GL450 towing 5000lb+ with 6 passengers
06-13-2014, 08:17 PM
#1
GL450 towing 5000lb+ with 6 passengers
Hi,
I am planning a trip and considering towing a travel trailer. There will be 6 passengers. The trailer is 5000lb+ (low end of 5000+, probably around 5200lb).
One of my friends told me that for towing capacity of 7500lb (which is what GL450 is rated at), 5000lb+ with 6 passengers might be too much and he suggested me not to do that. His reasoning is something like 10% of the trailer's weight + 2 persons (one adult + one 2 years old) weight in the 3rd row seats might be near the limit of tongue load.
Does anyone have any experience or comments?
Thank you very much.
I am planning a trip and considering towing a travel trailer. There will be 6 passengers. The trailer is 5000lb+ (low end of 5000+, probably around 5200lb).
One of my friends told me that for towing capacity of 7500lb (which is what GL450 is rated at), 5000lb+ with 6 passengers might be too much and he suggested me not to do that. His reasoning is something like 10% of the trailer's weight + 2 persons (one adult + one 2 years old) weight in the 3rd row seats might be near the limit of tongue load.
Does anyone have any experience or comments?
Thank you very much.
06-14-2014, 01:17 PM
#2
Member
Hi,
I am planning a trip and considering towing a travel trailer. There will be 6 passengers. The trailer is 5000lb+ (low end of 5000+, probably around 5200lb).
One of my friends told me that for towing capacity of 7500lb (which is what GL450 is rated at), 5000lb+ with 6 passengers might be too much and he suggested me not to do that. His reasoning is something like 10% of the trailer's weight + 2 persons (one adult + one 2 years old) weight in the 3rd row seats might be near the limit of tongue load.
Does anyone have any experience or comments?
Thank you very much.
I am planning a trip and considering towing a travel trailer. There will be 6 passengers. The trailer is 5000lb+ (low end of 5000+, probably around 5200lb).
One of my friends told me that for towing capacity of 7500lb (which is what GL450 is rated at), 5000lb+ with 6 passengers might be too much and he suggested me not to do that. His reasoning is something like 10% of the trailer's weight + 2 persons (one adult + one 2 years old) weight in the 3rd row seats might be near the limit of tongue load.
Does anyone have any experience or comments?
Thank you very much.
06-14-2014, 02:33 PM
#3
Thank you again.
06-14-2014, 04:08 PM
#4
Member
Be sure and check your trailer's axle load rating and distribute the weight evenly. Also make sure your hitch's class rating is meant for towing. You should be using a minimum ClassIV
http://www.randpcarriages.com/tech/T...tchClasses.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p...gue-weight.htm
Last edited by drgeeforce; 06-14-2014 at 04:11 PM.
06-14-2014, 09:06 PM
#5
Super Member
Internal loads - i.e. passengers - do NOT count toward railer tongue weight. The per wheel (axel) loads should be listed on a sticker on one of the door pillars along with the appropriate tire pressures. [perhaps on the fuel filler door?]
06-15-2014, 12:10 AM
#6
Member
So true, trailer tongue weight adds to the internal weight overall. The sticker is usually found on the driver's door jamb, with load maximums, tire pressures, passenger count, and tire sizes. Do not go by the tire load and pressure maximums embossed onto the sidewall. They are usually higher than vehicle recommendations. If they are higher, just know that your tires can handle the vehicle maximum. If the load numbers on the sidewall are lower than vehicle's numbers, i.e. cheapo tires, then your new limit is the tires' limit.
06-15-2014, 06:13 PM
#7
Senior Member
There are multiple capacities to take into consideration when towing with a GL. I tow a 28 foot Airstream with mine.
Towing capacity - our trucks are rated for towing a trailer weighing up to 7,500 pounds, including the weight of the trailer and everything that it is carrying, with the factory hitch.
Tongue Weight - the amount of weight your trailer puts onto your hitch receiver. This limit is 600 points for the factory hitch - and this is in fact the limiting factor for most of us who tow with the GL. Some people consider a 7,500 pound trailer with only 600 pounds of hitch weight unsafe for travel at highway speeds - many folks feel more comfortable with 12% or so of the weight of the trailer loaded onto the hitch receiver - a 600 pound tongue weight limit for a 7,500 pound trailer is only 8%.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating - this is the amount of weight that each of your axles is rated to carry by itself. I have not been able to find this rating for the GL.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the total amount of weight you are allowed to load your GL with, including the weight of the truck itself, all fluids, people, cargo and the tongue weight from your trailer. Searching on-line shows that our GL's have a GVWR of 7,165 pounds, and the vehicle curb weight is 5,401 pounds (which includes fuel and fluids) - leaving 1,764 pounds left over for people, cargo and tongue weight.
Combined GL and Trailer weight - The GL can be loaded up to 7,165 pounds (the GVWR) and it can tow a trailer of up to 7,500 pounds. So the total combined weight limit for both the GL and your trailer is about 14,600 pounds.
Just to make all of this extra confusing - the placard on the driver's side door of your GL says that the maximum weight of cargo and occupants for your vehicle is 1,157 pounds. But aha - this is about 600 pounds less than the 1,764 limit above derived from the GVWR - hence it's consistent with the hitch weight limitation.
Hopefully though all of this data helps you understand why people are telling you to put your cargo in your trailer. The GVWR calculation says that can safely put up to 1,764 pounds of people, cargo and tongue weight into / onto your GL. The truck is rated for 1,157 pounds of people and cargo alone. The difference is about 600 points of hitch weight.
But if you put your cargo in your trailer, instead of in your GL, you will have more wiggle room in terms of the capacity of your GL - as long as you are not exceeding the GVWR of your trailer by putting too much cargo into it.
When we are pulling our airstream, everything goes into the trailer - except for my family of four and the dog.
Hope this helps...
Towing capacity - our trucks are rated for towing a trailer weighing up to 7,500 pounds, including the weight of the trailer and everything that it is carrying, with the factory hitch.
Tongue Weight - the amount of weight your trailer puts onto your hitch receiver. This limit is 600 points for the factory hitch - and this is in fact the limiting factor for most of us who tow with the GL. Some people consider a 7,500 pound trailer with only 600 pounds of hitch weight unsafe for travel at highway speeds - many folks feel more comfortable with 12% or so of the weight of the trailer loaded onto the hitch receiver - a 600 pound tongue weight limit for a 7,500 pound trailer is only 8%.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating - this is the amount of weight that each of your axles is rated to carry by itself. I have not been able to find this rating for the GL.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the total amount of weight you are allowed to load your GL with, including the weight of the truck itself, all fluids, people, cargo and the tongue weight from your trailer. Searching on-line shows that our GL's have a GVWR of 7,165 pounds, and the vehicle curb weight is 5,401 pounds (which includes fuel and fluids) - leaving 1,764 pounds left over for people, cargo and tongue weight.
Combined GL and Trailer weight - The GL can be loaded up to 7,165 pounds (the GVWR) and it can tow a trailer of up to 7,500 pounds. So the total combined weight limit for both the GL and your trailer is about 14,600 pounds.
Just to make all of this extra confusing - the placard on the driver's side door of your GL says that the maximum weight of cargo and occupants for your vehicle is 1,157 pounds. But aha - this is about 600 pounds less than the 1,764 limit above derived from the GVWR - hence it's consistent with the hitch weight limitation.
Hopefully though all of this data helps you understand why people are telling you to put your cargo in your trailer. The GVWR calculation says that can safely put up to 1,764 pounds of people, cargo and tongue weight into / onto your GL. The truck is rated for 1,157 pounds of people and cargo alone. The difference is about 600 points of hitch weight.
But if you put your cargo in your trailer, instead of in your GL, you will have more wiggle room in terms of the capacity of your GL - as long as you are not exceeding the GVWR of your trailer by putting too much cargo into it.
When we are pulling our airstream, everything goes into the trailer - except for my family of four and the dog.
Hope this helps...
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Luis Toledo (07-18-2020)
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06-23-2014, 01:43 AM
#9
Thank you very much. Your explanation is really clear!
There are multiple capacities to take into consideration when towing with a GL. I tow a 28 foot Airstream with mine.
Towing capacity - our trucks are rated for towing a trailer weighing up to 7,500 pounds, including the weight of the trailer and everything that it is carrying, with the factory hitch.
Tongue Weight - the amount of weight your trailer puts onto your hitch receiver. This limit is 600 points for the factory hitch - and this is in fact the limiting factor for most of us who tow with the GL. Some people consider a 7,500 pound trailer with only 600 pounds of hitch weight unsafe for travel at highway speeds - many folks feel more comfortable with 12% or so of the weight of the trailer loaded onto the hitch receiver - a 600 pound tongue weight limit for a 7,500 pound trailer is only 8%.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating - this is the amount of weight that each of your axles is rated to carry by itself. I have not been able to find this rating for the GL.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the total amount of weight you are allowed to load your GL with, including the weight of the truck itself, all fluids, people, cargo and the tongue weight from your trailer. Searching on-line shows that our GL's have a GVWR of 7,165 pounds, and the vehicle curb weight is 5,401 pounds (which includes fuel and fluids) - leaving 1,764 pounds left over for people, cargo and tongue weight.
Combined GL and Trailer weight - The GL can be loaded up to 7,165 pounds (the GVWR) and it can tow a trailer of up to 7,500 pounds. So the total combined weight limit for both the GL and your trailer is about 14,600 pounds.
Just to make all of this extra confusing - the placard on the driver's side door of your GL says that the maximum weight of cargo and occupants for your vehicle is 1,157 pounds. But aha - this is about 600 pounds less than the 1,764 limit above derived from the GVWR - hence it's consistent with the hitch weight limitation.
Hopefully though all of this data helps you understand why people are telling you to put your cargo in your trailer. The GVWR calculation says that can safely put up to 1,764 pounds of people, cargo and tongue weight into / onto your GL. The truck is rated for 1,157 pounds of people and cargo alone. The difference is about 600 points of hitch weight.
But if you put your cargo in your trailer, instead of in your GL, you will have more wiggle room in terms of the capacity of your GL - as long as you are not exceeding the GVWR of your trailer by putting too much cargo into it.
When we are pulling our airstream, everything goes into the trailer - except for my family of four and the dog.
Hope this helps...
Towing capacity - our trucks are rated for towing a trailer weighing up to 7,500 pounds, including the weight of the trailer and everything that it is carrying, with the factory hitch.
Tongue Weight - the amount of weight your trailer puts onto your hitch receiver. This limit is 600 points for the factory hitch - and this is in fact the limiting factor for most of us who tow with the GL. Some people consider a 7,500 pound trailer with only 600 pounds of hitch weight unsafe for travel at highway speeds - many folks feel more comfortable with 12% or so of the weight of the trailer loaded onto the hitch receiver - a 600 pound tongue weight limit for a 7,500 pound trailer is only 8%.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating - this is the amount of weight that each of your axles is rated to carry by itself. I have not been able to find this rating for the GL.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the total amount of weight you are allowed to load your GL with, including the weight of the truck itself, all fluids, people, cargo and the tongue weight from your trailer. Searching on-line shows that our GL's have a GVWR of 7,165 pounds, and the vehicle curb weight is 5,401 pounds (which includes fuel and fluids) - leaving 1,764 pounds left over for people, cargo and tongue weight.
Combined GL and Trailer weight - The GL can be loaded up to 7,165 pounds (the GVWR) and it can tow a trailer of up to 7,500 pounds. So the total combined weight limit for both the GL and your trailer is about 14,600 pounds.
Just to make all of this extra confusing - the placard on the driver's side door of your GL says that the maximum weight of cargo and occupants for your vehicle is 1,157 pounds. But aha - this is about 600 pounds less than the 1,764 limit above derived from the GVWR - hence it's consistent with the hitch weight limitation.
Hopefully though all of this data helps you understand why people are telling you to put your cargo in your trailer. The GVWR calculation says that can safely put up to 1,764 pounds of people, cargo and tongue weight into / onto your GL. The truck is rated for 1,157 pounds of people and cargo alone. The difference is about 600 points of hitch weight.
But if you put your cargo in your trailer, instead of in your GL, you will have more wiggle room in terms of the capacity of your GL - as long as you are not exceeding the GVWR of your trailer by putting too much cargo into it.
When we are pulling our airstream, everything goes into the trailer - except for my family of four and the dog.
Hope this helps...
06-23-2014, 02:06 AM
#10
You said you tow a 28 foot Airstream.
I searched it and it seems that Airstream 28 foot models are usually around 6500lb with hitch weight 800lb+.
For example, this one: http://www.airstream.com/specificati...cht/#floorplan
Isn't the towing weight close to limit and the hitch weight exceeds GL's limit?
Just curious.
Thank you very much.
I searched it and it seems that Airstream 28 foot models are usually around 6500lb with hitch weight 800lb+.
For example, this one: http://www.airstream.com/specificati...cht/#floorplan
Isn't the towing weight close to limit and the hitch weight exceeds GL's limit?
Just curious.
Thank you very much.
06-23-2014, 02:52 PM
#11
Member
The towing capacity is 7,500 lbs. and the tongue capacity is 600lbs. both with a weight dist hitch. Any trailer can its overall weight redistributed to add or subtract from the tongue weight.
01-09-2015, 02:51 PM
#12
I have towed 29 foot 6000lb toy hauler with as may as 6 dirtbikes or 4 sportbikes putting the total well over 7500lbs and 1000 in tongue weight. I'm sure the tow police will yell at me but the GL450 handled it great. I had no sway and plenty of power. My friend had a 15 foot travel trailer that he towed with his chevy silverado and could barely hold 55 going up mountain hills. I had no issues at all and had plenty of power in reserve. The air suspension kept everything really level, I had a WDH. The GL450 is the best tow vehicle I have ever used.
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Luis Toledo (07-18-2020)
11-09-2020, 01:47 AM
#14
Tow package necessary for towing with the GL450?
Steve, did anyone happen to answer this? I’m looking at used GL/GLS now and most listings don’t say “tow package” so I’m wondering if the 7,500 lbs is all of them or only some?
11-09-2020, 09:21 AM
#15
Member
The GL will handle 7500lbs. The real rating comes down to the type of hitch you have. The only hitch for a GL that is rated for 7500lbs is the factory hitch that has steel arms that bolt in to the rear frame rails. If you can buy one of those from a salvage yard and add the wiring, your GL can now tow 7500.
11-09-2020, 09:27 AM
#16
MBWorld Fanatic!
John, there is nothing different from one GL to another in terms of frame, engine, tranny. The tow package is simply the things needed to able to hookup a trailer... hitch, electronic control modules, wiring - that sort of thing.
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chassis (11-22-2020)
11-09-2020, 10:16 AM
#17
Senior Member
If you buy an aftermarket hitch, it is not rated for 7,500 lbs. Only the factory hitch is rated at 7,500.
If you need to rent a trailer, you will also run into problems and will need to point out the specification on the sticker on the factory hitch. I believe aftermarket hitches are either 3,500 or 4,500 lbs for the GL and this is what most rental agencies will tell you is the max you can trailer. It was quite an ordeal when I needed to rent a car carrier.
If you need to rent a trailer, you will also run into problems and will need to point out the specification on the sticker on the factory hitch. I believe aftermarket hitches are either 3,500 or 4,500 lbs for the GL and this is what most rental agencies will tell you is the max you can trailer. It was quite an ordeal when I needed to rent a car carrier.
11-21-2020, 07:38 PM
#18
Newbie
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The GL will handle 7500lbs. The real rating comes down to the type of hitch you have. The only hitch for a GL that is rated for 7500lbs is the factory hitch that has steel arms that bolt in to the rear frame rails. If you can buy one of those from a salvage yard and add the wiring, your GL can now tow 7500.
12-06-2020, 01:11 AM
#19
There are multiple capacities to take into consideration when towing with a GL. I tow a 28 foot Airstream with mine.
Towing capacity - our trucks are rated for towing a trailer weighing up to 7,500 pounds, including the weight of the trailer and everything that it is carrying, with the factory hitch.
Tongue Weight - the amount of weight your trailer puts onto your hitch receiver. This limit is 600 points for the factory hitch - and this is in fact the limiting factor for most of us who tow with the GL. Some people consider a 7,500 pound trailer with only 600 pounds of hitch weight unsafe for travel at highway speeds - many folks feel more comfortable with 12% or so of the weight of the trailer loaded onto the hitch receiver - a 600 pound tongue weight limit for a 7,500 pound trailer is only 8%.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating - this is the amount of weight that each of your axles is rated to carry by itself. I have not been able to find this rating for the GL.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the total amount of weight you are allowed to load your GL with, including the weight of the truck itself, all fluids, people, cargo and the tongue weight from your trailer. Searching on-line shows that our GL's have a GVWR of 7,165 pounds, and the vehicle curb weight is 5,401 pounds (which includes fuel and fluids) - leaving 1,764 pounds left over for people, cargo and tongue weight.
Combined GL and Trailer weight - The GL can be loaded up to 7,165 pounds (the GVWR) and it can tow a trailer of up to 7,500 pounds. So the total combined weight limit for both the GL and your trailer is about 14,600 pounds.
Just to make all of this extra confusing - the placard on the driver's side door of your GL says that the maximum weight of cargo and occupants for your vehicle is 1,157 pounds. But aha - this is about 600 pounds less than the 1,764 limit above derived from the GVWR - hence it's consistent with the hitch weight limitation.
Hopefully though all of this data helps you understand why people are telling you to put your cargo in your trailer. The GVWR calculation says that can safely put up to 1,764 pounds of people, cargo and tongue weight into / onto your GL. The truck is rated for 1,157 pounds of people and cargo alone. The difference is about 600 points of hitch weight.
But if you put your cargo in your trailer, instead of in your GL, you will have more wiggle room in terms of the capacity of your GL - as long as you are not exceeding the GVWR of your trailer by putting too much cargo into it.
When we are pulling our airstream, everything goes into the trailer - except for my family of four and the dog.
Hope this helps...
Towing capacity - our trucks are rated for towing a trailer weighing up to 7,500 pounds, including the weight of the trailer and everything that it is carrying, with the factory hitch.
Tongue Weight - the amount of weight your trailer puts onto your hitch receiver. This limit is 600 points for the factory hitch - and this is in fact the limiting factor for most of us who tow with the GL. Some people consider a 7,500 pound trailer with only 600 pounds of hitch weight unsafe for travel at highway speeds - many folks feel more comfortable with 12% or so of the weight of the trailer loaded onto the hitch receiver - a 600 pound tongue weight limit for a 7,500 pound trailer is only 8%.
GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating - this is the amount of weight that each of your axles is rated to carry by itself. I have not been able to find this rating for the GL.
GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - the total amount of weight you are allowed to load your GL with, including the weight of the truck itself, all fluids, people, cargo and the tongue weight from your trailer. Searching on-line shows that our GL's have a GVWR of 7,165 pounds, and the vehicle curb weight is 5,401 pounds (which includes fuel and fluids) - leaving 1,764 pounds left over for people, cargo and tongue weight.
Combined GL and Trailer weight - The GL can be loaded up to 7,165 pounds (the GVWR) and it can tow a trailer of up to 7,500 pounds. So the total combined weight limit for both the GL and your trailer is about 14,600 pounds.
Just to make all of this extra confusing - the placard on the driver's side door of your GL says that the maximum weight of cargo and occupants for your vehicle is 1,157 pounds. But aha - this is about 600 pounds less than the 1,764 limit above derived from the GVWR - hence it's consistent with the hitch weight limitation.
Hopefully though all of this data helps you understand why people are telling you to put your cargo in your trailer. The GVWR calculation says that can safely put up to 1,764 pounds of people, cargo and tongue weight into / onto your GL. The truck is rated for 1,157 pounds of people and cargo alone. The difference is about 600 points of hitch weight.
But if you put your cargo in your trailer, instead of in your GL, you will have more wiggle room in terms of the capacity of your GL - as long as you are not exceeding the GVWR of your trailer by putting too much cargo into it.
When we are pulling our airstream, everything goes into the trailer - except for my family of four and the dog.
Hope this helps...
Do you have a step by step on how to install a WD? Its my first time going over 5000# on trailer and I want to set up a WD for added safety. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
12-06-2020, 08:54 AM
#20
Junior Member
I tow a 28FT Travel Trailer that weighs in at 6500 lbs. I didnt see anyone mention the suspension and if it was using OEM components. If you have Arnott air bags I would not tow a bike rack with it. The Arnott model for the GL is rated at 100 psi, the GL with 0 added load has a Airmatic pressure of ~113 psi. This is already over the stated max of the Arnott bag.
Given this, I have blown 2 Arnott bags already, I will be going back to the OEM and pay whatever the price is, they are rated to 195 psi. With my trailer connected, with WDH included, my pressure is ~145 psi
Given this, I have blown 2 Arnott bags already, I will be going back to the OEM and pay whatever the price is, they are rated to 195 psi. With my trailer connected, with WDH included, my pressure is ~145 psi
12-06-2020, 09:27 AM
#21
I tow a 28FT Travel Trailer that weighs in at 6500 lbs. I didnt see anyone mention the suspension and if it was using OEM components. If you have Arnott air bags I would not tow a bike rack with it. The Arnott model for the GL is rated at 100 psi, the GL with 0 added load has a Airmatic pressure of ~113 psi. This is already over the stated max of the Arnott bag.
Given this, I have blown 2 Arnott bags already, I will be going back to the OEM and pay whatever the price is, they are rated to 195 psi. With my trailer connected, with WDH included, my pressure is ~145 psi
Given this, I have blown 2 Arnott bags already, I will be going back to the OEM and pay whatever the price is, they are rated to 195 psi. With my trailer connected, with WDH included, my pressure is ~145 psi
12-06-2020, 09:35 AM
#22
MBWorld Fanatic!
I tow a 28FT Travel Trailer that weighs in at 6500 lbs. I didnt see anyone mention the suspension and if it was using OEM components. If you have Arnott air bags I would not tow a bike rack with it. The Arnott model for the GL is rated at 100 psi, the GL with 0 added load has a Airmatic pressure of ~113 psi. This is already over the stated max of the Arnott bag.
Given this, I have blown 2 Arnott bags already, I will be going back to the OEM and pay whatever the price is, they are rated to 195 psi. With my trailer connected, with WDH included, my pressure is ~145 psi
Given this, I have blown 2 Arnott bags already, I will be going back to the OEM and pay whatever the price is, they are rated to 195 psi. With my trailer connected, with WDH included, my pressure is ~145 psi
12-06-2020, 09:53 AM
#23
Junior Member
The hitch will come with instruction on how to configure it. You only need to set your suspension to comfort mode and then pull the Airmatic fuse before setting up your hitch so you can get consistent measurements.
12-06-2020, 10:03 AM
#24
Junior Member
Hi DennisG01,
The information is from the Mercedes WIS in combination of real time values pulled from my GL with shop scan tool. The PSI rating of the Arnott bag is printed right on it.
I was able to find the OEM bag, I guess its made by Bilstein, and they also print the spec on it.
The information is from the Mercedes WIS in combination of real time values pulled from my GL with shop scan tool. The PSI rating of the Arnott bag is printed right on it.
I was able to find the OEM bag, I guess its made by Bilstein, and they also print the spec on it.
12-06-2020, 04:24 PM
#25
MBWorld Fanatic!
Hi DennisG01,
The information is from the Mercedes WIS in combination of real time values pulled from my GL with shop scan tool. The PSI rating of the Arnott bag is printed right on it.
I was able to find the OEM bag, I guess its made by Bilstein, and they also print the spec on it.
The information is from the Mercedes WIS in combination of real time values pulled from my GL with shop scan tool. The PSI rating of the Arnott bag is printed right on it.
I was able to find the OEM bag, I guess its made by Bilstein, and they also print the spec on it.
