Fitting a towbar to my 66 plate GLe

[EmilysDad]

'If there is a need'? Depends whether you like towing with a car that adapts it's stability control systems when it knows you are towing, for one thing. I do, so I am happy to ensure that the right harness etc is used on my car.

I've managed quite well without for many many towing miles. Just use the biggest tow vehicle you can

 

[harrycatcat]

I can't speak for anyone else but I only need a towbar and electrics for a small 6'x5' trailer to take stuff to the tip about 2 mile away and it rarely goes over 25mph.

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[John Laidlaw]

I can't speak for anyone else but I only need a towbar and electrics for a small 6'x5' trailer to take stuff to the tip about 2 mile away and it rarely goes over 25mph.

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Derbyshire towbars it is then....job jobbed and a good deal

 

[harrycatcat]

Derbyshire towbars it is then....job jobbed and a good deal

Correct, going to take it once Ive recovered from this lurgy coughing and sneezing.

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[ajlsl600]

'If there is a need'? Depends whether you like towing with a car that adapts it's stability control systems when it knows you are towing, for one thing. I do, so I am happy to ensure that the right harness etc is used on my car.

no worries ,i have no issues with a correct harness either, i have an issue being forced to have such a thing "coded" to my car ,with,i presume the additional expense. i WOULD expect the car to recognize the harness ect and act accordingly, not put me back in the customer service queue .again when /if i make my next purchase i will either, ensure the car comes with bar or is a car that does not require the coding!!! as before everyone to their own. my own is the avoidance of becoming a permanent consumer by force.

 

[davemercedes]

Unfortunately whatever we buy is as good as the latest technical spec and every manufacturer quotes a caveat about changing/developing product standards. I worked with a Korean car importer a few years ago. They would only supply a tow bar when the VIN was quoted and checked then normally they would only supply it with a wiring harness adaptation kit. They did this because experience had shown that people ignored the requirement to simultaneously change the harness - and when it went wrong the customer was often left to shell out £1,000 for a burnt-out engine management card!

 

[harrycatcat]

Not had the towbar fitted yet but I have washed it after 33 days ownership.
Will sort the tow bar once I fully get rid of this chest/lurgy .

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[harrycatcat]

Not had the towbar fitted yet but I have washed it after 33 days ownership.
Will sort the tow bar once I fully get rid of this chest/lurgy .

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Meant to say I took it through the car wash after pressure from the oh because I got it muddy.

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[sonic]

prefer retractable but having a lump of iron hanging out the back is not a bad idea i had that on one car some yrs ago in kenya, at a traffic go slow i had a pick up sail onto my car rear .at fair speed, when i gt out expecting the worst, i found my own rear undamaged and his front end with no rad left as the bar had punched thru it ,got back in drove away.quite chuffed.

I had exactly the same driving a Renault 16 with decent rear bumpers in about 1978.

 

[ajlsl600]

I had exactly the same driving a Renault 16 with decent rear bumpers in about 1978.

some prxxk will prob develop some "active" tow bar that senses lack of deceleration in oncoming vehicle and retracts the damn tow bar itself , then cost you £200 to get it reset.......hope benz not looking here..

 

[harrycatcat]

I have decided to leave the detachable tow ball on as I have had a few scratches and dings on the rear bumper without it on so hopefully this will limit the damage.

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[Doriobias]

Mine is a factory fitted tow bar. That can be retrofitted at considerable cost as an aftermarket item.

OP which GLE do you have? SUV or Coupe? The Coupe has less tow bar options.

This list may be helpful:
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/...es-gle-tow-bars/mercedes-gle-suv-towbars.html

You'll need to have the electronics coded to the car so ensure any fitter can do that. Depending what driving aids you have will determine what the coding will enable/disable. Do you have airmatic?

What are you wanting to tow? If a caravan, check if your caravan has 13pin electrics in which case you'll need the correct wiring for the stability control, fridge and onboard battery charging that not all wiring kits cater for. Also if you have an AlKo hitch you will need the correct 'long' neck for the tow ball if a flange type.

This is mine:

Its often worth finding a car with a factory fitted tow bar these days rather than aftermarket fitting given the complexity of electronic systems these days.

@keefysher Where is your button located?
Looking at that youtube video, his button is located where my automatic boot button is located.

I have a retractable towbar from Mercedes ready to fit, and I just bought a button from them to fit it (cost of £28) but cannot find a button blank for it to fit to.

 

[ajlsl600]

Mine is a GLE "sport"

I was asked if I wanted a retractable one or fixed, I asked for a quote for fixed, one firm wanted £557 and the other £265.

I just want to tow a trailer so basic electrics.

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did this on my ml w166 paid 160 for bar cant remember how much for"proper" electrics but its on here somewhere and was NOT expensive but took some research to find .. under tow bars ? have not been to benz ref coding still on finding away to avoid that!! at the moment my existing trailer does not trigger the rear parking sensors, but expect van would..

 

[EmilysDad]

@keefysher Where is your button located?
Looking at that youtube video, his button is located where my automatic boot button is located.

I have a retractable towbar from Mercedes ready to fit, and I just bought a button from them to fit it (cost of £28) but cannot find a button blank for it to fit to.

The button to 'deploy' a Merc's factory towbar is on the nearside of lower edge of the tail gate ie opposite side to the button you press to auto close the tailgate.

 

[ajlsl600]

www.rameder.eu/towbars/electrical-sets/?cnid=a3f20813535afb4a1d996e5f5ee12d89&actcontrol=alist

i used this lot for wiring kit and bar came from umbra rimorchi all in my view great prices and no issues with fitting

just checked my bar gone up to 200 !! was 166

 

[keefysher]

The button to 'deploy' a Merc's factory towbar is on the nearside of lower edge of the tail gate ie opposite side to the button you press to auto close the tailgate.

@keefysher Where is your button located?
Looking at that youtube video, his button is located where my automatic boot button is located.

I have a retractable towbar from Mercedes ready to fit, and I just bought a button from them to fit it (cost of £28) but cannot find a button blank for it to fit to.

I have 2 buttons. 1 as my learned friend EmilysDad explained is on the tailgate. The other is in the drivers door below the tailgate button. HTH

 

[ajlsl600]

you should placard that button as viagra !!! seems to do the same thing.

 

[Doriobias]

I have 2 buttons. 1 as my learned friend EmilysDad explained is on the tailgate. The other is in the drivers door below the tailgate button. HTH

Any chance of a pic? Was yours retrofitted or factory?

 

[keefysher]

Factory fitted. I'll get pics on the morrow as its dark outside now

 

[Doriobias]

Factory fitted. I'll get pics on the morrow as its dark outside now

That would be brilliant. Thanks!