Flat Towing a 350 SDL? (One Big Dingy!) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Stevels · #1 10-22-2006, 09:46 PM

I have a waste vegetable oil powered motor coach and I want to tow my waste oil powered MB 350 SDL as a "toad" or "dingy" behind the bus.

The 40' bus is powerful. It has a 10,000 lb hitch, and should be able to pull the large sedan around no problems, but can this car be towed safely as a Dingy?

All four wheels would be on the ground.

Attributes of a good toad vehicle are that it can be towed unlimited distances with unlimited speed restrictions, with all four wheels on the ground. Even better, are those vehicles that do not rack up mileage when being towed. It should be quick and easy to go from a towed state to a driving state.

I have not found any information about this vehicle being towable, as I am sure you can imagine, is not an obvious choice as a dingy vehicle.

Since I want to match my Veggie powered car with my veggie powered bus, and fuel is free, it makes sense to me.

Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks!

TheDon · #2 10-22-2006, 09:48 PM

the mercedes benz's cant be towed with the rear wheels on the ground since when they turn the pump or something like it turns in the transmission.. and that working when the car is not on is not good

Brian Carlton · #3 10-22-2006, 09:59 PM

You'll need to get a vehicle trailer and hook it to the bus in some way.

As "Don" mentioned, you can't tow a M/B with the rear wheels on the ground for more than a very short distance unless you wish to be replacing the transmission.

pawoSD · #4 10-22-2006, 10:02 PM

Bottom line: No.

Only if you disconnected the driveshaft on the car, which I am sure you wouldn't want to do. Plus, it'd put all kinds of extra mileage on the car components. Get a trailer, plop it on it, simple as that. A manual tranny MB I think can be towed, but I am not sure, they may not be able to either. 350SDL = no way though, it'd cook the tranny within about 10 miles. It says that right in the owners manual: "if you need to tow the vehicle, it cannot be for more than 10-15 miles at a speed no greater than 20mph"

Stevels · #5 10-22-2006, 10:06 PM

I was afraid you would say this.

The idea of anything but flat towing does not make a lot of sense.

So even in neutral, when the wheels turn, things are turning in the transmission that require lubrication?

Has anyone heard of some type of "disconnect" that one could, in a fairly practicle way, pull a pin on the drive shaft or some such thing, that would allow the car to "free wheel"?

Sure this is crazy talk, but what the heck, I suck grease out of dumpsters!

Thanks!

SA

Brian Carlton · #6 10-22-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevels

Has anyone heard of some type of "disconnect" that one could, in a fairly practicle way, pull a pin on the drive shaft or some such thing, that would allow the car to "free wheel"?

A proper trailer would be easier and a whole lot cheaper..............

pawoSD · #7 10-22-2006, 10:10 PM

There is whats called a "driveshaft locking clutch" or something, it disconnects or connects the shaft either mechanically or electrically. It'd have to be custom installed, I have read on here (a long time ago) about someone that did it to their MB so they could tow it. It'd probably be a good amount of $$ though.

(btw, I am pretty sure most automatic cars can't be flat towed) Even our 1999 minivan says not to or risk tranny death in the manual.

kerry · #8 10-22-2006, 10:11 PM

You have two choices: Install a tranny fluid circulation pump so that the tranmission is cooled while being towed, or install a driveshaft disconnect system. I looked into installing a driveshaft disconnect on my 85 300TD. It would have been in the range of $1000 installed. There is something about an MB install that requires specialized techniques only available in a few shops around the country. The company that makes the disconnect is Remco. You can go to their website and get the info.
I decided it was better choice to buy a Suzuki Sidekick with a transfer case and manual hubs. I only have to put the transfer case in neutral in order to tow it.

Cars with a rear transmission pump driven by the driveshaft can be flat towed without modification. Saturns typically have done this. There are other models also.

Stevels · #9 10-22-2006, 10:13 PM

OK, lets say I am forced by your logic to rethink my rediculus wants and desires....

can anyone reccomend a light, strong and easy to use trailer suitable for this purpose?

It is so sad... I can't tow a Prius, and I can't tow a Benz...

What a world, what a world.....

kerry · #10 10-22-2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

A proper trailer would be easier and a whole lot cheaper..............

The problem with a trailer is that you still have the trailer to deal with when camping, parking etc. You also have to tie down the car to the trailer. A flat towed car with a folding towbar is much simpler and quicker.

kerry · #11 10-22-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevels

OK, lets say I am forced by your logic to rethink my rediculus wants and desires....

can anyone reccomend a light, strong and easy to use trailer suitable for this purpose?

It is so sad... I can't tow a Prius, and I can't tow a Benz...

What a world, what a world.....

You can tow the Prius on a two wheel dolly with the front wheels up. I have friends who do it. Can't safely tow a car on a dolly with rear wheels up.

TheDon · #12 10-22-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevels

I was afraid you would say this.

The idea of anything but flat towing does not make a lot of sense.

So even in neutral, when the wheels turn, things are turning in the transmission that require lubrication?

Has anyone heard of some type of "disconnect" that one could, in a fairly practicle way, pull a pin on the drive shaft or some such thing, that would allow the car to "free wheel"?

SA

can we make it vacuum actuated just to overcomplicate it some more...

plus, i do belive te 350SDL uses the same style drive shaft my W123 does with the flex discs.. which has like 5 bolts and nuts to remove...

use a trailer to be safe

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

The problem with a trailer is that you still have the trailer to deal with when camping, parking etc. You also have to tie down the car to the trailer. A flat towed car with a folding towbar is much simpler and quicker.

eww a towbar on a W126....

pawoSD · #13 10-22-2006, 10:19 PM

Who needs to tow a car anyways? I'd just drive the coach around!

(I have issues...)

kerry · #14 10-22-2006, 10:22 PM

I've seen motorhomes in Europe with a little garage in the back, into which a small car can be driven and carried. A SMART car would be ideal for this.

Brian Carlton · #15 10-22-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

It would have been in the range of $1000 installed.

Actually, that's quite reasonable. I had figured that a custom device would be required. It's less costly than a proper trailer.

Something to consider.........