Van Compass Stage 4.3 Suspension System - Sprinter 4x4

Stance-y Pants

Visually, you might not notice it, or you take care to avoid noticing it — a saggy rear end on your adventure van. But, the difference is stark when you park a Stage 4.3 equipped van next to a stocker. A Sprinter with the 4.3 kit stands proud ready to go, a stock Sprinter sits lowly and frumpy. Whether it’s an adventure van from an independent builder or one of the many Class B 4×4 vans offered by RV manufacturers, if the Sprinter van suspension is unmodified it’s sitting lower than ideal, and it only gets worse as the miles and gear carried stack up.

This kit, however, is much more then a superficial improvement, we’re not that shallow… are we?

Driving Dynamics

Getting the van to sit correctly is a byproduct of the main goal of this kit — stopping poor on-road manners, and enhancing the off-road aptitude of the 4×4 Sprinter chassis is its main goal. It’s not uncommon knowledge that the Sprinter is narrow and tall compared to three-quarter ton trucks that populate our roads. It is, after all, a global product for crowded European roads. Unfortunately that design constraint, while great for navigating a natural grocery co-op’s crowded parking lot, it causes the Sprinter to act as a giant wandering sail on the highway.

To reduce the fatiguing sway and wander, Van Compass teamed up with Falcon Shocks and developed an adjustable piggyback shock specifically for the 4×4 Sprinter Van — with ease-of-adjustment a paramount feature. The noticeable change to handling lets you quickly forget the cargo-van roots and might even stir up memories of that old German sport coupe sadly sold when Jr. joined the family. However, if you tune a suspension for on-road performance, it inversely affects the off-road capability. This isn’t a pavement princess, right?

This is the beauty of the Van Compass 4.3 Suspension Kit. There are three settings to select from, and in less than 60 seconds you can change your van’s handling characteristic from highway hauler to SUV, off-road comfort by simply turning a large easy-to-reach dial mounted on the shocks piggyback reservoir. With this adaptability, your van will have better driving characteristics for specific conditions. No more compromises.

Finally, Van Compass addressed another glaring issue with the stock suspension — bottom out. The stock bump stops are cute. They’re basic rubber nubs, good for plumbers that occupy the left-hand lane lumbering to job sites in a overloaded van. Not good for a 4×4 adventure van destine for cross-country travel and off-road challenges. The Van Compass 4.3 Suspension kit adds SumoSprings that keep things composed when pushing the limits of your Adventure Van’s suspension. What was an abrupt, harsh event is now controlled and composed.

SumoSpring vs Stock Sprinter Bump Stop

All these improvements result in a van that’s more enjoyable to drive in any road condition you’re bound to encounter. There’s a reason why we’ve installed over a hundred Van Compass Suspension kits here in Salt Lake City, Utah — the benefits are immediately noticeable, and enhance the long-term experience of Adventure van owners. See what an actual user has to say.