I do have some experience with welding, but I wouldn't feel comfortable making a hitch without help or at least a second set of eyes. I'd rather buy it made already and use a welder for exhaust and body work.

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Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

JC Whitney no longer lists 'Mercedes' in their search choices for hitches and doesn't list Curt or Dalan in their hitch mfgs. I found the Dalan hitch for the TD at Etrailer.com (257214) but it's $294. Anyone know of a better price anywhere else?

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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

I wound up installing my spare sedan bumper on my '84 Euro TD. When I removed the Euro bumper & hitch, I discovered four additional, foot-long, reinforcing brackets (Two per side) extending inside the bumper-shock holes and spare-tire/washer-bottle wells to reinforce the hitch mounting. After removing these hitch reinforcements, I had to fabricate a pair of plates with two studs each, to attach the US bumper shocks, similar to some of the Curt hitch mounting hardware described previously.

For anyone planning on installing a Curt-style hitch on a W123 300TD, the carpeted section of cargo-floor next to the washer/storage bin can be unscrewed and swung up out of the way. The panel stays attached to the carpet at the forward end of the cargo floor. This makes it much easier to reach the bumper cavity and install the bumper studs for the hitch (Or in my case - for the US bumper) compared with having to grope around through the washer bottle well.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

This hitch has been on my 84 300d turbo for a few months now I haul 1/2 yard top soil many times with no problem also a small tractor. The trailer is 5.5' x 8'
Search:Trailer hitch for the old girl" for a set of pictures.
If the rear of your car is the same as a 300D I can give you the material list to take to a custom hitch shop if you don't have a welder. There is no contact with the bumper.

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1984 300SD turbo 126
"My true love"

God made me an atheist and who am I to question His wisdom

heres the thread...

A sedan is different from a wagon- the spare tire well on a wagon is off to the left side, on edge.

the fuel tank is under the car, so this particular design wont work on a wagon.

with the PDF and the measurements I have, I am sure someone could copy the curt hitch, but it is not terribly over-priced thru JCW. most other retailers sell the same hitch for $250-$370, though!!

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

I definitely need to get myself a hitch. I was thinking 2" initially but the 1.25" would probably be more than adequate. Thanks for the heads-up when it comes to installation. Might have to have a vocab lesson for one of the kids when they need to help with some of those pesky bolts. I've seen the Curt and Da'Lan on different sites for significantly more money. These prices are much better and they appear to be the same hitch.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Curt and da'lan are now the same company. I learned this last fall when I got my hitch. it was the proper curt box, but had a da'lan hitch of a different application in it.

after a few phone calls to JCW , and curt, I learned that they are the same. Curt co was even willing to allow me to will call the hitch- it is only a 2 hour drive for me- but then decided to ship it overnite instead.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

i just got a hitch for my 87td from car parts.com for $165 free shipping and it arrived in 2 days,believe it or not, i know it does not fit the earlier wagons but you should check there if they have one for you ,might save a few bucks. Most other places wanted $220+ for one for the 87! Don

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Red Green "This is only temporary,Unless it works!"

97 E300D 157000 miles
87 300TD ?141k? miles

The last W123 hitch I had was holding the bumper on. I had hoped the Curt was a better/sturdier fitment but, everything I read required mods to it or the exhaust.

Unfortunately, none of the US aftermarket hitches are as integrated a design as my Euro hitch, though the Curt comes closest.
Mercedes probably didn't offer a factory hitch here because of the US-mandated 5 mph bumper.
If I ever have to tow, I would reinstall my Euro bumper & hitch. It needs no exhaust or body modifications, though I might attempt to reinforce the Euro bumper a bit, and space it a little further from the body, for a bit of added crunch-protection.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Not sure why people are having trouble with the exhaust. As far as I know, my exhaust is OE and there is enough clearance. Perhaps there is variance in OE exhaust systems. I think the Curt hitch is conceptualized well but the execution of the part sizes is inadequate. Mine came with a 'drop up' receiver so the ball ends up at bumper height.
If your holes are centered so you don't need to cut the flat stock, it should take about 2 hours to install, I think.

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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