2018 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS trailer

The field of vision and other functions of the rear
view camera may be restricted due to additionalaccessories on the rear of the vehicle (e.g.
license plate holder, bicycle rack).
Activating/deactivating the rear view
camera
XTo activate: make sure that the SmartKey is
in position 2in the ignition lock.
XMake sure that the "Rear view camera" func-
tion is selected in the multimedia system (see
Digital Operator's Manual).
XEngage reverse gear.
The multimedia system shows the area
behind the vehicle with guide lines. Sym-
bol :indicates that the "reverse parking"
function is active.
The image from the rear view camera is avail-
able throughout the maneuvering process.
XTo switch the function mode for vehicles
with trailer tow hitch: using the controller,
select symbol ;for "Coupling up a trailer".
Symbol ;is highlighted.
To deactivate: the rear view camera deacti-
vates if you shift the transmission to position j
or after driving forwards a short distance.
Displays in the multimedia system
The rear view camera may show a distorted view
of obstacles, show them incorrectly or not at all.
The rear view camera does not show objects in
the following positions:
Rvery close to the rear bumper
Runder the rear bumper
!Objects that are not at ground level appear
further away than they actually are, e.g.:
Rthe bumper of a parked vehicle
Rthe drawbar of a trailer
Rthe rear end of a truck
Ra post sticking up at an angle
Use the guide lines for orientation only. Do
not cross the lower guide line when approach-
ing objects.
:Yellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 13 ft (4.0 m) from the rear of the
vehicle
;White guide line without steering input –
vehicle width including the exterior mirrors
(static)
=Yellow guide line for the vehicle width
including the exterior mirrors, for current
steering wheel angle (dynamic)
?Yellow lane marking the course the tires will take at the current steering wheel angle
(dynamic)
AYellow guide line at a distance of approx-
imately 3 ft (1.0 m) from the rear of the vehi-
cle
BVehicle center axle (marker assistance)
CSpare wheel
DRed guide line at a distance of approximately
12 in (0.30 m)from the rear of the vehicle
When the transmission is shifted to position k,
guide lines appear in the camera image.
The distance specifications only apply to
objects that are at ground level.
Driving systems147
Driving and parking
Z

:Front warning display
;Additional vehicle icon: PARKTRONIC meas-
urement operational readiness indicator
=Rear warning display
Vehicles with PARKTRONIC: when PARKTRONIC
is operational (
Ypage 144), additional meas-
urement operational readiness indicator ;
appears in the multimedia system. If the
PARKTRONIC warning displays are active or
light up, warning displays :and =are also
active or light up correspondingly in the multi-
media system.
"Coupling up a trailer" function
:Trailer drawbar
This function is only available on vehicles with a
trailer tow hitch.
XBefore coupling up a trailer, set the height of
trailer drawbar :so that it is slightly higher
than the ball coupling.
XPosition the vehicle centrally in front of trailer
drawbar :.
:Red guide line at a distance of approximately
12 in (0.30 m) fromthe ball coupling
;Trailer drawbar marker assistant
=Trailer drawbar
?Symbol for the "Coupling up a trailer" func-
tion
iThe trailer tow hitch is not visible in the mul-
timedia system display, as the spare tire cov-
ers the ball coupling of the trailer tow hitch.
XSelect symbol ?using the controller.
The "Coupling up a trailer" function is selec-
ted. The distance specifications now only
apply to objects that are at the same level as
the ball coupling.
XReverse carefully, making sure that trailer
drawbar locating aid ;points approximately
in the direction of trailer drawbar =.
XReverse carefully until trailer drawbar =rea-
ches red guide line :.Do not drive any fur-
ther.
The distance between trailer drawbar =and
red guide line :is now approximately 12 in
(0.30 m).
XCoupleup the trailer (Ypage 154).
180° view
:Symbol for the 180° view function
;Your vehicle
=PARKTRONIC warning displays
148Driving system s
Driving an d parking

You can also use the rear view camera to select
a 180° view.
When PARKTRONIC is operational (
Ypage 144),
a symbol for your own vehicle appears in the
multimedia system. If the PARKTRONIC warning
displays are active, warning displays =light up
in the multimedia system in yellow or red
accordingly.
Off-road driving systems
Transfer case
General notes
The vehicle has permanent all-wheel drive. The
front and rear axles are constantly driven.
For further information on driving off-road, see
(
Ypage 129).
Shift ranges
HIGH
RANGEPosition for all normal on-
road driving conditions
LOW RANGEOff-road gear for driving off-
road.
Also for use on steep uphill or
downhill gradients, especially
when towing a trailer.
The vehicle travels around
half the speed of on-road driv-
ing range HIGH RANGE. The
tractive power is correspond-
ingly higher.
Shifting the transfer case
General notes
:Current shift range
:Indicator lamp
;LOW RANGE button
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain in the neutral position. The power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of the
vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is a
risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not switch off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission to
another gear.
Always wait for the gear change process from
HIGH RANGE toLOW RANGE and fromLOW
RANGE toHIGH RANGE to complete.
Switching on the off-road gear ratio
!Proceed with the shifting process only
when:
Rthe engine is running
Rthe vehicle is rolling
Rthe automatic transmission is in selector
lever position i
Ryou are not driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h)
You could otherwise damage the transfer
case.
Off-road driving systems149
Driving and parking
Z

Disengaging thedifferential lock s
You can disengage th edifferential locks in th e
followin gorder :; ,? ,= .
XTo simultaneously disengage all differen-
tial locks: press switch =.
Yellow activation indicator lamp sA and red
function indicator lamp s: go out .
Afte rapproximately three seconds of normal
driving, ABS, 4ETS ,ES P
®and BA Sare activa-
ted.
The Differential Locks Active ABS
and ESP Not Availablemessag edisap-
pear sin th emultifunction display and th e
å!÷warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
XShift the transfer case to the HIGH RANGE
on-road position (Ypage 149).
If red function indicator lamps :do not go out
when disengaging the differential locks, stop
the vehicle safely in accordance with the traffic
conditions and then drive on. The load change
can disengage the differential locks.
Towing a trailer
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch, you could lose control of it. The vehi- cle/trailer combination could even rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten up the vehicle/trailer combination
by increasing the speed. Reduce vehicle
speed and do not countersteer. Apply the
brake as necessary.
GWARNING
If you install a ball coupling other than the one
delivered with the vehicle, the trailer tow hitch
and the rear axle may be overloaded. This
applies especially if the ball coupling in ques-
tion is longer or angled differently. This could
seriously impair the driving characteristics
and the trailer can come loose. There is a risk
of an accident.
Only install the ball coupling delivered with
the vehicle or a ball coupling that is designed to meet your trailer towing requirements. Do
not modify the ball coupling or the trailer tow
hitch.
GWARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or not secured with the bolt provided and the
corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
!If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the engine cooling system may be
necessary, depending on the vehicle type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chassis
frame.
The installation of a trailer tow hitch is only per-
missible if a towing weight is specified in your
vehicle documents. If this is not the case, then
the vehicle is not approved for the towing of a
trailer.
For more information, please contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
Please observe the manufacturer's operating
instructions for the trailer coupling if a detach-
able trailer coupling is used.
Exceeding the maximum permissible nose-
weight of the trailer drawbar on the ball coupling may cause damage.
Damage may be caused to the following:
RTowing vehicle
RTrailer
RBall coupling
RTrailer tow hitch
The vehicle/trailer combination could become
unstable.
If the noseweight used is lower than the mini-
mum permissible noseweight, the vehicle/
trailer combination could also become unstable.
Towing a trailer153
Driving and parking
Z

To avoid hazardous situations:
Rmake sure to check the noseweight before
each journey
Ruse a drawbar noseweight as close as possi-
ble to the maximum noseweight
Rdo not exceed the maximum permissible
noseweight
Rthe noseweight must not be lower than the
minimum permissible noseweight
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
Rthe permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
Rthe permissible trailer load
Rthe permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
Rthe maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
When backing up the vehicle towards the trailer,
make sure there is nobody between the trailer
and the vehicle.
The applicable permissible values, which must
not be exceeded, can be found:
Rin your vehicle documents
Ron the type plate for the trailer
Ron the vehicle identification plate
If the values differ, the lowest value applies.
You will find the values approved by the manu-
facturer on the vehicle identification plates and
those for the towing vehicle under "Technical
data" (
Ypage 291).
When backing up the vehicle towards the trailer,
make sure there is nobody between the trailer
and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If you
do not couple the trailer to the towing vehicle
correctly, the trailer could become detached.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
with when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
Ris heavier
Ris restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
Rhas an increased braking distance
Ris affected more by strong crosswinds
Rdemands more sensitive steering
Rhas a larger turning radius This could impair the handling characteristics.
Adapt your driving style accordingly. Maintain a
safe distance. Drive carefully.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed
to the current road and weather conditions. Do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed for
your vehicle/trailer combination.
Notes on towing a trailer
General notes
RDo not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for vehicle/trailer combinations in the
relevant country.
This lowers the risk of an accident.
ROnly install an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle.
Further information on availability and on
installation is available from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
RThe bumpers of your vehicle are not suitable
for installing detachable trailer couplings.
RDo not install hired trailer couplings or other
detachable trailer couplings on the bumpers
of your vehicle.
RIf you do not need the ball coupling, remove
the ball coupling from the ball coupling
recess. This will reduce the risk of damage to the ball coupling.
When towing a trailer, set the tire pressure on
the rear axle of the towing vehicle for the max-
imum load. Further information on the tire pres-
sure table in the fuel filler flap (
Ypage 120).
Please note that when towing a trailer,
PARKTRONIC (
Ypage 143) and Blind Spot
Assist (Ypage 140) availability is limited or not
available at all.
The height of the ball coupling changes with the
load of the vehicle. If necessary, use a trailer
with a height-adjustable drawbar.
You will find permissible trailer loads under
"Technical data" (
Ypage 291).
Driving tips
XObserve the notes on ESP®trailer stabiliza-
tion (Ypage 61).
XOn long and steep downhill gradients, select
shift range 1,2or 3(Ypage 116) in good
time.
154Towing a trailer
Driving and parking

This also applies if you have activated cruise
control or the speed limiter.
XIf necessary, shift the transfer case toLOW
RANGE (Ypage 149).
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so that less braking will be required to main-
tain the speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly. If you
need additional braking, depress the brake
pedal repeatedly rather than continuously.
The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations depends on the type of
trailer. Before beginning the journey, check the
trailer's documents to see what the maximum
permitted speed is. Observe the maximum per-
missible speed in the relevant country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the maxi-
mum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. See the "Technical data"
section to find out whether this applies to your
vehicle (
Ypage 291). In the event of increased
rear axle load, the car/trailer combination may
not exceed a maximum speed of 60 mph
(100 km/h) for reasons concerning the operat-
ing permit. This also applies in countries in
which the maximum permissible speed for car/ trailer combinations is greater than 60 mph
(100 km/h).
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to
when driving without a trailer and it will con-
sume more fuel.
Driving tips
RMaintain a greater distance from the vehicle
in front than when driving without a trailer.
RAvoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake gen-tly at first to allow the trailer to run on. Then,
increase the braking force rapidly.
RThe values given for gradient-climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note that
the power output of the engine and, conse-
quently, the vehicle's gradient-climbing capa-
bility, decreases with increasing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
XDo not accelerate.
XDo not counter-steer.
XBrake if necessary.
Assembling the ball coupling
GWARNING
The ball coupling can be damaged if the nut on
the ball coupling is tightened using the incor-
rect torque. As a result, the trailer may
detach. There is a risk of an accident.
Immediately after installing, have the tighten-
ing torque checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
!Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use ball couplings tested and approved for
use on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. This helps to avoid damage to the vehicle.
Observe the manufacturer's installation
instructions if you use a ball coupling other
than the one supplied.
XSlide ball coupling :through the hole in ball
coupling carrier bar ;to the stop.
XSlide lock washer ?onto the thread of ball
coupling =to the stop.
XScrew on nut Aas far as it will go.
Towing a trailer155
Driving and parking
Z

XUsing a torque wrench, tighten nutBwith a
torque of 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) .
XCheck that the length of overhanging thread
Cbeneath nut Bis at least 0.32 in (8 mm) .
XCheck that the assembled ball coupling has
been assembled correctly.
Also observe the height of the trailer coupling
and the trailer manufacturer's instructions.
Depending on the height of the trailer coupling,
it may be necessary to rotate the ball coupling
by 180° when assembling on the ball coupling
carrier bar. The assembly process is identical.
Installing the ball coupling
GWARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed correctly or not secured with the bolt provided and the
corresponding spring cotter, the trailer may
come loose. There is a risk of an accident.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
GWARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly installed
and secured, it can come loose during the
journey and endanger other road users. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always install and secure the ball coupling as
described. Before every journey, ensure that
the ball coupling is secured with the bolt and
the corresponding spring cotter.
XPull protective cap =in the direction of the
arrow, out of the ball coupling recess.
XInsert the ball coupling horizontally into ball
coupling recess ?in the direction of the
arrow.
XMake sure that the hole in ball coupling Ais
in line with the hole in ball coupling recess B.
156Towing a trailer
Driving and parking

XSlide boltCinto the hole in the ball coupling
recess and the ball coupling to the stop.
XSecure the bolt using spring cotter D.
Correctly installed and secured ball couplingXCheck the ball coupling, bolt and spring cotter
for correct installation.
Coupling up a trailer
!
Do not connect the trailer's brake system (if
featured) to the hydraulic brake system of the
towing vehicle, as the latter is equipped with
an anti-lock brake system. Doing so will result
in a loss of function of the brake systems of
both the vehicle and the trailer. Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
XApply the vehicle's parking brake.
XMake sure that the automatic transmission is
set to position
P.
XPosition the trailer horizontally behind the
vehicle.
XCouple up the trailer.
XEstablish the electrical connection between
the vehicle and the trailer.
XCheck that the trailer lighting system is work-
ing.
XPush the combination switch upwards/down-
wards and check whether the corresponding
turn signal on the trailer flashes.
A trailer that is connected is recognized only
when the electrical connection is established
correctly and when the lighting system is work-
ing properly. The function of other systems also
depends on this, for example:
RESP®
RPARKTRONIC
These restrictions apply to accessories that are
supplied with power via the trailer socket in your
vehicle, e.g. a rear bicycle rack.
Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
Most U.S. states and all Canadian provinces
require by law
:
RSafety chains between the towing vehicle and
the trailer. The chains should be cross-wound
under the trailer drawbar. They must be fas-
tened to the vehicle's trailer coupling, not to
the bumper or the axle.
Leave enough play in the chains to make tight
cornering possible.
RA separate brake system for certain types of
trailer.
RSafety switch for braked trailers. Check the
specific legal requirements applicable to your
state.
If the trailer becomes detached from the tow-
ing vehicle, the safety feature brakes the
trailer.
Towing a trailer157
Driving and parking
Z