ok, don't laugh,, but i wanted to see if anyone had any clever ideas on how to quickly add a "fake" tow hitch on my 240D 1977..
i dont actually want to tow anything, just be able to attach my trailer to it while they are both parked on the street. - i have a van for towing the trailer, but sometimes i need to use the van without trailer, but have no where off-street to put the trailer. and the law around these parts is that a trailer on the street needs to be attached to a vehicle... so, i want to give the impression that the trailer is hitched to my 240D while i take the van..

the trailer will be sitting on its own weight with its front trailer jack down to the ground, so really wont be putting any weight on the car or hitch..

i've "faked" it a couple times parking the trailer real close to the back of the 240 on the street and chaining it to the underside of the bumper so it doesnt "walk off", but the parking cops around here are arseholes and will eventually catch on and give me a ticket for it not being technically "attached to a vehicle"

i was thing a piece of wood so steel channel with a harbor fright ball atached to it, just sticking out the back under the bumper somehow, but not sure where i would attach it to..??

ideas? thanks guys!!!

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1981 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 265k
1977 240D ... 250k

It's pretty easy to drill a few holes thru the bottom of the bumper and attach a bumper hitch.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My W115 has what appears to be a wiring harness in the trunk to attach a trailer.

I don't have a hitch, but I have to wonder if perhaps one wasn't available from the factory at one point.

Although we in the States might laugh at hauling a trailer in these old cars, it's not that uncommon in Europe or elsewhere to see small cars pulling small trailers.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

X2

Autozone or Pep Boys may have something cheap that would work.

Two pieces of 2x4 screwed together so that there is a gap between the two and it can side onto the inside of the bumper. Paint it black and stick a ball on it.

I do have a hitch I bought for my 85 300D. I still have it but I would not use it again because I think by using it you do loosen up the rear bumpers and cause them to fall off on the W123. Bumpers on the W123 are attached by some type of glue or epoxy. This hitch bolts through the trunk floor and through the back bumper. It would make a great "fake" trailer hitch if you want one just for looks. PM me if you want more info..

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

This could lead to an awesome "PO" thread in the future!

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My occupational hazard bein'
my occupation's just not around...
1980 300SD
1980 300SD

for the amount of trouble of making a fake one, you might as well buy the 140 something dollar class 1 hitch from etrailer for a 123, and bolt it on.

probably be less effort and more useful, but cost more initially.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

My thoughts exactly. A fake hitch invites future misuse and tears.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Cut the stem off a trailer ball and glue it to the bumper. Drill holes in the bumper for the safety chains.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Wasn't there a picture on here some years ago of a guy who had drilled a hole down thru the top section of the bumper and bolted a ball to it?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The top of the bumper isn't very thick, I hope they were not doing that for actual trailer usage!

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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)

this is just so he won't be ticketed on the street, making it look like his trailer is hooked to something.

Even so, i still say just hook up a real hitch. its interesting what a 240 can actually move, it might do fine pulling/moving your trailer if it has to, which you couldn't do with a fake hitch

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

How about a ball-hitch and two strong Neodymium Magnets!

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

I agree with dropnosky. Just get the real thing. But if you insist on going the fake route, you might try getting a ball on a length of steel beam and attach it to the trailer, then just push the steel beam under the bumper or back the car over the steel beam. I do not think anyone is going to crawl under to inspect whether it is attached. This way you can use it with any car.

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60