The Space You're Not Using: Rear Door Storage Pockets for Sprinter
Two Doors. Four Pockets. The Capacity of a Carry-On — Hidden in Plain Sight.
Open the back of most Sprinter builds and you'll see it — two large recessed window wells on the barn doors, sitting empty. Factory dead space, doing nothing. We looked at that wasted real estate and decided to do something about it.
If you've read our piece on Packing Away, the Nomad Way you know how we think about this: you don't add more room, you rethink how the room works. The Rear Door Storage Pocket System is that philosophy in practice.
How It Works
Two panels, computer-cut and upholstered in marine-grade vinyl, mount flush over the window wells using Mercedes-Benz OEM clips. Each panel holds two deep storage pockets, secured with self-locking quick-release fasteners.
Four pockets total. Combined capacity: one carry-on luggage.
We originally built these to solve one problem — dirty laundry on a two-week trip. But the uses kept multiplying. Shore power cords, water hoses, bike tools, first aid, straps — anything you want accessible the second the doors open, without digging through the cabin. The sailboat principle in practice: the space was always there, it just needed a system.
Take Them With You
Every pocket has built-in carry handles and unclips in seconds. Pull one off for a grocery run, drop one in the wash after a muddy weekend. They work as well off the van as on it. The quick-release fasteners allow you to transition from road-ready to destination-active in a single motion, effectively turning your storage into portable gear bags. Whether you’re hauling shower supplies into a trailhead facility or bringing your recovery gear to a stranded friend, the system is designed to leave the van when you do. This modularity ensures that your organization doesn't end where the pavement does—it’s mobile storage that adapts to the rhythm of your trip.
Nothing on Display
From the outside, your van looks untouched. The panels sit flush, the pockets are hidden, and there's nothing signalling what's stored back there. Whether you're parked at a trailhead or on a city street, discretion is built in. By utilizing the depth of the recessed window wells, we’ve reclaimed significant internal volume without altering the van’s external silhouette or obstructing your rear-view clearance. The marine-grade vinyl finish is more than just durable; it is colour-matched to provide a seamless, OEM-plus look that feels like a factory Mercedes-Benz installation rather than an aftermarket addition. With 'stealth' as a functional standard, this system keeps your high-value gear out of sight and out of mind for passersby, providing peace of mind in both backcountry and urban settings.
Fits all Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans with factory rear doors — 144, 170, and 170 EXT, 2007–2018 and 2019+. Available in Nomad Vanz Cirrus Sand.
We built it because we needed it. We sell it because it works.
