Lifted Mercedes GLK350 with Offroad Modifications – Little Benz Goes Camping

Offroading has become a popular activity not only among the owners of the big 4x4s and trucks but also among compact crossover drivers. Despite their smaller size and limited All-wheel-drive capabilities these vehicles still have enough potential to explore mild off-road trails and take you on exciting camping trips.

While crossovers like the Subaru Forester and Toyota Rav4 are some of the most popular options for AWD off-roading, there are many other unique vehicles on the market for those who don’t want to go with the flow.

Mercedes GLK is hardly a mainstream model, but it has enough capabilities to get your feet wet in off-roading and be noticed in the off-road community. Except for the all-wheel drive and dynamic stabilization, it has short overhangs and pretty decent space in the wheel arches to mount larger A/T or even M/T tires to ensure optimal traction on sand, dirt, and snow.

Of course, the stock clearance of 7.9” isn’t enough to feel confident on the trails, but it’s not difficult to improve it with a help of a lift kit and a set of oversized tires. Even though the aftermarket support for this model and almost nonexistent, you can still find some interesting parts and solutions if you surf the web.

Lift Kit

After a bit of search, we stumbled upon a 30mm spacer lift kit for Mercedes GLK350 by Thema4x4 (This brand’s lifts were used on several projects that were featured on Offroadium, such as this lifted Volvo XC70).

Wheels & Tires

As for the tires, you can stick to the factory recommended 235/60R17 or upsize to 235/65R17 (according to the specialty forum, this size works without any issues on factory wheels) or even bigger, but it’s not recommended to exceed the overall wheel diameter of 29 inches, otherwise, it would require more serious modifications and involve cutting. Wheel and tires setup on the black Mercedes GLK below is The wheel setup on this black Mercedes GLK: 2″ Lift, 15mm wheel spacer/adapter, BF Goodrich All Terrain tires sized 245/65R17.

Accessories

Except for the wheels and the lift you don’t need much to make it off-road worth, although you may need to pack more gear to make your weekend trips more convenient. One of the most popular add-ons in the AWD crossover market is a roof basket. It’s a universal product that comes in various sizes and configurations, so you can easily mount it to the load bars on your roof rack.
If you’re a fan of cycling, you may want to consider a hitch mount bike carrier. But the range of hitch-mount accessories doesn’t end with that. You can find plenty of items starting with simple cargo baskets up to swing-out spare tire carries in case you want to go all out in off-roading.

Conclusion

The Mercedes GLK is a great option for those who are looking for an introduction to off-roading. It has enough capabilities to get your feet wet without being too overwhelming, and it’s sure to turn heads in the off-road community.

Find out more about this Lifted Mercedes GLK350 by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @hirotaka_kanemoto!

Related Parts & Mods

– Inspired by this Mercedes GLK350 build and looking to prepare your own crossover for off-road adventures? Some parts used in this build were sourced from custom shops or custom made, but our team has put together a list of similar products and accessories available online that may help you to achieve similar results:

Lift Kit

• Tema4x4 Complete Lift Kit 30mm – For Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Roof Rack

See Also

Lifted 1997 Suzuki Sierra SJ80 Off-Road Build on 31″ M/Ts – Big Fun in a Tiny Package

• ERKUL Roof Rack Cross Bars – For Mercedes Benz GLK 350 2009-2015
• YAKIMA OffGrid Roof Cargo Basket – Available in Two Sizes

Roof Top Tent

• Thule Tepui Foothill Low-Profile Rooftop Tent (2 Person) – Light Tent for Compact Crossovers

Awning

• DANCHEL OUTDOOR Overland Awning (5×8.2ft) – Pull-out style

LED Lights

• Baja Designs Squadron Sport LED – Yellow Driving/Combo

Hitch

• Draw-Tite 75774 Max-Frame Receiver – 2″ Receiver for Towing and Off-road Accessories

*Before ordering any part or accessory, it is recommended that you verify its fitment with a qualified professional and/or seller. We are not responsible for fitment or other issues that may arise from using the products featured on our website.

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