When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey Guys,
I built a small trailer I used to tow with my GLE, factory hitch and lights. I have since switched to a GLA 250. I purchased a class 2 hitch from U-haul and installed it, I am surprised it was available. Now the lights are a different story. I am sure I cannot just splice into the wires as it would wreak havoc with the electrical system in the car. I couldn't fine a dedicated trailer light adapter for this car at all. The best I could do is on the U-haul site it recommended a powered adapter from CURT taillight converter 59236.
However to install it I need to know the wiring type for this car. Is it Two-Wire, Three-Wire, PWM-ST or PWM-STT. Does anyone know this information or has anyone successfully installed trailer lights on this car and how did you do it?
What do you guys think? it's so hard to find information about GLA250 capabilities on this front. It's supposed to be able to tow up to 3968lb according to this site (https://www.thetowcarawards.com/tow-...edes-benz-gla/), but it's a bit odd and making me nervous that it's the only site that talks about it and virtually no info on the US models anywhere.
Maybe contact MBUSA to see what they have to say or maybe your local MB dealer might have the towing information you're looking for? A GLA towing up to 3,968 pounds sounds on the high side to me.
I don't think this car is rated to tow anything - otherwise Mercedes would offer a factory trailer hitch for it, which it doesn't. I think my cobbled together (see my post above) trailer is in the 1000 to 2000 lb range and my GLA 250 has no problems at all with it. Although I did notice the fuel milage is horrible with the trailer attached.... I use it about twice a week and I guess I put maybe 40 miles per trip on it. Occasionally (2 times a year) I'll travel a couple of hundred miles with it.
RP
I installed a Curt Hitch on my '10 GLK350 and on my current '15 GLA250 with little trouble. On the GLK I also added a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) unit from Curt. You'll find my experience on the GLK described here:
I don't know what year GLA you have but when I look at the Curt site for the 59236 that you mention, I don't see any model year listed for a GLA for that unit That looks like the unit I installed on my '10 GLK. For my '15 GLA I see listed a 56146 3-to-2 converter and a 55151 Power Converter listed with a 56496 listed as a replacement for the 56146 unit. Perhaps I've missed something or perhaps you'd take a closer look.
07-17-2020, 09:18 AM
