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Introducing the NEW Explorer Ladder Tire Carrier. This new Ladder Tire Carrier combines the incredibly popular mountable steps from our Explorer Side Ladder with our iconic Ladder Tire Carrier. This new design expands the function of the Ladder Tire carrier to allow for mounting additional accessories on the rungs of the ladder. Additionally, this new step design expands the foot pad creating an even more stable platform to climb. Lastly, these new steps just look fantastic....but then again we are biased ;)
The Owl Ladder Tire Carrier was pioneered by Owl and has now become iconic in the Adventure Van industry. Years of development and testing have led to one of the most functional and bulletproof products on the market. The Owl Ladder Tire Carrier for Sprinter is the seamless integration of two great products into a single unit. Get all the functionality of a ladder to access your roof as well as mount a full-sized tire.
Trail Tested - Our team is obsessed with quality and we abuse our gear on the toughest trails in the world. This means that when you order an Owl Ladder you are getting thousands of miles of torture testing before that gear ever reaches you. When you’re off the beaten path, miles from rescue, you can rely on your Owl gear to get you home.
Why Mount A Tire On The Rear? - This is a common question and the answer is simple. If you're going to be taking your van off-road, then you're going to need a full-sized spare. A full-sized spare is the first and most important piece of gear you can take off-road. The OEM space under the van is undersized for a proper spare. Even if you can stuff your tire under, it can often be hard or impossible to get out in muddy or off-road conditions. Remember, you should always prepare your van up for when things go wrong not when they go right.
Quality - Owl uses a more expensive but bendable aluminum alloy which allows us to make the product stronger and lighter. Other companies use cuts and welds instead of mandrel bends. Bends are always stronger than cuts and welds. This is why our team works to take out as many cuts and welds as possible even if it means the product is harder to build.
Trust - When you buy Owl you are getting the backing of the originators and still the industry leader in rear door carriers. This means years of rock-solid performance and literally millions of customer miles ensure you can count on your Owl Ladder Tire Carrier.
Weight - We manufacture the Ladder Tire Carrier to be incredibly lightweight while still incredibly rugged. Our Master welders take computer bent and cut aluminum tubing and TIG weld each joint to ensure perfect fit and performance. We encourage you to look at the welds and fit of Owl gear, even to the untrained eye, the attention to detail is instantly apparent.
Installation - We design all of our products to be DIY friendly. We have easy to follow and detailed YouTube videos that walk you through the process.
Usability - The Ladder Tire carrier was designed for ease of use from the beginning. Footpegs extend low below the tire to make climbing easy. The tire is situated as low as possible (without blocking the license plate) so that one person can easily get the tire on/off without assistance. A steel support hoop adds strength and carries the weight of the tire while being secured (tightening the spin-on handle). A spin-on tire handle allows access to the spare tire in seconds without tools.
Details:
- Fits Sprinter VS30 2WD, 4x4, AWD High Roof (2019 to Present) (Revel, Storyteller, Airstream, Launch, Sanctuary, tranquility, Cahaba and many more)
- Does not interfere with Parking Assist sensors on most vans (see FAQ page for fixing if it does)
- All Tig Welded Aluminum
- Requires 180˚ hinges (See hinge info below) selecting 270˚ hinges below will add to your order the Factory Mercedes Benz Hinge Replacement kit.
- Lightweight (25lbs)
- Low Roof Sprinters - We only have the Classic Ladder Tire Carrier for low-roof vans
- Additional footpegs on side tube (see images)
- Spin-on tire holder with locking option
- Adjust for different wheel/tire sizes (over 33" could require trimming of MB badge)
- Powder Coated Black
- DIY friendly with step by step install video
- Opens with the door (nothing to swing out of the way or bumpers to buy)
- Compatible with vans with rear windshield wipers
- No need to relocate the license plate
- No need to remove or swap out the Mercedes badge
- Product requires drilling a single hole in the door. Template included.
- NOTE - If you wish to mount a box, please get a "Box Mounting Tab" from our site in addition to your purchase
- Foot pegs must be screwed all the way down and be seated against the ladder to support weight
What Type Of Hinges Do I Have?
There are two types of hinges that come on the VS30 MB Sprinter (2019 ) vans, 180˚ and 270˚. Owl carriers require the 180˚ hinges or a set of our modified 270˚ hinges (sold separately). All Winnebago REVELs have 180˚ hinges. To figure out what type of hinges you have there are a few easy options:
Look at the below image. If you have holes in your hinges then you have the 180˚ hinges (top in the image).
If your doors open all the way and fold flat along the side of the van you have the 270˚ hinges.
Look at the attached image. If you have holes in your hinges then you have the 180˚ hinges (top in the image).
If your doors open all the way and fold flat along the side of the van you have the 270˚ hinges.
Owl Ladder Tire Carrier Design Walk-Through
The design goal with the Ladder Tire Carrier was to create a simple, rugged yet elegant solution to solve the need for both a spare tire and a ladder to access the roof. By combining the two, Owl is able to save weight, cost and space.
Owl Quality:
The Ladder Tire carrier constructed of mandrel bent 2” aluminum tube, all meticulously TIG welded together by Owl’s Master welders. The Ladder Tire Carrier is one of the most time-consuming products we build with the main structure consisting of over 20’ of bent tubing and 10 welds.
Aluminum is ideal for its lightweight and anti-corrosive properties. However, for strength and durability, steel is king. This is why Owl combines a main structure of TIG welded aluminum with a bottom support hoop made of MIG welded steel. The result is a super-strong, yet lightweight solution that will stand up to years of off-road abuse.
Usability:
The Ladder Tire carrier was designed for ease of use from the beginning. Footpegs extend low below the tire to make climbing easy. The tire is situated as low as possible (without blocking the license plate) so that one person can easily get the tire on/off without assistance. A steel support hoop adds strength and carrier the weight of the tire while being secured (tightening the spin-on handle). A spin-on tire handle allows access to the spare tire in seconds without tools.
Side Ladder vs Rear Ladder:
Many people ask why Owl doesn’t make a side ladder. Owl’s goal is to create the best possible solution to a need and not just “sell more” stuff to customers. Side ladders hang out in the wind causing both noise and drag (lowering MPG). Worst of all, side ladders can limit where you can take your van. Many trails, campsites, or even driveways are often too narrow to fit a van with a side-mounted ladder. We see many vans at Owl with bent side ladders. A bent side ladder not only damages the ladder but often causes extensive body damage to the rocker panels and pinch welds where the ladder connects to the vehicle.
Installation:
We design all of our products to be easily installed by either the customer or professional. No professional tools or experience are needed to install Owl products. If you have a basic set of tools and are willing to try something new, you should be able to install most of our products in under an hour.
Departure angle:
Even if you don’t know what departure angle is, you have experienced it. Ever scrapped your trailer hitch while going in and out of a steep driveway? That’s because that trailer hitch limits your ability to climb a steep angle the same way a bumper-mounted swing out system does. Owl carriers keep all of your gear up high away from water, road debris, and most importantly, don’t limit your vans off-roading capabilities.
