Norcal_Tom

Hello:


I’m looking for feedback from someone who has direct experience towing with the GL450. We typically tow a dual axle ski boat set-up at around 4,500 lbs.


We are considering purchasing either the 2012 GL350-Blue or the 2012 GL450. We understand that the GL350 has more torque and may be better suited to towing. Unfortunately, my wife is not a fan of the diesel and the standing start hesitation of the 350 in city driving is a negative.


What has been your towing experience with the GL450? Does the 4.6L V-8 have the power to pull this load up a grade without needing to put on the hazards lights?


Other vehicle also being considered, Audi Q7 TDI and Audi Q7 S-Line.


Thanks

mdadgar

I have a GL350 but I also town 3000 lbs more than you and the load is WAY less aerodynamic.

It's a fantastic tow vehicle. It really, really is. Very comfortable, very stable, no white knuckles at all.

Recommended.

- Mark

vntgspd

+1
I tow a 4500-5000lb travel trailer (box) with the GL450 and it handles it very well. I seldom ever floor the throttle to merge or maintain traffic speeds, including a short trip up a road over coastal mountains (about 1 mile at 6-8% grade).

I'm sure the GL350 would feel even more effortless when towing but also agree with your wife that the instantaneous torque of the V8 in around town driving is more natural and enjoyable.

gedelea

Sounds like a good vehicle to consider is the GL550!

MomsBenz

I tow a 6,000lb + boat and my GL450 does amazing! Effortless. We live in the mountains of SoCal and tow to Arizona several times a summer. I am thrilled with the way the GL tows and handles towing. Gas mileage isn't bad either (average 12-15 miles per gallon towing). Here is a pic of what I tow

mdadgar

Since we're all showing what we've got.



- Mark

Norcal_Tom

Thank you for the great replies.

Three quick follow-up questions.

1. How well does the AIRMATIC air suspension work for leveling tail sag when towing a boat or trailer?

2. Does Hill-Start Assist work well when pulling a trailer up the boat ramp?

3. Do you use side-view mirror extenders and if so, which brand?

I appreciate your input.

mdadgar

Perfectly. My GL is completely level with a lot of tongue weight. See the pic I posted earlier.

No answer for this one - sorry!

Yes - these are awesome:

https://www.makariosrv.com/products/...-Products.html

Highly recommended.

- Mark

amdeutsch

What kind of race car are you towing? With the AC on top I presume you have some bunk setup as well for track.

mdadgar

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

EWT

No problems getting a 7,000 lbs boat+trailer up the ramp with mine. I'm not sure what the Hill Assist does or doesn't have to do with it though.
Nice color for the GL Mark!

Eric

Norcal_Tom

Thank you for all the replies. We decided to go with the GL550 in the end. Here is a pic on the first tow.

gedelea

Your link is a secure link "Https". Its not displaying and if it did people would still not be able to access it.

Norcal_Tom

Ok, I think I finally am getting with the program. Hopefully this image will show now.

gedelea

Looks great! Congrats on your purchase. I love my GL550 and hope you like yours too.

Can you provide any feedback on how you felt it towed?

Gregg

Norcal_Tom

Sure.

For comparison, our other tow vehicle is a Dodge Dakota Quad-Cab 4x4 truck with 4.7L V8 and 5-speed manual.

The GL550 has much less road noise resulting in being able to hearing the trailer more (suspension and surge brakes). Power is better (5.5L vs. 4.7L), but the 550 is also heavier than the truck. The difference between the manual and auto transmission is great. Interior comforts are not comparable.

Overall, the GL550 towed great with very smooth and predictable power delivery. I will post after our first tow to the boat ramp that requires a good hill climb.

Tom

RCorney17

I realize this is an older thread, but since I tow the same or less I am curious if you all tow in "D" or select "D6" or lower? I towed this same boat with my ML430 and rarely shifted manually.

I presume selecting a lower gear is like taking the car out of overdrive and the tranny would be more responsive. I towed home last night in "D6" due to my tranny acting up on the tow to the lake on Friday.

mdadgar

I tow in D and let the car worry about it.

- Mark

vntgspd

+1
I just leave it in "D" unless the transmission begins "hunting" but it has never done that for me.

Norcal_Tom

Just got back from a 500-mile round trip to Shasta and everything went flawless with the GL. Just put in "D" and away it went.

EWT

Good to hear. Where on Shasta did you put the boat in? I've never been up there, but have been thinking about towing my boat up there.

Norcal_Tom

We have used Jones Valley Resort on the Pitt River arm of the lake for the last 8-9 years. We have rented a houseboat for a week or weekend for the last 18 years on Shasta and find their houseboats well maintained and great service.

Lake Shasta is a beautiful lake where 5 rivers coming together to create over 350 miles of waterline and lots of coves. Attached is a picture from this last trip.

RCorney17

Sorry to hijack this thread, but that photo of Shasta makes me long for the miles and miles of ski-able warm water... Looks beautiful. It's been too long since I've been there. We just got back from Don Pedro... searched pretty hard for water like your photo...

ddruker

We just returned from a 3000 mile trip from the San Francisco Bay Area through Yellowstone and surrounds towing a 27 foot Airstream Safari. Our GL 350 pulled beautifully including up and over the Teton pass - which features 10% grades.

We were never lacking for power and had no issues with sway or any other problems for the entire trip. I could definitely feel the trailer back there, particularly in gusty 40 MPH side winds coming down I5 near Stockton - but it was never scary.

We normally get about 25 MPG on the highway with the Diesel GL350; towing the Airstream we saw an average of 16 MPG. We definitely got funny looks from the full sized diesel pickup truck crowd when we were in RV parks along with comments along the line of - "you're towing with that little thing?"

Rear tire pressure increased to as high as 45 PSI on 100 degree plus days while towing. Fronts stayed at about 38 while towing.

Attached is an obligatory photo in front of the Tetons, another of my kids cooking trout they caught a few hours earlier, and a third of a Bison that got a little too close for comfort - I was trying to imagine what I would tell the body shop and insurance folks.

EWT

The pavement on that section of I5 is awful too. I definitely know the boat is back there when I tow on that stretch.