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I have a 2024 GLE with a factory installed tow hitch. I got her about 6 or 8 months ago after boat season. Today when I went to attach my boat trailer to it, the receiver wouldn't accept 2x2 tongue that I was using on my previous vehicle. Tried white lithium tried Vaseline tried all kinds of things but it would only go in so far. After careful inspection, it appears the receiver tapers in the back. Even though it's probably about 4 to 5 in of length only the first two is usable. This is pretty significant problem since I can't pin anything to the hitch because it won't go in far enough. I have a call into my local' MB parts department to figure out if this is just how the factory installs them or if this is some kind of odd whoopsie at the factory. Thought I would check here before I drug myself to the dealer.
I have a 2024 GLE with a factory installed tow hitch. I got her about 6 or 8 months ago after boat season. Today when I went to attach my boat trailer to it, the receiver wouldn't accept 2x2 tongue that I was using on my previous vehicle. Tried white lithium tried Vaseline tried all kinds of things but it would only go in so far. After careful inspection, it appears the receiver tapers in the back. Even though it's probably about 4 to 5 in of length only the first two is usable. This is pretty significant problem since I can't pin anything to the hitch because it won't go in far enough. I have a call into my local' MB parts department to figure out if this is just how the factory installs them or if this is some kind of odd whoopsie at the factory. Thought I would check here before I drug myself to the dealer.
My wife’s GLE 450 factory installed hitch is exactly the same. I believe at one time I saw a Mercedes made stinger that was tapered, referenced in a post in this forum. Why I didn’t bookmark it is beyond me. If someone with a better memory than mine can post a link that would be helpful. In any event, fear not you don’t have an outlier. I don’t even want to hazard a guess what that stinger would sell for.
2024 GLE-580 4-matic, 2016 Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, 2009 Dodge Viper Gen. 4, 2009 KIA POS!
Originally Posted by retatt
My wife’s GLE 450 factory installed hitch is exactly the same. I believe at one time I saw a Mercedes made stinger that was tapered, referenced in a post in this forum. Why I didn’t bookmark it is beyond me. If someone with a better memory than mine can post a link that would be helpful. In any event, fear not you don’t have an outlier. I don’t even want to hazard a guess what that stinger would sell for.
Is this the hitch we need? Holy crap is that expensive!
I couldn't get a brand new hitch into our W164 receiver when it was also new (was only a few mm from being in position), but a used one went in just fine. After being used a couple times the new hitch also fit with no issues. Our GLS had no such issues. Have the dealer fix, it likely just needs some paint removed.
Ugh, this has me concerned. I'm supposed to be taking delivery of a new GLE63 this week and one of the big draws for me was that I could put a bike rack on the back using the hitch. I'm going to be pretty annoyed if I drive 50 minutes home and find out it doesn't fit.
Is it just a matter of hammering it in once to shave the paint down?
No, it's not the correct one. It appears to be one for a Euro hitch, even though it says US spec.
The odd thing is that, when searching MB parts US online stores, they all show the same part. It just won't fit a 2-in receiver.
I use a Reese ball mount that matches the requirements shown on the label on the actual hitch.
It took some doing to get it to insert fully, so I just kept at it until the paint wore off.
I had a different ball mount that fought me all the time until I removed its label. I was stymied by a piece of paper!
Edit - this should work https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hit...nz&hhmodel=GLE
2024 GLE-580 4-matic, 2016 Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, 2009 Dodge Viper Gen. 4, 2009 KIA POS!
Originally Posted by mikapen
No, it's not the correct one. It appears to be one for a Euro hitch, even though it says US spec.
The odd thing is that, when searching MB parts US online stores, they all show the same part. It just won't fit a 2-in receiver.
I use a Reese ball mount that matches the requirements shown on the label on the actual hitch.
It took some doing to get it to insert fully, so I just kept at it until the paint wore off.
I had a different ball mount that fought me all the time until I removed its label. I was stymied by a piece of paper!
Edit - this should work https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hit...nz&hhmodel=GLE
Thanks for the correction, I doubt we'll ever tow anything with the 580, this is our tow vehicle
Ugh, this has me concerned. I'm supposed to be taking delivery of a new GLE63 this week and one of the big draws for me was that I could put a bike rack on the back using the hitch. I'm going to be pretty annoyed if I drive 50 minutes home and find out it doesn't fit.
Is it just a matter of hammering it in once to shave the paint down?
Thanks for the correction, I doubt we'll ever tow anything with the 580, this is our tow vehicle
Nice. I saw that in your profile and considered commenting.
Your 580 is a better tow vehicle than the 1 ton in most metrics except carrying capacity. Brakes, cooling, chassis rigidity, modern suspension, tires. Thus better ability to avoid accidents. Withing it's limits.
Unless you're towing a 5er, I hope you use a WDH. Here in the Gateway to the Rockies where the roads start to get curvy, it seems that the most "loss of control" accidents are 3/4 & 1Tons without a WDH. I'm been First on the Scene too many times, so I'm kind of a WDH zealot. 911 got to know my voice! "Is this Mike?" I always stop.
This problem is two metric thinking German companies (MB and ACPS) designing and making towing components for an imperial market. Similar to space disasters where NASA and contractors are converting inches and mm between each other.
My 2011 Toaureg tow receiver was substantially larger than a 2” drawbar. The drawbar rattled and knocked like you wouldn’t believe. But it worked. I stuffed cedar shims in the gap and it helped until the wood was beaten to a pulp and fell out.
W166 receiver was perfect, different Tier 1 receiver supplier to MB but nevertheless a German company.
V167 seems bolloxed-up. Normal in the MB world.
Go to Tractor Supply and bring 6 different drawbars into the parking lot for test fits. Then buy the one that fits.
This problem is two metric thinking German companies (MB and ACPS) designing and making towing components for an imperial market. Similar to space disasters where NASA and contractors are converting inches and mm between each other.
My 2011 Toaureg tow receiver was substantially larger than a 2” drawbar. The drawbar rattled and knocked like you wouldn’t believe. But it worked. I stuffed cedar shims in the gap and it helped until the wood was beaten to a pulp and fell out.
W166 receiver was perfect, different Tier 1 receiver supplier to MB but nevertheless a German company.
V167 seems bolloxed-up. Normal in the MB world.
Go to Tractor Supply and bring 6 different drawbars into the parking lot for test fits. Then buy the one that fits.
The 167 hitch is made in the US. As was the 164 and 166 (not German). All my ball mounts fit my 167. Reese, Draw-tite, Curt, my 166 factory stinger, and my (German) Cayenne OE factory one.
They are all tight until the paint wears off.
Bare metal is a good thing, because it adds another ground point, in addition to the 4/5/7 pin connector.
Ugh, this has me concerned. I'm supposed to be taking delivery of a new GLE63 this week and one of the big draws for me was that I could put a bike rack on the back using the hitch. I'm going to be pretty annoyed if I drive 50 minutes home and find out it doesn't fit.
Is it just a matter of hammering it in once to shave the paint down?
A wire wheel on a dremel should be all you needed. I tried a sledge on our w164 to get the new hitch to fit, nearly had to tie it to a building to remove it after that. A few uses later with the older hitch though and the new one magically fit like it's supposed to. There couldn't have been much but apparently a mm or two of paint made it very difficult to insert fully.
My GLE's hitch did not had a problem. Straight from the factory. If it is clearly bent don't do anything to it and let the dealer fix it. If it is just paint, well it is just virgin tight and ram that thing like it is it's first time .
This problem is two metric thinking German companies (MB and ACPS) designing and making towing components for an imperial market. Similar to space disasters where NASA and contractors are converting inches and mm between each other.
My 2011 Toaureg tow receiver was substantially larger than a 2” drawbar. The drawbar rattled and knocked like you wouldn’t believe. But it worked. I stuffed cedar shims in the gap and it helped until the wood was beaten to a pulp and fell out.
W166 receiver was perfect, different Tier 1 receiver supplier to MB but nevertheless a German company.
V167 seems bolloxed-up. Normal in the MB world.
Go to Tractor Supply and bring 6 different drawbars into the parking lot for test fits. Then buy the one that fits.
A looong time ago the Budd Company built a 6 car train for the King of Morocco. We unloaded the cars directly to the rails. While everyone was patting themselves on the back, a wizened old railway worker took the world's largest T square and put it over the top of one of the cars. The bottom didn't reach the rails. Someone blew the conversion from meters to ft/in by 6 inches. Oops.
Thanks for this thread. I took the Curt drawbar (thanks Chassis. I never heard it called that) and tried it in my 2023 GLE. No go. It had previously been used on our ML350 and GLS550 with no issues. Noticed that there were the remnants of a Curt sticker that had wrapped around the end of the drawbar. Got out the Goo Gone and a razorblade scraper. Got it all off. Nope. Still wouldn't go in more that an inch or so. Painted the inside of the receiver with some lithium grease. Went in about 2.5 in. Gave it a hefty shove and it went in all the way. Bound up about halfway when I tried to pull it out but I got it. Feels like a high spot about halfway in.
Thanks for this thread. I took the Curt drawbar (thanks Chassis. I never heard it called that) and tried it in my 2023 GLE. No go. It had previously been used on our ML350 and GLS550 with no issues. Noticed that there were the remnants of a Curt sticker that had wrapped around the end of the drawbar. Got out the Goo Gone and a razorblade scraper. Got it all off. Nope. Still wouldn't go in more that an inch or so. Painted the inside of the receiver with some lithium grease. Went in about 2.5 in. Gave it a hefty shove and it went in all the way. Bound up about halfway when I tried to pull it out but I got it. Feels like a high spot about halfway in.
I wonder if there was a weld splatter.
If the part has a ball attached to it, it can be called a "drawbar." Without the ball, it's usually called a "ball mount." They are also called "stingers'" and all terms are used interchangeably.
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