Mercedes G500 help w/ towing...

[Bo Charlie]

First post here after reading many, many posts. We have a g500 that weighs around 5,500 lbs. All time 4wd w/ 500 engine and 292 hp. Towing capacity is 7,000 lb on the m/b website.
Don't plan on long distance outings.....just around the DFW area to football games, ranch (90 miles) etc. A few hunting trips in Tx w/ friends, etc.
Can we safely pull a 27' safari, or bigger, with all the correct equipment?

Thanks ahead of time for your comments.....

Bo

[gotohatteras]

I don't see why it wouldn't haul up to a 30'...but some of the more experienced Airstreamers should be able to add their input. Good Luck with your search and have a ball with your new baby whenever she arrives!

[2airishuman]

hi bo and welcome to the forums...

the g wagon has a marginally short wheel base for a modern longer a/s....

and an a/s 25ft or longer, will be pushing the tow capacity for a loaded trailer.

IF you are gonna use the g wagon here's your hitch.

the ultimate haha users guide...

david tidmore at rogerwilliamsairstream in weatherford texas is the place to go....

he can get you in the right trailer AND expertly set up the haha and g wagon for ya.

cheers
2air'

[Road Ruler]

On our last outing to Upstate New York we parked beside, and a few days later travelled with a couple that were towing a 25'+ newish Airstream with a 350ML. He raved about how well it worked. On a very windy day we followed the combo for a number of hours. It tracked straight and smooth without the slightest wimper. It cruised up the Up State New York hills and bridges very well too. The big 500 should only be better.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

...a couple that were towing a 25'+ newish Airstream with a 350ML...The big 500 should only be better.

the m class suv and the PRE 2007-8 g wagon are 2 completely different animals...

different platforms, radically different suspensions and made in 2 different countries (is austria still a country?)....

the classic g wagons (like bo drives) are more like german rock crawlerhumveejeeper things, than hiway cruz'n suvs.

lots of body roll in turns and a 112? inch wheelbase.

now the NEW g (or is it GL) is a 3rd critter-a new luxoliner nearly full size suv, to be built in BAMA!

while i think the g wagon will work ok, another issue is the payload limit of 1500lbs....

so a tongue of 800lbs and hitch of 200lbs only leaves 500lbs for people and gear INSIDE the wagon.

of course the armour plated version reduces the payload to about 200 kilos!

cheers
2air'

[Silvertwinkie]

I'm in total agreement with whats been said about the Mercedes offering in terms of this particular question.

[remcolent]

NO
A benz or any other non american car is not build to tow a american trailor
overhere the tonque weight is 75 kg ( around 200 pound ) MAX.
A G 500 is a great car to tow a european horse trailer or so but NOT for a airstream.
These cars are NOT designd to be used with a weight distribution hitch simply becouse we don't have that system overhere.
If you put yourself in a dangerous situation becouse your towing with the wrong TV its your problem.
But when you do that on the open road and get other people involved it's a other story.

[herrgirdner]

What Rem says is correct, in my opinion. You'd have to see a European trailer hitch to understand. It is (I believe) attached to the axle or somewhere under the car, and comes out from under this in a long curved thingie with a bulb on the end where the trailer tongue goes on. It just looks weird.

[2airishuman]

well thanks 2 the euro guys for posting a dose of reality...

these early g wagens brought into the states were all grey market deals...

and they were NOT built to u.s. specs.

while they are body on frame, finding or adapting a traditional class 4/5 receiver could be a challenge...

i don't see any receivers available online for the classic g wagens, except 'audio' versions

and the receiver issue may be the weak link like on the t-rex/audi/porsche.

there is no problem a pile of green and steel and an engineer can't solve...

but it may be more effort to set up the g than it's worth.

this guy took the wise approach in the rockies instead of screwing up his porsche...

New Member - Looking to hit the open road!

since you are in texas, why not get a nice kings ranch ford!

i thought owning a 3/4 ton diesel was required in the lone star state!

it looks like the g wagen owners have several enthusiast forums, but not much info on towing...

maybe someone there can help you...

The Mercedes-G Site

ML, GL, G-Wagen, R-Class & Unimog [Archive] - ShopForum

best of luck and let us know what u do!


cheers
2air'

[HiHoAgRV]

From some web browsing and a little experience with the previous MBUSA SUV's, it seems these make pretty good tow vehicles IF set up properly with the leg up being the very short rear overhang. WD is critical on these lightly sprung, short wheelbase units.
CanAm would be a good first call.

[Bo Charlie]

Thanks to each of you...... Hiho do you have a number for can am?
Still confused by the width of opinions. 2 tx dealers have stated that the g500 would work if set up correctly. over 60% of folks on one of the mercedes bbs's said the same............... any other comments, or experts' phone #s to call would be appreciated.

Thanks again for your time and help,

Bo

[Wayne&Sam]

I agree the old G series and the ML series are two different animals. I tow our 20' with our ML500 and it works wonderfully. My next vehicle will be a GL diesel.

[87MH]

Originally Posted by Bo Charlie

.....Still confused by the width of opinions. 2 tx dealers have stated that the g500 would work if set up correctly. over 60% of folks on one of the mercedes bbs's said the same...............

Those pesky sales people - always telling customers what they want to hear....

Can you pull a 27'er and still be within specs? - don't think so...

MB G500 - Max weight 6834 lbs
Dry weight 5510 lbs

That leaves 1324 lbs for beer, gas, driver, squeeze, and dog.

AS 27' tongue weight - 790 lbs
Tank of gas for the Benz - 162 lbs
Weight Dist. Hitch - 100 lbs (MUCH more for a Hensley)
Driver - 200 lbs
Squeeze - 140 lbs

You're already over Max Allowable Gross on the 'Benz AND you have to leave the Beer and the Dog behind!

[TomR]

Originally Posted by Bo Charlie

Thanks to each of you...... Hiho do you have a number for can am?
Still confused by the width of opinions. 2 tx dealers have stated that the g500 would work if set up correctly. over 60% of folks on one of the mercedes bbs's said the same............... any other comments, or experts' phone #s to call would be appreciated.

Thanks again for your time and help,

Bo

Hi Bo...I would talk to Andy Thomson at CanAm RVs (search should find it...ignore the US rental company with a similar name). W/O starting the whole issue of what TV can pull what...CanAm has 40-50? years of TV set-up and seem to know how to best set up a vehicle to tow at its' maximum capabilty (again...not arguing if they are right or wrong!).

The CanAm web site shows the types of TV combos they have that they actually allow "test" drives with. I am confident they can give you good input what you should do with your vehicle to best prepare it for towing your AS...unless you buy a one ton, dual rear wheel, diesel as a tow vehicle...just kidding ...Thanks...Tom R