Towing with Mercedes GL 450

[BP1]

I am looking at purchasing a 27 foot Airstream. My question is does anyone know if a 2008 GL 450 would have problems handling the 7,600 GVW of the 27 foot trailer when the GL is rated for 7,500? Is there anyone with practical experience with this?
Bob

[Smatrsounds]

Check with Andy at Can Am. We tow a 27 foot 6000lb Ever-Lite with a 2012 ML 350 BlueTec. He reinforced the hitch for me which would be your weak point. We just got back from a 3,200 mile trip from Florida to Vermont, Upstate NY and home averaging 16mpg. It pulled beautifully through the hills and mountains.

[SafariSS]

I tow with a GL, however it is a 2011 GL350 (diesel) and a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 Bunkhouse. The AS has a GVWR of 8440 and tongue weight of 840 but I tow much lighter. Tongue weight is still right at 800 but my max tow weight I have scaled was 7220 on a two week Yellowstone trip full of water and 5 daughters in the GL.

My rig tows awesome. Really better than my first two tow vehicles which were both 3/4 Ton Suburbans. I just returned from Texas from Colorado and got 16mpg towing!

[jmcarter]

Second talking to Andy...those of us pulling with Bluetecs can attest to the vehicle's capability but I'd personally think you'll experience more downshifting for hills because of the higher RPM range where the gas motors make torque, even with the turbo. You'll definitely need hitch reinforcement but again, talk to Andy for specifics.

[Garfield]

Yup, talk to Andy. I tow a 2001 25SS Safari (GVWR 6400 lbs) with a Chevy Traverse that tows like a champ. I'd be quite prepared to tow a 27 footer with the same vehicle so I can't see why GL 450 wouldn't work, and work well. Proper setup is the key.

[SafariSS]

On the GLs/MLs the hitches prior to mid year 2010 were suspect. Definitely consider the additional strut. Some people have done this various ways, on your 450 you do not have to worry about the AdBlue/DEF tank clearance.
They changed the hitches after that mid year 2010.

[BP1]

SafariSS,
you wrote you scaled back. As I am new to trailering and the terminology, what do you mean by scaling back?

[SafariSS]

I meant by scaled that i have weighed the trailer at a truck stop to verify weights fully loaded.

[BP1]

Thanks