Community Forums

Fried · 10-14-2007, 12:13 PM

Want to tow a 2005 Mercedes ML 350. Have found that DEMCO sells base plates, and REMCO sells a transmission pump - this is a heavy TOAD (if I go that way - 4500 lbs) behind a 350 hp CAT in a 40' MH. Any and all advice (pro and con) would be appreiciated. Using a trailer (4 up) would just add more weight. Have discussed another vehicle with the better half - ummmm? - thanks in advance.

Fried and Gayle Martin

Fried · 10-14-2007, 12:13 PM

Want to tow a 2005 Mercedes ML 350. Have found that DEMCO sells base plates, and REMCO sells a transmission pump - this is a heavy TOAD (if I go that way - 4500 lbs) behind a 350 hp CAT in a 40' MH. Any and all advice (pro and con) would be appreiciated. Using a trailer (4 up) would just add more weight. Have discussed another vehicle with the better half - ummmm? - thanks in advance.

Fried and Gayle Martin

Route 66 · 10-14-2007, 12:40 PM

Fried, welcome to iRV2.

I don't think your toad is all that heavy, as mine is at least 6000#.

I believe 4 down towing is the easiest way to go.

Fried · 10-14-2007, 01:12 PM

Thanks Dirk,

Nice rig you have - looked it up - you are also at 400HP with probably better torque than I - still 6K lbs is pretty healty - any tips on tow packages? Absolutely want to go 4 down.

Thanks

Pusherman · 10-14-2007, 02:51 PM

Yea, but Dirk's '08 Yukon will be significantly lighter.... I hear the new ones are made of composite....

Seriously, we tow 3K lbs and you don't know it's back there. I doubt an additional 1.5K lbs will make a whole lot of difference on a 350hp diesel. You will slow down going up the hills, but you'll still get there. And once you get there, you'll have your comfy toad to get ya around.

Route 66 · 10-14-2007, 02:52 PM

Thanks for the kind words.

I have a Blue Ox baseplate and a Blue Ox 10K# tow bar and 10K# safety cables.

Also have the Brake Buddy Vantage.

I can highly recommend both.

I do go up some hills at 45 MPH with that 38K# combined weight.

Route 66 · 10-14-2007, 02:55 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Yea, but Dirk's '08 Yukon will be significantly lighter.... I hear the new ones are made of composite.... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I did get a "lighter" color. Will that help?

Pusherman · 10-14-2007, 03:08 PM

Youbetcha!!! These lighter colors are named... Windy White.... Sierra Sandstone.... Ghostly gray... All these colors must be about 1Klbs lighter!!!

Gary RVRoamer · 10-15-2007, 09:14 AM

Fried...
What will your combined weight (motorhome + toad) be? You want to stay at 1 hp or more per 100 lbs of combined weight, which means a max of 35000 lbs for your 350 Cat. At 1/100 lbs you will likely be pulling 6% grades at 40 mph and your acceleration may be a bit less with the 350's relatively modest torque, but I don't think it will be a big deal.

My rig's combined weight with a 4700 lb toad is about 37,500 and I have a 370 hp, 1200 ft lb torque Cummins ISL. I do 42-45 on long 6% grades but barely notice anything less.

I too recommend the Blue Ox 10,000 lb tow bar, but a Roadmaster All Terrain is a good choice too.

Fried · 10-15-2007, 03:15 PM

Thanks to all the great advice - I will take it into consideration as I make my decisions on how to best tow this TOAD - I especially appreciate the comments on "less paint or paint color = lighter weight" - perhaps I will pull the old American Airlines trick of removing all the paint to get a little better umph;-) - not sure my better half would appreciate that - but with oil jumping up over $86 a barrel - maybe I can get some traction (not).

Thanks again - hope to run into some of you as we move from the house to the road.