2011+ GL350, Towing, Hitches, Tongue Weight
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
GL350 2011
2011+ GL350, Towing, Hitches, Tongue Weight
Hi All,
I'm planning some camping trips for the near future, and am giving a good thinking to towing/trailer weights.
As of yet, I've only done a handful of short towing drives in my GL, and haven't paid too much attention to weight distribution, only to total weights (dry trailer weight 5300 pounds, not much cargo, definitely under the GVWR/Towing ratings).
That being said, the two things that have me concerned are the following:
1) Is the GL's hitch a "weak" hitch? There are scattered reports of hitch welds failing, and needing reinforcement, even at the (meager) factory tongue weight ratings. This is scary. I've heard that the 2011+ models have a much better hitch design (mine is a 2011).
2) What strategies do people use to mitigate the low tongue weight rating (600 pounds, based on the manual, no mention of weight distributing hitches)? I've read mixed posts on whether or not using a Weight Distribution hitch makes a difference (I know on most other tow vehicles, the WDH rating for the hitch's tongue weight is generally much higher).
Dry, my trailer is 5300 pounds, but the tongue weight (hitch weight) is 770 pounds (dry), not include propane, battery, brake controller, and my Hensley Arrow.
I'd be interested in knowing of the GL's hitch is fine with a WDH at ~850 pounds of tongue weight. Or, do I need hitch reinforcement (sounds like a good idea, but I'm questionable about the engineering that goes into to those jobs). Try something like dumping ALL of the trailer cargo into the back end of the trailer (seems like a bad idea, but will help with the tongue weight)?
If you (towers) keep track, what sort of tongue weights do you run on your setups, and have you had any issues?
Mechanically, the GL diesel is an amazing towing rig. However, I'm looking for feedback structurally, as structural problems are more catastrophic, and tend not to reveal themselves the same way mechanical problem may.
I'm planning some camping trips for the near future, and am giving a good thinking to towing/trailer weights.
As of yet, I've only done a handful of short towing drives in my GL, and haven't paid too much attention to weight distribution, only to total weights (dry trailer weight 5300 pounds, not much cargo, definitely under the GVWR/Towing ratings).
That being said, the two things that have me concerned are the following:
1) Is the GL's hitch a "weak" hitch? There are scattered reports of hitch welds failing, and needing reinforcement, even at the (meager) factory tongue weight ratings. This is scary. I've heard that the 2011+ models have a much better hitch design (mine is a 2011).
2) What strategies do people use to mitigate the low tongue weight rating (600 pounds, based on the manual, no mention of weight distributing hitches)? I've read mixed posts on whether or not using a Weight Distribution hitch makes a difference (I know on most other tow vehicles, the WDH rating for the hitch's tongue weight is generally much higher).
Dry, my trailer is 5300 pounds, but the tongue weight (hitch weight) is 770 pounds (dry), not include propane, battery, brake controller, and my Hensley Arrow.
I'd be interested in knowing of the GL's hitch is fine with a WDH at ~850 pounds of tongue weight. Or, do I need hitch reinforcement (sounds like a good idea, but I'm questionable about the engineering that goes into to those jobs). Try something like dumping ALL of the trailer cargo into the back end of the trailer (seems like a bad idea, but will help with the tongue weight)?
If you (towers) keep track, what sort of tongue weights do you run on your setups, and have you had any issues?
Mechanically, the GL diesel is an amazing towing rig. However, I'm looking for feedback structurally, as structural problems are more catastrophic, and tend not to reveal themselves the same way mechanical problem may.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 421
Likes: 57
2021 V167
Towing..
Samarian,
I have a 2011 GL350 that I tow a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 with. The trailer weighs in at 7300lbs full of water and packed and it has a 810lb tongue weight, so I am barely under trailer weight and over on tongue weight. I use a similar hitch, the ProPride.
After towing with 3/4 ton Suburbans I was ready for better mileage. Being an Airstreamer I follow Rich Luhr the editor of Airstream Life magazine who tows with a 2009 GL320 which is essentially is the same as ours. Rich has 100k towing miles on his GL and it has been a good tow vehicle.
http://maze.airstreamlife.com/
On mine I have held off on doing any hitch reinforcement as I was worried about welding to the heat treated hitch making it weaker. I run a fair amount of spring tension on the tension bars and I have a better, softer more stable tow than my last two bone jarring Suburbans.
Another thing I have added is European towing mirrors made by Repusel of Holland.
How is that timing chain? What oil you using? With the Mobil 5/40 being discontinued I am using MB 5/30 229.52 spec.
I have a 2011 GL350 that I tow a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 with. The trailer weighs in at 7300lbs full of water and packed and it has a 810lb tongue weight, so I am barely under trailer weight and over on tongue weight. I use a similar hitch, the ProPride.
After towing with 3/4 ton Suburbans I was ready for better mileage. Being an Airstreamer I follow Rich Luhr the editor of Airstream Life magazine who tows with a 2009 GL320 which is essentially is the same as ours. Rich has 100k towing miles on his GL and it has been a good tow vehicle.
http://maze.airstreamlife.com/
On mine I have held off on doing any hitch reinforcement as I was worried about welding to the heat treated hitch making it weaker. I run a fair amount of spring tension on the tension bars and I have a better, softer more stable tow than my last two bone jarring Suburbans.
Another thing I have added is European towing mirrors made by Repusel of Holland.
How is that timing chain? What oil you using? With the Mobil 5/40 being discontinued I am using MB 5/30 229.52 spec.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
GL350 2011
Samarian,
I have a 2011 GL350 that I tow a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 with. The trailer weighs in at 7300lbs full of water and packed and it has a 810lb tongue weight, so I am barely under trailer weight and over on tongue weight. I use a similar hitch, the ProPride.
After towing with 3/4 ton Suburbans I was ready for better mileage. Being an Airstreamer I follow Rich Luhr the editor of Airstream Life magazine who tows with a 2009 GL320 which is essentially is the same as ours. Rich has 100k towing miles on his GL and it has been a good tow vehicle.
http://maze.airstreamlife.com/
On mine I have held off on doing any hitch reinforcement as I was worried about welding to the heat treated hitch making it weaker. I run a fair amount of spring tension on the tension bars and I have a better, softer more stable tow than my last two bone jarring Suburbans.
Another thing I have added is European towing mirrors made by Repusel of Holland.
How is that timing chain? What oil you using? With the Mobil 5/40 being discontinued I am using MB 5/30 229.52 spec.
I have a 2011 GL350 that I tow a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 with. The trailer weighs in at 7300lbs full of water and packed and it has a 810lb tongue weight, so I am barely under trailer weight and over on tongue weight. I use a similar hitch, the ProPride.
After towing with 3/4 ton Suburbans I was ready for better mileage. Being an Airstreamer I follow Rich Luhr the editor of Airstream Life magazine who tows with a 2009 GL320 which is essentially is the same as ours. Rich has 100k towing miles on his GL and it has been a good tow vehicle.
http://maze.airstreamlife.com/
On mine I have held off on doing any hitch reinforcement as I was worried about welding to the heat treated hitch making it weaker. I run a fair amount of spring tension on the tension bars and I have a better, softer more stable tow than my last two bone jarring Suburbans.
Another thing I have added is European towing mirrors made by Repusel of Holland.
How is that timing chain? What oil you using? With the Mobil 5/40 being discontinued I am using MB 5/30 229.52 spec.
Timing chain still seems to be solid. I'm still running Valvoline 5/40, because I had some left over. I had been planning on switching over to the Mobile 5/30 ESP 229.52. Are you using the actual MB brand, or the Mobile stuff?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 421
Likes: 57
2021 V167
towing....
I agree the weights we use in the US, the typical 10 to 15 percent of trailer wieght which using the listed towing capacity of the GL would be well short of the 7500lb capacity. I know I feel comfortable towing with mine, especially getting 15 to 16 mpg towing compared my old Suburbans 9mpg!
On the oil I am using the MB branded version as I found it on Amazon reasonable and have been told it is private labeled Mobil 1. I am hoping the 5/30 is a good choice for towing at max GVWR across america in hot summer!
On the oil I am using the MB branded version as I found it on Amazon reasonable and have been told it is private labeled Mobil 1. I am hoping the 5/30 is a good choice for towing at max GVWR across america in hot summer!
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 10
From: Irvine, CA
!90 E 1984, 300D 1984, 300SD 1986, 300TD 1988, 400SE 1990, 500CL 1995, GL350 2012, GLS580 2020, 2025
Towing experience
I have towed my 2011 23ft Airstream over 20,000 miles with my 2012 GL350 including road trip to Alaska. Hitch weight is 450 lbs and total loaded is 5500 lbs. Use Reese weight distribution hitch. Never has any problem going over 7500 ft mountains. Most of the time I use cruise control up and down the mountain. Get about 15 mph. Love my 4th diesel car.
