Fastfish

I'm curious what others are towing with there ML's I'll B towing a bass boat with mine I'll try & post some pic's sometime soon.

Fastfish

cyeung65

Biggest thing I have towed so far was a 6 x 12 foot closed box Uhaul, tandem axle, loaded to the gills with furniture.

Volume: up to 396 cu. ft.
Max load: 2,600 lbs.
Gross vehicle weight: 4,400 lbs. max
Empty weight: 1,800 lbs.

Ran 75+ passing 18 wheelers on 2 lane highways.

If I can find a nice lightweight alumiunum car trailer for cheap, I plan to tow my 06 Corvette to races with it.

MBfan89

what do u think is the max towing capabilty for an ml 320

cyeung65

Manufacturer rating is 5000 lb. This is one of the reasons I bought it. Most midsize SUVs are only rated 3500 lb - including the new MLs.

Fastfish

I figure what I'll be towing weighs in @ no more tha 2300lbs. its a lite-weight bass boat should ride along behind like its not even there.

mobinakhtar

I have not towed any thing on the ML yet but the intention is to tow my jetski (~600-800 lbs only) and the 1200-lbs popup camper we currently tow with our Windstar Van.

I am impressed at the 5000lb capacity of the ML320 because the Windstar (being an extended Van) with a 3.8L engine is rated at 3500lbs only. However I have to say this. I can hardly feel the camper (when loaded fully about 2000 lbs) and towing with the windstar. Only time you feel something is braking since the camper does not have electric brakes.

My wife is scared that we'll hurt the mercedes transmission if we tow with it, and she likes the way it looks without the hitch. I am of the opinion that this thing was designed for this stuff so why not!

One question I have though, is do you put the transmission in 4 for towing? since there is no Tow/Haul button (GM) or O/D Off button (Other AT) on these things? That is the only logical thing that comes to mind.

Did anyone install a transmission cooler?

cyeung65

When you say "4" do you mean 4 wheel drive or 4th gear? The ML is full time 4WD. There is a low gear multiplier, but that is really for off road or maybe launching a boat on steep grade. Even the transmission should be able to tell by itself when NOT to use 5th gear. Other than that towing is plug and play. See my earlier post. No trans cooler needed.

Bobby Dazzler

Just started towing a 2-berth touring caravan with our ML270 CDi. Only had three trips so far, but the ML seems like a fine tow car to me (albeit I am a novice!!)

justinwrock

I towed my buddies 95 Tahoe on a trailer. It went without a hitch, but stopping that extra 5000lbs was a bit tricky!!!!

These are strong lil buggers. I wouldn't trade mine for anything!

pleubner

I know it's the W164 , but gives an Idea eh?

pleubner

...

pleubner

mobinakhtar

Funny how 4 can mean so much!

What I meant was 4th Gear. Typically you would turn off overdrive or the top gear to keep transmission from overly shifting and getting damaged in the process. I have towed a small 18ft boat with a F*** explorer XLT without OD off and actually damaged the transmission (merely in 30 miles or so).

All owners manuals of domestic/Jap SUV's mention this for towing. However I have not checked the manual in my ML yet.

Since there is no O/D OFF button - I am assuming everyone puts it in 4th Gear (Auto 1-4) by sliding the shifter lefwards (2000+ Model) or does something in the older models to ensure that transmission does not get hurt.

I do not think that transmission is smart enough to determine its towing something unless mercedes towing harness sends CPU some info back (Highly unlikely) - You should consider this as well because if you are leaving your TX in D al the time towing - you better get ready to shell out 3.5K plus in rebuild costs.

Please do not take offense at this. I have been towing for long, but never with a mercedes truck. I made many mistakes and am just trying to be cautious.

cyeung65

I don't tow all the time, but I would think if it is significant enough of a load and you can notice it is a lug on the engine, then keeping it in 4th won't hurt even if not specified by the mfr. - esp in stop and go traffic or hilly terrain. In my experience I left it in 5th on the highway and had no problems. I think it would be more load dependent and not a rule of thumb.

BTW - I think the W164 has only a 3500 lb rating, like most other car based SUVs out there.

mobinakhtar

You are correct about the W164. It's towing cap is rated at 3500 lbs. However, I double checked the W163 specs, and it is indeed rated at 5000 lbs. Must have to do with the way hitch/structure is designed.

Bobby Dazzler

Maybe something to do with the W163 being ladder frame and W164 being monocoque chassis?

justinwrock

Hows about the X164 GL commercial on Wolfgangs site??

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/x164.html

I like how it towing a boat, trailer, 5th wheel dealie, house, etc.

mihir_d

I remember my sales person telling me at the time of delivery that putting it in 3 meant locking it to go upto 3, the MB tranny CPU will auto shift between 1 and 3 as needed...doesn't mean it is locked in 3, just that it is locked not to go beyond 3.

Thus, putting in D simply makes it auto shift from 1 to O/D as needed...I doub't if towing while putting in D is gonna do any damage...since the tranny does shift all the way down to 1 as needed...

Putting it in 4 would mean locking it out of O/D...and letting it only go from 1 to 4. I agree, on the freeway, that may not be needed...

gsfent

One of the sites (Wolfgang's?) shows the 5000lb rating, but on the same site, it is rated at 7700 lbs on the European version!. Maybe just a conservative rating for US legal purposes. I towed 4000 lbs and barely knew I was towing.
Regards,
Jerry

AsianML

I think that's right. Whatever you set the TipTronic to, should be the maximum gear you're allowing the tranny to go to. Like say you shift it to 3, and it shows the 3 on the instrument cluster, then the highest gear you allow it to go is 3.

I read it somehwere, I can't find where it was though.

Bluefin

We tow approx, 2100-2250 KGS when going away and usually 1750 -1850 Local

mihir_d

About 3000 pounds in weight....the ML tows it like a breeze..

gsfent

Issue with the Ford trannys. They advise lockout of OD for towing. Internal weakness. Shouldn't be an issue in the w163. You can leave it in 4 until highway and then see what happens when you put it in D. Other than lack of torque at low highway speeds, you should be fine.
Regards,
Jerry

Jens Foxford

I Pull with my 2000 ml320. I pull a 3900 lb 24ft Caravan with no issues. I use a Brake controller. The hitch i use is the Draw Tite. Looks almost as good as the factory hitch! What do you tow?

Mike_K

With my '05 ML500 I pull a 7x12 PACE enclosed trailer with two race bikes and associated tools and gear. About 3500 lbs total. I have the factory tow package which I installed after finally finding a complete kit of parts online. I do have a brake controller installed. Makes a difference in stopping power.