My non-turbo 300D has a hitch.

I used it to tow around a single axle trailer for moving stuff.
Probably did not exceed a few thousand pounds.

Once, I used it to tow a minivan using a one axle tow setup.
A little slow going over the big hills, but we made it.
Don't recommend it, at least not all the time.

I remember a post (with pictures) where a member towed several drums
of WVO on a cross-country trip. The overall conclusion was that it
was not too much trouble.

So... get the hitch. Towing instruments and some oil should be okay.

Towing amps, speakers, complete stage lighting - maybe not.

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80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

I pulled my 15 ft aluminum boat -- perhaps 700 pounds -- 350 miles to my new home with the 240D. I saw no overheating, but was limited to about 60-65 top speed. That was fine with me. Fuel mileage hardly dipped, which surprised me.

My CD came with a factory hitch, not installed. Got from PO. The car has holes and wiring. However, the best thing they can accomplish is holding the rear bumper on. An MB mechanic mentioned the tranny as the weakest point.

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83 SD

84 CD

Fine. Same harmonic buzz in the driveshaft that the 4-speed had too....

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I found that I was putting only 2000 miles a year on my 2001 Dodge 1500. It turns out that my 2003 Grand Caravan (with the 3.8L, 215HP engine) can pull my boat just fine. I sold the truck. I hear that the GC will be available in a diesel in 2010....

Back to the subject...I would like to tow a small utility trailer behind my 87 300D when I go down to pick up a barrel or two of methanol from my biodieseling farmer friend. (He buys in bulk and gets great discounts.) My trailer weighs less than 500 pounds empty. two barrels of methanol puts it at less than 1300 pounds. That should be within the capabilities of my car. Finding the hitch for something less than an arm and a leg seems to be the problem.

-Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

I had my 300D hitch installed at U-Haul for less than $75.00 (total price).

Another thread up right now links to an Ebay hitch for under $50.

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80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

It's a shame none of them fit my car.

-Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

Yeah the F150 is my dads, I almost never drive it. I don't currantly own anything that needs to be towed, and the once in a blue moon that I need a truck I have my dads, or can borrow any number of them that family and friends own. Heck my uncle has a six wheel dump truck, I can tow like 50k+ pounds if I ever need to.

If I had to tow a lot I'd buy a truck, they are made for it. I don't like to stress a vehical or drive something thats a dog. My friend tows his 5k pound boat with a Chevy 2500HD, with the 8.1, its not stock has a chip and exhuast, maybe super charger in the future. But anyway it tows that boat like its a toy. We were running up a hill on the highway at 70-75 and the truck didn't even need to down shift. You want to pass at 70 it just goes, that truck is a beast! You don't even feel 5k pounds behind that truck, they say you can tow up to like 12k, I beleive it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Does the fuel gauge on that truck go 70mph towards the E?

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Trailer alone weighs 450 pounds and is well sprung with good shocks and 14 inch tires. 1984 300D doesn't seem to notice it's there with a GSXR 1100 on it. No heating problems or problems climbing grades. Uses WVO.

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You can get farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.

1984 300D
1985 300CD
1980 300SD
1993 SL500

You can watch it move at WOT. Nah its not to bad, gets like 10mpg.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well thanks for all the input everyone. I am still not sure what I am going to do. I have way too many vehicles, all of them Diesel, and I would like to keep the two Mercedes cars. I like working on them and they have been extremely economical and reliable, however I may need to stick with my heavier duty options. My transit bus was going to be turned into a motorhome for full time use touring with my band, but busses are money pits, I want to get that tatooed on me somewhere, it is that true. The band took on a third member and so my Isuzu NPR box truck will be cramped seating with three big guys and a little dog. I really like that truck for many of the same reasons I love my Mercedes, plus I put a sweet WVO system on it, including rendering and filtering equpment. The only other option I have been considering involves selling everything and buying an older Dodge heavy duty pickup with the cummins 12v engine and using it to tow a goose neck trailer that would be used for living and storage while on the road. I am still trying to figgure out how much time out of the year I will be travling and how far we will be going at a time, but one thing's for sure I am leaving my rented house this fall and not looking back. If any of you have any other ideas for me I would like to hear them, also if anyone has any other personal exierence with towing and mercedes diesels please tell us about them....Thanks again, Joe

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1987 250D
1984 300TD
1983 300D
2002 Chevy 2500HD Diesel
1995 Dodge 12 valve Cummins Dually
All Biodiesel Powered

I have one of these trailers and tow it with my W123. Fantastic for camping...

Has anybody seen an "official" towing rating in any manual for the W123?

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

I don't believe there is anything in the manual, and AFAIK there was not an option for a hitch. I suspect that indicates an "official" towing rating of 0. I wouldn't do it anyway, that's why I own a POS truck.