Driving and parking, Trailer towing – Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2012 Owners Manual User Manual
Page 220
When you decouple the trailer, the vehicle is
temporarily raised because the springs are
relieved of load. Be especially careful during
this process, as you could otherwise injure
yourself and/or others. Make sure that any
persons remaining in the vehicle do not press
the switches for vehicle level control or the
ADS.
X
Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
X
Switch off the engine.
Permissible trailer loads and drawbar
noseweights
Weight specifications
The gross trailer weight is calculated by
adding the weight of the trailer to the weight
of the load and equipment on the trailer.
Maximum gross vehicle weight:
17
.
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight is the maximum weight with
which the trailer drawbar can be loaded:
17
Threshold for Mercedes-Benz approved
trailer tow hitches.
Loading a trailer
R
When loading the trailer, make sure that
neither the permissible gross weight of the
trailer nor the gross vehicle weight are
exceeded. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
You can find the maximum permissible
values on the type plates of your vehicle
and the trailer. Always observe the lowest
respective value when determining the
maximum weight with which you can load
the vehicle and the trailer.
R
The trailer drawbar load on the ball coupling
must be added to the rear axle load to avoid
exceeding the permissible gross axle
weight. The permissible gross vehicle
weight is indicated on the identification
plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
i
Mercedes-Benz recommends loading the
trailer so that the drawbar noseweight
remains between 8% and 15% of the
permissible gross trailer weight.
i
The weight of additional accessories,
passengers, and cargo reduces the
permissible trailer load and drawbar
noseweight for your vehicle.
Checking the vehicle and trailer weight
R
To check that the weights of the towing
vehicle and the trailer comply with the
maximum permissible values, have the
vehicle/trailer combination (including the
driver, passengers, and cargo with a fully
laden trailer) weighed on a calibrated
weighbridge.
R
Check the gross axle weight rating of the
front and rear axles, the gross weight of the
trailer and trailer drawbar noseweight.
Removing the ball coupling
X
Remove the spring cotter.
X
Remove the bolt from the ball coupling
recess.
X
Remove the ball coupling from the ball
coupling recess.
X
Clean the ball coupling if it is dirty.
Information on cleaning and care of the trailer
tow hitch can be found at (
Y
page 322).
Storing the ball coupling
G
WARNING
Do not carry the ball coupling in the vehicle
interior if it is not secured.
17
Missing values were not available at time of going to print.
218
Trailer towing
Driving
and
parking