mdadgar

Can someone with the tow package (preferably with 20" rims) do me a favor?

Can you please measure the distance from the ground (at normal ride height) to the lower inside edge of the tow hitch receiver? Basically, I want to know how far off the ground the receiver is in advance of my '11 GL350 showing up so I can get my hitch platform reset since the current Escalade receiver is definitely farther off the ground.

Thanks!

BTW, if you tow heavy, you should consider a ProPride 3P Hitch. I cannot recommend it highly enough:

http://www.propridehitch.com/product...ol-Hitch-.html

- Mark, GL350 custom order (ADS II) inbound

AMG DUDE

I have 13 5/16" with 21" factory AMG wheels. You can use this as a reference.

mdadgar

Thank you!

Wow, that's a big change. The Escalade is at 19". It's probably an inch too high, so it sounds like I need about a 5" rise in platform height.

- Mark

robalo220

I have an 11 GL 350 bluetec with factory 20" rims/ runflats. Took delivery late November. I measured 13 5/8". Hope this helps.

mdadgar

THANK YOU!

- Mark

robalo220

Your welcome Mark. By the way, I pull a 22' center console boat on an aluminum trailer with tandem axle with surge disc breaks on all 4 wheels. Total load just over 5K lbs. Absolutely no problems. The listed capacity of the GL towing is what 7K? What do you tow to use such an expensive non sway system? I Have pulled the same boat with an 07' ML 320 CDI and 08' GL 320 CDI. Have you pulled anything with a GL yet. If you already have the system, that is one thing, but I would find it hard to spend that amount of money with the way the GL tows. Wind resistance? My center console has a fiberglass "T" top that is non removable. Great bug catcher and sail. I'm sure not as much as a camper trailer or a closed car trailer due to the box shape but my experience has been great. I pull the boat from Louisville to Destin Florida without blinking. I'm interested in hearing what you are pulling. When is your ride arriving. Also are you getting the bluetec? If so, the torque will blow away your Excalade's torque.

mdadgar

It's a 22' enclosed V-nose race trailer with a race car ('94 BMW 35is) inside. Total weight is right at the GL limit.

It's got the aerodynamics of a barn door. Hell, of the whole barn.

I get 7.5 mpg towing it with the Escalade on level straight highway with the cruise locked at 62 mph. Can't wait to see what the GL gets under the same circumstances.

GL350 was built last week and is supposed arrive (San Francisco, about as far as you can get from Vance without needing a boat) around the end of the month.

Yep, Bluetec. It's actually a bit lower torque-wise than my Escalade (417 lb-ft), but it comes in WAY lower in the rpm range and should be a towing monster more on par with my old 2002 GMC Crew Cab with Duramax diesel. Just without, you know, the tupperware interior that the GMC had.

I missed having a diesel around.

Anyway, I'll definitely post a review after my first tow in the GL. That ProPride hitch really is amazing, so I suspect that towing will be an all-around painless experience in this rig.

- Mark

EWT

It is low. I'm trying to decide between a 3" rise and a 5" rise for my boat.

robalo220

I actually use a 6" rise for my boat. Works out great. I use the system that another poster listed that actually bolts in place so you don't have to listen to the clunking all the time as the load shifts. I'll find the link and post it later.

robalo220

I'm guessing you will jump to at least 10 maybe close to 11 mpg. It will be interesting to hear what you actually get. I have not pulled my boat with the Bluetec yet but the CDI's averaged almost 14 mpg. On interstate I usually pull at 72 mph.



Well I didn't mention that there is not only the torque of the diesel but the 7 speed tranny. Pulling my boat on the steepest of hills that I encounter at 72 MPH, the tranny will downshift only two times to fifth gear and will hum along at about 2800 rpm's. It will maintain the 72 mph. I have had both a V6 and V8 Explorer pulling other boats with similiar weights and they had 5 speed trannys and would down shift two (with cruise on) and revs go to 4k. You would think the engine would blow before you could kick the cruise off. I actually got to where I wouldn't use the cruise at all because of worse milage as it would downshift at the slightest incline. Anyway, the gassers sometimes would not hold the 72 mph on the hills. I don't know if your Escalade did that or not. Granted you are pulling 2K more weight but it will be interesting to see how you like your setup with the Bluetec.

On another note, the factory hitch setup appears slightly different on my 11 GL than previous versions. With the bad weather, I have not gotten under the rear to see if it is different or not. Another poster discussed modifying the setup for additional strength. I don't know if you have read that or not. With you maxing out the towing capacity, you may want to check out his mods to see if you may want to consider that as well.

Cheers!

EWT

I may try one of these out (which come in 4 or 6" rise) to quiet things down since I need a heavier duty unit anyway.

mdadgar

Yeah, I dug out all those threads and read through them. That's an interesting observation that the '11 hitch is different - I'm eager to hear what you find when you get under there.

I'm leaning toward having my race shop reinforce the stock receiver at a minimum. Welding some gussets on would be easy. I'd like to avoid the additional bar under the AdBlue tank that some people have added - it seems like it has unfortunate ramifications for the vehicle's crash performance.

- Mark

EWT

TC Design hitch?

mdadgar

LOL - exactly!

(for those you who are wondering what we're talking about)

- Mark

lkchris

Think it's pretty much the same regardless of tire size, as Mercedes maintains same rolling diameter.

Note also that vehicle is going to lower itself at speed, but this is likely insignificant with respect to towing ... so it's a little difficult to measure "normal ride height" with vehicle stopped.

Mercedes ESC (electronic stability control) already built into the GL provides trailer antisway. I believe on USA models the factory wiring still provides burglar alarm protection should trailer be disconnected with alarm activated.

For my Westfalia/BMW motorcycle trailer I think my formula is 1-in drop upside down.

mdadgar

It's an awesome safety net, but you don't want to rely on it to manage sway on an ongoing basis. You want to fix the fundamental sway problem with your trailer setup.

The ESC brakes individual wheels (fronts, in this case) to manage sway. When it has to do that constantly, you end up with overheated brakes. Which means you ain't gonna have 'em when you really need 'em.

- Mark

jimmyp

I just put my hitch on myself. The hitch is much better then the old units. The drop support goes all the way around the hitch bar now, not just welded to it like befor. I towed my supra its about 5500lbs with trailer and I got 16.5 mpg with my 2010 gl350.

mdadgar

Ahh, interesting. When there was talk here about the delay in an accessory version of the hitch being available for 2010's I wondered if MBZ was revising it. Sounds like the answer is "yes".

Great news - thank you.

- Mark

pteam

thats better gas milage than my hummer h2 got without towing anything!

robalo220

Yep! That's the one I use. Works great. Lock isn't worth a chit tho. Fell off the first time I pulled the boat. I just torque the bolt and it stays no problem.

emayer

Very Interesting.....

If anyone has the newer hitch can they please post tongue weight specs?
I'd be curious to see if overall capacity has increased. If so, I'm trading in our GL550...

jimmyp

Same weight I think 600lbs, Its just a much better built unit. I think thats why I could not get the hitch in may after I bought the truck, due to the re- design of it.

mdadgar

If you get a chance to snap a pic ...

- Mark

StevethePilot

I've found you need to screw in the bolt, push the lock on until it clicks, then torque it the rest of the way down, hook up (though I've barely towed any weight, honestly) and re-check the tightness of the bolt.

Of course, even though my towing is for miniscule weights, suddenly I become OCD and feel I need to go out and check the tightness of the hitch and the ball about every 231 feet. But beyond that it's a nice unit.

robalo220

I have only towed a few times with the new hitch setup and I torqued the bolt first and that most likely prevented the lock from clicking on properly. Of course the lock is only there to prevent honest people from stealing the hitch anyway. The weather has gotten cold and I haven't pulled anything else. I am going to order a new lock though.

I have pulled the boat about 600 miles without any issue so far on both interstate and windy back roads to different lakes. No sway problems and the bolt never budged.