GL Class (X166) 2013-2015 after facelift became GLS (X166)

Camping/overlanding with this old girl, post your off-road builds!

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Old Jul 24, 2022 | 10:39 PM
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will tang's Avatar
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2014 GL450
Camping/overlanding with this old girl, post your off-road builds!

Has anyone build out our GL/GLS for overlanding? I have seem some of you put AT tires on it, pose some pictures guys!




Last edited by will tang; Jul 24, 2022 at 10:49 PM.
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Old Jul 25, 2022 | 01:10 PM
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Looks good. What suspension mods? Were the photos taken with suspension in the raised, or standard position?
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Old Jul 25, 2022 | 09:18 PM
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This looks awesome! Is this on the stock air springs or did you do a coil conversion? Any taller than stock? What are the dimensions on the tires?
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Old Jul 26, 2022 | 12:48 PM
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2014 GL450
Originally Posted by chassis
Looks good. What suspension mods? Were the photos taken with suspension in the raised, or standard position?
stock airlift. Thanking about installing lowering kit to raise an inch, but don’t think it’s necessary.
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Old Jul 26, 2022 | 12:57 PM
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2014 GL450
Originally Posted by JD101b
This looks awesome! Is this on the stock air springs or did you do a coil conversion? Any taller than stock? What are the dimensions on the tires?
stock. 275/55/20, technically considered 32’s
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Old Jul 26, 2022 | 12:58 PM
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Originally Posted by will tang
stock airlift. Thanking about installing lowering kit to raise an inch, but don’t think it’s necessary.
Nice. The photos were taken with the stock suspension in the fully raised position?
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Old Jul 26, 2022 | 12:59 PM
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2014 GL450
Originally Posted by chassis
Nice. The photos were taken with the stock suspension in the fully raised position?
yup, looks like a big bully on the road haha


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Old Aug 1, 2022 | 06:22 AM
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2013 E550, 2013 GL450, 2014 ML350
I did a lift on my GL450. The Grand Cherokee (ML)/Durango(GL) basically use the same platform. For the front I used a Rough country 2.5" Grand Cherokee front lift spacer above the air strut and replaced the height sensor link with adjustable ones to trick the sensor. In the rear I had to make custom spacer to go under the lower air bag. Took some ideas from Grand Cherokee rear coil spring lifts as the lower control arm are very similar. Also replaced rear height sensor links with adjustable ones. Ended up also installing the MWMODS RAISE/LOWER module so I could fine tune the height easily with he computer. Found the best ride for me was to add 1/2" height using the bags so they had more pressure in them and firmed up the ride/cornering. Also installed KMAC alignment kit to set alignment. Went with a 275/55/20 tire as it looks best in the wheel opening. Any larger and you would need to cut front bumper and modify the body behind the front tire.




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Old Aug 15, 2022 | 03:35 PM
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Looks sharp!!!

Do you mind sharing links for the parts you used in your suspension mod?
- Front Space
- Rear Spacer (spec's I guess since you made it yourself)
- Height Sensor Links
- MWMODS
- KMAC Alignment kit
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Old Aug 15, 2022 | 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by will tang
yup, looks like a big bully on the road haha
Love those grill lights. Do you mind sharing specs or links purchase those?
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Old Aug 20, 2022 | 04:27 AM
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GL500
Off roading with the GL


Pic taken at the Tankwa Karoo National Park, South Africa
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Old Aug 20, 2022 | 11:12 AM
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2024 GLS 580. Formerly 2015 GL 550, 2003 S430.
Not an off-road build, but sometimes when I go on really long hikes I drive to the trailhead the night before and sleep in the back of the GL. With all seats folded down and the 2nd row cushions upright, it is completely flat and fits a full size inflatable mattress. I also made custom shades for all windows, by cutting to shape Reflectix BP48010 insulation. Too bad the current generation GLS lacks the ability to fold the seats completely flat like this.








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Old Aug 20, 2022 | 11:43 AM
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Nice. I have camped overnight in the GLE, great experience. A bit shorter than the GL/GLS so a twin air mattress is wedged a bit, but doable. Love the EXPED concept, it's what the camping world has needed all along.

I started many years ago with 3/4 length Therm-a-rest pads, terrible. Best so far I have found is a partially filled twin size air mattress with 1 or 2 thick blankets on top of the air mattress. I want to try the EXPED, maybe next season. What is your opinion about the durability/longevity of the EXPED? My inexpensive air mattresses don't last too long and I don't want to pay the EXPED premium if it only lasts a couple of seasons.
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 11:18 PM
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GL 350 Bluetec
Well past the “4WD required” sign at Padre Island National Seashore, TX. Nothing too technical but the sand can get quite soft and vehicles can get stuck without clearance and traction. Comfortable and confident in the GL, all of the big tire pickup truck drivers giving us strange looks lol.
I would really like to find a better all terrain tire when the Pirellis wear down.



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Old Dec 6, 2022 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by will tang
Has anyone build out our GL/GLS for overlanding? I have seem some of you put AT tires on it, pose some pictures guys!


This looks great! Is that the stock grill with the chrome attachments removed? I notice your front emblem looks different than mine; mine is flat plastic - is yours the original? The black looks great too, I presume that's black vinyl wrapped along with the window trim?
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Old Feb 26, 2023 | 11:51 PM
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2014 GL450
Originally Posted by nlzmo400r
This looks great! Is that the stock grill with the chrome attachments removed? I notice your front emblem looks different than mine; mine is flat plastic - is yours the original? The black looks great too, I presume that's black vinyl wrapped along with the window trim?
I actually just wrapped the grill, I made some adjustments to the grill so it looks like the newer style.


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Old Feb 27, 2023 | 03:45 AM
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2011 GL350 (Sold), 2014 GL350
Originally Posted by w220430
Not an off-road build, but sometimes when I go on really long hikes I drive to the trailhead the night before and sleep in the back of the GL. With all seats folded down and the 2nd row cushions upright, it is completely flat and fits a full size inflatable mattress. I also made custom shades for all windows, by cutting to shape Reflectix BP48010 insulation. Too bad the current generation GLS lacks the ability to fold the seats completely flat like this.





Nice! I did the same a few times, plenty of room even for me at 6'5".
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Old Feb 27, 2023 | 04:58 AM
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2011 GL350 (Sold), 2014 GL350
Smile

Fun thread!

Well, for go anywhere trips/off-roading i use my Rubicon.



But I took my GL to some crazy places as well, just for fun. I run meaty Coppers STT Pro on a 20-inch wheel, I think it equals to about 33" tire. Did air down to about 17-18 psi, which helps a little But I've found the ride quality with max raised air suspension is not good once you hit gravel/washboard/potholes/etc., it is too hard, too much vibration. It is clearly not designed for anything remotely resembling offroad. Here it one of them, don't judge me! )

i was afraid to rip off the front AMG bumper on a sand bank there, took it slow and as result I have high centered it exiting the stream.

(Not sure why I can't insert video link to my google photos, anyway remove spaces to see video.)

https://photos.app.goo. gl/tBbEwfNgUmqboph77
https://photos.app.goo. gl/37QGNw8E8RYaDpm4A






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Old Feb 27, 2023 | 06:57 AM
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GL500

Sand dunes and beach runs
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Old Feb 27, 2023 | 07:29 AM
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GL500

Diffed out and rescued

Snatched out. Videos won't load but this track was fairly soft sand, hilly and a lot of wombat holes
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