Tongue Weight on 300TD?

[Lambrettaman]

If/when I get my 300TD, it will spend part of its life towing a small motorscooter trailer. I'm wondering if anyone knows what the allowable tongue weight would be for a W123 300TD? We have a motorcycle carrier that we use on our behemoth (Suburban) that attaches to the hitch receiver and carries the 250lb weight of the scooters. Wondering if I can use this on a 300TD. I know it's somewhat dependent on the actual hitch, so I'm curious about the rear suspension's capabilities.

Thanks.

Mike
Tucson AZ

[vstech]

but I have heard and seen several that towed 2000 - 4000 Lb. boats... so that would equate to 200-400 Lb tounge weight. the hitch MUST be installed to handle the load, but I don't see any trouble towing a 250Lb motorcycle on a small utility trailer.
do a search with the words 123 and hitch on this forum and I bet you find plenty of info on it.
John

[kerry]

A few years ago I searched out the towing capacities of my 85 300TD because I bought a 2300lb sailboat. I can't remember exactly what they were except for the fact that my boat and trailer were within the towing limits, although MB said anything over 1500lbs needed brakes. So you should be well within the limits wth the right hitch.
By the way, I've never relished the idea of towing my sailboat behind the TD and have never done it. My trailer has no brakes and I don't have a hitch on the TD yet.

[riethoven]

Originally Posted by Lambrettaman

If/when I get my 300TD, it will spend part of its life towing a small motorscooter trailer. I'm wondering if anyone knows what the allowable tongue weight would be for a W123 300TD? We have a motorcycle carrier that we use on our behemoth (Suburban) that attaches to the hitch receiver and carries the 250lb weight of the scooters. Wondering if I can use this on a 300TD. I know it's somewhat dependent on the actual hitch, so I'm curious about the rear suspension's capabilities.

Thanks.

Mike
Tucson AZ

As far as I have been able to find out, there is only one true receiver type hitch and it is made by Da'Lan http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp?model=300TD&category=hitch&year=1985&make=Mercedes-Benz&t1=&h=e
There hole for the shank is 1 1/4" which is the smaller size that you see on US trailer hitches. They say the tongue weight is 200lbs. max. and towing capacity of 2,500 lbs. They are also expensive at around $350.00 plus freight.

Another option is the European style hitch. They were made for Mercedes by a few different vendors the most well known of whom is Oris. You can pick these up used on German eBay for as little as 20 or 30 Euros. Airfreight will probably be around $125.00. Keep in mind that the European system is different in that there is no reciever on the hitch. The ball is part of a casting that bolts to a horizontal bar that goes inside the bumper. The down side of these hitches is that they mount where the shock absorbers for the bumpers of the US models bolt into. Therefore, if you use one of the European hitches, you have to have a European bumper or you will have to fabricate brackets to hold the US bumper on and the bumper will no longer have the shock absorbers.

I elected to go with the Euro hitch because I also picked up Euro bumpers for my car. The tongue weight on the Euro hitch is 75Kg or 165 lbs, adn the towing weight is 1500Kg or 3300lbs. I was able to get a Bosal brand hitch which is still MB OEM brand new for 50 Euros plus freight including the electrical harness. I think I got lucky with this price for a new hitch.

[riethoven]

Whoops, I forgot to mention the name I have given to all full sized SUVs. I call them the "Grand Behemoth"

I love my 7 passenger TD. With the Thule box and the long bars I can carry 5 bikes, camping equipment, 5 passengers, and one 60 lb. dog. If I don't drive too fast I even get 25 to 27 MPG. I know I can't tow what the Suburban can, but it ain't getting 25+ MPG.

[blankenship]

for the 300td, an OEM 'euro hitch' was the Oris E115-4.
i've got one on my euro wagon.

there's a PDF showing the hitch and its mounting/install here.

Capacities (In English) :::

permissible total weight: 2,400 kilograms = 5,291pounds
permissible "supporter branch": 1,900 kilograms = 4,188 pounds
permissible trailer hitch tongue load: 75 kilogram = 165 pounds

note***this is NOT the same hitch that came on W123 sedans (which have a lower capacity cause they ain't got no badass SLS

hope this helps.

[vstech]

I'm sure in 2006 this info would have helped them...

[blankenship]

now c'mon vstech, use that little brain of yours—

the OP is not the only user on this site. there is a 'search' feature, so this info may help others for years to come.

i did not have this info in 2006, but wish i had.

in the future, this community might be better served if you think twice before posting...you know, take a moment and ask yourself "Is the comment I'm about to make both meanspirited and pointless?"

[vstech]

ok, I've officially taken the whipping... sorry.

[babymog]

In the future it might also help if you post which 300TD this hitch fits.

[swogee]

I know this thread is for a 123 series trailer hitch, but I am looking for a 124 series trailer hitch for a 1987 300TDT. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to get one or who the OEM manufacturer was?

[kerry]

Try a search a JC Whitney. That's where I got my 123 TD hitch.

[oldiesel]

Swogee
The hitch for your 87 td is a Curt #11806 i bought one a few months ago, you will find them listed for $200-250+shipping. If you spend some time searching with Google you can find much better prices, i was able to find one for $166 including shipping at some online autoparts, not ebay. Good luck! Don