Any ML owners pulling trailers?

[alcarey]

My son is considering an 07 ML320 CDI. He wants to be able to pull a boat trailer with a combined weight of around 5000 lbs.

Have any of the members had experience hauling trailers with their ML SUVs?

alcarey
Columbus, IN

98 E300 Turbodiesel
07 E320 Bluetec

[Walrath]

ML-320.
Yes, we have towed many times, mostly with lighter than 5,000 pounds but several times right around 5,000 pounds. It has towed with no problem although I would prefer an 8 cylinder engine to tow at that weight.

Interestingly, our vehicle is rated in the US at 5,000 pounds towing capacity but in Germany the same configured vehicle is rated at 7,500 pounds capacity. I don't recall the towing specs for the CDI diesels though.

Jim W.

[Don350SDL]

German trailers are lighter for the same weight. :rolleyes:

In all seriousness: The CDI will have more than enough torque to pull a trailer, more torque than the V-8 in fact. You'd be quite pleased with it.

As in all things, definitely give one a test drive - but when you feel the acceleration of the CDI, you'll but it.

Don

[wwhopper]

The 6 cyl will do it, but not with much gusto.

So it would probably be best to go with the 8 if you are hauling alot.

if you are only hauling on an occassion, and not doing much up and down mountains, you can go with the 6.

Of course the CDI is a pretty gutsy engine, and since I have not driven one in an ML, you would have to really sit down and talk to the folks at the dealership to see if it is the answer to your needs.

I have pulled fully loaded horse trailers with a 6 cyl (not an M-B - but a Jeep) and it does take the wind out of the sails, especially going up hills.

Keep us posted on your findings.

[howvood]

Here are a couple of shots of our ML's with trailers

[hmaustin]

I have a few month old 2007 ML320CDI with 5000 miles that has pulled several trailers without any problems except a decline in fuel economy. With nearly 400 ft-lbs of torque and a 7 speed automatic, it is incredible. I have had 3500+ lb trailers in the mountains of Western North Carolina (4000+ feet of elevation) and passed breathless high powered BMWs going uphill. It would be nice to have oil and transmission fluid temperatures but the water temp has never budged while towing.

[cmitch]

I have an ML430 that I use to tow an equipment trailer. I also picked up 3000lbs. of soil last week on a flat bed trailer and I couldn't even tell it was back there! If it were my Dodge Ram pulling it, it would have been swaying all the way! I can't speak for the unibody '06's and '07's though.

[gregorybrogers]

I have a 99 ML 320 with 285k miles on her and have pull a tandem axel trailer with my 95 E300 loaded on it with no problem from Baltimore Maryland to Harrisburge Pa. about 100 miles mostly on slight up hill grades

[theonlybiker11]

I just installed a class 2 hitch on my 81 300D. I'll only be pulling a small MC trailer. single rail or a 4X8 foot flat bed with one or two bikes on it. total 1100LBS. I'm sure it'll do well. 178,000 miles.
I'm not so sure about ML320's doing that though. Personally, I wouldn't, but to each their own.

[Grey Ghost]

ML-320.
Yes, we have towed many times, mostly with lighter than 5,000 pounds but several times right around 5,000 pounds. It has towed with no problem although I would prefer an 8 cylinder engine to tow at that weightMy boat and trailer weigh that much and I have conducted research on this topic in which I've found that towing experts consider it unsafe to tow right at a vehicle's rated limit. The jugular safety issue is not torque, acceleration or grade-climbing ability, it's the behavior of the vehicle and trailer in a panic stop or sudden change in direction at highway speeds. All the research I've done suggests that your son should buy a heavier vehicle with a longer wheelbase, rated to tow 7,500#, especially if he plans to tow frequently with his family in the truck with him.

p.s. for God's sake ensure the boat trailer has its own electric brakes (which function properly, not compromised by water)