2021 Mercedes GLC300 Trailer Hitch and Wiring Harness Recommendation

Updated 04/23/2021 | Published 04/22/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(13)

$225.34

ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness w/ 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector and Installation Kit

(515)

$186.52

Question:

Hello etrailer expert, No one in Rhode Island will install a class 3 hitch for me with the wiring. I tow a small Grady White boat and did it with my 2013 RAV4 for years. U-haul said theyd install the hitch but not the wiring because it would interfere with the computer. Get the dealer to do it. The dealership said, Only a class 2 is allowed in the specs and the wiring has to be done in the factory. My GLC has 2 packages - Premium and Multimedia. I would like to purchase a class 3 hitch and wiring and need them installed. Can anyone near Providence RI help me? Am desperate, Terry

asked by: Terry T

Helpful Expert Reply:

For the hitch, I'd recommend the Curt Class III, part # C84ER and for the wiring I'd recommend the Tekonsha # 119250KIT.

The hitch installation is fairly involved, and requires that the bumper fascia be temporarily removed as outlined in the linked installation instructions. We don't recommend any specific installers other than our own at our facility here in Missouri, but I'd recommend having a body shop do the hitch install for you. A body shop is well versed on how to remove body panels without damaging anything which is something that a typical mechanic might not be conversant with.

The # 119250KIT wiring harness I'm recommending does NOT need to tap into any existing wiring on the vehicle. It uses sensors that snap around the vehicle's taillight circuits that can read current going through them which the converter uses to draw power directly from the vehicle battery to power the trailer lights. Because of this arrangement, there is no direct contact between the sensitive electronics in the vehicle and the trailer wiring, so the vehicle will be completely isolated form any short circuits that could occur in the wiring on the trailer. There's a good chance that somebody at the body shop is good with electrical, they should be able to handle the wiring installation for you.

I've linked to an install video for the wiring harness I recommended. The video shows the harness being installed on a 2018 Mercedes-Bens GLS, the procedure for your GLC should be similar.

expert reply by: Mike L