190d towing capacity? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

satyr · #1 06-20-2006, 03:46 AM

OK- before ya'll start in on me- I'm NOT thinking of using the 190 to haul huge loads of crap around or a 5000 # trailer. I was just looking at a small fiberglass travel trailer in a parking lot out in the 'burbs (on a jetta) and thought about how nice it would be to take the 190d out for a long road trip with a 13 foot travel trailer.

I checked archives and couldn't find anything on the tow capacity of the 190d- but it looks like lots of people are using 300's for travel trailer duty.

Since our 190 has the 4spd tranny, I thought that even with the little 4cyl motor it should be able to handle a trailer under 1000 pounds at 60-65 mph. What do you guys think?
-John

t walgamuth · #2 06-20-2006, 05:35 AM

i had two very small trailers early on back in the late seventies and early eighties. one was under 1000 the other about 1350. i towed them with a saab 99 stick. later a volvo 265 wagon stick with od.

either car did the job easily. the hitch on the saab i fabricated from steel angle. on the volvo i think i bought it from uhaul. i did the wiring myself. the lights were a bit of a pain since the trailers were set up for the one bulb two filiments tail brake setup and the cars were separate amber turn systems. i solved the problem by mounting accessory amber lights on the bumper.

the trailers had no brakes, so you had to be very careful on following distances. one was a 'comact junior' with a pop up headroom section. the other was a 'love bug'. the love bug has a shape like a scamp but is built very low over the frame. i could go around corners with the love bug as if it werent there.

as an aside while in europe in 73 i pulled a small trailer with my 61 220b fintail. that trailer had mechanical surge brakes, was very lightweight and would do corners as if it werent there at all... perfect balance. i once drove through rush hour traffic in paris with it, keeping up with the flow and changing lanes like a bandit. best towing trailer i ever had. i have had seven travel trailers from 13' to 35'.

i think you would be fine with the 190d. when beginning to tow i would watch the temperature carefully and also watch the brakes and clutch. just be judicious in your uses and you should be fine.

i did have to rebuild the tranny in the saab after towing for a couple years in it. i think it was the bearing on the main gear shaft. i bet the benz tranny is tougher than the saab, though.

i towed that trailer over the smoky mountains with the saab. it was fine.
and i got about 17mpg towing at 70 mph.

and i dont know what the manual says on towing capacity but i wouldnt be surprised if it is 1500 # like it is on a 240d (i think).

good luck

tom w

satyr · #3 06-20-2006, 01:26 PM

Thanks Tom!

With the benefit of getting better mileage, plus the "cool" factor related to the thought of using the 190d to go "camping" I'm really interested in it. With the expense of fuel increasing, and the costs of hotels going up I'm not surprised to see more little campers around here.

When I saw the travel trailer on the back of an older Jetta- I really got to thinking. I wonder if it's possible to rent a small railer to see how she would do with a little trailer back there?

300SDog · #4 06-20-2006, 05:50 PM

Yeah, Tom's specs at about 1/2 - 3/4 ton are in perfect keeping with DOT recommendations that peg trailer weight at/near (or hopefully less than) 1/2 or 3/4 the gross vehicle weight. Since the car weighs about 3,000 lbs then trailer rated at 1500 lb. is no prob at all.

Its actually more a question of ballancing weight than matching engine power for whatever you tow. And steep downhill runs is where trailer rigs go wild and crash with weight of the trailer pushing the vehicle into orbit. Thats one reason that truckers take each downhill in the same gear they use to climb the hill, or even drop into the next lower gear if its a severe downhill slope.

So if you find yourself dropping into 3rd to climb a hill in the mountains, you'd be wise NOT to shift into 4th when you go over the top. Otherwise, with the trailer pushing the car in 4th on downhill run you could bloody well end up at speeds upwards of 90mph and/or scorching the brakes.

satyr · #5 06-20-2006, 06:06 PM

Good info- thanks! We'd probably just run around here in the midwest- but ya never know!

Hey- does anyone know where to find a tow-hitch for this car? I tried draw-tite but the email bounced back. Suggestions?

jaoneill · #6 06-20-2006, 06:24 PM

I installed a hitch on my 190D a few months ago; can't remember where I puchased it (on-line). Installation sheet shows it as a "DA'LAN" but fine print at the bottom of the page indicates that it was manufactured by Curt Manufacturing, Inc. (see ad at bottom of thread). I felt that I paid too much ($200 +/-) but it fit and installed easily. Car handles 1200 lb (trailer + load) as if it weren't there.

Best of luck,
Jim

thorsen · #7 06-20-2006, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satyr

Good info- thanks! We'd probably just run around here in the midwest- but ya never know!

Hey- does anyone know where to find a tow-hitch for this car? I tried draw-tite but the email bounced back. Suggestions?

I have a better ID - I'll trade you my 300SD with tow hitch already installed and take the little 190 off your hands. No need to worry about the hitch OR towing capacity.

satyr · #8 06-21-2006, 12:41 AM

While I'm sure I'd like a 300sd- we love the 190! Thanks anyway!

So where'd you get your tow hitch? -J

t walgamuth · #9 06-21-2006, 05:59 AM

200 is not bad for one that is designed for your car.

the ones that are best spread the load around. attach at the bumper mounting point and go forward and attach near the rear end too.

tom w

jaoneill · #10 06-21-2006, 09:01 AM

$200 is not too terrible but I also bought one (class 2, hidden receiver style) for my brides new LaSabre for $125; twice the hitch, 3x the iron, 60% of the $.

Jim

t walgamuth · #11 06-21-2006, 07:26 PM

ahhhh yes. a lot of things are cheaper for a buick.

tom w

thorsen · #12 06-21-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satyr

While I'm sure I'd like a 300sd- we love the 190! Thanks anyway!

So where'd you get your tow hitch? -J

Can't help you with that - it came with the car.

pawoSD · #13 06-21-2006, 09:56 PM

I paid $125+ shipping for my DaLan on ebay, total was $152 with shipping, and it came with a nice 2" ball too, and cables and light box converter (separate brake/signals to single for a trailer) pretty cool. I've been enjoying it with my bike carrier, waaay better than a strap on one. I need to try actually towing something though, maybe my girlfriend's dad's popup trailer sometime soon.

Here's mine on my beastly 300SD

Targa-NF · #14 06-22-2006, 09:56 AM

How much can my 82 300SD handle. I have wanted to put on a hitch for
some time now. Thanks. Jay

pawoSD · #15 06-22-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targa-NF

How much can my 82 300SD handle. I have wanted to put on a hitch for
some time now. Thanks. Jay

I'd say what the hitch is rated for, on these cars its about 200-250lbs tongue weight (on the hitch itself) and 2000lbs trailer towing weight. Quite a bit. Even a heavy popup trailer only puts about 170lbs on the hitch and about 1700lbs towing weight.