Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Pulling a trailer with 240D

Ya know what?? I'm out of the hitch game. There are just too many people that think that if something, however unsafe it looks, works OK, then it's good to go for all.
Simply put, for the last time: A hitch that bolts through a sheet metal trunk floor, without any reinforcement, then to a rubber-mounted aluminum bumper, with no other mounting, WILL fail IMHO. I will also, when asked, be adamantly against it's use. Daimler-Benz, the manufacturer of your car, also does not recommend this type hitch, instead, they recommend that the hitch be bolted behind the bumper MOUNTS.
Just because someone will sell a hitch that mounts through sheet metal and rubber does NOT mean it's safe, it just means they have fooled someone else into buying it. It's fair easy to tool up and build a few thousand hitches, sell them to a third party, than go out of business. Who is responsible then?? Who are you going to sue (assuming you survive the crash)??
I have been modifying cars for a long time, and have had my share of failures. What I have learned is to follow the manufacturers recommendation. By that, I mean the CAR manufacturer, not some shady aftermarket retailer. OR even some not so shady aftermarket guys (search "Heidts failure", to see what I mean).
So, I'm done. Pull it with a rope and a couple bungee cords for all I care. I will follow the recommendations of Mercedes, or whomever's car I put the hitch on, and I will NOT give any more advice.
Some of you seem to exist just to say "I did it this other way, it worked, so there!".
Jeff
P.S. Someone had asked for pics of a factory mounted hitch. I will send them to you, privately, no more, none.
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:38 AM
Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Pulling a trailer with 240D

    These stories make an old man start to get nostalgic. 
 
    Back in 1980, the network made me an offer.  So I moved from Boston to Burbank.  My driver was a 1977 non-turbo diesel Rabbit.  I had a hitch put on it then went and got the biggest box trailer JarTran (remember them) would rent me. 
 
    That Rabbit hauled that JarTran trailer, with most of what I owned in it, accross the country from Boston to Burbank.  The little Rabbit towing the big JarTran looked like a semitrailer rig that got washed in hot water and shrunk down.  It got laughed at every time I pulled into a truck stop to fuel up. 
 
    But it came across the country, over every mountain range (at about the same pace as some of the big rigs).  I'm sure that VW would never have approved of towing that size or weight of trailer.  Averaged about 30 mpg on that trip. 
 
    That little Rabbit lasted for years after that adventure. 
 
    If the VW could do it, I expect that our benz's can do it.  The hitch on my '81 SD is a class I, bolted through the belly pan of the trunk.  The real problem with it is my rear is too low, and the hitch drags on road dips and curb crossings. 
 
Tom
 
 



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