Hitch? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jfikentscher · #1 08-26-2003, 12:43 PM

I want to trailer a Hobie Cat 16 with my 1987 300D. Is there a bolt on hitch available for this car?

Thanks,

Joe

Scott98 · #2 08-26-2003, 01:44 PM

Look in the yellow pages under "Trailer Hitches." There should be several makers of hitches for your car. Just call around and ask. I found several different ones for my 123 car. They ran around $100 for that car. Good Luck.

Scott

diesel don · #3 08-26-2003, 01:57 PM

I've fabricated two different ones because I didn't want to pay the big bucks ($362 for TD) I didn't know about the $100 variety.

So I just have an 'adjusted' bumper hitch

Don

Antony · #4 08-26-2003, 03:09 PM

For what it's worth: My '72 came with a factor hitch and wiring harness. You may want to try the dealer.

Peter Guenther · #5 08-26-2003, 03:57 PM

I read in a Mercedes Bulletin, that they does not approove trailer hitches. This is especially true of diesels, it has to do with the shielding under the car that reduces noise, and also restricts some air flow. There are some hitches ot there, just remeber the warning. Having said that, I have seen some MB cars in Europe towing trailers and things, maybe they remove the shields.

Scott98 · #6 08-26-2003, 04:36 PM

There was a thread at some time about towing with a diesel. From what I remember, it was discouraged but someone did post a lengthy description on how to modify your car if you want to tow something. I think one of the things included putting larger transmission cooling lines on the car. You might try a search and see what you come up with.

Scott

jfikentscher · #7 08-26-2003, 05:28 PM

I'm only looking to tow a max of about 600 pounds with gear and the Hobie Cat. There shouldn't be too much of an air circulation problem. I'm going to look on the Reese Hitches web site and will update this post again later today or tomorrow. Thanks for your responses so far.

Joe

adamb · #8 08-26-2003, 08:34 PM

I bought a universal hitch from WalMart and added two bars of angle-iron behind the bumper and two flat metal bars underneath attaching the hitch and bumper to the spare tire well. I guess I lost some of the shock absorbancy of the bumper, but oh well. Also, it looks really good, stock even, as the vast majority of the reinforcement is well hidden.
I towed 2,700 pounds over 800 miles from NC to MS and it did great - hardly any rise in temps (max was 90c) with speeds at 70MPH on a 6x10 utility trailer. I also added a small tranny cooler and have not noticed anything abnormal with the extra strain on the original tranny with 180k on my 1985 300D-T.
Have fun, it'll work out fine for you with only towing a Hobbie Cat.
Adam Bush

Wes Bender · #9 08-26-2003, 08:49 PM

Joe:

Your Hobie Cat 16 and trailer won't strain your diesel, although you'll know it's back there...

I have an after-market hitch on one of my 300Ds. It bolts to the bumper and to the spare tire well. I wouldn't try towing much over 1500 lbs, mainly because of the hitch mounting. As far as the engine/transmission, I don't think it's a problem.

my $.02,

Wes

jfikentscher · #10 08-27-2003, 09:14 AM

Looked on the Reese and Draw Tite web pages and they don't even list Mercedes as an option. I found one on the internet for $298 but I think thats alot for what I want (2500 lbs max).

Joe

kerry · #11 08-27-2003, 09:53 AM

I took a hitch off a 123 300d at the pick and pull. It was universal hitch simply bolted to the bottom of the bumper. It looked like it had seen quite a bit of use and I could not detect any damage to the bumper. For a trailer as light as yours, I'd give a hitch like that a try.
I spent the summer camping in France. Everyone pulls trailers with their Mercedes over there, including fairly large caravans. If you do an 'all country' Mercedes hitch search on Ebay, you'll find a hitch designed for your car much cheaper in Germany or the UK.

The Warden · #12 08-27-2003, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott98
There was a thread at some time about towing with a diesel. From what I remember, it was discouraged

Towing was discouraged in that thread 'cause the originator was talking about hauling a 30' Airstream

I'm not sure I'd even want to do that with a 1/2 ton truck...

I think the car'll handle the Hobie just fine.

Rick Miley · #13 08-27-2003, 11:21 AM

http://www.hitchweb.com shows a receiver for $306, which is probably similar to what you already found. A simple bumper mount hitch won't work in this case, because the car is a W124 which has plastic bumper covers. Something more elaborate (and expensive) that mounts up under the body is required here.