4X4 Sprinter Van - What You Need To Know - Is It Worth It? - Living The Van Life

[@LivingTheVanLife]

Why not use loctite? CV Axles are packed full of grease by design in order to keep the entire knuckle and bearings lubricated. By nature the grease packs out through the entire CV joint including the bolts and the holes they are threaded into. Using loctite in this application would be a waste of loctite as it will not adhere to any surface that contains grease.

[@syndromodowns707]

Heavy truck mechanic here. You can still use blue loctite. You'll need to clean the threaded holes and the bolts off to be free of grease/oil. Apply loctite and install the bolts, loctite will be set in an hour and you won't have to worry about it again.

[@carlmic7]

@@syndromodowns707 There are oil resistant loctites as well, I wouold use a red variant, always removable with heat if needed.

[@syndromodowns707]

Putting lockwashers on all the fasteners *MAY* be just enough. But trial and error will teach you well. As a heavy truck mechanic that works on a similar product from Mercedes, they make good stuff. Don't lose faith in it.

[@syndromodowns707]

@@carlmic7my guy red is not good for a DIY, also I ONLY use blue in this industry. We all only ever use blue.

[@LivingTheVanLife]

@@syndromodowns707 as having many years experience as a mechanic myself, if I’m not mistaken, I’m guessing the way to clean that area would be dowsing the holes with heavy amounts of parts cleaner. Which in my opinion would be detrimental to the rest of the grease that is responsible for keeping the joint lubricated. The last thing I’d want is parts cleaner penetrating the the grease inside the cv boot and degrading it’s lubricating properties.

[@antonywoodward8997]

doing maintenance next to a parts store is such an underrated piece of advice

[@zekebones34]

I’d prefer more of these kind of videos. It’s a unique lifestyle and I’d like to see more behind the scenes so we can see what all goes into it

[@ZeeDoblekae]

Aye, my name's Zeke

[@adventurevanconversions]

Issue with loose cv axle bolts and the diff itself is coming from unnatural tensions and working conditions that this van has to take due to the lift kit and wheels. Nafta Countries max size is 245/75/r16 or 245/70r17 as well as any extra lifting is strictly not recommended as exactly this will be happening. This sytem is not a toyota or jeep or anything close. It can go thru some serious off-roading but not with this mods, we have toured 5000 kilometers around Morocco which has one of the hardest roads on the planet and none of this happened because we sticked to the Factory recommendations and tuned the vans with Koni Adjustable Shocks I the front, Fox in the back, stronger leaf springs and Nafta regulated wheels. We took them thru the whole "old Dakar" road! Our Sprinters now have between 100 to 200.000 kms and are still running without any problems :) Sorry Chad, I really do admire your content a lot and follow it but you will destroy this van very fast. Next thing that will be damaged will be the main shaft in the transmission box or broken chain in it. If you will lift wheels and touch the ground while spining them fast this will come on you with the big wheels even faster. I wish this will not happen to you as the repair is expensive and it won't be guaranteed due to the modifications.

[@mtnman1984]

Although tightening CV axle bolts isn't usually a maintenance check, all of what you found can be attributed to the extreme duty that you are putting the van through. While I was in the US Army as a mechanic, we had checks that were additional when we either had a vehicle at max payload for an extended period of time, or driving off road, even if the vehicle was made for carrying heavy stuff off road. I would be under that thing every time you went into town to check for things like you found. I would also keep a very close eye on all of the soft mounting points on the powertrain and drivetrain, i.e. bushings. With all of the high load and articulation the van is subjected to, those are bound to have a much shorter lifespan than normal. Keep up the good work. My wife and I have been watching your stuff together for a long time.

[@TheNewps]

This is the inherent problem with the Sprinter 4WD system. Not being able to send power 50% front and 50% to the back differential. You have to drive the Sprinter much harder to get up obstacles. You're using momentum to overcome the lack power distribution. You keep driving like that and you will blow up your front differential or snap a CV axle. You should be crawling up sections like, not bouncing through it. I cringed when I saw all the weight coming down on your front tire while it was spinning....ouch! I'm impressed the front end held together, that's pretty remarkable. I believe the new 2022 Sprinters 4WD system is a 50/50 split front to back differentials. In any case take a paint pen and make straight line through the bolt, the cam and the strut. That way you'll know if anything has moved. If it has, you can re-adjust it on the trail until you can get a proper alinement. Keep up the great content!

[@chrisbardell]

No need to apologise for the different type of video. This was excellent diagnostics and fault-finding - fine, relevant content. Keep on trucking, sir.

[@expeditionjay]

Hi Chad, this video is a good reality check for anyone who plans on living on the road, bad things happen. Your resourcefulness and ability to wrench on your rig saved the day.

[@cnevle]

Outstanding! Sorry you had to deal with those issues but THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for documenting the issues and resolution so effectively! I’ll be crawling under my van in the morning.

[@nicodottaphoto]

I prefer the old VW van! Was one the best thing in your videos. How you can solve the small space problem and afford great adventures.

[@eigeroverland]

You can get drilled head CV bolts that allow safety wire to be used to keep the bolts from loosening.

[@CholulaDaddy]

That Sprinter still does things I didn't know Sprinter vans could do, gnarly.

[@battersbyfamily1695]

Chad, great videos and just super photography. I am an old overland driver from the 80s and 90's in different vehicles. Your videos of you driving over those roads, your speed is more than a little high for the vehicle. Sure with the ABS/substitute diff lock system you have to keep your foot in it, but your ground speed is high especially in the off camber alternate rock and roll stuff. That said..you have a US built MB van. I have a 2018 van, German built...so I would put the load on the MB US factory and I will throw them under the van. The QC on US built MB vans is suspect. Did they use thread locker? Missing bolt..I suspect not. If all 16 bolts on the axles are loose...no one checked the torque. This is a QC issue with potentially disastrous results. That said, if you are going to push the limits as you say often, you need to be under your van more often. We used to do it nightly, in the Sahara, Zaire and east Africa, running ex military trucks...the more you stress it the more you have to look and fix. If you slow down a bit, the more the vehicle does the work and the more "chair round the fire time" you have, and not the lying on the pavement wondering about clunks and knocks. Trust me I have spent too many nights fixing stuff under trucks in the middle of nowhere with nothing. Duct tape wasn't even invented! There are no Autoparts stores In the Sahara. You were lucky. Drive like your life depends on it, literally.

[@anzzgar]

yeah thats what i thought as well, really nice he made that videos, but he is wayyyy too fast with that vehicle, especially with a high load van like this. Not much people like to hear this, but once in a while its important to listen to expirienced Overland-drivers. Either when you meet them when you are out, or you visit a Offroad driving lesson with your Van, they will give you special tipps to your vehicle. But keep up the good work!

[@TruckHouseLife]

I feel ya man, wheeling breaks stuff haha. Doing my best to keep the truck house alive wheeling the jeep trails, see ya out there!

[@claramullen]

Hi chad since you do a lot of hard off roading which the vehicle is not really expected to handle you will have to keep an eye on a lot of bolts and screws. Many others off roaders have the same issues. I love the gopro under the van that was a good idea.

[@FriENTlyFire]

Can't believe the factory didn't install any blue loctite. Would be my first mod. Also, if these issues persist maybe a torque wrench needs to find it's way into the van's loadout.

[@stevenhearnden66]

I can, Mercedes make some shoddy products these days.

[@nalong55]

they also werent designed to do what he is doing with the vehicle, these are designed to hold gear and haul to and from jobsites, homes etc... not go into the mojave and flex like he is showing, so of course it would break!

[@nalong55]

@patluxor2482 you are confusing 4x4 with off roading. Saying 4x4 just means that all 4 wheels spin…

[@dennypowers5501]

Time to create a Mojave Mercedes.

[@rickgonzalez7993]

Great video, Chad. This is a good reminder that no matter the mileage of the vehicle, it's important to get under it often and listen to your van.

[@biglap.australia]

Thanks for the honest update mate. I 4WD myself, I own a Mercedes as well as an Isuzu 4WD and I wouldn’t drive a big expensive Merc as hard as you do. I’d ease up just a little.

[@themcpeters]

As a fellow sprinter owner this video was 10/10. Love the different type of content, thank you!

[@kmartnw]

Don't know if it's been stated yet but those clips in between bolts on the cv axle is for even pressure between bolts to help keep a good seal and keep grease inside as well as dirt and water out

[@dmwi1549]

Helpful info considering you put harder miles on than me. I’m at 10k on my 170 4x4. I’m going to put a wrench on all those bolts. Thanks!

[@tonythemadbrit9479]

This reminds me of driveshafts in my Supervee racing car. We drill across the heads of the bolts and use stainless steel lock wire between pairs of bolts to prevent them backing out. Simple fix and well proven.

[@jadesluv]

Just like safety wiring airplane bolts to prevent screws from vibrating loose! In fact look up AN bolts.

[@mrDarksand]

That was an awesome angle underneath the Van, you could see all the flexing of the suspension and the engine. Would love to see that angle again when it is really stressed and really working on the trails!

[@Banagal]

I’m glad you were able to service the issues effectively to keep you on the road. It takes talent for sure.

[@richardsmith1018]

Anything with struts and cv axles will give you problems off road. You need a straight front axle. Love your hard work and videos.

[@jamessander6000]

Don’t apologize. It was one of your best and I have watched them all.

[@beaubjarnason4759]

Awesome use of a GoPro to diagnose your van’s issues while test driving. Love it. I like that you didn’t run to a shop or dealership for help and worked on problem solving yourself.

[@kathleentague4081]

I am SO GLAD to have your video with GOPRO to show your Mercedes’ front end problems, SO GLAD to have this self-help by you! I learned A LOT and have saved the video for future reference! Good call on Mercedes! With only 15,000 miles on it should NOT have the problems that you experienced. After all, the van was fitted for just this kind of service, you’re 4X4 for goodness sake and outfitted in the proper way! I think Mercedes’ will benefit from the video and produce a better van in the future. Good on you in Living The Van Life!

[@intotheoutside4299]

might look into slowly replacing bolts with ARP brand bolts. i use them in my racecar n just seem to be purpose built for high abuse. maybe replace as required. be good idea for the drivetrain possibly. and loctite lol

[@chaosncheckt9356]

Part of RV life is dealing with the unexpected. Glad you were able to at least get to town for your repairs. Not surprising they gave you the bolt - perhaps they recognized you. As the commercials say, you meet the nicest people when your RV. Stay safe

[@delararesadv9140]

Used to have a similar thing a few years ago with VW gearboxes here in the UK. The bolts didn't have a manufac lok-tight applied at time of manufac. Rectified after a later update but the original bolts didn't have it so would see the same results.

[@JCGlancy]

This just happened to me. Been waiting for a tow for 12 hours. Someone on FB group shared this video. Thank you so much!

[@Boolyp]

Slow it down and drive it like a rock crawler and not so much like a rock bouncer. You also run the risk of tipping when you throw that top heavy van side to side so quickly and violently.

[@justjudy7320]

I'm a week away from having a 2022 4x4-170 delivered. I feel blessed to do so and I can feel in my gut that she is strong, balanced and mechanically sound. Her name is Atheana J . I am enjoying and learning bunches from your videos.

[@LivingTheVanLife]

Best of luck! Enjoy your van and Keep on Trucking! Cheers!

[@aboveallthingslove6349]

Keep pushing it Chad, I want to know where the issues are, also, out here I've been seeing Sprinter ambulances and I'm curious whether the conversion of those vehicles has addressed those issues in rough terrain areas. If you find yourself talking to a technician, perhaps you could ask about the conversion considerations for rescue vehicles. Rescue vehicles have lots of mechanical upgrades that are tried and tested in the field which can be implemented for adventure van life.

[@GazzaRX]

Love to see these detailed “behind the scenes” Chad in amongst the adventures

[@OzTrax4X4]

You need to use threadlocker with those bolts. Experienced the same issue with my Toyota Chaser in the rear end about 3 years ago and the retaining plate ripped out my fuel lines.

[@williamlesh109]

Is there a chance those axle bolts were removed when the lift kit was installed in the van and not properly tightened ? The go-pro camera make an awesome diagnostic tool.

[@VanCompass]

We don’t remove the cv axles when the lift kit is installed or the diff bolts.

[@danielhardy3224]

@@VanCompass no cv spacer?

[@LivingTheVanLife]

@@danielhardy3224 the whole entire subframe and differential are lowered and spaced from the body. There is no change in steering or suspension geometry. No cv spacers are needed.

[@LivingTheVanLife]

Check out the video on my channel titled “How To Build a Lifted Off-Road Sprinter Van”. It goes into more detail of how the lift is designed.

[@Van2WorldYouTube]

man you're awesome, you don't just drive, you listen to the sound of your car. you are taking care of him. this is really cool dude. 👍👍👍

[@NordicAdvRider]

Maybe you already got this advice, but a torque wrench is crucial to have in your toolbox for these bolts. And they might be stretch bolts, meaning you need to get new ones. Stretch bolts are not reusable. But check that with Mercedes

[@BB-zn5ww]

Thank you so much for the video. Have the same Van. Don’t drive it as hard but will definitely check all those bolts now. Bless guys like you for taking the time to teach the rest of us what you have learned.

[@rodwspoon304]

Awesome bro ,thanks for all the great info and video content. Your videos are very inspiring 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@CITAP1]

Very good Chad. I hope Mercedes will reward/compensate you for this invaluable information. All Sprinter owners should watch this video. The transfer case mounts look like the bolts have rubber bushings on them and will allow movement to reduce shock. The axle bolts really should not have come apart. Looking at the axle connection, I do not believe grease or oil gets into the bolt holes as readily as you may think. Spray some brake cleaner in the hole to clean it out and use blue heavy-duty Loctite on them. You need to give that van a thorough lookover to find anything else working lose or bending on you. Take care and good job.

[@P997C4S]

Great information, thanks for sharing. With the great traction in Moab and your larger wheels I think you are completely overloading your drivetrain. Maybe adjusting your drive style can help enough to still enjoy the trails out there. Keep sharing what you find out. Good luck!

[@graybeardedsheepdog9037]

Maintenance / troubleshooting is part of life, its good to see that LTVL isnt all green grass & roses. Ive got a garage full of tools, i cant imagine being that limited, at home

[@henrikm4657]

Awesome that you were able to do the roadside repairs! If that is Moab, I’ve been to the same auto parts stores! My 4Runner had a check engine light after some wheeling near Twin Bridges, and the O’Reilly folks were nice enough to lend me a scanner. Then I went to the other store to get a replacement ring latch pin for my rear bumper 😀

[@PabloP169]

Chad, one of the things that my mechanic will do on the regular service visits is to look for issues of this nature and correct them before they can create an issue. Also, that tab that you flattened may have had small side wings that are used as lock tabs. If that is the case they may need to be bent back against the bolt heads.

[@DormanDiaries]

Love the GoPro diagnostics, never used mine for this purpose but did send it down a drain on some rods once!

[@martyb3783]

When I first watched this I suspected that the size of the tires was causing cv joint issues. I am glad I was wrong. Great video!

[@ferenghi]

Great vid! Important for us also to have a peek behind the scenes. I am grateful to you not only saying "This vehicle is perfect, I made it even better than perfect, has no wear or damage'" - keep on going, best wishes from Poland.

[@airship9637]

Great to see on-the-road maintenance and repairs -- truly integral to LTVL! Personally, with my Vanagon's 251K original engine approaching EOL, seeing how you troubleshoot and resolve mechanical issues is a great learning experience. Your Vanagon experience edges me toward choosing a Subaru transplant. Your cinematic videos are truly a labor of love. Maintenance videos show a love or labor -- and craft, skill, and thoughtfulness. Thank you for sharing. Happy Holidays!

[@drivesurfcamp]

Thx Chad! Very nice insights and nice to get a bit of a different content from you too. Stay safe! Cheers!

[@yokosomike]

i have a vintage Jeep Wagoneer with 900,00 miles, mostly highway. I just swap an engine every 300,000. Always smart to be prepared with tools which I always carry because you never know.! Love the idea with the GoPro!

[@pathfinder303]

Some Loctite on the bolts would help and it looks like the rubber mountings on the diff are worn already. But these issues are warranty work for MB.

[@murphtahoe1]

I thought this was an excellent video. That is an extremely heavy rig creating a lot of forces on the vehicle and it’s components. Your life lesson is you need to do more maintenance. As old Triumph motorcycle riders say, “Wrench, ride, repeat”. Great rig and very entertaining videos in beautiful locations Chad! Best wishes for a great Christmas and healthy New Year!!

[@polarisoverland8484]

On long term Overlanding trips to the likes of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia I have a daily inspection which helps find leaks etc before they become a major issue. And once a week I crawl underneath with full set of spanner’s and sockets and tighten every nut and bolt I can get to. It’s saved me a few times

[@LivingTheVanLife]

That’s a really good idea.

[@irishman3375]

UNBELIEVABLE, nice job identifying the problem. Pawn Shops are a great place to find tools at 70% below retail pricing.

[@johnplyler7054]

I climbed under my same van and just accessing some of those bolts is almost impossible. The idea of a spot of paint to mark the heads was a great idea.

[@ZeeDoblekae]

The content u make is so incredibly refreshing! I love how you mix more traditional vanlife content, like exploring and quite mornings in the desert with informative videos like this. It's so great to have just watched the video of you off roading in the desert and then watching you examine and problem solve the issues that came from that adventure. Then you explain exactly how you fix it and what tools you use! What a beautiful blend of videos! I love what u are doing on the channel and I will definitely be hitting the notification bell :)

[@LivingTheVanLife]

Thanks for coming along, Zeke! Glad you like them-

[@butcherknife59knife46]

Nice repairs Chad. Stay safe buddy. Nice Nice diagnose on that broken loose parts! Around Bend Oregon out

[@mitchellcamps7595]

These videos are awesome! Thanks for making these in depth 4x4 Sprinter videos as no one else is!

[@mitchellcamps7595]

Coming back to this comment, I now own my own 4x4 2022 144" and will be making sure mine does not do this!

[@ochjoo77]

Man you have everything at such a high level in your van, I feel pain when I see you pull out those pliers ;) you need some proper ones! Anyway watching this episode I cant help but think that your tire size might not be quite what the engineers had in mind when designing your van ;)

[@tonym5878]

Hugh video!!! Don't hesitate posting similar videos in the future! Invaluable info. Thanks Chad!!!

[@thebestruski6]

Might be unrelated but in toyota tacoma owners manual it specifically tells you when you drive offroad and rough conditions to run through the whole truck and re-torque and check all the suspension and driveline bolts and tighten and check everything. So the issue your having with bolts coming loose can be looked at as a maintenance issue.

[@flipflat4814]

Chad another good thing to have in your tool kit is 3 to 4 half-inch interlocking foam mats to lay on when on gravel or pavement.

[@markmcsharr8777]

And yoga for when he hits his thumb 😂

[@Tundraoutdoors]

All those bolts coming loose is pretty normal when you off-road and bounce around especially with your weight and it being a sprinter van not usually a off-road vehicle

[@DriversofOttawa]

I would suggest putting some blue Loctite on those axle bolts to stop them from vibrating loose. Don't use the red one since itis more permanent.

[@peterdeb580]

Great video, from one shade tree mechanic to another. BTW, given the truck-like nature of the sprinter, I'd go with 1/2 inch drive socket wrench set. Vise grips would be a good addition too. As for the comments about a torque wrench, you can usually borrow them from the auto parts stores once you get back to civilization.

[@db119]

thanks for taking the chance on a different type of video! enjoyed this one. keep it up my friend :)

[@adventureswithgnomie6553]

I might be moving to Colorado and I can't wait to start exploring. I'm getting a Jeep, Toyota 4Runner or Bronco for some adventures if I move. I want a off road trailer to go places for sure.

[@astroblemeRC]

I cannot believe how loose those bolts were, if it were me id be stuck on the side of the road forever, good job dude!

[@maverickparker2452]

Hey Chad, big shout out from a full time van lifer in the UK 🇬🇧 ✌️ Always feeling more inspired after watching your videos. Keep on Truckin brother.

[@AstroVanTribe]

Good video, demystified the process for those who feel inept....

[@torquesteer2657]

Also the diff flexing will return - the bush looks worn or probably needs replacing with a polybush.

[@TheSocalfisher1]

When are you headed back to the PNW? I'm digging the desert videos, if you were still in California a good place is mojave national preserve. The van would do great out there.

[@carriebishop8568]

Well speaking for myself, I enjoyed the variety of your videos it can be on several different topics. Because you make it interesting.

[@NewEnglandwilderness]

You should do a meet up with Forestry Forest, he is in Utah for the winter.

[@torquesteer2657]

The driveshaft bolts are torque stretch and usually one-use only. Best to get some replacements as well as the weighted washer between then add on some loctite. Good to go 👍🏻

[@stevehori673]

Thank you Chad! Another good video. I’ll be checking my bolts this weekend.

[@Jeditilt]

Awesome and helpful video. Thanks, Chad!

[@thriveshipcoaching]

Like the roadside repair vid. I don't drive a sprinter, but still good maintenance tips to watch for. Not enough people check their vehicles before going offroad.

[@dhu1042476]

Good info here, Chad. Get under the vehicle and know what tools you need to fix something..out there.

[@andrewshore262]

Nicely done in a car park, inexcusable that the drive train bolts were lose! I think you also used thread locker (thought I spied some), but at the first opportunity I’d get that sucker up on a ramp and torque those bolts to spec and get some paint on them so you can quickly check visually for future movement. Great vid man enjoyed it and hello from the U.K. 🇬🇧👍

[@flemminglorentzen7956]

More of this - it helps us there don’t know a hole lot about the mechanics issues you could meet and will meet it seems like. Very good information - Thanks 👍

[@LivingTheVanLife]

You bet, when I'm able to pass these types of stories on I'm certainly glad to-

[@ClimbAClassic]

This is good content. It’s not all fun and games always so it’s good you are keeping it real 👍

[@boomer8393]

Thank you for posting this. Between the heavy payloads and the horror stories folks have been posting about Mercedes dealers lack of service, technicians familiar with Sprinters (especially in Colorado) and incredibly high service fees, I'll pass on MB.

[@backdoc94]

Hi Chad. A good precaution to prevent the bolt issue in the future is to use lock tight.

[@grease7552]

I like these videos, and btw maybe add a little blue loctite on those axle bolts if they work loose again.

[@overlandvan8833]

Awesome info, I felt the same clunk on t my front dif on the trails last weekend. Im checking all this stuff out tomorrow.

[@MrShukaz]

After a purchase of a new car it is required to retorque some bolts after a specific mileage and usually it is incorporated with a specific service (oil change or earlier). So not to be mad at benz ;)

[@funnycrew01]

I liked this video, you did a great job, keep on trucking / vanning

[@dennypowers5501]

Good video. First time ai have seen a vital bolt with no lock tight seal.

[@roofy_9924]

Chad love you man! I hope your son is well and thanks for giving us this beautiful content

[@Eric805Robles]

Good video 👍 I like to see you make a video of the bad side of van life I seen other videos people made of the scary side of van life like wildlife close encounters ,bad places to sleep, bad people they came across,some people even got robbed some people think it’s all roses out there it would be nice to hear it from you with all the followers you have I’m a big fan of the channel keep on trucking my brother

[@tristandumesny7217]

This video is pure gold

[@angrybird9925]

Very very interesting video Chad! Good thing you stay aware of the issues! BtW foresety forest is in Utah right now.... you guys need to do a collab!!

[@ColdDac_Adventures]

love your vids so much Chad just wish they where posted more often!, all the best for the new year and have a great Christmas!

[@Chris-zm5mj]

The van should not be falling apart like that even if you do push its limits Looks like there was no thread lock on those bolts at all nor was there any type of shake proof washer to be seen either. I would employ plenty of decent quality thread lock on all your bolts in those areas you highlighted in the clip, plus maybe get them all torqued up with a decent torque wrench. I noticed you had thread lock in your kit, use it every time you remove such bolts. The shake proof spring washers should work fine too.

[@BrianJohnsonBfreejohnson]

Great video and troubleshooting! Very helpful. Hope you are keeping torque specs in mind.

[@LivingTheVanLife]

Always!

[@marvinhidalgo2659]

This is a very important video you just share with us I like the way you expose the good things of the van and also the issues, thanks for this excelente educational content I hope you continue doing this repair videos