New tow beast time

[Wind Chime]

Or screw it - and just get this rig ....

http://youtu.be/32kK7lQZSks

[dlandersson]

I prefered the one being pulled out - with the staff on board.

Or screw it - and just get this rig ....

http://youtu.be/32kK7lQZSks

[dlandersson]

Liked my old tow beast quite a bit - a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Problem was, it was starting to develop (a Jeep problem) serious rust issues at 233,000 miles. Shame too, because everything worked fine.

New (to me) tow beast (2007 GL450) has a 7,500 lbs. tow capacity and three rows of seats.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... tic-page-6

Time to shop for a new tow beast.

I'm thinking of a family car/tow vehicle.
Any suggestions.

On the list

Chevy Suburban/Tahoe
Ford Expedition
Toyota Sequoia

Must be 4WD.

[K9Kampers]

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... tic-page-6

Lows: Brake feels like stepping on a rotten peach...

[dlandersson]

Brakes? We don' need no stinkin' brakes man...

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... tic-page-6

Lows: Brake feels like stepping on a rotten peach...

[Russ]

Liked my old tow beast quite a bit - a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Problem was, it was starting to develop (a Jeep problem) serious rust issues at 233,000 miles. Shame too, because everything worked fine.

New (to me) tow beast (2007 GL450) has a 7,500 lbs. tow capacity and three rows of seats.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... tic-page-6

Nice. Looks like a great all around beast.

[dlandersson]

Like many of us, it's not just a tow beast (although it does tow nicely). Kids and friends really like the 3 rows of full size seats.

In inclement weather (water and snow) it handles very well. In off-road mode, it actually raises up a few inches (rear, then front).

Some of the higher tech things take some getting used to/figuring out.

Liked my old tow beast quite a bit - a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Problem was, it was starting to develop (a Jeep problem) serious rust issues at 233,000 miles. Shame too, because everything worked fine.

New (to me) tow beast (2007 GL450) has a 7,500 lbs. tow capacity and three rows of seats.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... tic-page-6

Nice. Looks like a great all around beast.

[Russ]

Like many of us, it's not just a tow beast (although it does tow nicely). Kids and friends really like the 3 rows of full size seats.

In inclement weather (water and snow) it handles very well. In off-road mode, it actually raises up a few inches (rear, then front).

Some of the higher tech things take some getting used to/figuring out.

Yup, that's my thought. I have my old '98 Dodge truck for towing, but I don't drive it.
99% of the time you are schlepping the kids around or dealing with snow, so this makes a lot of sense. Why not have a comfortable beast.

Actually, I towed our boat up to the lake with our Highlander instead of the truck. We drive this car 99.5% of the time and it was nice to tow the boat in a car that is comfy.

--Russ

[C Buchs]

We needed a new family car three years ago and I knew that I was going to by an (just bought it in May). So I started looking for something that got good fuel economy and could tow at least 5000 lbs. I wound up with a 2006 ML500. It has a 300+ hp V8 and if we're careful we can get just over 19 MPG. Not bad for a $22k vehicle. If you are considering buying one of these, be careful about the front differential. When they go out you can't rebuild them, you have to buy the whole unit. Something about a bearing that only Mercedes can get. Luckily for me we bought the extended warranty and it only cost me the deductible.

Jeff

[dlandersson]

I suspect it was you and people like you that got me headed in this direction. The Benzes (and some others) also have a very nice "sway control" when towing. My extended (endurance) warranty forbids 3rd party moditifactions. Yours?

We needed a new family car three years ago and I knew that I was going to by an (just bought it in May). So I started looking for something that got good fuel economy and could tow at least 5000 lbs. I wound up with a 2006 ML500. It has a 300+ hp V8 and if we're careful we can get just over 19 MPG. Not bad for a $22k vehicle. If you are considering buying one of these, be careful about the front differential. When they go out you can't rebuild them, you have to buy the whole unit. Something about a bearing that only Mercedes can get. Luckily for me we bought the extended warranty and it only cost me the deductible.

Jeff

[C Buchs]

I'm sure there was something in the contact about modifications, but I never checked. The only thing I had to add was the tow package. I was thinking of going aftermarket when I bought it, but after looking closer I found the rating was lower and I couldn't get one that worked with the air suspension that mine has. The Benz hitch wasn't cheap ($750 mechanical I installed, $400 new computer for everything in the back, $150 programming at the dealer), but it is a really nice unit and it tows awesome, even with the short wheel base. My only complaint is that it automatically goes into tow mode when you hook up trailer lights. This is great for towing the boat and other big stuff, but it kills my fuel economy when I'm pulling my light utility trailer empty.

Jeff

[dlandersson]

Yeah, I looked and looked at aftermarket, but nearly all of them were rated for 3,500 lbs. I didn't like that, and the "3rd party" thingy in the extended warranty pretty much pushed me into into the OEM tow package. Cost was much the same.

I'm sure there was something in the contact about modifications, but I never checked. The only thing I had to add was the tow package. I was thinking of going aftermarket when I bought it, but after looking closer I found the rating was lower and I couldn't get one that worked with the air suspension that mine has. The Benz hitch wasn't cheap ($750 mechanical I installed, $400 new computer for everything in the back, $150 programming at the dealer), but it is a really nice unit and it tows awesome, even with the short wheel base. My only complaint is that it automatically goes into tow mode when you hook up trailer lights. This is great for towing the boat and other big stuff, but it kills my fuel economy when I'm pulling my light utility trailer empty.

Jeff

[Russ]

Yeah, I looked and looked at aftermarket, but nearly all of them were rated for 3,500 lbs. I didn't like that, and the "3rd party" thingy in the extended warranty pretty much pushed me into into the OEM tow package. Cost was much the same.

Toyota dealer wanted $850 for their hitch install on my Highlander.

Went to etrailer. $172 plus $25 wiring kit. Did it myself with a torque wrench. Super easy 4 bolts. Wiring was super easy snap in existing module. Forget the dealer prices.

[C Buchs]

Yeah, I looked and looked at aftermarket, but nearly all of them were rated for 3,500 lbs. I didn't like that, and the "3rd party" thingy in the extended warranty pretty much pushed me into into the OEM tow package. Cost was much the same.

Toyota dealer wanted $850 for their hitch install on my Highlander.

Went to etrailer. $172 plus $25 wiring kit. Did it myself with a torque wrench. Super easy 4 bolts. Wiring was super easy snap in existing module. Forget the dealer prices.

I've always installed my own hitches. I've had good luck with the Curt Manufacturing brand. For the Benz the aftermarket hitches all attach to the bottom of the stamped steel frame (right where my air tanks for the air suspension are). The Benz hitch replaces the rear bumper and has nice looking forged rods that go inside of the frame. It's easy to see why it has a higher rating. In this case, I got what I paid for.

Jeff

[dlandersson]

Quite a few 3rd party hitches top out at 3,500 lbs. for particular brands. So whatever one does, don't just assume a Class III hitch is what you want. There's a range for Class III hitches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXK9PtfU0vY

Yeah, I looked and looked at aftermarket, but nearly all of them were rated for 3,500 lbs. I didn't like that, and the "3rd party" thingy in the extended warranty pretty much pushed me into into the OEM tow package. Cost was much the same.

Toyota dealer wanted $850 for their hitch install on my Highlander.

Went to etrailer. $172 plus $25 wiring kit. Did it myself with a torque wrench. Super easy 4 bolts. Wiring was super easy snap in existing module. Forget the dealer prices.

I've always installed my own hitches. I've had good luck with the Curt Manufacturing brand. For the Benz the aftermarket hitches all attach to the bottom of the stamped steel frame (right where my air tanks for the air suspension are). The Benz hitch replaces the rear bumper and has nice looking forged rods that go inside of the frame. It's easy to see why it has a higher rating. In this case, I got what I paid for.

Jeff