Mercedes-Benz to Offer Trailer Stability Assist in New M-Class

New Technology to Put an End to Fishtailing Trailers

Does towing a trailer intimidate you? If you said yes to this question, youre hardly alone as most drivers have either seen or experienced a trailer "fishtailing" behind its tow vehicle.

Fishtailing, if youre not aware, is when a trailer oscillates back and forth in its lane uncontrollably, often due to a poorly made/maintained trailer or improperly distributed load, with the driver needing to slow down to restore stability or in the worst case scenario, if it goes unnoticed or the driver doesnt know what to do to stop the swaying, causing an accident and possible rollover.

Mercedes-Benz wants to make fishtailing trailers an event of the past by introducing its new Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) system on all 2006 M-Class sport utilities purchased as of late August, 2005.

TSA works in conjunction with the M-Class Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the system that keeps Mercedes-Benzs recently updated SUV from skidding out of control in slippery conditions, and like ESP has been designed to enhance safety when towing a trailer.

Through various sensors normally attributed just to the vehicles ESP, TSA will initiate the appropriate brake applications to the front wheels which will then stabilize the SUV and trailer.