The airshocks thread got me wondering what all solutions you guys might have to this problem...

I want to tow as large a pop-up as I can with my '79 SD... the ones I'm looking at can be as heavy as 3000lbs! That is in range with the ratings for the vehicle (with trailer brakes of course!), but 10% of 3000lbs (tounge weight) is going to make the rear of the vehicle sag a good bit.

If it was a just drive around town kinda thing I wouldn't have a problem with it, but whenever my wife and I get around to taking our honeymoon we would like to drive up to Alaska with the trailer.... definitely not an around the town kinda trip.

To those of you who are going to tell me to buy a truck: I have a '95 Ranger with 2.3L 4-banger... I think both vehicles will pull it fine (not 70mph up hills though!), but the car has more room, more power, more class, and most importantly has 4-wheel disc brakes. Truck has drums in the rear... Also, buying a vehicle is out of the option... we're both college students.

So am I plain nuts or is there something that can be worked out? Would Bilstein HD shocks handle this kinda stuff better?

Thanks!
John
'79 300SD

Mercedes usually allows not towing more than a 1000 trailer for there cars something like you mention would require a truck.

I pulled a 1700 lb uhaul for 900 miles with an '82 SD. That's as high as I'd feel comfortable with. We also had 4 adults and some trunk luggage and the sag was a bit too much. The hitch I bought was $230 and is only rated at 2000 lbs - it bolts to the subframe and the bumper, not terribly impressed.

We averaged about 17 mpg on mostly flat hiway at 60 mph.

The transmission in my car is an MB rebuild with about 25k on it and is very solid. My '81 SD has the original trans and I doubt it would have held up.

If it's just the two of you, you should be able to get a pretty small pop-up. When we go on our vacation, we load up the '82 SD with camping gear for the 4 of us and we're just a bit overloaded, springwise.

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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

Wow, back when I was in College a camping trip meet throwing backpacks, a cooler and a poptent into the trunk of the Fiat! I agree a 1,000 lbs is all I would feel comfortable towing with your sedan unless you have a death wish like a certain member down in Texas! Can't you find something besides a mobile palace to tow for the trip??

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

Here in the Lone Star State, we throw a whole Fiat (loaded down with ice and beer, of course!) into the trunk and use it as a roll-around cooler when we get to the campsite.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Buy a truck. A 560SEL might be able to handle that, but a 300SD is down about 150hp and doesn't have the self leveling suspension in the rear.

Why put the wear on the MB use the Ranger thats what its ment for.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ah Mr. Leo you disappoint me. I thought sure you would go on and on about the miraculous towing ability of Mercedes autos.

The POS Fiat 128 definately would have made a better cooler than car...

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

Trailers are too hard to back when you've, um, been imbibing.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Use the Ranger and install a tranny cooler if it is an automatic.

Most have the misconception that all you need is power for towing. Just about every vehicle out there has enough power to tow the pop-up camper you mentioned. Actually, the most critical thing in towing is cooling both the engine and the transmission. Most camper places will tell you the same thing if they have your best interest in mind. Service the cooling system and change the oil even if it doesn't "look" like it needs it. Towing is considered severe duty. Also, if you are pulling a trailer that weighs as much as the tow vehicle, make trailer brakes a requirement. (Drum brakes have less heat build up under the sustained braking such as towing will demand.)

Previously, I towed a fifth wheel trailer for several years.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

If you want to go camping and traveling with the SD, I recommend the best tent you can find.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

It is possible to tow that kind of weight safely with your MB but you are going to have to spend some money and effort on modifications to make it work. Towing is indeed severe duty but if you just address the problem areas I don't see why it wouldn't work. Heres a list:
1. Engine cooling-make sure the cooling system has been flushed recently and that the radiator is not obstructed and flows well. You will need all the excess capacity it has.
2. Transmission cooling-since MB auto trannys don't lockup it will generate plenty of extra heat under a towing load. An additional tranny cooler either mounted inline and before the stock radiator cooler or completely separate the tranny lines to their own separate cooler to handle the heat. The tranny will add to the radiator cooling load so removing that load may be the difference between the stock radiator keeping up or not. Synthetic fluid is a must, handles heat better.
3. Rear differential-this will get much hotter towing than it would normally. Rear diffs on towing pickups can get too hot to touch just from pulling heavy loads so please heed the warning. Mobil1 gear lube would be a good idea.
4. Brakes-the braking system needs to be in excellent condition. Even when running trailer brakes you never know when you will need all your stopping power.
5. Rear suspension-If there is a HD spring option for your car, do it. It will deal with the tongue load better
6. Good shocks-self explantory.
7.Trailer brakes-most small trailers don't have brakes but they can be installed easily as the axles usually have the flanges to accept the brake assemblies. Get a good brake controller. I have the Prodigy and it is hands down the best I have used.
8. Relay box-I don't remember the company but I think there are a few that make these. This product isolates the vehicles electrical system from the trailer and uses relays and a dedicated 12volt line to power the trailer lights. Maybe overkill but it will save the electrical system if there is a severe problem with the trailer wiring and takes the load off the stock vehicle wiring. I have one and it works great.

Experiment with tongue weights. Not all trailers need to have 10%, some pull fine with much less, some like more. If it doesn't sway or do anything weird when you hit the brakes than it'll be fine. On small trailers I like to keep the tongue weight between 75-100lbs so I can muscle it on and off the ball if I have to. The other thing is make sure the trailer is level when hitched. If it is nose up or nose down it will produce dangerous handling when you hit the brakes hard. I think I've covered it all. I can't say I recommend doing this and the Ranger is likely not a much better candidate with a 4cyl power-wise. However if you are diligent in your towing setup you shouldn't have any problems. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

The sag is easy to handle; I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Get a weight-distributing hitch--these have spring bars that take some weight off the hitch and actually transfer it to the front wheels of the tow vehicle. I've seen demonstrations where they actually can remove the rear wheels of the tow vehicle ( Front wheel drive, of course) and drive the combination. It just shows that you can transfer as much weight as needed.
I would also recommend trailer brakes on anything as heavy as you are considering.
I have an F250 to tow my 5th wheel, but my family had a pop up and used it for 10 years. I've seen owners use a weight-distributing hitch to tow a 30ft +/- Air Stream with a S10 pick up; not recommended but possible.
The possible legal issues should be considered--i.e. if you are involved in an accident and your combination is in excess of the vehicle manufacturer's ratings, you may be in trouble.

Those things need a real ladder frame! Nothing under a W123 to bolt a weight-transfer hitch onto.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

You can do so much with campgear that you can fit in the trunk - really

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

I remember last year when we were driving to a camp ground, we followed a Saturn for about 5 miles pulling a small pop up trailer. I could smell burning trans fluid the entire time!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200