Is MB GLE450 sufficient for pulling Bullett Crossfire 2220ML

[Soonere39]

Hi all- thinking about getting into the travel trailer world next year if I retire and wanting to make sure I'm not looking at too much trailer for our current vehicle and not inclined to buy an additional vehicle just for towing.

2022 Mercedes GLE450.  Towing capacity with WD hitch 7700lbs.  Vehicle weight 5016 lbs, GVWR 6614 lbs.  362hp and 369 ft lbs trq.  Max tounge weight with WD hitch 770 lbs.  Also has self leveling air suspension

Trailer considering 2024 Keystone Bullett Crossfire 5307 lbs dry, 1893 lbs carrying capacity, Hitch weight 640 lbs

Doing the rough math I believe this will work as it seems to be pushing the limits, but still within them.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Soonere39]

Thanks all for the responses.  Im feeling like it could be 'good enough' for short trips to nearby camping spots but not ideal for 5+ hour trips, not to mention  I don't want to wear out the SUV and its expensive 10 speed transmission.  I think we'll move our search toward a used  Class C Motorhome as  we have 3 cars  already and not wanting to get a 3/4 ton truck for single use towing. 

Thanks for the responses

[Grit_dog]

Upon further review, I’ll revise some of my previous comments. Didn’t realize it’s basically the same size as say a Tahoe. 
was thinking more midsize. 
Again depends on your intended use. Especially since you haven’t talked about that and,again, appear to not understand the difference in towing across Oklahoma compared to say Western Colorado. 
if your worried about “wearing out” your expensive suv then it may not be the right vehicle in the first place for you. That’s kinda funny actually. Most people buy new cars to use them and NOT be worried about reliability. 
To the notion of needing a 3-4 ton…well you must be reading too many old rvnet threads from the weight cops era!  lol 

To the thought of going to a motorhome vs a trailer, I’d say rent a couple different RVs before buying anything, as you really don’t know what you want.  

[blt2ski]

Looks like you're looking at a 2220ML trailer?!?

That should be very doable with your MB.

The one thing to look at is where are the tanks, ie water gray and black. The heavy item storage. With a bath, side kitchen, if those areas are behind the axles, you can run into a low hitch weight issue. But if you can load forward of the axles, you'll be better off.

I don't personally see an issue with you MB towing this trailer. Get somewhere, park the trailer, you have the MB to tour around locally. A class C, you have to tow a car around to your locally or take the MH. Danged if you do, danged if you don't.

You'll probably put 800-1200 lbs of stuff in the trailer. 750-800 lbs of hw. 6500 or so on the axles. No issues.

2 People etc in MB at 600-700 lbs. This includes CDs, wife's purse, food for trip, first aid kit, jumper cables etc that we all put in our rigs.

1400 lbs in vehicle for people and hitch weight.

Trailer at 26', probably as long as one wants on a 117" WB, but a proper WD/sway control setup assuming MB recommends one, you'll be styling!

My last post I forgot to mention payload issues. That's usually more of a problem than tow ratings. Been there done that!

Marty

[Grit_dog · Accepted solution]

CDs?

Lol

It ain’t got a CD player, so that should help w payload….hahahaha 

[blt2ski]

Grit,

The 2024 Subaru's don't give you an option of CD players anymore. Assume you would be paying for the new pay for radio option. So of course, CD's will not be in the vehicle. I was attempting to be rather broad in what went into the vehicle as far as my weights went. Maybe I should have used cassettes, or heaven forbid, them 8-track thingamajigs! 
Yes this thing is about the size of a tahoe or equal. It does have some ability to handle the trailer just fine! Some of the issues that may occur, if it has some kind of ride height airbag load leveling system, WD bars or equal will be out the door. Same with other full-size SUV's.

Choose ones poison for what is best for you or me or __________!

Marty

[valhalla360]

A 1/2 ton pickup or suburban type body on frame SUV should be fine, you just have to check the payload ratings (tow rating almost never limits what you can tow). Not all but many will have sufficient payload to pull that trailer. (HP is almost never an issue with modern trucks)

[Grit_dog]

Probably a 1 n done kinda post, but yeah, you have technology on your side with a new MB, however it’s still far less than ideal. Scary with no experience on your side. 
New MB, new trailer, seems like a good combo financially to figure out how to get a decent tow rig if you plan on packing on the miles. Wind, mountains etc will not be your friend. 
if you’re just planning local trips to the state park in Flatlandistan giver a go. 
if you’re really gonna be traveling do yourself and other motorists a favor and get something more suitable imo. 

[valhalla360]

I'm going to say HP is fine. My 2008 F250 V10 has about the same HP. We took a similar weight trailer to Alaska and back (12,000miles total) and power was never an issue. Worst case, you might wind up the RPM a bit on hills but nothing to worry about if everything is in good condition.

Where I can see a potential issue is payload/Tounge weight. The trailer has a GVWR of about 7200lb. Properly loaded at 12-15% hitch weight, that's 850-1100lb...well above your 770lb rating. Also, what is they payload sticker on the door say? I couldn't find it quickly but I expect it's something on the order of 1200-1600lb. If you used up say 1000lb for hitch weight that doesn't leave a lot of payload for passengers, gear and bolt on accessories (running boards, roof racks, etc...)

You can scale back on the hitch weight but now you don't get the steady towing of a good hitch weight and if it gets squirrely, the shorter wheel base and lighter weight of the SUV won't be in your favor.

I've certainly seen worse on the road but personally, I would try to keep the GVWR of the trailer in the 5000-6000lb range.

[blt2ski]

Having had an ML320 for 20 some odd years. If MB has the same type of tow ratings as back then, ALL of that model has a tow rating of 7700 lbs. In the owners manual, it states that if you want more performance, then make sure you buy the BIGGEST engine available. You can safely tow that trailer size with your MB. Similar to a 66 IHC travelall I had, best performance, was the biggest engine, most gears in tranny, and lowest overall low ratio to get bigger loads moving. 
Now things that can hinder performance, the BIGGEST is aerodynamics! This is worst on performance than overall weight. I drove from Seattle to Ellensburg a few times and back with a truck LONG gone. Towing two different trailers, both at 15K GCW. One was a 90+ sq ft frontal area boxy RV. The other an equipment trailer with maybe 70 sqft of frontal area. I got +2 mpg, and pulled a gear taller, around 7-10 mph with the equipment trailer, than I did the travel trailer.
At the end of the day, you have more HP(2x) and dang near the same torque as the truck I was driving at the time. More gears in trans etc. I would pull a 7500 lbs trailer with your MB! no questions asked!
My current GM 1500 with a 4.3 V6. Ive pulled an 8500 lbs trailer with it. Its pulls better than every BB, DIesel truck I've owned, but my Dmax! I still have that equipment trailer with the same mini excavator on it! I'm very happy with how it pulls. I'm at 285 hp and 300 lb ft of torque. I'd pull one of the newer trailer that was on the aerodynamic side too!

While I agree to a point what the two previous posters said, I need to disagree as to HOW BAD it will be. SUV's can be great tow rigs for many reasons better than a pickup! In your case, the shorter rear overhang can be a blessing!

Have fun.

Marty 

[mkirsch]

Tow ratings tend to be "optimistic." While the machine can handle the load mechanically, manufacturers don't factor in driver comfort. If you are towing that load with the engine roaring away at 4000RPM the entire time, crawling up moderate hills at 45MPH, you're going to get sick of it REAL QUICK...

That's another problem. The HP you quoted is "peak" meaning the engine's somewhere up at redline to make that HP. At lower RPMs it makes much less HP.

Mechanically, it will work. You won't be in any danger hitting the road with it, especially if you use a quality sway control system. The question is, will you be so fatigued from driving and listening to the engine roar away, that you won't ever want to drive it again. Frankly I think you might want to invest in a high-end hitch system such as the Hensley or ProPride to give yourself the best experience.

[Grit_dog]

It’ll work but it’ll suck. Enough power…ish. But. Short squat little suv is way less than ideal. Especially considering you don’t have any towing experience. 
Don’t end up as someone’s dash cam YouTube clip!

or just get a truck.