I've searched the archives, but came up empty. Could anyone give me data on the towing capacity for the '72 220d? I have the factory hitch, and would like to tow my 2,200lb. pop-up trailer 200 miles on the weekends. My '72 is euro spec without any power options, 4 sp., no A/C. Any advice or figures would be welcome.

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1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

Good Gawd man! A 240D barely has enough power to pull the skin off of a rice custard; I can't imagine towing 200# much less 2200# with a 220D.

But, if you do try and tow that trailer, call me! I want to watch.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Are we talking with a full tank of fuel and wind aided .... will have to be very specific on this one.... manual trans, how much does the driver weigh ? Any pets in the car ?

surely a negative number...

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

I once towed a 220D with a 220D for about a 200 mile trip. All I can remember was I was down into 2nd gear doing about 30 miles per hour on the shoulder of a limited access highway.

On todays crowded highways I'd never consider doing it again.

I'd take down the antenna, pump up the tires, buy a new gerbil and make sure the body is waxed.

I had a '73 220d and asking it to pull a trailer on the highway is not something I'd do. Maybe through the backroads, but I think you'll be limited to sub-speed limit figures.

A friend pulls a 2000 pound boat with his 300SD and says it's marginal, but OK.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

Only go downhill.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Can Mapquest print out maps which has routes which are " only downhill" ? That would really help....

I enjoyed all responses!!! But, truely, I don't drive that fast any-way (without a trailer that is), and my car will go along at 60-65 all day long. I can reach the maximum speed on the speedo; additionally, diesels love to "pull", so I thought it may be O.K. I'll put on my thickest skin, and wait for further "help".

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1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

If you attempt to pull a boat up a steep ramp.

A) Leave the sunroof open and

B) Wear a flotation device

You might also consider hearing protection since there's bound to be much wailing and gnashing of teeth behind you in the 'no passing' zones.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Maybe if you could modify the car to get the weight of the car closer to 0.0 lbs and the cd down to about .00 cd then it might be able to tow a 2,200 lb trailer provided it is aerodynamic enough and you don't to to ascend anything.

But on a more serious note, interstate highways do have min speed limits for safety, it would surely cause a traffic accident when there is a 30 mph vehicle going down the road. And even 30 mph might be optimistic.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

A 220D can move more than it's own weight?!?

We have a very light 12-14' sailboat on a trailer that I used to pull to the small lakes around here with the '68 220D. Had no problems with that, but I am guessing that it only weighs about 800lbs at max. Don't think I'd really have wanted 2200# of big boxy trailer dragging back behind the old 220D. And that was all back in the double nickle days to boot.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

I pull a trailer made from a Masda pick up bed with my 240 D but only for short hauls on back roads loaded with fire wood and such. It pulls fine in first and second bogs in third on mild grades and only with effort will it pull in forth. I sure would not want to try 22 hundred pounds if there are any grades at all. I think you would put way too much strain on engine and drive train........

William Rogers.......