CLK 230 tow bar and towing rate query

[pfishwic]

Hi

Can anyone advise of following

1 - Is towbar for CLK convertible merc fit only ?
2 - Is braked towing capacity correct as per parkers at 1575 KG ?
3 - Anyone used a CLK convertible for towing a caravan - In know it seems like a mad idea but if the car is up to why not - just trying to meet all needs in one motor not two

Cheers

 

[BTB 500]

Assuming the car is registered after August 1st 1998 it needs a "type approved" towbar. That doesn't have to be fitted by M-B though.

For towing a caravan you need to know the kerbweight too. For good stability it's recommended that you don't tow a caravan weighing more than 85% of the car's kerbweight. That may be the limiting factor, rather than the car's published braked trailer towing limit (which purely relates to being able to do a hill start on a specified gradient with that weight of trailer on the back).

 

[pfishwic]

Yeah the caravan is only a 2 bert and weighs in at 1100Kg - assuming the parkers value is correct - can anyone confirm this - then 85% of 1575 is 1338.75 therefore its well within spec - I'm just concerned that convertibles generally have less chassis strength than a hard top vehicle - Now while this may seem like a strange idea the figures state it should work...

 

[A210AMG]

pfishwic,

Get one that is completly removable and it looks nicer when not on, my last car was a convertible (a M-sport 330 bmw) towed very well and when you leave the van you can cruise...

Towbar Removed

 

[BTB 500]

I'm just concerned that convertibles generally have less chassis strength than a hard top vehicle

But if it's been type-approved for towing by M-B it should be OK. Not all cars are, my SL500 is rated to tow 1500 kg ... but the SL600 isn't approved for towing at all (for example).

 

[BTB 500]

Get one that is completly removable and it looks nicer when not on

Definitely, fixed towbars can also cause problems with some parking sensor setups.

 

[pfishwic]

the beemer looks cool - we have an avante to 362 - yeah i see what you saying about the removable hook - i would want that also -

 

[Jackeet]

Any one fitted a towbar to a clk230 w208. Or which manufacturing to get one from

 

[Eddy77]

I seems to recall tow bars can not be fitted to AMG models of the W209. Don’t know if that means anything fitted with the AMG sport body kit or if it the 55 / 63 engine variants. Worth checking though.

 

[SG94]

Here you go.

TowCarCalculator

Find out how your car and caravan match to ensure that your outfit is safe and comfortable to tow. Calculate speeds, road gradients and the stability of your caravan

towcar.info

It’s an outfit matching site.
Put details in here, it will tell you the ins and outs.