I'd like to buy a hidden hitch to tow my trailer. I have a 1982 300d.
Does anyone know if they make a tow hitch with a removable receiver?

If not, I've see some custom ones made and was wondering if anyone has the measurement of each part before they are welded together.

Thanks.

Pete

Their is one out there, no longer made of course. I believe uhaul also had one with a receiver type but they would have to be NOS sitting in a shops inventory that's not shown online.

It would be easier to modify a wagon hitch to work than find one of the sedan recorder hitches I bet.

Personally, I wouldn't pull anything but the smallest of trailers with the MB. I believe the tow rating is only ~1500 lbs. and I wouldn't even come close to that. Do a search for "towing" and "accident" and you will see first-hand experience. It wasn't pretty.

Here are a few folks that have done them on the W126 and they may have done the W123 as well. They may be able to tell you what the differences. The second thread has a post with attachments, which contain measurements.

126 Trailer Hitch fabrication and install
Trailer hitch receiver for 126 body

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I have a uhaul one in my garage...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I made my own from scratch, they're not terribly hard to make. Some angle iron, a cutting device, some flat straps and grade 8 hardware. I put mine together with clamps and then drove to a welder's where she zapped it for $50.

As for towing-you need proper weight distribution. I had no trouble towing over 1500#. IIRC it was around 3k including the trailer. (Trailer, 2 motorcycles, dresser, bed, welder, spare parts, etc.)

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I have plans sent by one of the members here but can't find them. I'll look more later.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Most if not all the hitches available are for the smaller draw bar. If you want a 2" draw bar, then you will have to fabricate one, as no factory made ones exist. One of my current projects is to manufacture a hitch for the 126 and 123 chassis. I already made one for my 126, but have designs in mind to make it modular, so the same receiver section fits both cars, even the wagon. I like all the receivers to be 2" so all the hitch accessories can be used (bike rack, cargo shelf etc). Be patient, the prototypes will be done soon.....Rich

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

Assuming your car is a US version with the 5 mph bumpers, whatever hitch you wind up with, make sure it fastens NOT to the bumper, but to the studs that attach the bumper-shocks to the body.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

Bam! Commercially available from Curt

e-Hitch.com | CURT Trailer Hitch #118053

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

Here's what I have so far on the one I'm building though, still need to add forward bracing to go under the trunk and keep the hitch from wanting to rock up/down with a load on it. Also need to attach the receiver tube and get some longer mounting bolts

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

That one from curt seems to only be for a wagon(TD). I need it for a D.

Thanks.

pete

I believe the wagon hitch works on the sedans, they use the same bumper mounts, and the forward bracing just goes up on the sides of the trunk. I don't think the Euro wagon hitches work on sedans though, but this isn't a Euro hitch

__________________
1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

I know I've seen pictures of that wagon hitch on a sedan before but I can't find it right now

__________________
1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

Reading on other threads it looks like the wagon hitch would hit the exhaust tip on a sedan, not sure if there are any other major differences

__________________
1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

Yes, but it is the smaller (1 1/4") receiver, not 2".

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html