GL 350 Towing questions
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 18
GL 350
GL 350 Towing questions
Hi all,
I will be towing a camper next month. I have a few questions and appreciate feedback from GL towing experts here at this forum
1) Tire questions: What do you set the tire pressure to (both front and rear) when weight distribution is applied? Do you add nitrogen or just Air? (Does it even matter?) For first generation GL owners with no spare, do you carry a fix a flat?
2) Setting up the weight distribution: I need to measure the drop in the back of the GL, when the camper is hitched, so I can adjust the weight distribution. Would turning the car do the trick, turn of air suspension, and make the back of the car drop, so I can setup the weight distribution?
3) I plan to use a wireless rear view camera (and no towing mirrors), so I can see whats behind the camper all the time. Do you think this setup is OK? What brand of camera have you used? I need the camera to be clamp on as the camper is not mine (I cannot drill it to the back of the camper).
4) Is it possible to view engine oil/transmission temperature in information cluster? Or do I need specific tools/software?
5) The tires on our GL were recently replaced, and we also recently did the 30k service. I am guessing we are ready to tow. Am I missing something?
Thanks you very much for your help
I will be towing a camper next month. I have a few questions and appreciate feedback from GL towing experts here at this forum
1) Tire questions: What do you set the tire pressure to (both front and rear) when weight distribution is applied? Do you add nitrogen or just Air? (Does it even matter?) For first generation GL owners with no spare, do you carry a fix a flat?
2) Setting up the weight distribution: I need to measure the drop in the back of the GL, when the camper is hitched, so I can adjust the weight distribution. Would turning the car do the trick, turn of air suspension, and make the back of the car drop, so I can setup the weight distribution?
3) I plan to use a wireless rear view camera (and no towing mirrors), so I can see whats behind the camper all the time. Do you think this setup is OK? What brand of camera have you used? I need the camera to be clamp on as the camper is not mine (I cannot drill it to the back of the camper).
4) Is it possible to view engine oil/transmission temperature in information cluster? Or do I need specific tools/software?
5) The tires on our GL were recently replaced, and we also recently did the 30k service. I am guessing we are ready to tow. Am I missing something?
Thanks you very much for your help
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
2013 GL350. BMW 335. 2014R1200RTW
Some questions before I weigh in...how much does the trailer weigh and what's the advertised tongue weight? What kind of weight distribution hitch do you have and what kind of brake controller ? Also what year is your GL? BTW you'll need to access CAT scales (many truck stops have them) to properly set up the hitch.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 18
GL 350
Some questions before I weigh in...how much does the trailer weigh and what's the advertised tongue weight? What kind of weight distribution hitch do you have and what kind of brake controller ? Also what year is your GL? BTW you'll need to access CAT scales (many truck stops have them) to properly set up the hitch.
GL is 2012. I will stop by CAT scales after we start our trip, but setting up the WDH would be by measuring the drop.
Thanks you for your help
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
2013 GL350. BMW 335. 2014R1200RTW
That tongue weight won't pose a problem, just make sure you measure both camper and GL hitch heights on level ground and the hitch can then be adjusted (moving hitch on the shank) and then put weight on the weight bars. How much weight is determined at the CAT scales, too much rear axle weight and you can overload your axle loading value (inside driver's door jam) and cause poor handling. Unlikely that you will overload the front axle but you should know what kind of margins you're dealing with a trip to the scales prior to picking up the trailer (completely fueled and loaded for the trip). Since you own a X164 I'd recommend you search on that sub-forum for brake controller, since a P3 will have to be hard wired into the GL's wiring. I use a Prodigy RF to avoid that but it's not that complex if your GL came equipped with a hitch. Inside the fuel door should be a placard regarding tire pressure at max loads, usually ~6 to 8 pounds higher on the rears and 4 to 6 psi up on the fronts.
Personally, I'd forego the camera since that's not going to be of assistance for seeing down the sides of the trailer which is usually required by law. There are several kinds of tow mirrors that will clamp onto your existing mirrors without marring the paint. Milencos work for me...Amazon has them. Hope this helps..
Personally, I'd forego the camera since that's not going to be of assistance for seeing down the sides of the trailer which is usually required by law. There are several kinds of tow mirrors that will clamp onto your existing mirrors without marring the paint. Milencos work for me...Amazon has them. Hope this helps..
Last edited by JMCarter; Jul 29, 2015 at 09:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 18
GL 350
That tongue weight won't pose a problem, just make sure you measure both camper and GL hitch heights on level ground and the hitch can then be adjusted (moving hitch on the shank) and then put weight on the weight bars. How much weight is determined at the CAT scales, too much rear axle weight and you can overload your axle loading value (inside driver's door jam) and cause poor handling. Unlikely that you will overload the front axle but you should know what kind of margins you're dealing with a trip to the scales prior to picking up the trailer (completely fueled and loaded for the trip). Since you own a X164 I'd recommend you search on that sub-forum for brake controller, since a P3 will have to be hard wired into the GL's wiring. I use a Prodigy RF to avoid that but it's not that complex if your GL came equipped with a hitch. Inside the fuel door should be a placard regarding tire pressure at max loads, usually ~6 to 8 pounds higher on the rears and 4 to 6 psi up on the fronts.
Personally, I'd forego the camera since that's not going to be of assistance for seeing down the sides of the trailer which is usually required by law. There are several kinds of tow mirrors that will clamp onto your existing mirrors without marring the paint. Hope this helps..
Personally, I'd forego the camera since that's not going to be of assistance for seeing down the sides of the trailer which is usually required by law. There are several kinds of tow mirrors that will clamp onto your existing mirrors without marring the paint. Hope this helps..
So you set the tire pressure to max allowed for both front and rear, correct?
I have already wired up the P3. I'll look for clamp on tow mirrors per your suggestion.
Best,
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 92
Likes: 6
2014 GL450
I think towing mirror is a must, otherwise you just can't see what's on your side, it is going to be very hard to change lanes.
Hi all,
I will be towing a camper next month. I have a few questions and appreciate feedback from GL towing experts here at this forum
1) Tire questions: What do you set the tire pressure to (both front and rear) when weight distribution is applied? Do you add nitrogen or just Air? (Does it even matter?) For first generation GL owners with no spare, do you carry a fix a flat?
2) Setting up the weight distribution: I need to measure the drop in the back of the GL, when the camper is hitched, so I can adjust the weight distribution. Would turning the car do the trick, turn of air suspension, and make the back of the car drop, so I can setup the weight distribution?
3) I plan to use a wireless rear view camera (and no towing mirrors), so I can see whats behind the camper all the time. Do you think this setup is OK? What brand of camera have you used? I need the camera to be clamp on as the camper is not mine (I cannot drill it to the back of the camper).
4) Is it possible to view engine oil/transmission temperature in information cluster? Or do I need specific tools/software?
5) The tires on our GL were recently replaced, and we also recently did the 30k service. I am guessing we are ready to tow. Am I missing something?
Thanks you very much for your help
I will be towing a camper next month. I have a few questions and appreciate feedback from GL towing experts here at this forum
1) Tire questions: What do you set the tire pressure to (both front and rear) when weight distribution is applied? Do you add nitrogen or just Air? (Does it even matter?) For first generation GL owners with no spare, do you carry a fix a flat?
2) Setting up the weight distribution: I need to measure the drop in the back of the GL, when the camper is hitched, so I can adjust the weight distribution. Would turning the car do the trick, turn of air suspension, and make the back of the car drop, so I can setup the weight distribution?
3) I plan to use a wireless rear view camera (and no towing mirrors), so I can see whats behind the camper all the time. Do you think this setup is OK? What brand of camera have you used? I need the camera to be clamp on as the camper is not mine (I cannot drill it to the back of the camper).
4) Is it possible to view engine oil/transmission temperature in information cluster? Or do I need specific tools/software?
5) The tires on our GL were recently replaced, and we also recently did the 30k service. I am guessing we are ready to tow. Am I missing something?
Thanks you very much for your help
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 18
GL 350
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 18
GL 350
Hi all,
I will be towing a camper next month. I have a few questions and appreciate feedback from GL towing experts here at this forum
1) Tire questions: What do you set the tire pressure to (both front and rear) when weight distribution is applied? Do you add nitrogen or just Air? (Does it even matter?) For first generation GL owners with no spare, do you carry a fix a flat?
2) Setting up the weight distribution: I need to measure the drop in the back of the GL, when the camper is hitched, so I can adjust the weight distribution. Would turning the car do the trick, turn of air suspension, and make the back of the car drop, so I can setup the weight distribution?
3) I plan to use a wireless rear view camera (and no towing mirrors), so I can see whats behind the camper all the time. Do you think this setup is OK? What brand of camera have you used? I need the camera to be clamp on as the camper is not mine (I cannot drill it to the back of the camper).
4) Is it possible to view engine oil/transmission temperature in information cluster? Or do I need specific tools/software?
5) The tires on our GL were recently replaced, and we also recently did the 30k service. I am guessing we are ready to tow. Am I missing something?
Thanks you very much for your help
I will be towing a camper next month. I have a few questions and appreciate feedback from GL towing experts here at this forum
1) Tire questions: What do you set the tire pressure to (both front and rear) when weight distribution is applied? Do you add nitrogen or just Air? (Does it even matter?) For first generation GL owners with no spare, do you carry a fix a flat?
2) Setting up the weight distribution: I need to measure the drop in the back of the GL, when the camper is hitched, so I can adjust the weight distribution. Would turning the car do the trick, turn of air suspension, and make the back of the car drop, so I can setup the weight distribution?
3) I plan to use a wireless rear view camera (and no towing mirrors), so I can see whats behind the camper all the time. Do you think this setup is OK? What brand of camera have you used? I need the camera to be clamp on as the camper is not mine (I cannot drill it to the back of the camper).
4) Is it possible to view engine oil/transmission temperature in information cluster? Or do I need specific tools/software?
5) The tires on our GL were recently replaced, and we also recently did the 30k service. I am guessing we are ready to tow. Am I missing something?
Thanks you very much for your help
1) Tires: I increased the tire pressure to max allowed per the sticker on driver side B pillar. I just used air to inflate the tires. Dealer told me not to use fix-a-flat as it may damage the TPMS.
2) You can turn the car off to measure the drop for setting up the weight distribution hitch.
3) I did not use rear view camera. Used 'REPUSEL universal towing mirrors'. The mirror of the passenger side was not too helpful. On the driver side it was better. On our next trip, I'll probably use just the driver side tow mirror.
4) I did not get an answer to this question
I checked the coolant temperature in information cluster, and it did not move even going up a grade. This is in Pennsylvania though, not anything like Colorado. 5) I was tow ready. Nothing more to do here.
BTW, I used cruise control (CC) to control the speed throughout the trip. Going down the grades, I just used the CC's lever to reduce the speed. CC did all the downshifting and braking -- I never applied the brakes on the GL or manually applied the trailer brakes. Dare I say CC on GL acts like a pseudo tow/haul mode + exhaust brakes on bigger trucks, at least on moderate grades.
Here is a photo of our setup.
Thank you all for your help.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 18
GL 350
