2012 Mercedes ML350 towing math/specs-for 25, 23 AS

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by vonzellen

After listening to all your valuable input for the last few months. . .

After talking to Andy and John at CanAM RV. . .

After talking by phone to several guys towing with the ML. . .

I made the decision to get the hitch on my 2012 Mercedes ML350 (gasser) beefed up at CanAM. I drove there Thursday and had the reinforcement done on Friday. These guys are pros and the work was perfect and $100 less than originally quoted. Andy also fabricated a new shank for use on my existing Reese WD hitch and explained how to best set my car up for towing. They were a great help. Thanks Andy, Kirk, and Andrew and Kim.

I may be under powered, but I'll see how it works in the flatter areas of the East Coast and if I find I need more power I'll consider another TV. (my ML350 actually has pretty similar hp and torque to my 99 ford f150 5.2liter gas)

The hitch modification/strengthening is quite simple, but elegantly done.

I plan to head to Florida in a week or two to pick up my 2007 25FB International.

One question though. . . there is some discussion about an adapter so that the lights in the Airstream work?? Does anyone know if this will be a problem with a 2012 Mercedes ML350 and a 2007 Airstream FB CCD??

And, again, thanks for everyone's help.

If the AS has LED exterior lights then just call Andy, he can give you a simpler solution than using an adapter....if not LED's then you shouldn't have a problem.

[jmcarter]

Just FYI that this was prior to one stinger adjustment and another 1.2 inches on the 3P jacks.

[SafariSS]

Can you snap a pic of the hitch mod?

[MrUKToad]

Originally Posted by vonzellen

I may be under powered, but I'll see how it works in the flatter areas of the East Coast and if I find I need more power I'll consider another TV. (my ML350 actually has pretty similar hp and torque to my 99 ford f150 5.2liter gas)

If you can, have a look at Andy's piece in the latest Airstream Life regarding TV power. You won't be underpowered....

[switz]

Click on my three images below my forum name. One is a photo of the support piece welded to the factory hitch by CanAm.

They dropped the air suspension tank and then put standoffs to miss the new 2" steel brace when reinstalling the air tank.

I have a Hensley hitch straight stinger. They cut about 4" off the part that went into the MB receiver and re-drilled the retainer bolt hole in the steel shaft. It was a little too close to the back of the car to use the Hensley supplied wrench for the over center braces, but a quick trip to a nearby Harbor Freight and I purchased an inexpensive 21" crescent wrench that worked just fine.

They also put a few degree bend downwards in the middle of the stinger to pretension the Hensley weight distribution system.

[SafariSS]

thanks Switz,

I have seen the hitch beef up done a couple of ways, i like the over the air tank/bluetec tank. I only question the crossmember everyone is going to, looks as if it would be better to go to a subframe mount or rear body mount?

[vonzellen]

I tried to upload photos??? they all came out upside down and would only let me load 4?

I sent my self an email and pasted the email. If you send me an email I can send them to you directly.

2012 Mercedes ML350 Hitch Reinforcements as done by CanAm, London, Ontario

[vonzellen]

Ok, So I went to CanAm and got my hitch beefed up so that I could go to Florida and pick up the 2007 25FB CCD that I bought sight unseen. After two full days of driving and endless planning to get out of town we arrive in Dover, Florida and in minutes found the trailer had rotted floors!!!!!!! I had asked the sales person to check this several times and was assured it was "perfect".

So after a few drinks, and an evening contemplating not having a trailer at all I made a few phone calls then next day and found a 2007 27FB Safari SE. It was much nicer than the first trailer, had $12,000 worth of solar/controller/inverter/charger/4 lifeline AGMs/etc. and was almost $10,000 less than the 25 CCD with rotten floors. Needless to say we bought it.

I was confident that the ML would pull it fine because Andy had told me it would. It came with an Equalizer Hitch which hitched up just fine and before long we were rolling.

I never really pulled a trailer of this size any distance before so I was nervous, but after a 10 day trip up the east coast I can say the ML350 (gasser) had plenty of power and towed it like a dream. There was a litter "pressure" each time a large truck came up behind us, but nothing too bad. There seemed to be minimal or no sway.

I can see why some felt that the ML gas might be OK on the east coast where it is relatively flat and than if I get in hilly areas I may wish I had something more, but for now it tows just great.

The 27' trailer with the equalizer hitch, once installed, lowered the car about one inch equally front and rear. Steering and handling seem sure and responsive.

I think if you have a ML350 you have a great tow vehicle and you don't have to go for the diesel blue tec.

By the way, mileage without the trailer on the road was 22.3 mgp at an average of 60 mph. With the trailer I got 12mpg at an average of 50 mph.

I hope this helps some of you contemplating the ML.

[switz]

In contrast to some the big pickup TVs, my 2007 ML320 CDI diesel continues to get 30% better mileage than the same displacement gasoline engine - 28.5 mpg on the highway at 75+. My UK 2002 straight 6 E320 turbo diesel station wagon gets 30% better mileage than the same displacement gasoline engine running 95 Octane and has quicker acceleration. When I towed the trailer home, I saw better than 14 mpg through the mountains on I-10 from Los Angeles to Phoenix.

The ML diesel engine has the torque of the V8 gasoline engine of that model year which was a sub 18 mpg engine choice.

The small european designed 3 liter diesel engines in the pipeline will continue to get better fuel economy and have substantially more torque than the comparable sized gas engines. Since these diesels are typically turbocharged, there is no performance degradation in the mountains at altitude.

[Fuscus]

For those who wonder, I am towing in the Canadian Rockies with steep grades and serious wind blasts. My 2008 ML CDI is simply amazing. My trailer is not an airstream, it is more square, therefore more wind resistance. i just wanted to help folks here. It just makes you wonder how is it possible to be that stable, let alone the ease of pulling uphill. Standard suspension, airmatic is nice but if it breaks it's too expensive. no thanks. The low rpm torque is just perfect, I am in 6-7th gear most of the time and. Fuel economy is also great for what it pulls, at an average of 14-16 mpg. 17 on the flats with little wind. I monitor the transmission temp with an iphone app and a wifi Obd plug in. All normal. The trailer weighs 5400lbs loaded with firewood, tools, generator, etc but no water onboard. That would be close to 6000lbs. Weight distribution is key, I am using a distributor with chains, it works great. I am at the gross vehicle weight limits when fueled up, my wife and 2 little kids. Tongue wight is also close but careful loading in the trailer helps a lot. The batteries on the trailer tongue are very heavy so I am planning to move them under the trailer right on the axels. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, it gives you a lot of confidence, I used to drive semis and I know what I am doing. Would it last mechanically? I sure hope so, we'll see on a long term. So far so good.

[John&Vicki]

Just returned from a 3 month, 3,000+ mile trip around the Southwest with my 2006 ML500 towing my '90 25' Excella with a Blue Ox SwayPro. Experienced all kinds of conditions: high winds, steep grades, semi's passing at 75mph while I was doing 60mph, one emergency stop. Everything went smoothly. Averaged 13mpg cruising at 55-65mph.

Andy said the ML was a great tow vehicle and he was right.

Poppy

[2012FB]

I traded in a 2012 Sierra Denali HD on a 2014 ML350 Bluetec. Drove from Denver to CanAm for the hitch reinforcement. I have always pulled with the most powerful SUVs and Trucks available for the last 20 years. For the life of me I do not know why other than bigger is better I guess, but we, my wife in particular, just got tired of the poor ride, hard to drive, hard to park, low mileage, doesn't fit in the garage big TVs when we only actually tow a tiny fraction of the time we use the vehicle. The ML does an amazing job pulling my 2012 25FB and there is no comparison to the overall enjoyment of driving the ML the other 98% of the time. I would never go back to an oversized TV again, especially not to pull an Airstream.

[steve.thomps]

A few questions for you:
What kind of mileage are you getting towing and not towing ?
How is the ML in the snow ?

Thanks,
Steve

[vonzellen]

I'm getting about 23mpg without towing and about 11.5 towing a 2007 27 FB Safari SE.

I have not towed in the snow, but driving in the snow is easy.

[2012FB]

Originally Posted by steve.thomps

A few questions for you:
What kind of mileage are you getting towing and not towing ?
How is the ML in the snow ?

Thanks,
Steve

Current summer daily driving is around 23. Winter highway mileage was about 25, towing depending on wind was between 13 and 16 doing 5 over most of the time. I actually seemed to be getting better mileage just below 80. This is one of my complaints. I think if I could keep it in 6th for towing I would also get better mileage due to being a little more in the sweet spot on the torque curve.

Driving is very heavy snow was no issue, other than the standard headlights do a poor job in the snow. Really need dedicated fog/driving lamps.

[xrvr]

Some would say towing at 80 is a tad fast. Be safe and careful. Jim

[2012FB]

Always. Thank you. It is a whole lot better than the 32 foot box of old.

[2012FB]

Forgot to mention that the first thing I did when I bought it new was replace the standard trailer tires with Michelins. I don't think I would go much over 60 with the stock trailer tires.

[switz]

15" GoodYear Marathons, the Airstream stock tire, is speed rated on the sidewall to 65mph.