Towing with 2020 GLS
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2013
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GL450
Towing with 2020 GLS
I am considering a GLS...but I will he towing my boat. I know I should buy a 3/4 ton truck but I really can’t stomach it. My boat it probably just over 7000 lbs full of fuel. Would you tow right near the max and feel okay about it? What about for a long drive...say 8 hours with a long grade at the end? I really don’t want one of our two daily drivers to be a huge heavy duty truck but if towing near the max is a bad idea I will go with a truck.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 630
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From: SW Ontario Canada
2020 GLS580, 2023 Corvette Z06
I have been towing a 7000lb loaded Airstream with my 2014 ML 350 Bluetec without any trouble, excellent braking, never experienced any fade down a long mountain grade. My Airstream has brakes on both axles. I have a new GLS580 but I have not towed with it yet and expect an improvement over the shorter ML. Get a decent brake controller so you can adjust to you load and driving conditions.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 287
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From: McLean, VA
2011 Audi A4, 2014 E63S Wagon, 2020 GLS 580
You may also want to look at the new Escalade which is supposed to have a diesel option. I towed an enclosed car trailer for years behind a Yukon Denali and the gas V8 really suffered on the long hill climbs in WVA and PA. Diesel is the way to go when it comes to towing although the 580 has 516 lb-ft of torque, so it may be ok too.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 12
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GL450
I have been towing a 7000lb loaded Airstream with my 2014 ML 350 Bluetec without any trouble, excellent braking, never experienced any fade down a long mountain grade. My Airstream has brakes on both axles. I have a new GLS580 but I have not towed with it yet and expect an improvement over the shorter ML. Get a decent brake controller so you can adjust to you load and driving conditions.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 12
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GL450
You may also want to look at the new Escalade which is supposed to have a diesel option. I towed an enclosed car trailer for years behind a Yukon Denali and the gas V8 really suffered on the long hill climbs in WVA and PA. Diesel is the way to go when it comes to towing although the 580 has 516 lb-ft of torque, so it may be ok too.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 262
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From: Sunny Isles Beach, FL
'25 G550, '21 911Cab
Don't forget the weight of your boat trailer (prob 1,500lb). The GLS450/580 are both rated at 7,700lb. I say you would be over the max weight limit with 7k boat + trailer.
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 350
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From: Palo Alto, CA
2011 GL 350, P1 Package, HID headlamps, Blind spot assist, Parktronic, Wood steering wheel
I have towed my 28 foot airstream probably 20,000 miles with my 2011 GL 350. Fully loaded it pushes 7000 pounds. It's a very solid, capable vehicle for towing.
With the GL and GLS, you need to pay serious attention to tongue weight not just trailer weight. I load my trailer on and behind it's axles and I never carry any cargo in the GL while towing to reduce the weight on the GLs rear axle.
Some posters have said they feel that the GL/GLS with the smaller gas motor feels underpowered to tow large loads uphill.
As per the prior poster, the gls 580 is probably the way to go if you want to tow large loads.
With the GL and GLS, you need to pay serious attention to tongue weight not just trailer weight. I load my trailer on and behind it's axles and I never carry any cargo in the GL while towing to reduce the weight on the GLs rear axle.
Some posters have said they feel that the GL/GLS with the smaller gas motor feels underpowered to tow large loads uphill.
As per the prior poster, the gls 580 is probably the way to go if you want to tow large loads.
