GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Finally got some trailering done

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Old May 16, 2007 | 06:48 PM
  #1  
Love my GL's Avatar
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'07 GL450
Finally got some trailering done


I moved my boat out of storage and towing was perfect. I towed my toy hauler over 150 miles this week with no issues. I was happy to see that all of the trailer wiring was working perfectly after reprogramming the rear SAM.

Regards, Mel
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Old May 16, 2007 | 08:11 PM
  #2  
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'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Mel - you should rent that hauler out as a family unit. It looks big enough. Or bring it to LA when you come here and I can definitely find you some renters
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Old May 16, 2007 | 08:40 PM
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2007 GL 320 CDI, 2008 M5
Originally Posted by Love my GL

I moved my boat out of storage and towing was perfect. I towed my toy hauler over 150 miles this week with no issues. I was happy to see that all of the trailer wiring was working perfectly after reprogramming the rear SAM.

Regards, Mel
What kind of reprogramming are you talking about? Can't I just put a ball on my hitch and connect it to my trailer or is there more to it?
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Old May 16, 2007 | 11:04 PM
  #4  
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Originally Posted by oinick
What kind of reprogramming are you talking about? Can't I just put a ball on my hitch and connect it to my trailer or is there more to it?
I had my hitch installed by the dealer (not factory installed). This required the dealer to install an updated RearSAM unit to accept the programming for the wiring harness. They installed the hitch and the harness but negelected to program the new SAM unit which caused all of the wires going to the trailer to remain live regardless of blinker/brake light useage. Another trip to the dealer fixed this problem.

Your hitch is most likely factory installed so you should not have anything to worry about.

Regards,
Mel
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Old May 16, 2007 | 11:16 PM
  #5  
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2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Considering a hitch

I'm seriously considering a hitch for this unit, but the expense is pretty huge. Then again, since I plan to actually use this unit for towing, I would only go with the MB (dealer) installed unit as it has some really great safety features. This is particularly important with the IRS, since you can get your trailer yanking the GL's rear around if they get out of sync, but a quick tap on the brakes is supposed to use the stability control program to re-align the truck and the trailer.

Now, as for an electronic brake, wouldn't it be easier if the load is that big to use the hydraulic tongue brake (or whatever that system is called)?

S
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Old May 17, 2007 | 06:12 AM
  #6  
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That's my opinion. The hydraulic brakes on my boat trailer are much better brakes and no brake controller.
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Old May 17, 2007 | 01:02 PM
  #7  
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2007 GL320 CDI, 2001 TJ Rockcrawler, 2005 Scoobie STI
Originally Posted by sgresser
I'm seriously considering a hitch for this unit, but the expense is pretty huge. Then again, since I plan to actually use this unit for towing, I would only go with the MB (dealer) installed unit as it has some really great safety features. This is particularly important with the IRS, since you can get your trailer yanking the GL's rear around if they get out of sync, but a quick tap on the brakes is supposed to use the stability control program to re-align the truck and the trailer.

Now, as for an electronic brake, wouldn't it be easier if the load is that big to use the hydraulic tongue brake (or whatever that system is called)?

S

Those are called surge brakes... They are satisfactory up to a point, but they are not as good as electric brakes through a controller.
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Old May 18, 2007 | 07:43 PM
  #8  
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From: South of the Mason Dixon, North of the Gulf
2007 GL 320 CDI, 2008 M5
Originally Posted by Love my GL
I had my hitch installed by the dealer (not factory installed). This required the dealer to install an updated RearSAM unit to accept the programming for the wiring harness. They installed the hitch and the harness but negelected to program the new SAM unit which caused all of the wires going to the trailer to remain live regardless of blinker/brake light useage. Another trip to the dealer fixed this problem.

Your hitch is most likely factory installed so you should not have anything to worry about.

Regards,
Mel

Actually, I did some trailering yesterday and the lights on the trailer did NOT work even though I have a factory installed hitch. Do you have any reason why?
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Old May 19, 2007 | 12:57 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by oinick
Actually, I did some trailering yesterday and the lights on the trailer did NOT work even though I have a factory installed hitch. Do you have any reason why?
Before you bring it to the dealer, have you checked it with a light tester? If the test shows that all pins are live from the vehicle, you'll have to bring it to the dealer to reprogram the rear SAM. Check the prongs in the trailer's 7-pin harness....sometimes the pins are too far from each other. Let us know if this helps.

Regards,
Mel
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