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sills-mack's avatar
sills-mack
Explorer
Jan 16, 2014

Towing w/ Mercedes 3500

All,

My wife & I have been camping in a 10ft truck camper for the last 12 years and we think it is time to get into something with a bit more room.

We found a B+ on the Mercedes 3500 chassis which looks just swell
EXCEPT,
We tow a Jeep Wrangler.

I like that the 3500 has a diesel
BUT
it is an itty bitty diesel.

3.0L 188hp. Easy on fuel...

Does anyone tow with one of these ?

Does it have enough guts ?

BULLY DOG has a tuner for it which will add +35hp & 43torq.

MACK
  • Whenever I see one of the 24 foot Mercedes Class C's I try and chat with the owner to get a feel for how they roll. The one and only consistent complaint I hear is that pulling a toad up a 6% grades = 35 to 45 with the flashers on. The last guy I spoke with pulls a small Jeep 4 down and said they had just about given up on the serious mountains unless they cut the Jeep loose and have his bride follow him up the grades.

    Having passed more than a few in this mode I wasn't surprised. IMHO: The torque of a big block gasser will get the towing done much better. Yes, the diesels get better mileage but they also burn a more expensive fuel and no, they do not get 18 mpg (13 to 15 according to every owner I have spoken to).

    As always.... Opinions and YMMV. :C
  • Check with whomever made your B+ for the tow ratings. They are the ones who set them, as Mercedes doesn't know what type of load is built on a chassis.
  • What is the towing capacity of your B+ and how much does your toad as towed weigh?

    Forget the Bully Dog, the Sprinter pulls just fine without it.