TOPIC: OFF THE WALL QUESTION FOR OUR TIN EXPERTS

Friends,

I'm now the proud new owner of a 1986 Mercedes 300SDL, which (according to the manual) will pull no more than a 1000 pound load.
(It's a W126 sedan with a turbo-diesel engine with 148 net HP.)

Does anyone know an average total weight of a typical 14' tin boat with OB on a light trailer? - say a 30-35HP motor???

Short of going & buying a rig to weigh, I don't have a better idea of what to look for or even if such a rig makes sense as a "suitable load".

yours, satx

200 for the boat
200 for the motor
300 for the trailer
+ gear


FYI - my 97 Saab is rated by the factory for 1000 pounds towed w/o trailer brakes, 2000 pounds with trailer brakes.


It's not the power you have to get it all going that matters as much as what your car's able to stop safely. Keep your braking system in tip top condition and you should be fine. If you're worried, upgrade them.

I recently read the tow specs for a small 2001 SUV & was surprised it was rated to tow 2000# w/ a small 2.x 4cyl.

Of course that was for an EMPTY tow vehicle w/ a 150# driver only..... Any gear in the SUV or additional passenger weight, lowered to the tow capacity...... And that info was not readily available, it was buried in the specs.

bill loveland wrote:

200 for the boat
200 for the motor
300 for the trailer
+ gear


FYI - my 97 Saab is rated by the factory for 1000 pounds towed w/o trailer brakes, 2000 pounds with trailer brakes.


It's not the power you have to get it all going that matters as much as what your car's able to stop safely. Keep your braking system in tip top condition and you should be fine. If you're worried, upgrade them.

I disagree.

Here in TX on a hot summer day 300# may cover the ice and beer. there was no room for equipment in that figure

TallTexan,

ONLY 300# for beer & ice?
(CHUCKLE)

yours, satx

bill loveland,

The brakes on a W126 (presuming that they are in good mechanical condition of course) are GREAT.
I'm more concerned about the transmission's continued health & the ability to pull a rig UP a steep ramp.

THANKS, satx

satx78247 wrote:

TallTexan,

ONLY 300# for beer & ice?
(CHUCKLE)

yours, satx

Obviously he's not planning on sharing any.

billlovelad,

LOL.

Btw, down here in God's Country we have a saying: "Give a man a fish & he can eat for a day; give him a fishing boat & he can spend days drinking beer out on the water & telling lies."

yours, sw

satx78247 wrote:

billlovelad,

LOL.

Btw, down here in God's Country we have a saying: "Give a man a fish & he can eat for a day; give him a fishing boat & he can spend days drinking beer out on the water & telling lies."

yours, sw

...and then his wife can give him 18 kinds of hell when he gets home from drinking and fishingnrather than working on her projects.

-Phillip

Kentuckydiesel,

TRUE FACT.

yours, satx