for the curtain itself.

4. Can you adjust it after it's hung?

Factory mounting points aren't perfectly identical from van to van. A shelf with slotted holes lets you shift it front to back and side to side so it sits square and level. A shelf with fixed holes goes where the holes put it.

How to choose: Look for slotted mounting holes, or ask the seller how the shelf is adjusted.

5. How will gear stay put?

Bare aluminum plus loose gear on a washboard road is a recipe for rattles and stuff sliding off the edge. Padding and liner kits exist for this reason. Tie-down points, like L-track compatible mounts, let you strap things down instead.

How to choose: Choose a shelf with tie-down points, and plan to use a liner or a storage bag for small items.

6. Material and load rating

Most shelves in this category are powder-coated aluminum, which is light and won't rust. Thickness, weight, and load ratings vary, and many sellers don't publish a load rating at all. Treat any headliner shelf as storage for light, soft gear, not tools or water.

How to choose: If you plan to store anything heavier than jackets and window covers, ask the seller for a load rating in writing before you buy.

7. Install time: read the fine print

Some listings promise a ten-minute install. In practice you're reaching overhead to start eight or more nuts on top of the shelf while holding the bolt from below. Plan for a couple of hours and a step stool.

How to choose: Budget an afternoon, not a coffee break, and you won't be frustrated.

Before you order

• Confirm your Sprinter's model year (2019+ VS30 or 2007 to 2018 NCV3) and roof height
• Check for anything already above the front seats: an overhead console, cabinet, or RV bunk
• Decide whether you want a cab curtain, and whether the rod is included
• Make sure the shelf mounts to factory points with no drilling
• Have an 8 mm wrench, a 3 mm Allen key, Torx drivers, and a step stool ready

How the SV Overhead Cab Shelf stacks up

• Fitment: built for the 2019+ Sprinter (VS30) high roof.
• No drilling: bolts to the factory coat hook and trim screw locations above the front seats.
• Curtain rod included: with two L brackets. Hang the SV Cab Curtain Divider on it.
• Adjustable: slotted holes let you square the shelf front to back and side to side.
• Gear stays put: L-track compatible tie-down points, plus the SV Overhead Cab Organizer storage bag for small items.
• Material: black powder-coated aluminum.
• Complete setup: get the shelf, curtain, and organizer together in the Overhead Shelf & Privacy Bundle.

Questions about your van? Email products@sandyvans.com or call (619) 812-1903.