track_warrior

Hey guys well im trying to convince my wife to buy a GLK 250 Bluetec so i can sell my truck and the porsche and basically buy a fuel efficient vehicle that can also tow my race car to the track once a month. The Ram sits outside of my house all of the week until its time for towing so its kind of a waste and i hate driving it, i cant believe people in Texas daily drive trucks they are horrible. I know you are going to say why dont i buy a ML or Touareg if towing is my priority but the problem is my wife really likes small cars and suv's this is why she drives a little Boxster and is looking at a small SAV or SUV to replace it.

Now here is my question, i know towing capacity on the manual and US website states 3500 pounds as the limit. My race car weighs 2600 pounds full of fluids and the electric braked trailer weighs 1500 pounds so its a total of 4100 pounds is what the GLK250 would pull. Now some one told me in germany the same truck is rated at 4400 for an un braked trailer and 5200 for a braked trailer. I went into the German MB website and confirmed this, ill post the link below even their smaller engine diesel pulls more than the US Spec. Do you guys think its safe to assume the GLK 250 will pull 4100 pounds no problem with a braked trailer? Anybody towing more than 3500 pounds with their GLK doesnt matter what engine it is since in germany they are rated the same.

Thanks in advance.

MB Germany different towing capacity, its in kg's but do the conversion.:
http://translate.google.com/translat...-navi%3Amodels



This is my trailer and car that i will be pulling with the GLK, never mind the amount of tires and equipment in the back of the truck i wont be hauling as much as that time.

Alex Bel

I think the vehicle can do it, the problem could be with the factory installed hitch. The standard factory Hitch Opening is 1-1/4 Inch and probably 3500 Pound Towing is limited by hitch itself. So it could be a hitch rating.

xMB007x

https://mbworld.org/forums/glk-class...50-towing.html
This thread discusses the differences in the tow rating.^

I would ask the opinion of the dealer and maybe take a test drive with your trailer installed (if the vehicle has a hitch).

Koenig1

As much as I love the GLK, I think you'd really be at the max edge...and what if the weather gets rough! Who knows what you might add to it (huge trophy coming home! LOL!) I do know that the Q5 is rated for 4400 here in Canada!
best of luck....

track_warrior

Thoughts on this hitch? It says the rating is up to 5000 pounds.

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2013_M..._GLK-Class.htm


BTW thanks for the replies guys, hopefully someone here can confirm if its possible.

Alex Bel

I was talking about factory installed hitch. With third party hitch (up to 5000lb) you will have to do wiring yourself with programming of ETS ( discussed in other treads).

track_warrior

Hmm so what happens if i order the factory hitch that comes pre wired and then just take it off and sell it and order an aftermarket hitch rated at the 5000. This way i have the wiring taken care of and just have to focus on getting a beefier hitch. Is the factory hitch removable to make room to install a aftermaket one?

Im off to Germany on monday so i might just swing by a merc dealer and take a photo of the tow hitch system in the euro vesion to see if its any different from the one here. If there is no difference it means the little glk can safely pull 5000 pounds with the factory us hitch.

Could some one with a 2013 GLK take a picture of the factory hitch and if possible part # this way i can do the same when i visit the dealer in Germany.

Alex Bel

Taken from the dealer stock in Michigan.

fabbrisd1

I would plan to "upscale" to ML350 - BT if you prefer - to me there is no upside pushing the boundaries on the GLK250BT - I'd tow your trailer with a wider/longer wheelbase of the ML..

DadinWestcheste

I would think without antisway bars on the hitch you are asking to jackknife. A ball alone is just asking for it on a GLK. As mentioned above ML is more in line with what you want. I grew up towing rv's and am familiar with Reese straight line hitches. I have jackknifed pulling cars like yours with a ball hitch. Very embarrasing..... and dangerous.
http://www.reese-hitches-online.com/...e_hitch_wd.htm