I want to install a hitch to pull a trailer for hauling biodiesel and fire wood with my w123 wagon.

Here's the one I was thinking of buying:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000366854/mediaCode-ZX/appId-10614520/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:10000036685410614520

If there are any better options out there, let me know.

I think the 2,500 lb. limit would be fine. I also have a hitch mount bike rack that would work with the one I linked, although it has an adapter to use it with a 2" hitch too.

Is a 1-1/4" square hitch adequate, or would there be advantages to having a 2" square hitch? I had a 2" square hitch on my Explorer, but I only ever used it for the bike rack.

I know I'll need to add a brake light hookup for the trailer.

I'm also thinking that when I install the hitch, the holes that will be drilled in the frame will be exposed metal. I was thinking of coating them with POR-15 before I attach the hitch.

__________________
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

My dad's 4Runner has a 1-1/4" receiver, he pulls his boat fine, has one of those basket platform things that mounts to the receiver, puts a lawnmower and other stuff on there. The only difference between the two that he was looking at w250 lb tongue weight vs. 350 for the 2", and 2500 lbs towing vs. 3500 lbs for the 2". If those two meet your criteria, there shouldn't be any problems.

Have you looked at Cabellas? A friend just got one there for a volvo wagon for around 100 bucks.

__________________
1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

There is no frame on the 123 to which the hitch is bolted. I'm actually skeptical as to whether the advertised hitch will actually fit a wagon. It's hard to find hitches designed for it. Certainly, the one in the picture is not going to work. The hitches that work as far as I know are bolted both to the bumper and to the floor of the wagon. I'd want to see the precise installation instructions before purchasing. The smaller receiver should work fine.
I have a simple generic bumper hitch on my wagon and I've had no problems with it pulling lightweight trailers. I have seen a wagon with a bumper hitch and a cracked bumper, probably from too high a tongue weight.

__________________
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

There's no frame back there to attach that hitch to. You really want something that is specifically designed for the 123 wagon. They're out there - just kind of expensive since they are a low volume item.

__________________
1984 300TD

Here's one for a 1985 300TD:
300TD hitch

__________________
'79 300SD
'82 Chevy Chevette diesel

Nice price, have it here too, free shipping if you need other car parts too:
http://www.***********************/search/?Ntt=Valley+Hitch+V1158700&apwcid=A1154013966W44c8db0e4c70a&apwkwd=Valley+Hitch+V1158700&AID=10273828&PID=1869786&SID=-3e74a096-119d8e77833--354e

__________________
Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

I'd be skeptical about that too. They show the same hitch fitting 78-85 SD's. That covers both 116 and 126 models. I doubt the same model will fit both vehicles given the differences in bumpers.

__________________
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 installed the Curt hitch (#11805) on my wagon just last week. It attaches to the body between the bumper and the frame - they supply some heftier bolts to replace the ones that hold the bumper on.

It's a massive pain in the butt; the bolts are as bit bigger than the stock ones and you will probably have to dill the holes out a bit bigger (I did). This was compounded by the fact that the bolts (welded together in pairs to a steel plate) weren't exactly parallel; I had to hammer the plate a bit to straighten them out so they'd align properly with the holes.

Getting the new bolts in place on the passenger side is practically impossible - you have to reach through the rear windshield washer well and twist your fingers through a small hole under there to reach the holes the bolts go through. I barely managed it after 40 minutes of cursing . If you have kids or know anyone with smaller hands it might be a lot easier for them, though. On the driver's side (spare tire well), the steel plate the two bolts were welded to was too big to fit into the hole (there's a lip at the top) and I had to cut a few millimeters off the top.

There's also an additional bar on the right and left sides that attach the hitch to the underbody (you have to drill holes through the floor of the spare tire well on the driver's side and the rear windshield washer well on the other) but I don't plan on pulling anything heavy so I left those off.

All in all it seems pretty solid. I haven't used it yet but I don't envision any problems. Once you get past the painful installation process it looks pretty sweet.

__________________
'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

My '84 Euro 300TD came with a German trailer hitch. Ball, arm and cross bar is a one-piece welded unit, and it's attached at the holes where the US bumper shocks would go if the car had a US rear bumper, and bolted to the studs that would normally fasten the US bumper shocks. It looks like my Euro bumper is, in turn, bolted to the hitch. There are no other reinforcements. Dont know the weight rating but the hitch booklet (in German) is with the car's papers. I'll check later.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

Would you mind posting a pic? I'd like to see how it looks and where it attaches.

Thanks, I appreciate everyones advice.

__________________
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

The height on the insert hole on the Curt seems to be about 12" off the ground. I'd think you'd need about a 2" drop insert installed upside down to bring the ball height up to the level of the bumper. The center of the hitch ball should be in the exact center of the mounts to relieve any tendency to flex as Mark said. This is especially important since the hitch is mounted in sheet metal and slight flexing will eventually weaken it and cause it to crack.

Something like this:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000328517/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000328517/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000328517

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

I had some JBW plugs in mine, too. You prolly noticed that I reused the stock mbz turnout. all I had to buy was the muffler and 2x 3"x 2 1/2" reducers. i used my portable bandsaw to make a bunch of miter cuts to route the exhaust lower and out the side. lots of fit, weld, fit, cut, weld and such, but I did it all myself


Also- I did take a bunch of pics of the mounts w/ measurements if anyone feels ambitious enough to go the homemade route on a TD hitch....

for $185, delivered(twice) I could not have done it myself......

__________________
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 don't think I'm feeling ambitious enough to build the hitch from scratch ... although it would help justify a welder purchase.

__________________
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

OT- I see great deals on welders @ the local tool re-sellers/ pawn shops all the time... If I didnt have what I got now, I just passed on a hobart 140(110v, MIG) for under $250. beats the hell out of them chinese crap buzz box's @ HF, HD, etc.......

but the price of steel has to taken into account, and the liability of building your own... but I think that's the only way to get a 2" receiver tube.

also - FWIW- curt and da'lan are the same company, so if you see any other hitches elsewhere, they are the same. JCW is the best price I know of( by 50% off some others for the same thing), and free shipping, too.

__________________
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'm going to hope that your first welding experience isn't going to be making something like this....
Or that you take some classes and include this as a class project.

__________________
Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.