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+--- Thread: What are my options? (/showthread.php?tid=3249)
What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-09-2012
Im just curious what is available in the way of hitches for a w123. I've seen a couple online that were just a bent piece of metal that you drill into and bolt to the bottom of the trunk and the bumper, and for what they were it seemed outrageously priced. The ideal thing for me would be something sturdy that has a regular square receiver (2"?) that is flush with the back of the bumper so I dont have anything obtrusive sticking out the back. Im also curious about how much weight one could tow with one of these cars (300 Turbo) and how much tongue weight would be acceptable. I have a 15ft sail boat I would like to be able to tow, and Im sure the car could do it I just have no means to at this point.
Thanks y'all!!
Also I have a few other things I would like to mount inconspicuously if possible, mostly air horns, a loud speaker (to be connected to a cb radio in the car), and a firetruck siren I picked up for $20 at a swap meet at the local rifle range
RE: What are my options? - JustPassinThru - 01-09-2012
Somewhere, I forget where, I've seen it stated that you should put no more than 200 pounds of tongue weight on the stock W123 trailer hitch.
I have two of those "drill into and bolt to the bottom of the trunk and the bumper" hitches, one for each of my 300D's, but haven't installed them yet. It is recommended by a local indy Benz shop owner, whose opinion I do respect, that one put a piece of metal, say quarter-inch aluminum or steel bar, on the top side over the trunk floor, with the top of the bolts running through it, as reinforcement. The seller of one of these said he was pulling a boat, 1600 pounds total weight of trailer + boat, no problem with it.
I paid $30 to the seller of the second one, and $15 for the first one from a local wrecking yard. I do a high volume of business with this yard, so they give me discounts.
RE: What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-09-2012
I might have to look onto getting one of these types or possibly making one then. The only thing I didn't like about them was that they stick out past the bumper and there was no convenient way of eliminating this, so if I do go this route I'll probably cut whatever sticks out off and weld on some square tubing so I can have a regular style hitch reciever for easy removal of the ball etc.
RE: What are my options? - JustPassinThru - 01-09-2012
Yes, that hadn't occurred to me, but now that you mention it I kind of like that idea too...
RE: What are my options? - serverman777 - 01-09-2012
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=2475126
Its for a w126. I don't see why it wouldn't work with w123. They run about $210 dollars.
Here is the link
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1194038,parttype,1212
RE: What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-09-2012
What the hell does it attach to, the bumper only?
RE: What are my options? - serverman777 - 01-09-2012
Weld a plate to the botton of your boot pan, and weld that thing onto that plate.
RE: What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-09-2012
Sounds like too much work haha, Im gonna look around and see what I can find. Still looking for suggestions as to where to mount the airhorns loudpeaker and firetruck siren
RE: What are my options? - serverman777 - 01-10-2012
I seen them also mounted under the boot before. like 4 train horns and stuf. Super loud
RE: What are my options? - w123love - 01-10-2012
On my sedan I have had a class 1 hitch mounted for a couple years. I agree with the 200 LB weight limit on the tongue. Putting anymore then that would be bad for the bumper I’m sure.
Mine mounts under the spare tire, and on the bumper too.
I’ve seen the receiver type hitches for sale, but never seen one mounted on a w123 sedan. More common on a wagon.
With it i’ve only towed my laser sailboat, which weighs about 400 LBS including trailer and boat plus spars and what not. Also I’ve got my veggie trailer, with unloaded is about 200 lbs, and then with 45 gallons of veg oil who knows how much.
RE: What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-10-2012
Yeah Im mostly lookin to be able to tow my Coronado 15, which I think boat and trailer combined is probably less than 600lbs, so I can hopefully be able to go ssiling more often since I won't have to use one of inconvenient trucks. And being able to tow a small trailer for picking up veg oil from my friend will be a plus as well
RE: What are my options? - JB3 - 01-10-2012
If you want a receiver for the 123 sedan, you will need to get creative.
I had a couple of those class 1 hitches that bolt to the spare tire well and to the bumper. Work fine, but I was constantly bashing my leg on the ball as I walked around the car. You cannot remove it. For the weight discussed above, they work great, but make sure your bumper attachments are not corroded out.
The most common custom hitch people make to do a receiver is to pull the entire bumper off, take a long piece of 1/4 inch steel and mark the bumper pattern, then cut six holes. Then from the quarter inch, weld the receiver tube to the plate so that it sits right under the bumper, and add gussets, braces to your taste.
Couple people added long tabs that ran down what would be considered a frame rail if this wasn't a unibody, that flat section on either side of the trunk pan.
The bumper then bolts back onto the car over the steel plate, and you end up with a bumper that is 1/4 inch further out, and a receiver.
I made one for a 240 that was class 2 hitch size out of a rusty receiver from an old jimmy or something, even allowed me to rent a tow dolly!
RE: What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-10-2012
That sounds awesome!! I think Im probably gonna end up making something so that I can have it best suited to my needs and what not, I'll probably start sketching some stuff up pretty soon and then check back here to see what everybody thinks
RE: What are my options? - w123love - 01-10-2012
Nice...a C15. I almost did C15 nationals in long beach one year...not a real big fleet though.
RE: What are my options? - sassparilla_kid - 01-10-2012
Yeah the best part is I got it for free!! I stopped by a house on my street one day on the way to a boy scout meeting when I was in high school to ask the people if they would sell it, and it was an older couple and since the guy had been a scoutmaster they said I could have it! It needed a new mast partner and rigging but the centerboard and rudder/tiller were in good shape from being stored indoors and just needed sanding and refinishing, and the sails are nice as well. I had to take it to the local car wash when I got it though to pressure wash as much of the 20 years of dirt that had accumulated off, and then scrub vigorously for hours to get the rest off but now its nice, I just need to refinish the new mast partner from being uncovered during the summer.
Oh and I had to reinforce one of the chain plates from the inside of the hull because the bolts ripped out one day while my friend were hiking out, needless to say it got pretty exciting for a couple minutes with the mast unsupported on one side lol, but we managed to keep her upright and got back to the dock alright and got it all squared away