acrafton

Ok, I am again confused re adding a hitch to my 2006 R350. The hitch will be used for a bike rack only - holds 4 bikes with a 2" connection. I went out to draw-tite's site and put in my specs and they show this for $178:

http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/prod...er_Hitch,75470

Says no drilling, 25 minute install time. . .is this really all I need to do? Would the dealership install it for a few hours time?

Thanks!
Adam

avlis

I have the same question. I've been thinking about buying a used R350, but scratching my head about what to do with my bikes when going on vacations.

rgood10921

I had the same question posted a week or two ago concerning my R500 and wanting to carry a cargo tray on the back to haul extra luggage when we go out west to Colorado for two weeks. What I have decided to do is this -- Ordered the: Hidden Hitch Model CLASS III RECEIVER from Carparts.com for $127.00 -- Free S&H. Model #s 28CP3432 from their site and Hidden Hitche's is Model #87413. I then ordered from Etrailer.com the Upgraded Modulite With Circuit Protection Harness Model #119190 for $54.95 & the Modulite Wiring Kit (install Kit) Model #118151 for $9.95 -- Free S&H if you spend $150.00 -- I ordered a hitch cap, hitch lock and a couple of other things to get it over the $150.00. This wiring is to hook up the lights if and when I ever need them. From what I have read on all of the forums and the online instructions provided by Hidden Hitch, the installation is pretty easy. Drop the mufflers (torx bit), mark the plastic pan and trim the 1.5" piece off to allow the hitch to clear the bottom of the rear bumper (has good instructions on where and how much to cut). Bolt up the hitch, bolt the mufflers back up and call it done. The wiring will take the most time. I was assured by my local trailer hitch shop that this harnes kit is what I needed -- I will post my install instructions when I do the install. Good luck to all.

rosswell

Hey guys. I expect it would be pricey - but...MERC now offers hitches as options on their Rs with the 7 pin plug. Nice looking - I've seen one on a BLue-tec Diesel Barolo R new at the dealer. It'll do 3500 lbs. (I'm thinking boat or coleman trailer is the intent). (My 23' trailer needs 5000 lb capacity).

I wonder what the service man would say if you asked them to spec out an '09 hitch for your '06? I believe this was always part of the design - but not really offered on this continent.

rgood10921

I asked my dealer this same question last week. They said that they stopped selling hitches -- even for the MLs a while back. Some kind of issues with them? He didn't know why they stopped selling them. He did look for one for my R500, of course there wasn't one listed. If they did have them, I am sure that they would cost upwards of a grand or more. I think the $127.00 hidden hitch is the way to go -- especially if you don't need lights hooked up. I have read on the MB forums about getting a pre 2007 ML harness and plugging it in - but I never had any luck in getting a good part # for it and could not tell how I would know if it was a pre 2007 harners or not? So, I am going to try the Modulite route and see if that works. If you ask the dealer about the 2009 option -- please post the results

201mph

If you have an R-classe with the pano roof, investigate carefully before you buy an aftermarket hitch.

I have read that the pano roof requires additional chassis bracing, and that this bracing interferes with the location of the hitch.

R's with the regular sunroof should have no problem.

201mph

Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch are both high quality products.

Many dealers will not do a hitch install because of liability concerns.

However, a year or so ago, MB isued a recall on GL factory hitches, and each dealer had to engage a "certified" welder to make the update. There is a good chance that someone like this can install your hitch. Ask your service manager to refer you to the welder who did their GL repairs last year.

Otherwise, look on the Draw Tite and HH websites for their local dealers. Keep in mind that by buying the hitch from them, the labor charge to install will be les than it will for the mail order hitch you drag in the door. Youmight do better buying it from the shop that will install it, and they will stand behind it in case of a problem.

G_Ski&Bike

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

Own a B200 turbo (Canada and Euro only) and am on the verge of adding a 2006 R350 with panorama roof to our Mb 'fleet'... Big issue is that we transport lots of bikes... and desperately to get a 2" receiver.

I've been hearing lots of maybes and perhaps's

Has anyone successfully installed a hitch on an R350?

rgood10921

Several people on this forum have installed hitches on the R-Classes. Here is a link to the writeup I did when I put mine on my R500.
https://mbworld.org/forums/r-class-w...tructions.html