flyboyusa

I have a 2007 ML 350 gasoline with the factory towing package. I’m looking at a new boat which weighs total with trailer about 5700 pounds. The manual shows 5000 pounds maximum however the 08 model year and newer shows 7700 pounds maximum.
Question to the group…. Has anyone towed a 24 foot speedboat with their 2007 ML350?

Joshinator99

The factory towing package won’t come with a trailer brake controller to the best of my knowledge. My ‘09 ML63 has the factory towing package as well and I cannot find a trailer brake controller installed from MB, so I’m assuming you’re in the same boat (no pun intended lol). So a trailer that heavy will need that brake controller or the trailer brakes won’t work. No bueno.

Even towing the factory rating of 5000 pounds on a vehicle with only 258 lb-ft of torque sounds pretty sketchy to me so stretching that out to 5700 pounds is a reach. For comparison, back in the day I had a Saab 9-7x that was rated to town 6500 pounds and I towed a camper that weighed 6400+… so maxed out. That was with 330 ft-lbs of torque and can tell you I would not have felt comfortable going any higher…and that was a 5.3L V8.

TLDR; if you get a trailer brake controller, go the speed limit, just tow occasionally, and you’re not towing very far (and I’m assuming Indiana is much flatter than New England lol) then maybe you’re OK. But I wouldn’t push it more than that. If you’re towing long distances, towing frequently, or through very steep climbs, trade in for something beefier. Just my 2 cents.

flyboyusa

Good points....the trailer for the new boat has hydraulic surge brakes (no electronics needed), so the lack of controller isn't a problem. I test drove the new boat yesterday and then we put it on the trailer and hooked it up to my ML350. We took it for a tow for a few miles, up to 55 mph without any issue. It was a bit sluggish to get going, but handling and braking weren't too bad. The braking was definitely less responsive than normal, but I could stop fine. I'll mainly be using it for short trips to the lake less than 20 miles. I'll just keep it under 55 mph and I think it'll be fine.

streborx

I just purchased a 2-axle cargo trailer rated at 7000 lbs GVWR. I don't intend to use my MB to pull it, but needing a brake controller for my other vehicles, I found the Curt Echo Wireless. Plugs into the vehicle's 7-way connector, uses a 3-axis accelerometer for proportional braking, parameters are set by BT smartphone app, accommodates 5 trailer profiles, can be moved from vehicle to vehicle, and requires no vehicle wiring or control unit mounting. Plan to install it next week - will follow up with comments.

Joshinator99

Sounds like you’ve got realistic expectations. Surprised it has surge brakes at that weight though! Oh well, alls well that ends well.

This is something I didn’t know existed! I have a 2024 Ford Expedition for towing my race car but always liked that I hoped use my ML63 in a pinch. This would let me run the ML as a tow vehicle without extra wiring. Very cool! Thanks for the heads up. 👍

EWT

I've got a 7000+ lbs. boat/trailer combo that I've towed short distances with my 11 ML550. Power isn't a problem, but I wouldn't want to tow more than the few miles back and forth I've done with it. I also have surge brakes, and a proper controller would probably help, but it is a lot of weight to tow with that chassis.

streborx

My new cargo trailer is about 2000 lbs empty. I towed it home about 45 miles with my G550 over hilly terrain. First time ever I towed with it -- really impressed with how the G handled the load. Don't intend to haul it loaded, even though the G is rated for 7000 lbs.

vesiadog

I have had a few SUV’s.. ML500 and 2 GL550’s. I have towed a hunting dog trailer single axle maybe 2250-2500 lbs all loaded. I added brakes to the trailer after a few thousand miles towing. My wife drives a 2009 ML350… I would not even consider towing much of anything with her V-6 definitely not my dog trailer. my 2 cents … also my ML500 got 21-22 mpg than towing dropped to 12-14 mpg
my gl550 get 20-22 and towing 15-16 mpg…
The 500 has a lot more motor than 350