1985 300TD wagon accumulators and Curt hitch installed - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

neumann · #1 11-15-2009, 08:52 PM

Two items that I've been wanting to do for awhile...accumulators and hitch. Bit the bullet and bought a Curt hitch from JC Whitney. Good price at around $225 shipped.

Bought the accumulators from Phil. Super service as always. The install was pretty straight forward, including the fluid spillage

I guess my accumulators were shot because each one drained out approx 24 ounces. Thats not an exact figure so please no shots ok

I was shocked how much came out of each

My next job is to do the valve rebuild.

What nice is that the wagon rear doesn't drop at shutdown in the 2 minutes or so before the new accumulators. The nice smooth ride is also great. No loop d loop feeling when going over bumps

I forgot how nice the wagon rises when the suspension is right.

Btw, I only had to add about 2-3 ounces to the sls reservoir to bring it to the max mark. I never even opened the 2 new bottles I bought from Phil. I need to flush the old fluid and replace the filter. Any write ups on the sls flush process?

The hitch install was a bit of a hassle...the bolt plates that run through the frame channels was a headache for a one person install. Then the exhaust hangers were hitting the hitch cross bar and a ridge part of the body near the tailpipe. I ended up bending one of the doughnut hangers and flattening the body ridge directly above the tailpipe with a flat chisel and a 5 lb hammer. No rattles or resonance

I believe the hitch is a class 4. Very stout well built. I'll be using it to pull a 14 foot boat outfitted for flounder gigging and the occasional utility trailer. It will also come in handy for using my receiver mount bike carrier and receiver cargo basket. About a 2 hour install because of the lack of a second set of hands and fixing the rattle points.

kerry · #2 11-15-2009, 09:56 PM

Hmmmmm? I checked JC Whitney about a month ago and they had changed hitch supplies and weren't selling MB hitches anymore. Have they switched back to their old supplier?

pawoSD · #3 11-15-2009, 10:06 PM

A class 4 hitch on a MB wagon? I doubt it. Its probably class 2. Class 4 is about 4x the weight capacity/tow capacity of your vehicle!

neumann · #4 11-16-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

A class 4 hitch on a MB wagon? I doubt it. Its probably class 2. Class 4 is about 4x the weight capacity/tow capacity of your vehicle!

Just read that it was indeed a class 1 according to their specs online but I thought I saw class iv on the hitch sticker...doesn't make too much difference for me anyway....I will use it for I need it for. Bikes, small boat, utility trailer and such it should do fine

I plan to haul that 36' fifth wheel once I figure out how to modify the hitch to accept a fifth wheel adapter

I wonder if I can add additional towing on back of the fifth wheel and maybe tow my 28' cabin cruiser in tandem. I might have to add the triple turbo mods in order to get over the 9000 foot pass at Tallahassee and the big boy crest at 11500 near Miami.

Thanks

http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/product.jcw?nval=0&statenval=200011085+1985&productId=2011947&shopid=100005&pageid=13&skuId=366854&id=1552033

Graplr · #5 11-16-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neumann

Just read that it was indeed a class 1 according to their specs online but I thought I saw class iv on the hitch sticker...doesn't make too much difference for me anyway....I will use it for I need it for. Bikes, small boat, utility trailer and such it should do fine

I plan to haul that 36' fifth wheel once I figure out how to modify the hitch to accept a fifth wheel adapter

I wonder if I can add additional towing on back of the fifth wheel and maybe tow my 28' cabin cruiser in tandem. I might have to add the triple turbo mods in order to get over the 9000 foot pass at Tallahassee and the big boy crest at 11500 near Miami.

Thanks

http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/product.jcw?nval=0&statenval=200011085+1985&productId=2011947&shopid=100005&pageid=13&skuId=366854&id=1552033

Maybe you could attach the 5th wheel to the luggage rack?

The link gets redirected to the home page. It seems you have to enter in your own car info and then search for the part. I entered in an 84 300TD. Then I went to hitches and clicked on Curt Class I and it said "Guaranteed to fit your 84 300 or your money back. No questions asked." It was advertised at $99.

Edit: When adding to the cart, it asks you to select body style. The ones for wagons are $219 while the sedans are $99.

neumann · #6 11-16-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

Maybe you could attach the 5th wheel to the luggage rack?

The link gets redirected to the home page. It seems you have to enter in your own car info and then search for the part. I entered in an 84 300TD. Then I went to hitches and clicked on Curt Class I and it said "Guaranteed to fit your 84 300 or your money back. No questions asked." It was advertised at $99.

Edit: When adding to the cart, it asks you to select body style. The ones for wagons are $219 while the sedans are $99.

I interviewed some engineers over the weekend to do design and development for the fifth wheel 300TD project and the winning designer submitted this photo as his best work. I was pleased with it and we should have a final product for sale in 4-6 weeks.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f80/can-a-blazer-tow-a-5th-wheel-9357.html

kerry · #7 11-16-2009, 12:58 PM

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0

Shawn T. W. · #8 11-16-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0

Awesome!