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When the ARB Air Locker for the Sprinter was announced, interest spiked immediately. A lot of adventurers had questions about how it works, why it matters, compatibility, and availability — so consider this your complete overview.
What a Locker Actually Does (and Why You Want One)
From the factory, Sprinters come with an open differential. That means when one rear wheel loses traction, it can spin freely — causing you to stall out or get stuck while the other wheel does nothing.
An air locker mechanically links both rear wheels together so they rotate at the same speed and receive equal power. In off-road and low-traction conditions — sand, mud, snow, steep climbs, uneven rock — this is a massive advantage. Instead of waiting to get stuck and then trying to recover, you engage the locker before the obstacle and keep moving.
Why ARB — and Why This Matters for Sprinters
We partnered with Agile Offroad and ARB because they are the global benchmark for locking differential technology. This is what they do — and they do it at a tier above most of the market.
Highlights:
- Forged and billet steel internal gear components
- Patent-timed engagement for full strength under load
- Two-piece housing to reduce flex
- Built and machined in-house
- Five-year warranty and proven reliability
ARB didn’t reinvent the wheel here — they simply applied their proven locking technology to a platform that has never had one before: the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Built for Sprinter — Not Adapted
This is not a generic retrofit. The locker, ring and pinion, air system integration, diff cover, and harness are engineered specifically for the Sprinter axle. The setup is designed for durability and compatibility without requiring adaptation.
Fail-Safe by Design
When you add strength to one link in a drivetrain, you have to consider what becomes the “weakest link.” In this case, ARB intentionally allows the axle shaft — not the locker — to be the mechanical fuse. That’s a good thing. A broken axle is one of the fastest and cheapest field repairs compared to a destroyed differential.
Compatibility
- Mercedes Benz Sprinters (2WD, 4x4, and AWD)
- Does not fit T1N models
- Currently rear only — no front locker for Sprinters yet
Air Requirements
The locker is air-actuated and requires an onboard system such as an ARB Twin.
High-Speed Use
Contrary to common assumption, the locker can be engaged at highway speeds and driven at full speed once engaged. The only rule: don’t engage it while one wheel is already spinning in the air — engage before you get stuck.
If you’re serious about taking your Sprinter beyond pavement, an ARB air locker is one of the smartest upgrades you can make — and it should be installed by people who know these vans inside and out.
Contact TOURIG today to schedule your installation.