Glad to meet another engineer with extensive towing experience.

Yes, the USA is tort happy. I would be aware of my insurance policies towing there (whether or not I was towing over the manufacturer's published load limit). In my simplistic way, I assumed that the overweight trailer would have to be a contributing factor to an accident, and that the simple existence of such trailer would not apportion blame. But then I am not a lawyer.

The thread started with questions about whether the X5 could tow the recommended limit of 6000 lbs. I think it can, and the examples of pushing that limit were to show that the 6000 lb load is very doable, not to recommend that everyone should overload their vehicle. When I have had to move an overweight load, it has been slowly, with precautions up to and including pilot vehicles. I think there is a big difference between a prepared driver towing a heavy load and an unprepared driver towing the same load, whether that load is just under or just over (or way over) the published maximum for the vehicle.

Cheers

Jeff

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue