Step Bumper and Tow Package

tDot

Active member
I just bought a 2012 3500 144 Cargo van, and the dealer threw in a Mercedes Hitch Package. At the time they told me that it would not be possible to have the step bumper work with the hitch. However, I've now found various posts saying that it is possible. I spoke to the dealer about it and they told me that unless I have a part number, they cant do it; if they have a number, then they would order the parts from Germany if necessary.

So does anyone know the part numbers for the Mercedes Hitch/Step bumper combo??? I've been looking here and online, but cant seem to find the required info.
 

kendall69

New member
I just bought a 2012 3500 144 Cargo van, and the dealer threw in a Mercedes Hitch Package. At the time they told me that it would not be possible to have the step bumper work with the hitch. However, I've now found various posts saying that it is possible. I spoke to the dealer about it and they told me that unless I have a part number, they cant do it; if they have a number, then they would order the parts from Germany if necessary.

So does anyone know the part numbers for the Mercedes Hitch/Step bumper combo??? I've been looking here and online, but cant seem to find the required info.

I don't know about a COMBO, but I bought the step bumper separately and I bought the hitch separately from

http://www.curtmfg.com/


http://store01.prostores.com/servlet/sunnyguy101/Detail?no=375
 

mbgtown

the "Sprinter Guy"
Here is how it works. If you have the factory rear step on your van, you can add a trailer hitch.

If you have the factory hitch on the van, you cannot add the factory rear step.

So if you want both, you can as long as you do not have the factory installed hitch.

We have Sportsmobile Texas add them for our customers all of the time.

Dave, the Sprinter Guy
www.sprinterguy.com
 

Altered Sprinter

Happy Little Vegemite
Note our hitches in Australia as the same setup as in America it's licensed and approved by Benz it's not the German bar design, U.S and OZ use a heavier rated bar , proof is supplied by Benz and and fitted, it has all of the hallmarks of Mercedes stamped on it, the NCV is the same, the exception is the rear crash bar that requires a longer bar to extend out a tad further.
Fully endorsed as to local content licensed and protected by international copyright. all electrics are OEM with an approved diversion to the ECU as the supplied German trailer box plug in does not comply to Australasian wiring color codes or pins.

These can be supplied and manufactured under license in America, via a singular dedicated hitch provider, there is no reason for dealership to state you can't have them, but someone has to step up to the mark for these to be manufactured and supplied to the dealerships in the NAFTA regions.
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07 hitch and rear over rider bar (Custom).jpg



 

HappyFamilyVan

Captain Ahab
My Sprinter came with a step bumper. I added OEM parts: 82211269ABREC Kit Trailer Hitch and 82211251ABU Wiring Trailer Kit. I paid 218.90 and 114.14 respectively. These are the Dodge numbers for the MB parts. Had I bought them from MB I would have saved about 20%. Oh well lesson learned.
 

Sprinter Ottawa

New member
If you want both, a hitch and a rear step, the best way is what Dave describes. In Canada the 2012 Sprinter comes completely prewired for trailer lights, wiring is lead to back of van and has rectangular plug that will connect directly to a standard round 7-way trailer socket. We order all our stock vans with the factory rear step ($180.00 CDN), when van is sold if customer needs a hitch we send it out to a local hitch specialist and have one installed for about $350.00 including the 7-way connector. Major hitch manufacturers like Curt, Hidden Hitch & Reese all make hitches that fit Sprinter with factory rear step. This is the best way, if you order the factory hitch you may save $140.00 but there is no good rear step that works with the factory hitch.

Phil Brown
Star Motors of Ottawa
 

mbgtown

the "Sprinter Guy"
Phil,

Send me your contact info. I have had many Canadians who contact me about buying Sprinter vans, but of course we cannot knowingly sell to anyone who plans to export to Canada. Maybe I can send them your way.

Dave
dave@sprinterguy.com


If you want both, a hitch and a rear step, the best way is what Dave describes. In Canada the 2012 Sprinter comes completely prewired for trailer lights, wiring is lead to back of van and has rectangular plug that will connect directly to a standard round 7-way trailer socket. We order all our stock vans with the factory rear step ($180.00 CDN), when van is sold if customer needs a hitch we send it out to a local hitch specialist and have one installed for about $350.00 including the 7-way connector. Major hitch manufacturers like Curt, Hidden Hitch & Reese all make hitches that fit Sprinter with factory rear step. This is the best way, if you order the factory hitch you may save $140.00 but there is no good rear step that works with the factory hitch.

Phil Brown
Star Motors of Ottawa
 

rb3232

Member
another solution to have both is grind off the step brackets, swap them and remount with the brackets outside the frame instead of inside where the hitch is...
 

Sprinter Ottawa

New member
The problem with that solution is that if you mount a rear step over the factory hitch, access to the hitches drawbar pin and wiring socket are difficult. You will also need a longer drawbar otherwise the ball will be under the step. The aftermarket hitches designed to work with the Sprinter factory rear step have a longer frame so the end of the receiver tube is just under the back of the step. If you are buying a new van and want both, factory rear step and aftermarket hitch are the best option.
 

tDot

Active member
If you want both, a hitch and a rear step, the best way is what Dave describes. In Canada the 2012 Sprinter comes completely prewired for trailer lights, wiring is lead to back of van and has rectangular plug that will connect directly to a standard round 7-way trailer socket. We order all our stock vans with the factory rear step ($180.00 CDN), when van is sold if customer needs a hitch we send it out to a local hitch specialist and have one installed for about $350.00 including the 7-way connector. Major hitch manufacturers like Curt, Hidden Hitch & Reese all make hitches that fit Sprinter with factory rear step. This is the best way, if you order the factory hitch you may save $140.00 but there is no good rear step that works with the factory hitch.

Phil Brown
Star Motors of Ottawa
Part of the reason that I was buying the factory tow bar is that they said the trailer tow function (for all the electronic driver assist functions) could only be turned on by the dealer. If I install an aftermarket hitch and utilize the factory harness will I maintain all of the functionality of the factory installed hitch?
 

tDot

Active member
My Sprinter came with a step bumper. I added OEM parts: 82211269ABREC Kit Trailer Hitch and 82211251ABU Wiring Trailer Kit. I paid 218.90 and 114.14 respectively. These are the Dodge numbers for the MB parts. Had I bought them from MB I would have saved about 20%. Oh well lesson learned.

Thanks, tried those numbers at the dealer and they weren't able to co-relate them to any of the MB numbers. I'll keep looking!
 

Sprinter SS

Well-known member
The problem with that solution is that if you mount a rear step over the factory hitch, access to the hitches drawbar pin and wiring socket are difficult. You will also need a longer drawbar otherwise the ball will be under the step. The aftermarket hitches designed to work with the Sprinter factory rear step have a longer frame so the end of the receiver tube is just under the back of the step. If you are buying a new van and want both, factory rear step and aftermarket hitch are the best option.
Sprinter Ottawa,

does the Canadian sprinters go through south carolina reassembly or are they shipped complete to Canada? I suspect because you guys do not have the infamous chicken tax you can receive finished goods without a tarriff. I am trying to figure out if I have the square flat connector. I have a 8 month old van, ordered with factory step bumper. I want to install a hitch but do not want to do it the way most are doing it with a taillight tap converter.

Where is the connector on you guys vans?
 

tDot

Active member
Sprinter Ottawa,

does the Canadian sprinters go through south carolina reassembly or are they shipped complete to Canada? I suspect because you guys do not have the infamous chicken tax you can receive finished goods without a tarriff. I am trying to figure out if I have the square flat connector. I have a 8 month old van, ordered with factory step bumper. I want to install a hitch but do not want to do it the way most are doing it with a taillight tap converter.

Where is the connector on you guys vans?
Mine is zap strapped up under the rear bumper, just to the driver side of center. It was easy to find, it was the only bundle of wires that was run along the frame rails to the rear of the van, the rest of the lights, etc. were run internally to the rear.... atleast with the option package that I have.
 

danski0224

Active member
I just bought a 2012 3500 144 Cargo van, and the dealer threw in a Mercedes Hitch Package. At the time they told me that it would not be possible to have the step bumper work with the hitch. However, I've now found various posts saying that it is possible. I spoke to the dealer about it and they told me that unless I have a part number, they cant do it; if they have a number, then they would order the parts from Germany if necessary.

So does anyone know the part numbers for the Mercedes Hitch/Step bumper combo??? I've been looking here and online, but cant seem to find the required info.
2008 parts:


HA906 315 02 21 (046105/PLATE)(QTY: 2)
HA906 520 06 31 (046105/RUNNING)(QTY: 1)
HA906 880 31 71 (046105/REAR BUM)(QTY:1)
 

WPJ

New member
Mine is zap strapped up under the rear bumper, just to the driver side of center. It was easy to find, it was the only bundle of wires that was run along the frame rails to the rear of the van, the rest of the lights, etc. were run internally to the rear.... atleast with the option package that I have.
Hey all the us factory equipment does not has the hitch wiring and it only comes with the hitch package. In Canada the hitch wiring is a standard option. See the post in the database section, I placed a document there which compares the base standard equipment for Canada/USA

Enjoy
 

Sprinter Ottawa

New member
tDot,
Your dealer is correct all the wiring and the module is included on Canadian Sprinters for 2012 but the Trailer Stability Assist program is not activated unless the factory hitch is ordered. However activating this program is not a big deal, MB technician hooks up STAR diagnostic tool and programs module, the cost is anywhere from 0.5 to 1 hour labour depending on the dealer ($60.00 - $120.00).

To answer Sprinter SS, Canadian Sprinters are built complete in Germany and shipped to Canada whole, no re-assembly. Canadian content is a little different than U.S., in 2012 the Trailering Package was changed so that the wiring and trailering module are included with van, the hitch and 7-way connector are an option.

Phil Brown
Star Motors of Ottawa
 

tDot

Active member
tDot,
Your dealer is correct all the wiring and the module is included on Canadian Sprinters for 2012 but the Trailer Stability Assist program is not activated unless the factory hitch is ordered. However activating this program is not a big deal, MB technician hooks up STAR diagnostic tool and programs module, the cost is anywhere from 0.5 to 1 hour labour depending on the dealer ($60.00 - $120.00).

To answer Sprinter SS, Canadian Sprinters are built complete in Germany and shipped to Canada whole, no re-assembly. Canadian content is a little different than U.S., in 2012 the Trailering Package was changed so that the wiring and trailering module are included with van, the hitch and 7-way connector are an option.

Phil Brown
Star Motors of Ottawa
That's great info, thanks Phil.
 

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