Towing with GL450
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 106
From: Palo Alto, CA
2011 GL 350, P1 Package, HID headlamps, Blind spot assist, Parktronic, Wood steering wheel
S4play. Chains are there to help stop you from killing someone if something goes wrong and your trailer comes off the ball...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 106
From: Palo Alto, CA
2011 GL 350, P1 Package, HID headlamps, Blind spot assist, Parktronic, Wood steering wheel
God no - got it done at a local trailer shop - the dealerships and all the way through to MB USA are completely clueless about towing. I think about 0.002% of Mercedes owners in the US tow. And all of them are probably here. Search the forum for hitch reinforcement and you will see a bunch of posts about the various things the folks who tow have done to our trucks...
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2011 MB GL450
Talking about Tongue Weight. The GL is rated at 600#. Is it simple enough to say that I need to stay at or below a Trailer that is 6000# GVWR? Thinking that if 10% of the Trailer weight should be on the tongue for safe towing.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
If you're concerned, take the trailer to a certified scale (try looking for a local CAT scale) and measure it. You can also do this at home, by using a bathroom scale, but you'll need to use some leverage/math and not place the tongue directly on the scale since most scales don't go that high. Remember you need to weigh TONGUE weight, not the weight at the jack stand/wheel.
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 92
Likes: 6
2014 GL450
Should be no problem at all, if you use a good sway control. My first towing is using my GL450 to town a trailer about 2 feet longer than yours, and weight similar as yours. No problem at all.
We are considering buying a Keystone Bullet (~28ft. @ 4,685# dry weight and 550# hitch weight)... http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2016-keystone-rv-bullet-east-coast-243bhs-114482682
Can anyone tell me if I can have full confidence in pulling this with my GL?
I'm a little nervous as this my first Trailer. Any tips and/or thoughts would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick
Can anyone tell me if I can have full confidence in pulling this with my GL?
I'm a little nervous as this my first Trailer. Any tips and/or thoughts would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 92
Likes: 6
2014 GL450
That's a GL550, which has a lot more HP and torque than GL450. Plus, the trailer it tows is not too long, probably shorter than a travel trailer with 26' box size (so receiver ball to rear bumper would be around 30' long).
With GL550's HP and torque, I am pretty sure that owner would feel it it is very easy to pull the trailer as shown in the picture.
With GL550's HP and torque, I am pretty sure that owner would feel it it is very easy to pull the trailer as shown in the picture.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
That's a GL550, which has a lot more HP and torque than GL450. Plus, the trailer it tows is not too long, probably shorter than a travel trailer with 26' box size (so receiver ball to rear bumper would be around 30' long).
With GL550's HP and torque, I am pretty sure that owner would feel it it is very easy to pull the trailer as shown in the picture.
With GL550's HP and torque, I am pretty sure that owner would feel it it is very easy to pull the trailer as shown in the picture.
Regardless of how powerful the engine is, it's still mounted in the same chassis as the other versions of GL's and the same precautions still hold true. Of more importance than pulling power is stability, braking, "sturdiness" of the hitch mounting points and beefiness of the hitch and the "frame" (for lack of a better word) of the vehicle.
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 92
Likes: 6
2014 GL450
Agree that no matter how powerful the engine is, you can't exceed the GVWR and tongue weight rating. However, when everything is in spec weight wise, a more powerful engine will make the towing easier, especially when you need to go long uphill - much easier to maintain speed with a powerful engine, and sometime with a less powerful engine, you will have to run below the speed limit when going uphill because the engine is simply not powerful enough to maintain the speed.
Length of the trailer won't have anything to do with this, though. Actually, longer trailers are generally more stable since the wheelbase is longer. EAsier to back-up, too. What really matters is the overall weight of the trailer (including cargo) and the tongue weight.
Regardless of how powerful the engine is, it's still mounted in the same chassis as the other versions of GL's and the same precautions still hold true. Of more importance than pulling power is stability, braking, "sturdiness" of the hitch mounting points and beefiness of the hitch and the "frame" (for lack of a better word) of the vehicle.
Regardless of how powerful the engine is, it's still mounted in the same chassis as the other versions of GL's and the same precautions still hold true. Of more importance than pulling power is stability, braking, "sturdiness" of the hitch mounting points and beefiness of the hitch and the "frame" (for lack of a better word) of the vehicle.
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 92
Likes: 6
2014 GL450
I would like to know, anyone tow heavy trailer with GL450? I mean, a trailer (when loaded) between 6500 - 7000lbs? What's the experience like?
Really want to know this because I am shopping for a travel trailer now.
Thanks!
Really want to know this because I am shopping for a travel trailer now.
Thanks!
Last edited by deeperblue; Nov 30, 2015 at 05:37 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Agree that no matter how powerful the engine is, you can't exceed the GVWR and tongue weight rating. However, when everything is in spec weight wise, a more powerful engine will make the towing easier, especially when you need to go long uphill - much easier to maintain speed with a powerful engine, and sometime with a less powerful engine, you will have to run below the speed limit when going uphill because the engine is simply not powerful enough to maintain the speed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
I should mention though, that a key part of this equation is having a properly setup trailer with the right distribution of weight on the axles and the tongue.
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 92
Likes: 6
2014 GL450
Thank you for your reply, however, I am a bit confused. You first said "you don't have a 450, so you can't speak from the power standpoint", then you said "you do a lot of towing ... with this vehicle".
What does "this vehicle" means in your answer?
Towing boat requires less power because travel trailer will have a lot more wind resistance. But maybe when towing uphill the trailer's weight is the dominant factor? I am not sure about this.
I have a GL450 (2012 model, V8 but not the biturbo version).
Last year I rented a 26' trailer (box length), full length is about 29.5', dry weight 5000lb (so loaded weight is probably around 5700-6000lb when we were towing it on our camping trip).
Some people (not this forum, people from some other RV forum) warned me about a short SUV towing a long trailer will likely be very unstable, they suggested I don't exceed 20-21' in box length (full length not exceeding 24'). Because it was a rented trailer and I didn't have my own hitch, the rental dealer just put on some regular WD and sway control hitch (nothing fancy like ProPride or Hensley Arrow). The whole towing experience (about 2K miles round trip, from Washington state to Banff) was really good: not even once did I even feel sway because of wind or other big rig passing by.
I am considering buy a trailer myself, but my preferred size will result in a weight around 6500+ lb (when camping), so I want to know if GL450 can tow 6500lb without much difficulty. Going long uphill at 45-50 miles a hour is fine, that's good enough for me but I guess a GL350 or GL550 should have no trouble maintaining speed at 60-65 mile/hour even under such condition.
What does "this vehicle" means in your answer?
Towing boat requires less power because travel trailer will have a lot more wind resistance. But maybe when towing uphill the trailer's weight is the dominant factor? I am not sure about this.
I have a GL450 (2012 model, V8 but not the biturbo version).
Last year I rented a 26' trailer (box length), full length is about 29.5', dry weight 5000lb (so loaded weight is probably around 5700-6000lb when we were towing it on our camping trip).
Some people (not this forum, people from some other RV forum) warned me about a short SUV towing a long trailer will likely be very unstable, they suggested I don't exceed 20-21' in box length (full length not exceeding 24'). Because it was a rented trailer and I didn't have my own hitch, the rental dealer just put on some regular WD and sway control hitch (nothing fancy like ProPride or Hensley Arrow). The whole towing experience (about 2K miles round trip, from Washington state to Banff) was really good: not even once did I even feel sway because of wind or other big rig passing by.
I am considering buy a trailer myself, but my preferred size will result in a weight around 6500+ lb (when camping), so I want to know if GL450 can tow 6500lb without much difficulty. Going long uphill at 45-50 miles a hour is fine, that's good enough for me but I guess a GL350 or GL550 should have no trouble maintaining speed at 60-65 mile/hour even under such condition.
I don't have a 450, so I can't speak from the power standpoint, but I do a lot of towing (primarily boats) and often tow in the 6K+ range with this vehicle, up to the low 7K range. I tow much heavier boats, too - but I use larger trucks for that. From a stability standpoint, I must say that I am VERY impressed with the Merc. I just recently had a boat (probably somewhere between 6K and 6,500lbs) on back and decided to do some VERY quick maneuvers with it. I was on back roads with no one else in the car or other cars around. I was travelling between 40 and 50MPH and did multiple swerving type moves - the kind you would do in an emergency situation like if a deer ran out in front of you. I started slow and progressed faster/harder. Well, I have to say that I was absolutely blown away at how stable the car is during that. I was doing it hard enough that the antilock system would kick in and it really kept the car smooth and secure. Even before the antilock kicked in, it was still quite impressive.
I should mention though, that a key part of this equation is having a properly setup trailer with the right distribution of weight on the axles and the tongue.
I should mention though, that a key part of this equation is having a properly setup trailer with the right distribution of weight on the axles and the tongue.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
"This vehicle"... the one in my signature, a 320. Different engine, so can't help you with the power part of your question. But the rest of the vehicle is the same, so just wanted to add some real life experience of towing on the heavy side (well, "heavy" in relation to what the vehicle is rated for, anyways) and stability.
Boat trailer vs RV trailer... I've thought about this many times and really haven't come to a conclusion (and the few times that I've towed a box trailer, I haven't noticed anything obviously different). For one, the vehicle breaks most of the wind so I "think" that the frontal area of the trailer in question may not matter as much as we might think. Secondly, the rest of the travel trailer is probably MORE aerodynamic than the boat, especially given all the irregular shapes (both top and bottom) of the boat (bow rails, windshield, hull strakes) and also the stern of the boat is extremely unaerodynamic as it's about as far away from a teardrop shape as you can get with the swim platform and engine. Although a travel trailer certainly isn't a "tear drop" back there, either!
Either way, at the speeds we're towing at, I don't think it's making much of a real/tangible difference. The difference is likely negligible.
Boat trailer vs RV trailer... I've thought about this many times and really haven't come to a conclusion (and the few times that I've towed a box trailer, I haven't noticed anything obviously different). For one, the vehicle breaks most of the wind so I "think" that the frontal area of the trailer in question may not matter as much as we might think. Secondly, the rest of the travel trailer is probably MORE aerodynamic than the boat, especially given all the irregular shapes (both top and bottom) of the boat (bow rails, windshield, hull strakes) and also the stern of the boat is extremely unaerodynamic as it's about as far away from a teardrop shape as you can get with the swim platform and engine. Although a travel trailer certainly isn't a "tear drop" back there, either!
Either way, at the speeds we're towing at, I don't think it's making much of a real/tangible difference. The difference is likely negligible.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2011 C63 AMG Mercedes
GTS3 1994 325i with Hauling Questions
Mark,
My Ford F250 is too rough and tough for my bad spine. I still race the GTS3 325i. I want to start towing with my 2014 MB GL450 with air suspension. My 25' enclosed trailer with car and gear is about 7,500#. I can add electrical brake controller, not sure who can install the controller. I need help with either mirror extenders or triple camera setup.
You car is beautiful. Come race in Florida!
Thank you for your help,
Sam Arledge
813-763-6821
My Ford F250 is too rough and tough for my bad spine. I still race the GTS3 325i. I want to start towing with my 2014 MB GL450 with air suspension. My 25' enclosed trailer with car and gear is about 7,500#. I can add electrical brake controller, not sure who can install the controller. I need help with either mirror extenders or triple camera setup.
You car is beautiful. Come race in Florida!
Thank you for your help,
Sam Arledge
813-763-6821
1994 BMW 325is prepped for BMW CCA Club Racing J-Prepared. Although it's on its way to being a GTS3 car for GTS Challenge.
No bunks in the trailer (other than some hammocks with e-track hooks), but it can easily hit 110 degrees in the summer at some of the tracks around here, so the AC comes in real handy.
- Mark
No bunks in the trailer (other than some hammocks with e-track hooks), but it can easily hit 110 degrees in the summer at some of the tracks around here, so the AC comes in real handy.
- Mark
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2011 C63 AMG Mercedes
Towing Cameras
I want to park the truck and tow my 25' enclosed car hauler with my GL450. I would like to use a triple camera setup. left, right and rear of trailer view with a single monitor sitting on the dash with a button to switch cameras. Any input?
Thanks, Sam in Florida
Thanks, Sam in Florida
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
I think it's easily done if you hard wire the cameras. You can then use a A/V switch to select which camera you want to view. Run the three wires to the A/V switch, then the output to your display. I would imagine there's a way to do this with wireless cameras, but I have never dabbled in that.
3 might be overkill, though. I can definitely see the advantage of having one - I almost put one on my boat (28' Sea Ray Sundancer/cruiser... about 35' of trailer all together) trailer, but ended up selling it before I did. But the two that you would have looking out the sides - you should be able to easily see that with proper side-view mirrors.
3 might be overkill, though. I can definitely see the advantage of having one - I almost put one on my boat (28' Sea Ray Sundancer/cruiser... about 35' of trailer all together) trailer, but ended up selling it before I did. But the two that you would have looking out the sides - you should be able to easily see that with proper side-view mirrors.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 4
Likes: 2
From: Midwest
2012 GL550
Ok, I think I finally am getting with the program. Hopefully this image will show now.
Attachment 380230
Attachment 380230
Beautiful car man! I can't tell if it's the same color as mine or not but I just enjoy this bodystyle in the darker color.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 251
Likes: 13
R350 2008 4Matic Gasoline
is the 3,000 + towing on everything or tongur,e weight ?
