Benz G500 for towing???

I am considering getting a MBenz 2009 G500 to tow my Mastercraft x-15. I was wondering if anyone on here has used one to tow and how it performed. I know that it has the rating to pull and for that matter stop my boat but how does it perform? Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

I have a G55k - the v8 superchargered version with about 500hp and over 500 lb tq. It tows fine but i wouldn't buy it as dedicated tow rig. The furthest i've towed with it was about 200 miles. I cant speak for the G550 but the G55 eat gas like a mofo while not towing - so you can imagine while towing.

I averaged about 9mpg on the highway while towing my 23 LSV at 60-70mpg. I prefer my diesel Excursion.

Make sure you test drive this car thoroughly before. They are not for everyone - poor mpg, stressful to drive, and the list goes on. I absolutely love mine however.

Look at the GL350 BlueTec. It is an diesel and has the power to tow. Great gas mileage, about 30 MPG, and enough torque to pull out of the slip with no problems. I have test drove them and pulled my boat with one. Just waiting on the dealership to get a black on black in. Already has my deposit.

gl350 would be a good call for towing

It is great for towing. When I used one of there customers to try it out he never pulled anything with his GL350. We went to place and hooked up the boat and connected the plug and within a few seconds the SUV auto leveled. It was awesome. Pulled out onto the highway, being careful, and we headed to the lake. I pulled the boat very nice and the stopping power was never an issue. Smooth quiet ride and the computer on the SUV changed the gearing and I never had to do anything at all. I took the boat to a different ramp where the back roads are hilly and the SUV never struggled at all. Backed it down the steepest, wettest ramp. Pulled out like a dream and never spun the tires. AWD vehicle was the key. Pulled it a total of 75 miles that day and went back to fill up and we used less than 5 gallons of fuel. The computer calculated the average trip was 27 MPG with AVG Speed of 47 MPH. I was sold right then. Parked the boat, thanked the guy and head to the dealership with the sales guy and put down a deposit that day. So i have an 2010 GL 350 with Pkg 1 and 2 fully loaded coming my way. It does take the BlueTec water stuff, but you can get that at any truck stop for like $5.00 a gallon. Takes like 3 gallons every year or so. They recommend filling it up every 10K miles with the oil change. Calling it the A Service. Something else I liked too was the oil change every 10K miles. Tranny fluid every 100K miles. I told the guy that I will do a lot of towing so he said then we can look at it and maybe change it every 50K miles. As soon as it comes in, I will post pics.

G500 has 3500 max trailer weight. Not sure what you're towing, but that's not enough to pull my SANTE.

^wrong - 7,000 lbs

g500 has towing capacity of 7000 lbs and so does the G55 up until 2008. The new g550/g55(2009/2010) has a towing capacity of 3500.

The US G550 (the only G with the 7G-Tronic) does not have provision for a trailer hitch. It cant be done. If that makes any sense... So its has a towing cap of 3500 however they is not a OEM hitch and wiring harness made.

(Message edited by factorykitted on February 19, 2010)

I have only ridden around in a GL350, never towed anything, but those are great vehicles. Great ride and seem very solid. I would love to have one of those and it is nice to know that they have no issues with towing.

My family used to have a GL350 and all we towed behind it was a 16ft boston whaler. I think the max of it was maybe around or just under 5000lbs so when we got our vlx we got rid of the GL350 for a Ranger Rover instead. I never drove the cars, but from what my Dad mentioned he would not have wanted to try the vlx.

Can't speak to the G500 but just wouldn't recommend going down to the GL350. It also was always in the shop needing various very expensive to replace parts

^ WRONG Shorty!!

The Mercedes Benz GL 350 has a "Towing Capacity(5) 7,500 lb (Class IV)" per there specs. Besides, the MB GL350 is an 2010 model. Are you sure your talking about an MB?

Check out the website here:
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/exploreSpecs/?vc=GL&vmf=GL350BTC&yr=2010

I have an 22' 08 Avy and it pulled my boat without any problems. I have spoke with other people that have them and they have pulled boats up to 30' Plus and no problems.

"g500 has towing capacity of 7000 lbs and so does the G55 up until 2008. The new g550/g55(2009/2010) has a towing capacity of 3500."

Why the hell would they do this? That makes absolutely no sense....

wth! it doesnt say "Pootie Tang" anymore by your name!

The GL350 is very nice looking, and does have a rating of 7,500lb. I might actually take a look at that. I have been drooling over a range rover sport SC, but the specs are not all that impressive as far as times/mileage. It sure looks badass though.

@dave so your going with the 2010 GL 350 with Pkg 1 and 2 is that the V6 AWD or the V8? Im guessing V6 since you said the bluetec.

The mounting plate on the frame is no longer present on 2009-2010 MBUSA G500's. There's not any place to mount the hitch.

Below is a link with visual proof as to why a hitch cannot be installed on the MY 2009+ G550. Turns out the fuel tank configuration is different for the US, necessitating removal of the mounting plate. The newer G's cannot tow because of the location of the gasoline tank and its susceptibility to puncture from a rear end collision. The hitch is looked upon as a puncture instrument.

http://www.clubgwagen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=692&hilit=hitch

Smitty, Yes, took out the Pootie Tang.

I have a buddy that pulls sleds with an Range Rover and HATES it. Matter of fact he hates the vehicle all over and cannot get rid of it. Always broke down, pulls like crap as he stated, most of all, it has the worse gas mileage of any SUV. He is in NH and the cold weather has taken a toll on the interior with small cracks, things popping off etc.

I got the P2 package, Prem lighting package w/LED, Leather, hitch, rear DVD's and the kick plate LED. The motor is an 3.0L Turbocharged V-6 Diesel, 7-Speed Automatic tranny for pulling smooth. I have test drove like 10 different SUV's and trucks and for the money and performance the GL350 won. Plus you get a tax advantage of going with the diesel motor.

One thing I do not like is the run flat tires. Hard to fine a replacement and a lot of people are taking them off at replacement time and using regular tires. The SUV does not come with a spare, so you need to keep a can of fix a flat and call MB auto help to pump it up. MB just offer great customer service and the vehicles are just top notch in fit to finish. Just like our boats we all look for fit to finish. Go test drive one and you will see what I mean.

So thats pretty interesting to me.... It is a 2009 G550 by the way I just am so used to saying G500 the guy claims it has the "towing package" I find that hard to believe as the car has no options. It would really kill me if it really only can tow 3500Lbs... Kinda breaks my heart. I like the GL350 but want something with a bit more speed. PS guys are always tearing apart Range Rovers on here. I have a 2008 Range Rover HSE fullsize and it tows very well. Had no reliability problems since they day I got it. The new Rovers are really great. It always pisses me off when people on this board tear rovers apart. I had a 2001 and a 2005 the 01 broke all the time the 05 was ok the 08 has been perfect. It has the air suspension which works really well. If you are looking at it you should really consider it.

Anybody know anything about the MB GL320 (diesel)'s towing ability? Isn't it pretty much the same vehicle as the GL350, just an older model?

Hmmm, in the US I've never seen a GL320. They did make a ML320. Pretty sure that up until MY 2010 there were only the gas V8 GL's available.

I could be wrong, though.

My mistake, we had an older ML320, maybe 03-05.

sorry