With the Cummins in the shop, the heavy hauling has fallen to my 81 240 so when a large order of fruit and nuts arrived for the current batch of fruitcake baking, I met the suppliers truck and proceeded to completely fill the trunk with full 25 and 30 lb boxes. I checked my invoice later and found that it came to 400+ lbs. The ride height and attitude was slightly tail heavy but not overly so and of course acceleration was unaffected by the weight. These cars continue to surprise and satisfy me.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I have had around 500 pounds of mulch in the trunk of my W123. Its a gasser so it had plenty of power and it drove great with all the weight in the back.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

well, the 240 has the 369 rear diff... soo, that'll help a bunch.
I've got the SD, and I've loaded it with MANY MANY tools and items... heck, right now, it's got two nitrogen bottles weighing in around 75lbs each... two 30lb freon jugs, three tool boxes around 75lbs each, lots of other items... the rear sags a tad, but not much... no issues with handling or acceleration. of course it's a turbo...
in my old 79TD I've hauled well over 1000lbs in the back... loaded it down with a full turbo 6.5L engine with flywheel and pressureplate on it. then packed all the pipes and accessories in there, starter and such, then piled in several boxes of german chainsaw pull handle multi-tools... surely over 1500lbs of crap in the backl. the guy just looked at me like I was crazy when I backed up to the engine with my little wagon to take that load in... bumper was ON the ground with everything loaded up. he is yelling at me not to pull forward because the bumper would rip off... I said not to worry, and started up the car... chug chug chug... up went the rear to perfect level... the guys eyes just about popped out of his head... SLS gotta love it. no issues pulling away up his steep driveway, stopping was a different issue though. ya had to plan your stops well with that much weight in it. it'd do it fine, just didn't wanna send anything flying around the car!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

400lb is only 2 over weight people in the back seat. I once had a load of bags of cement in the back of my old 300D, you couldnt get the trunk shut! I was more concerned about blowing a tire.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

holy moley! THAT TRUNK IS HUGE... how'd you drive with that much cement in there? 80lbs each, say...20 bags should fit.. that'd be... 1600lbs... not too bad weight wise. but without the SLS, I'd think steering would be difficult.

It ain't a 123, but its a load. It was about 20 cases of marble tile. I had to stack it well to get the trunk to close. I can tell you unequivocally that the suspension was bottomed out. There was nothing left.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

John,
It felt like the front wheels were coming off the road a couple of times. I needed some extra weight up front to balance it. The sls was just not doing much, over loaded I guess. Wouldnt do it again or recommend it to any one!!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Hmm

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1981 300TD 4 speed manual
Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light

Did you coat the bottom of the boat with black soot lol

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I just hauled home about 40 gallons of WVO and a heavy tool box in the trunk the other day. Rode fine, although it scraped a little in one parking lot entrance that it is usually fine with. Definitely got lower mileage though, crossing the pass going home.

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1976 Mercedes 240D, unknown mileage
1977 Mercedes 240D, 225k
1992 Dodge/Cummins 4WD, 284k
1990 Subaru Legacy wagon, 330k
1991 Subaru Legacy wagon, 225k

Well, now my load seems measly compared to you all

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I've moved about 800 pounds of brick in the trunk of my w124. Handled it fine, did not even bottom out.

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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)

These cars are amazing and so roadworthy!

I hauled 100 sheets of plywood in my 3/4 ton van and the weight shifted slightly around a corner at 45 mph! That gives you a feeling you don't soon forget.

But the 240 handles smaller loads with no effort.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6