Mercedes GL/ML as a tow vehicle

[StokerDoc]

Jim

It was an amazing coincidence to meet you at JC. If it wasn't for the slightly different wheel and tire combination on our GLs, it would be very difficult to tell them apart. We love our Serenity as well. In the "If I knew then what I know now" category, I would ask JC to make a 30' bunkhouse in Serenity trim. That colour combination with ducted AC, Corian counter tops, the Ultra-leather and a spot for the kids to have their own space would be the ultimate trailer for us. Don't get me wrong, I love our trailer, but with one kid on the dinette, the other on the couch, us adults are either sitting outside or we go to bed at the same time as the kids.

As far as a Pacific Northwest trip for you next summer, we would gladly invite you up here as a stop on your way to Alaska? Seems a common destination for RVers. Heck, it's on our list as well. We are planning on staying closer to home next year. Explore more of the BC mainland and maybe head up to Yukon or even Alaska.

I think a photo op would definitely be fun.

Stephen

[walker]

Anyone pulling a 34' with a GL. Mine is 1987 so not wide body (lighter). I pulled it for a few years with a short wheel base Navigator with no drama.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[jonnie3]

Wow nice looking setup. I have a GL450 and am thinking about buying a Flying Cloud 25. Did you reinforce the Mercedes hitch? If so, who did it for you? My GL has a max hitch rate of 600 lbs and the AS comes in at 836 lbs. Everyone seems to think Can-Am in Canada are the guys who do the best work, however I live in New Mexico and don't want to travel so far. Any info would help. Thanks!

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by walker

Anyone pulling a 34' with a GL. Mine is 1987 so not wide body (lighter). I pulled it for a few years with a short wheel base Navigator with no drama.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

I own a 1984 34' International, ready to camp it weighs in at about 7500lbs. I was at CanAm last week, picking the trailer up from service and had a chat with Andy about our next tow/family vehicle. Andy highly recommended the GL for my trailer, he also nodded towards the Dodge Durango, with which the GL class shares a platform.

Depending on what we can find on the market, one of these will be our next car, come spring 2016.

[walker]

Yes I had the hitch reinforced on my 2014 GL 550. The tongue weight of my and all larger AS exceeds the factory rating and it appears the hitch could rotate. How ever unlikely, it was a very substantial mod for not much money. I bought the vehicle in Fort Wayne IN, a CPO with 15k miles and since I was close by headed on the CanAm for the mod. There are several good pictures available and a good welding shop should be able to fab one. CanAm has the curve and mount to subframe down pat and is quick and fits perfect. They may sell the part for you to install, I did not inquire about that since I was going anyway. I have several large pickups and can tow with what I choose. I am not interested in the ongoing debates of what the large pick up devotees choose. I just prefer and am comfortable with a SUV for my vacation vehicle. Have had Surburbans, Navigator and this is our first MB. The active air suspension make this my new favorite. I have been doing this since 1973. Have fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[jonnie3]

Thank you for the info. I'm feeling more and more like I should just make the 1500 mile journey up to Can-Am and let them do the mod. I will talk to them and find out if they can sell me the parts and detailed info on how to do it, if I can find someone locally. Again thank you

[Texasdiver]

My wife and I are looking at this kind of setup for our next camper as we are looking to depart Texas for the Pacific NW and want to get rid of the big popup camper for an airstream that is more amenable to rainy weather.

My only comment is that at first glance it seems rather extravagant to be using a MB as a tow vehicle but when one actually does the math, the big diesel F250s or 2500s in full luxury trim are actually creeping up pretty close to the price of decently outfitted GL350. I haven't aggressively shopped prices but dang...a new F250 Powerstroke in Platinum or King Ranch trim looks like it pushes to within about 5K of the MB. That was an eye opener.

For the average person like myself who doesn't really have that much use for a big diesel truck outside of towing the trailer on occasional vacations the MB seems to make a lot more sense.

[jonnie3]

Hello John and Vicki,
We also own a GL450. Thinking of buying a 25' Flying Cloud. Did you get your hitch reinforced? If so, who did it for you? If not, are you worried about the hitch welds? My GL hitch is rated for 600 lbs tongue weight and the trailer hitch weighs 837 lbs. I've talked with a few folks around the forum who feel that using a WD hitch and reinforcing the MB hitch is not going to present any problems with towing. Thoughts???
Thank you,
Jon and Elisa

[kellykellyi]

I am happily towing a 25FB with a 2015 GL350 with reinforced hitch that CanAm advised on mods with pictures and referral to a shop in the Los Angeles area.

[Jezibels]

Is this a sufficient combo?

A GL or ML 2012-2013 (7200 tow rating) pulling a 66 Trade wind (4000 lb) with an equalizer hitch & prodigy brake controller?

We are downsizing from a Navigator TV.

[Wayne&Sam]

A piece of cake.

[LongShot]

ML 350 Diesel + Husky Centerline Hitch = worry-free towing of a 4,000 pound FC 19 (fully loaded probably closer to 4,500). The key is your hitch set-up and make sure you get a properly reinforced hitch (I elected to purchase the Reese WD hitch which comes with an additional WD reinforcement bar that connects directly to the frame) Very beefy, impressive, and probably overkill but it's one less thing to worry about. Also - if you're thinking about a Mercedes, get the Milenco large body extension mirrors as they actually fit MB's very tight mirror openings!

[RickInNash]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

A slightly narrower P275/40R x 21 XL would tighten it up but the size is only available in very high performance summer tires. They would work great but not for very long. Likely only a 40-50,000 Kilometer tread life. 25-30,000 miles.

Hello Andy. Just got my 2012 Mercedes GL350 diesel to pull a 28ft or 30 ft airstream. I will bring it to you soon to do the hitch reinforcement. I do love the mountains and plan on towing there a lot. What size trailer do you recommend for that situation? Also, which hitch would you recommend? The Mercedes has 60,000 miles on it and I am about to replace the tire. Any recommendation for tire sizes or types?
Thanks for all your helpful information!

[RickInNash]

Wow....have you towed with this over the mountains? I just got my Mercedes gl350 diesel and am trying to decide which airstream to get!

[jmcarter]

Pic is at GC North Rim (actually Jacob Lake so "only" 8,000 feet). 2013 GL350 and 2010 28ft International). ProPride, Andy's hitch work, and fantastic MB diesel....awesome combination. I was shocked Jacob Lake had so many openings this week.

[rluhr]

I think quite a few of us have towed Airstreams in the mountains with the Mercedes ML/GL diesels. I've been doing it since 2009. That's my 30-foot Safari in the photo.

[Andrew T]

Hi Rick

You can tow pretty much any Airstream you want with the GL. Some of the slide-out models of the past would need some modification but otherwise I would have no concerns. We have several customers with these with 34 Classics and they travel everywhere.

You have a massive amount more power than any vehicle you could buy 20 years ago and people traveled everywhere. I find once you are towing a 25' the difference to go to a 30 is almost imperceptible so if you like the space of the 30 you might as well go for it. It is a lot less expensive to get the one you really want the first time as opposed to 2footiitis.

Here is a letter I received from a customer, they tow a 31 Classic with a 2008 GL.

2012 05 01

Can-Am RV Centre
6608 Colonel Talbot Rd.
P.O. Box 370
Lambeth ON.
N6P 1R1

Dear Andrew, Kirk and Can-Am Staff;

We have just returned from our third major trip since we picked up our trailer at Can Am in late September 2009. During this trip we travelled over 14 000 kms while we toured the American Southwest, and wish to tell you that this whole trip was another enjoyable experience.

A brief summary of our travels since 2009 is as follows:

Fall 2009 / Winter 2010 - To California, Nevada and Arizona.
Winter 2011 - Down the Florida Gulf coast, through the Everglades, out to the Keys and up
the Atlantic coast of Florida.
Winter 2012 - To New Orleans, along the Texas Gulf coast to South Padre Island, up
The Rio Grande into New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah and Colorado.

We continue to appreciate the role that Can-Am has played in helping to make our trips so enjoyable. Some parts of that role are noteworthy;

· Your advice and recommendation of MB’s GL 320 and the fitting of the Michelin Latitude HP Tour tires has proven to be an excellent rock-solid choice for a tow vehicle. Fuel consumption continues to average 17L/100 kms. after some 40 000 kms of towing experience.
· Your guidance and assistance in helping us choose the Airstream 31ft. Classic continues to prove to be an ideal trailer for our travels.
· The reliability of the tow vehicle and trailer has allowed us to be able to complete our travels without a single misadventure except for a couple of flat tires caused by picking up some nails on the tow vehicle tires.
· The many helpful suggestions for outfitting the trailer before departure have continued to help us enjoy our camping experience right from our first day of travel.

We have now parked, unpacked and cleaned up the trailer for the time being, but are already getting ready for our next adventure this summer for a trip out to Newfoundland in late June and July.

Thanks again

I hope this helps.

Andy

[SafariSS]

Found some nice mirrors for the GL. I have tried several, these seem to stay put. Made in the Netherlands..

[rostam]

Originally Posted by SafariSS

Found some nice mirrors for the GL. I have tried several, these seem to stay put. Made in the Netherlands..

Attachment 241698Attachment 241699

Hi SafariSS,

What is the make and model of the mirrors?

Thanks!

[SafariSS]

Repusel brand from Holland. Model here is Luminox extended and convex. Bought em on Amazon.