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I just installed a Westfalia Hitch (PN 313 434) on my 2013 GLK 350. I gathered a great deal of helpful info about the process from the members on the forum, the folks at PF Jones and YouTube e.g.,
I did want to share a couple of things, that was not in any of the material I saw, that might be helpful.
Removing and reinstalling the 4 nuts from the two brackets just below the tail lights seem to have caused a bit of pain for some. The thing I used was a thin profile ¼” ratchet, a ¼” finger grip socket adapter and a 10mm ¼” drive socket.
All the bolts can be reached easily from below. The hardest thing about the reinstall process was that it had to be done by touch since you cannot see the threaded stud. The finger grip socket adapter with the socket helps a lot though. BTW a creeper did come in handy as a head rest for this part of the job
The gentleman I talked to at PF Jones was not sure the hitch would be hidden. It is though. I removed 3 ¾” of material the width of the center section of the bumper. I could have reduced that if I had smaller hands.
With all that work and no 2inch receiver, one wonders why you went through that torture.
No not a 2" receiver. The towbar has a towing capacity of 2500kg and a max tongue weight of 100kg. It will haul my 600kg flats boat OK. Thanks for the concern
With all that work and no 2inch receiver, one wonders why you went through that torture.
why on earth would you want a 2" receiver on a vehicle that can barely pull the weight load of a class II hitch? i dont think id trust GLK at class 1 limits given its brakes and diminutive V6.
sounds like for OP its a good solution, looks really clean too. well done.
Most GLK have same 3.5 engine as the normal ML350 ( which has over 7,000 lbs of tow capacity) the GLK little less horsepower but less vehicle weight also. I have a trailer hitch on my Mini cooper and have the adaptor that slides into the 1 1/4 hitch to make it a 2 inch receiver and use it to tow my utility trailer or my bike rack or what ever I want to tow. . Maybe not the smartest thing, but don't knock it. Hell my 2013 FX37 only had a 2500 tow capability and it had plenty of horse power.
What we can tow and what we should haul are sometimes two different things as you say. Personally my rule of thumb is based on how many people is the vehicle designed to transport and their luggage. So 5 people @ 200 lbs plus 5 bags @ 50 lbs gives about 1230 lbs. Would I tow more? Maybe occasionally but only for short distance. I am a bit conservative.
I do wonder about the towing capacity difference between the ML350 4Matic and the GLK 350 4Matic though. The stock wheels are the same so it is reasonable to assume the brakes are not hugely larger. Both have the 7 speed transmission and from 2013 on they both have the same horsepower. The ML does weigh ~700 lbs more since it is a bit wider and longer.
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