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Finally became motivated to hook the trailer up. What an easy tow! Granted, this trailer/atv combo doesn’t weight more than maybe 2400lbs but still works nicely. The Tekonsha RF Prodigy controller works very well so far and has made an installed brake controller unnecessary. Easy to adjust and use. Probably the best single thing is the removable tongue jack. No worries about hitting the tire with the windjammer.
The wheel wells actually both measure 34.5” over the centerline of the hub. The look of the lifted front is an artifact of the slope of the road which I am going up and the angle of the photo.
While towing the trailer on the freeway I purposely let the truck wander into the painted line divider and the steering bumped/shook each time.
I normally tow with a 2500 Cummins But wanted to try the G. To be honest the G has very good road manners while towing. This was a light trailer of course at maybe 2400 lbs loaded but the G didn’t feel it at all. Total tow distance was about 80 miles and mpg was about 12-13.
My biggest concern was for the tires and wheels. The logging company that leases the land maintains the road and uses chip rock. This cuts tires pretty easily. The lack of sidewall also puts the rims too close as well. No damage though.
Fun pic... not sure what some of you who live in other parts of the country see so here is something fun. Pig wallow. This one is drying out but obviously sees a lot of traffic. One reason we ride armed, pigs normally run away but not always.
While towing the trailer on the freeway I purposely let the truck wander into the painted line divider and the steering bumped/shook each time.
I normally tow with a 2500 Cummins But wanted to try the G. To be honest the G has very good road manners while towing. This was a light trailer of course at maybe 2400 lbs loaded but the G didn’t feel it at all. Total tow distance was about 80 miles and mpg was about 12-13.
Did you notice your instrument panel notifications advising you that the blind spot monitor was disabled?
Anyone have any experience hard wiring a brake controller for the G? I'm not a fan of the wireless 'leveling' controllers. Not much info to be found online but a plug n play would be great.
CLK 55 AMG 2005 and CLK 63 AMG cab.2007 - 2009 EVO - 2013 ML63 AMG - 2018 G63 AMG
Any specific attachment (the ball part) we need?
i was testing my ML63 tow ball on the G and because of the rear tire on the back door.
Its not compatible.
any model, shape, size for the G?
Any specific attachment (the ball part) we need?
i was testing my ML63 tow ball on the G and because of the rear tire on the back door.
Its not compatible.
any model, shape, size for the G?
If you get down on your hands and knees behind the vehicle and look under and to the right of the receiver hitch you'll see a metal plate with a label. Wipe the label off with a wet rag, get out a flashlight and a magnifying glass and you'll see something that looks like the picture included here. It specifies the maximum towing weight, the maximum tongue weight, and (in really tiny print) that the maximum distance between the hitch pin and ball vertical centerline is 7.5". The maximum rise and drop for the ball are 2" and 2.75", respectively (select to keep you trailer as close to level as possible). I haven't checked that these dimensions work with the spare tire.
I can't imagine why anyone would expect to find this information in the owner's manual under "Towing".
Last edited by streborx; 10-09-2020 at 06:04 PM.
Reason: typo
I was towing a trailer over the weekend without brake controllers. Looking to get one installed. Being how our Gwagons have the oem tow packaging, there should be a way to directly hardwire the controller no? Wireless are always iffy for me and would prefer without the extra bulk.
Last edited by johndong888; 10-28-2020 at 07:40 PM.
I was towing a trailer over the weekend without brake controllers. Looking to get one installed. Being how our Gwagons have the oem tow packaging, there should be a way to directly hardwire the controller no? Wireless are always iffy for me and would prefer without the extra bulk.
There are several types of brake controllers. Best to discuss alternatives with a trailer dealer and maybe try some out with your G to see which works best for you.
I was towing a trailer over the weekend without brake controllers. Looking to get one installed. Being how our Gwagons have the oem tow packaging, there should be a way to directly hardwire the controller no? Wireless are always iffy for me and would prefer without the extra bulk.
The former generation had a way to hardwire the controller, I'm assuming this one does as well... just waiting for someone to figure it out. Wireless are not the same as wired!
The former generation had a way to hardwire the controller, I'm assuming this one does as well... just waiting for someone to figure it out. Wireless are not the same as wired!
my thoughts as well.
Did you have a prev gen Gwagon? Just trying to see where this wire might be. I've taken apart the current gen 2020 g63 footwell near the fuses and didn't see anything.
Did you have a prev gen Gwagon? Just trying to see where this wire might be. I've taken apart the current gen 2020 g63 footwell near the fuses and didn't see anything.
My 2021 should be here in 4-6 weeks, its currently on a boat!
yeah i saw that install guide already. Did you do one in the old gwagon? Dealers don't usually know much about these cars.
I need to spend a little time to take it apart again. I'm assuming it'll be in the rear trunk fuse box. That or i'll start from the driver footwell first and see if I see that connector anywhere.
My experience, although limited, with the wireless/RF system has been very good. The interior unit which plugs into the 12v system is not necessary to activate the brakes when driving. In fact, the box mounted on the trailer retains any settings indefinitely until changed and is quite independent of the hand unit. The hand unit of course is used to activate the brakes manually if necessary.
I had looked around for a typical brake controller to mount in the cabin but after looking at the options decided I wanted to not drill into anything in the G.
Well I bit the bullet and got the Prodigy RF like the OP. It's more expensive than your standard brake controller due to an extra box required. This box is like an accelerometer for your trailer and mounts to the trailer A-Frame. Pairing was a breeze and works very well overall. I did not try it without the controller.
I really thought about taking apart the driver footwell again to look for the brake controller wiring. At the end of the day, I decided against it because of the airbags. There's airbag of some sort directly under the steering column and I'm assuming it's the knee airbag for the driver side. This airbag would impede any controller installation. From my research, the ML/GL/GLE/GLS all have the plug in the driver floormat. The only information I could find regarding gwagon wiring was on a much older previous gen. IIRC, it was like a mid 2000s gwagon. They had to run a whole new wire from the trunk of the car to the front for the brake installation.
Side plus is I plan on keeping my Futura lowering trailer for some time and with this box, the brake controller would go with the trailer as I plan on ordering another Gwagon. Would make it easier to lend the trailer to friends as well.
Last edited by johndong888; 11-11-2020 at 12:21 PM.
You might want to look at this device as well. It allows you to remove the trailer jack with a 30 degree twist once its attached to the ball. With no trailer jack to hit the tire on the back of the G your angle of turns is fantastic. In addition, if the jack is in a bag inside the G then its pretty hard for someone to take your trailer and its cargo when you are in a hotel, track etc.
You might want to look at this device as well. It allows you to remove the trailer jack with a 30 degree twist once its attached to the ball. With no trailer jack to hit the tire on the back of the G your angle of turns is fantastic. In addition, if the jack is in a bag inside the G then its pretty hard for someone to take your trailer and its cargo when you are in a hotel, track etc.
Oooh that's a good find. My A frame is a little longer so I don't really have that issue. I would hit the A frame before anything else. But definitely a cool contraption. Will keep it in mind. I had them express my stock jack for me all the way from new zealand due to delivery damage lol.
10-06-2020, 03:45 PM
