frtdog

Just picked up my ML350 today with trailer hitch. The owners manual states on page 187 that "If you install a ball coupling other than the one delivered with the vehicle .......".

My vehicle did not come with a ball coupling and my dealer said he has yet to see one delivered with the vehicle. Has any one else's ML not have the ball coupling come with it?

Thanks

dougiebear

its under the floor in cargo area.......I understand they all have it.......ask Greg

Just how does one get to be a MB dealer these days cracker jacks or Kinder Surprise? too funny

frtdog

Went out and looked everywhere, I think. I even took out the spare tire. Unless there is some secret hidden place I don't have one.

jean7of9

My 2013 ML-63 arrived with that unwanted ugly trailer hitch. There was no ball coupling in the trunk. Dealer affirmed that the ball coupling is sold separately. Unfortunately I cannot remove that hitch because it requires dismounting the rear bumper. That I will not allow.
Here is my take why there are free hitches. The lack of so many production parts like pano roofs, leather seats, lights, Curve Control... put so many workers on stand-by. Their foreman simply asked them to mount free hitches instead of gossiping on the job. If they asked me I would much appreciate a free Bose Audio System instead of that hitch.

AZHiker

Could also be that the hitch augments the vehicle's safety in a rear collision. Or, that it helps protect the fuel tank in a rear collision. Or, that since the M-class is no longer body on frame that its just too expensive to mount one after production that will perform up to the 7200 lb towing capacity? But you're probably right, its to keep disgruntled employees from having too much time on their hands -- while just-in-time suppliers aren't.

dougiebear

Damn I'm paying 700 for mine.

GregW / Oregon

My '12 (delivered July) came with the bar and ball in a formed styrofoam holder on the lower right side of the spare. Maybe MB is getting cheap with the '13s, despite raising the price?! Or, someone relieved your car of it before delivery. I would pusue this if I were you.

GADGETEMT

I have a 2013 delivered early August 12 and no tow ball coupling was included. When I inquired I was told, those aren't included (I did mention they were included with the 2012 model).

GregW / Oregon

I was actually pleasantly surprised I got that, as neither my W163 or 164 came with it.

katiesdad7

My (2012) came with it in the trunk like Greg.

Stoneseller

What size ball comes standard?

katiesdad7

2 Inch.

iankayem

Are your ***** actually 2" (50.8mm), or are they 50mm?

PS This is a serious question.

Stoneseller

Odd that a 7200 lbs tow capacity vehicle comes equipped with a size normally used on 3500 or 6000 trailers.
I wonder how much a Mercedes OEM 2 5/16" Ball will cost?

GregW / Oregon

I'll avoid the easy route here. The ball is just under 2" (see photo).
The assembly is fully rated for 7,500 lb (see top of ball). Both 2" and 2 5/16"***** with 1 1/4"shanks have the 7,500# rating. 2" is by far the most common size in the US. Also, no reason you need to use an OEM ball.

VelociRaptor

Some even have a swing down tow ball for an option.

Stoneseller

The US is a big place. Most trailers I've seen in my area tend to stop using the 2" standard at about 3000 lbs capacity. 2 5/16" is more the norm on 4 wheel trailers in the 7500 GVW range.

GregW / Oregon

What I meant by most common is that trailers under 3,500 predominate the market. However, from MB's standpoint the ball that comes stock must meet the maximum rating of the hitch, therefore the odd combination of the 2" ball with 1 1/4" shank. The 2 5/16" ball is rated at 6,000 with 1" shank or 14,000 with 1 1/4".

frtdog

I have an e-mail in with MBNA about this. They have been good at getting back to me in the past so I will let you know what they say.

iankayem

Ha! When we changed from the old 1 7/8" & 2 1/4" *****, I thought we adopted a world wide system.

But the US ball is clearance on 2", and the Oz is clearance on 50mm. Just as well I am not likely to drop by and borrow your trailer.

They look the same so hopefully the shipments from China do not get confused.

Ian.

GregW / Oregon

I doubt 0.8mm difference is enough to matter. In fact, if you measure your ball you may find it's exactly the same as ours and just identified differently.

iankayem

No not quite. Yours measured 1.992" as per pic, whereas mine is 1.960" which is 0.8mm (0.032") or the difference between 2" and 50mm.

Okay it may well work on the road, but one way it might squeal, the other way it would rattle real bad.

For your sake I hope it feels good to have bigger *****!

GregW / Oregon

I've found it's the size of the connecting tube going into the receiver that is more important than the size of the *****

dougiebear

PLEASE. LOL

frtdog

MBNA finally got back to me. Officially the 2012's came with the coupling, the 2013's did not. They went on to say that it could be bought at Walmart. :-]