I am about to purchase a tent trailer to haul with my 99 ml320. The trailer has a gvw of 3450 lbs. and a tongue weight of 150 lbs.

The dealer thinks that an equilizer hitch may be needed due to the short wheelbase. Any experiences ?

He also mentioned something about using a "self powered" light connector that draws its power directly from the battery and use the lights for switches. He claims that a normal trailer light harness will draw to much power and shut down the lighting.

Am I being jerked around? Of course, both of his recommendations are at a higher cost than using the normal hitch and harness.

Any info would help. Also your experiences towing with a 320.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Anxious to camp.

I also have a 99 ML320 and I installed the MB hitch for towing at a cost of $250. The hardest part of installing the hitch was connecting the wiring harness, which is located in the same compartment as your first aid kit, small hands are helpful.

I have a 19ft boat that I tow, the boat and trailer weigh about 3200 lbs, and when traveling to Lake Powell fully loaded with fuel and gear around 3600 lbs.

The ML320 tows this load with no problem.
I had one occasion that I had to perform a high speed lane change to aviod furniture that had fallen from a truck in front of me on the freeway at 70mph. It was a bit scary, but the ML tracked true, but not something that I want to experience again.

On steep grades I manually shift rather than letting the auto trans hunt for the correct gear.

I have never had a problem with the lighting on my trailer causing any type of problem or battery drain.

Todd

We are putting on the hitch today. It's good to hear from someone who actually has tried it. The staff at the local dealer is somewhat less than reliable.

Thanks for taking the time.

allen

We have been towing a 2,300 lb. racecar plus gear (tools and spares) on an 1,800 lb. tandem axle trailer for three years with the standard MB hitch and wiring harness. It tows better than a Suburban we borrowed (though in fairness, the Suburban was towing the Benz!). I usually leave the gear selector in fourth, though in very hilly terrain I will shift manually. We have no complaints, though the back of the car sags somewhat with this arrangement. Drives beautifully, though.

__________________
Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

150 pounds sounds a little light for that trailer.

your ml should have no problem towing that trailer with the standard hitch and harness. i would want nearer to 400 pounds tongue weight though.