| Author | Message | ||
| Adam Goldman '86 TR (Icnsltmfg)
Member Username: Icnsltmfg Post Number: 560 Registered: 8-2001 |
Thanks Guy's. I have only till June on the ML Lease, so it may get replaced, but did want to do some trailering in May which is a busy month in the North East at the track. John, thanks for the insight into your trailering. I will give it a seconf thought, but have seen a few people tow with an ML, and you are one. | ||
| John Ashburne (Jashburne)
New member Username: Jashburne Post Number: 23 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jon said "The other thing to consider is the wear on your MB. First off it's got way too short a wheel base to tow with. Your trailer will be swaying all over the place, especially a closed trailer which at a minimum is going to be 20 feet. Unless you find an aftermarket transmission cooler (or OEM if one is made) you will cook the transmission or at a minimum wear it out faster. I know MB says 5000 pounds in their spec sheet but I honestly don't think they expect anyone to tow with one and if so only very infrequently. " Actually, I've towed a 20' box trailer with my ML430 for the past 2 years, and a ML320 for 2 years before that. All up weight probably about 4,700 lbs. Using a load balancing hitch, the rig tows extremely well and is very stable. The short wheelbase actually improves the manueverability, particularly when backing up. MB says that no additional transmission cooler is needed and I never had a problem with either car, even on several 600 mile tows to Mosport and VIR from CT. The V8 in the ML430 is able to maintain highway speeds of 70-75 mph even on all but the steepest highway grades. Can't comment on the hill at Watkins Glen, though! Also, fuel mileage naturally suffers, dropping to about 10 mpg. I think, however, that keeping the total load under 5,000 lbs. with a TR is going to be impossible unless one goes with an open, aluminum trailer. And, naturally, since it costs more to weigh less, the aluminum trailers cost more than the steel ones. John Ashburne | ||
| Ed Christophersen (Dr_c)
New member Username: Dr_c Post Number: 26 Registered: 12-2002 |
Good that CountachXX mentioned the electric brakes. You need to have brakes that stop the trailer BEFORE they stop the truck, and that can be applied independent of the truck brakes. If you ever start to fishtail, you'll wish that you had a bigger towing vehicle and independent brakes on the trailer. Further, make sure that you have circuit breaker on the brake circuit that automatically resets itself. Otherwise, you have to stop the towing vehicle in order to reset the brakes so that you can stop the towing vehicle. Towing properly, when you are hauling pretty expensive stuff (show horses or cars, doesn't matter), you need to be properly equipped. We also found that having a good tow shop is important. We have our truck and trailer checked out thoroughly once a year. With the proper equipment, you should be able to tow all day. We've towed for 15 hours in a day, up and down mountains in Colorado, and in the Kansas wind (which can really be something -- great place, this time of the year, to fly a kite), without any problems. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2198 Registered: 2-2001 |
You need to get a Manly truck like my 4700 International Harvester with 250hp & 800ft/# torque  I do 70 mph all day long carrying a 35' trailer with 2 cars uphill with the AC on. Course you have to be very manly for this truck LOL | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 450 Registered: 3-2001 |
I think Jon hit it on the nose. I'm in agreement with all his points. It's also the type of tranny that is in the truck (AND FOR THE RECORD....A ML/CAYANNE/LEXUS/BMW IS NOT A SUV/TRUCK...just my pet peeve, thanks for letting me vent). I've gone through 2 trannys in my 93 1500 series suburban, and that's with a tranny cooler. Too many miles going 70 mph in D gear. Just my jaded opinion. | ||
| billy bob (Fatbillybob)
Junior Member Username: Fatbillybob Post Number: 241 Registered: 8-2002 |
You can trailer with a ML. I watched it done with P-bug and an open trailer. You can buy aluminium open trailers too for lighter weight. You need to match the total tow cap of the ML to the trailer and then the trailer tongue weight to the cap of the ML. If you are hi on the traielr tongue weight you can use a weight distribution hitch to compensate. You should alwasy have sway control on the WD hitch and use a brake controler (with manual control) which means electric brakes on the trailer. NO surge brakes. This way if you start a sway and the sway control does not do enough you can use the traler brakes wo/ truck brakes via brake controler activation. I also don't buy the issue of tralering out of gear and in neutral. If the car is strpped right it should not put any undue stress on the gearbox. Heck mechanics use a breaker bar and teh cars in 5th gear all the time to push them around shops so as not to push on the sheetmetal. There is no differnece there except it is alot stafer to tow in gear. Straps are 10,000lbs which to DOT is a 3000 break strenth. There is very little margin left in a 5-10g crash. Threfore the car in gear and e-brake on are about the only extra margins of safety you have. also towing means driving 55mph mostly. But I agree with other posters I tow with a 8.1L suburban. Overkill is better. | ||
| Ed Christophersen (Dr_c)
New member Username: Dr_c Post Number: 25 Registered: 12-2002 |
Adam: We've towed a horse trailer through a lot of the states. Most of the horse people know that you have to have a towing vehicle with a long wheelbase, preferably a factory towing package (which includes a heavy duty radiator, cooling for the transmission, a heavy duty suspension, a healthy engine and a very good, anti-sway hitch. We know several people who have killed their horses after saving by towing with a less than adequate vehicle. Our anti-sway hitch along was over $600. Don't skimp when you tow. It's simply not worth it. We already have a featherweight trailer, and usually tow only one horse. I had one time when our car & trailer started swaying badly -- I'll never do it again. Almost lost both the car and the trailer. We've never tried to tow with a car again. just my $.04 (the voice of experience!) | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 551 Registered: 8-2001 |
Adam, Even with a Featherlite Aluminum closed trailer I think it would be impossible to keep it under 5000 pounds. I think a TR weighs closer to 3350 than 3200. Open might be the only way to go but even there you might be close. I know one FCA member who pulls his Challenge car on a BMW X5 with an open trailer and I think Paul P. also trailers his Challenge car on an open trailer with a Cherokee. Might be best to ask him. The other thing to consider is the wear on your MB. First off it's got way too short a wheel base to tow with. Your trailer will be swaying all over the place, especially a closed trailer which at a minimum is going to be 20 feet. Unless you find an aftermarket transmission cooler (or OEM if one is made) you will cook the transmission or at a minimum wear it out faster. I know MB says 5000 pounds in their spec sheet but I honestly don't think they expect anyone to tow with one and if so only very infrequently. I am sure you plan to tow to Watkins Glen and I can tell you that the left hand turn at the first light in the town of Watkins Glen that leads up that monster 1 mile hill will likely stall your MB. For about a year and half I used a 97 Silverado (no cab/short bed) with a base V8 engine (around 270 hp and 320 lb/trq)pulling a 23 foot trailer and we stalled the thing going up that hill. We had to turn around and go a different way. We eventually put a transmission cooler in but the tranny was getting beat to hell and back. I know it's a great inconvience to buy a vehicle just to tow with especially if you only two a couple of times per year. I think you can get away with an open trailer but a closed trailer isn't an option in my opinion with a MB SUV. When I decided to buy my own tow vehicle I was concerned with only one thing, power and handling. I got a 8 liter engine with 340 hp and nearly 500 lb/trq, a tow package, and the longest cab, bed, and wheelbase. Skimped on everything no power anything, cloth seats, basically a stripper model. I purchased the largest and heaviest weight trailer hitch that you can get short of putting in a fifth wheel. The trailer hardly sways at all even when those 18 wheel rigs zoom by at 85 mph. First time we made a left and went up that hill I cruised to the top at 70 mph and the engine wasn't even breathing hard. Talk to any folks who trailer on a regular basis and most will tell you that it's best to have more power and handling than you need. I have seen too many people try and trailer with the minimum allowable (vehicle weight, trailer hitch, etc.) and they end up in trouble. I am not saying you need to go out and spend 50K on a tow vehcile you use a few times a year, but don't skimp on the important areas. You can buy used tow vehicles very cheap or see if anyone in your area rents them out. I wouldn't wear out the MB towing a TR. Just my 2 cents worth. Regards, Jon P. Kofod 1995 F355 Challenge #23 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab/Long bed with Duratech 8100 engine | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 625 Registered: 8-2001 |
Adam: Have you lightened the TR? If so, then how? The stated weight is more like 3800 lbs. A steel trailer, with the TR, will probably go over the 5,000 lb limit. If not, then it WILL be close. I find the load limits on cars are overly optimistic. An aluminum trailer will weigh much less. | ||
| Adam Goldman '86 TR (Icnsltmfg)
Member Username: Icnsltmfg Post Number: 558 Registered: 8-2001 |
I would like to purchase a trailer for the TR just for going back and forth to the track. I would be pulling it with my MB ML430 with a 5,000lb limit. Is my only option an open aluminum trailer? The TR weighs in at 3,200lbs or so. Is there a closed trailer that would work? If so what are the least expensive trailers around? |