Towing Twin Axle Caravan ML 250 or ML350

[Jane31]

Hi,

I’m looking to buy a new car/tow car as a daily car and a summer months tow car. My caravan is a twin axle weighing 1724kg with a full load.
Weight recommendations that the caravan weighs no more than 85% of the cars weight works for both the ML 250 and the ML 350. There’s hardly any difference in the weight of the two vehicles so (the 250 is an 80% match and the 350 a 79% match - lower figure is best!!)
From what a know (and this is my tec spec limit) it’s torque (accelerating pulling power that counts) and 80Lb per ft of torque is recommended for towing.
When calculating the weight of everything that the car will be pulling (car, loaded caravan, passengers and loaded boot) the figures I have are
250 will end up with 80 lb / ft of torque
350 will end up with 99 lb / ft of torque

The 350 can’t be beaten in terms of torque and weight ratios and brilliant reviews (but ...) with not a great deal of cash to spend and concerns about daily running costs I’m thinking will I get away with the ML 250???

Anyone who is towing a heavy twin axle van with either car (looking to buy a 2013 most likely) please can you let me know how you are getting on both in terms of daily driving and t holiday towing.

Many thanks

 

[keefysher]

Why are you only towing in the summer? Modern caravans are fit for all year use. Great to go away for Xmas in the 'van, try it.

A few of us tow on here with ML/GLE 350's, R, E Class estates. All diseasels, not petrols as that's what the diseasel is for, torques.

You are using a 2 and a bit tonne of brick cutting through the air, it won't be economical as a daily short journey vehicle. As our friends over the pond say, it's inches, cubic inches that count, so go big or go home.

I tow a heavier single axle with my GLE 350. The axles only come into play when reversing, locking wheels using a security device, using motor mover and pitching level.

The 85% is a guide for inexperienced tuggers.

Check your licence that you can drive the train mass (car + caravan) you are proposing.

 

[sonic]

I have a E350CDI fantastic engine but I don't tow, however I got 50 mpg over the last 12 months. Most of my driving is medium long distance, its a very economic when not driven hard.
The 250 will slightly better on fuel but for an extra 19 ft/lbs of torque, I would go for the 350.

 

[EmilysDad]

I have a ML350 and tow a similarly heavy twin axle caravan and it tows like a dream. I wouldn't think there's much difference in running costs between the two engines so you might as well go for the 6 pot ..... You should always aim for more cylinders than doors
As above if you've had your licence since 97 or 98 (can never remember) you're restricted to a gross train weight of 3500kg so the combination you suggest will be way over

 

[Craiglxviii]

Ditto. R320L (V6 diesel, same engine as 350 but with 40 fewer horses currently) towing a 1700kg caravan when fully loaded. No problems at all. Car is totally stable across the speed range.

 

[sonic]

I have a ML350 and tow a similarly heavy twin axle caravan and it tows like a dream. I wouldn't think there's much difference in running costs between the two engines so you might as well go for the 6 pot ..... You should always aim for more cylinders than doors
As above if you've had your licence since 97 or 98 (can never remember) you're restricted to a gross train weight of 3500kg so the combination you suggest will be way over

Also applies if you are 70 or over, as I have found out. But you can get a medical then authorised to 7499Kgs.

 

[EmilysDad]

Also applies if you are 70 or over, as I have found out. But you can get a medical then authorised to 7499Kgs.

Not quite ..... it applies if you want to drive a vehicle over 3500kg eg a large motorhome, but your entitlement to tow remains the same ass before.

 

[sonic]

Not quite ..... it applies if you want to drive a vehicle over 3500kg eg a large motorhome, but your entitlement to tow remains the same ass before.

This is DVLA's wording rather confusing?

Category B are vehicles up to 3,500kgs MAM and with up to eight passenger seats.

A category B vehicle may be coupled with a trailer over 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 3,500kgs MAM. Or it could be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 4,250kgs MAM.

 

[EmilysDad]

This is DVLA's wording rather confusing?

Category B are vehicles up to 3,500kgs MAM and with up to eight passenger seats.

A category B vehicle may be coupled with a trailer over 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 3,500kgs MAM. Or it could be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 4,250kgs MAM.

I've just looked myself and as you say DVLA are as clear as mud. But I know the towing entitlement stays as it is over 70, it's the larger 3500kg+ that you need a medical to keep

 

[sonic]

I've just looked myself and as you say DVLA are as clear as mud. But I know the towing entitlement stays as it is over 70, it's the larger 3500kg+ that you need a medical to keep

I still have my entitlement group H, so I can still drive a 60 ton tank!

 

[EmilysDad]

I still have my entitlement group H, so I can still drive a 60 ton tank!

Do they have tow bars?

 

[Jane31]

Thank you all for your replies.

Think we’ll stick with the original plan and go 350. Although I’ll have a look at the other classes some of you have suggested.


Many thanks again

 

[ajlsl600]

Do they have tow bars?

very dry.

 

[ajlsl600]

i am doing similar(towing) with my ml250 cant really see an issue except if one looses a pot then the 350 still has 5 where as the 250 becomes a tripple, with attch getting home issues, cheaper to run/tax than 350 for the 11 months i not towing a van. i guess one would notice difference on long hills, but it would be my brain operating the tranny then .not mr benz .main issue i see as std can one get away with std cooling sytem on 250,or 350. ?? in my case yet to be determined !
was told my a class needed upgraded cooling to tow, no issues in my 12 yrs to date and often pull a tonne of gravel with it . tranny oil still clean at last change .
i will run the 250 and dump the oil after to see if its struggling. and i will sort out a simple way to monitor temp of oil sans benz electronics

 

[EmilysDad]

.... .main issue i see as std can one get away with std cooling sytem on 250,or 350. ?? in my case yet to be determined !
....

It's not something I really considered other than mine has a factory fit leccy tow bar so I would like to think Mr Benz fitted any upgraded fans etc before it was let loose to its original owner/buyer

 

[ajlsl600]

It's not something I really considered other than mine has a factory fit leccy tow bar so I would like to think Mr Benz fitted any upgraded fans etc before it was let loose to its original owner/buyer

would say so. its quite a list of bits,almost begars belief that a 4x4 suv would get off the line without towing approval sans 3 grand of extras ,but as we have seen on here they will sell estate cars that cant tow either so now nothing much benz do or dont do surprises me. A 19K dacia duster auto prestige comes std with reverse camera and able to tow if only 1500kg a 50k ml dont. we pays our money,as the saying goes. i will need to remove/open cowl flaps on mine as they run quite warm anyway

 

[Jane31]

The fan cooling issue in regard of factory fit and retro fit tow bars on ML350s has been the subject of a few other blogs I’ve read.

Certainly better to get a 350 with it already fitted but not found one yet. May need to retro fit - seems to be varying opinions and advice out there about whether the cooling fans are actually needed.

 

[ajlsl600]

The fan cooling issue in regard of factory fit and retro fit tow bars on ML350s has been the subject of a few other blogs I’ve read.

Certainly better to get a 350 with it already fitted but not found one yet. May need to retro fit - seems to be varying opinions and advice out there about whether the cooling fans are actually needed.

i have also heard that some dont bother/dont know and manage fine ref cooling mods, yet to hear of anyone saying it WILL create an issue.however i write down where my temp gauge runs and will start with a tonne of gravel and watch what happens gradually increasing to van weight. there seems little real time info, just benz recc and the views of those who do it anyway. the fan upgrade seems a sensible thing ,if and i somehow doubt the higher capacity fan is a straight swap ? nice if it was,but i somehow doubt benz will have made it that simple ,given their track record to date , i will investigate that,and if needs be an after market solution ..at some point i cant remember but believe the factory fan fit was a fairly eye watering figure. thing is to investigate if its a std fit on another vehicle
yr prob right.. if a fair bit of towing at max allowable look a 350 with all incl.like hens teeth!! and likely you may have to make other compromises to get that. i read on the usa forums that many manage no issues with the 250 and 350 as std and a guy with same eng om651 in a van pulling much more for vast distances without issue ,over 100,000 but i would hate to be the one to end up with that as an odd issue!!!! so i will go about it in an incremental manner and see where i get to without wrecking anything

 

[keefysher]

The fan cooling issue in regard of factory fit and retro fit tow bars on ML350s has been the subject of a few other blogs I’ve read.

Certainly better to get a 350 with it already fitted but not found one yet. May need to retro fit - seems to be varying opinions and advice out there about whether the cooling fans are actually needed.

An uprated cooling fan is a few quid, an overheated gearbox is about £12k, no brainer really.

If retro fitting ensure the electronics are coded to the car.

 

[Jane31]

Thank you. Good advice checking out towing weights in incremental steps - certainly before a long journey.

From what I’ve read cooling only an issue in hot /humid climates (but continent pretty warm on the summer so don’t want to get caught out)

And yes I can imagine the cost to be high to get an upgraded fan fitted.

Be good to hear from others who may have a retro fit tow bar.

In the meantime I’ll contact Mercedes and ask about costs.