Trailer Hitch for 1999 SWB G500
Hoping anyone has some advice for buying and fitting a 2" hitch on my '99 SWB G500. I've seen several on different websites and searched here for history but found nothing saying whether there is a difference between LWB and SWB mounting. None of the Sites mention SWB as an option, particularly the U.S. ones, because they weren't sold there. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Gary
LWB and SWB vehicles are identical for the trailer hitch. There should be a welded plate on the rear-most tubular cross-member on the chassis. this has 4 bolt holes for the trailer coupling.
There is a company in Germany which regularly sells the original versions on ebay for about Euro-200 (removed for Brabus conversions). But they may also be available through the GWOA.
Example (but too expensive):
The reason the SWB is not mentioned is probably that only LWBs were sold in the USA and in Europe all Gs came pre-fitted with the couplings.
I think the one you have pictured is the alternative design for the USA (I think manufactured in the USA) with removable tow-hook. The factory tow-couplings are made by ORIS and and have a 50mm (~2 inch) ball.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/g-class/1482687-2010-usa-g550-trailer-hitch-3.html
I don't know whether you would have issues (when bringing your G back to the USA) if you fit a 50mm tow hook, as it will have Euro approvals, but perhaps not US approval as 50mm is very slightly less than 2 inches. However, the ORIS couplings are made from forged-steel, rather than steel-plate of the US versions, and given the choice, I would fit ORIS. You can can contact ORIS for advice and perhaps even a better price:
http://www.bosal-oris.com/kontakt/kontakt.html
Apparently, the 'US pattern' tow coupling is also manufactured by ORIS as original fit for US G's:
http://mbworld.org/forums/exterior-parts/433100-g-wagon-tow-hitch-mb-part.html
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/g-class/1421207-installing-g500-oem-trailer-hitch-tomorrow.html
Hi Gandore,
As already mentioned, we don't know what the type approvals are where you live: it really comes down to that. If Japan is metric, which I imagine it is, you definitely want the 50mm tow ball hitch, as the US 2" tow ball will not work with metric trailer couplings (the only reason I know this is because we imported a Chevy to the UK and nothing fitted, so we had to convert the tow ball to a 50mm one). If you want interchangeability and the Japanese authorities accept US-rated trailer 2" hitch receivers, definitely fit one of these as there are loads of products from the US market that you could use with this hitch arrangement. Unfortunately, here in Europe, if the car is manufactured after 1st August 1998, we can only use Euro-approved change-block type hitch systems - and these are very expensive. Westfalia make some (search German websites for Westfalia AHK Wechselsystem), like in the photo below. For some unknown reason the Euros (and UK !) authorities do not accept the US-style interchangeability receivers - Politics and Burocrats! If cars are built after the abofe-mentioned date, we have to have the correct plates with the correct stamps on them if we are to be legal on our roads.
Ph
Arnie/Phileas,
Thank you both very much! I don't anticipate towing here in Japan but, as you both mention, it will come in handy for exactly that when I bring it back to the U.S. at some point in time.
For now I intend to use it for carriers and such for camping, and if I can find a pintle hook to insert into it, use it as my tow point for emergencies since most vehicles here are of the smaller Suzuki size. It looks like those are fairly common over there? I loved them in the military for the twists and turns they handle better than ball hitches.
Gary