Travel Trailer

Imndeep · #1 04-24-2015, 11:43 AM

Has anyone her used their E53 to tow a travel trailer? I know max towing is 6k pounds. I'm in the market for a travel trailer and am asking what is the maximum weight realistically would you go with for a Trailer? I live in Western Washington which is Hilly and mountainous.
TIA

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Riggodeaux · #2 04-24-2015, 01:18 PM

First, do you already have an OEM westfalia hitch, with proper electronics? If not, very hard to find, and I would not trust an aftermarket hitch [given the necessary installation into the unibody construction] to tow even a small/light travel trailer. See the long DIY hitch install thread here for lots of info. Second, do you have V8 E53, and the fancy air adjusting rear suspension? The 3.0L, with automatic, is only rated to 5k, and the manual 3.0L is tested pulling over 4k lbs or so [I've hauled maybe 4800-5000 of hay and trailer, and it really tests the 3.0L in even moderate hills]. Third, these are short wheel-based vehicles [111"]. The sail area of a travel trailer means, with a short wheelbase and the relatively heavy tongue weight of a travel trailer, you will likely need a good antisway/weight distribution hitch added to the trailer [Blue Ox, Andersen, etc.]. Check out the good rv.net forum for info, and the airstream owners' forum, which has lots of smart posters. You will also need the RF Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller, as you don't want to mess with the wiring in an E53 to hard wire a controller. Given the stuff people normally carry in trailers, I would be reluctant suggesting anything heavier than 4,000 empty trailer weight as your goal. I've hauled big horse trailers behind Ford diesel pickups, and am about to buy a light 2 horse tag along we can pull behind my E53 and the CEO's diesel Benz ML350. It weights 2350 lbs; loaded with horses and tack, that puts us around 5k lbs, as much as I would haul even with the 6k rating. I'll see whether I need to install a weight distribution/antisway hitch - I expect I will. In short, E53s are not particularly well-suited to hauling their 'rated' weight, though they are fine for lighter loads and, with a proper WD hitch, brake controller, and particularly V8 power, are likely fine for occasional hauling of boat, horse trailer, travel trailer, etc. with a gross loaded weight around 5k or so. If I towed a lot at that weight, I would also consider investing in a tranny temp gauge and the possibility of a tranny cooler with an auto tranny. In short, you have lots to consider beside trailer weight to consider, but I suggest a 4k max empty weight is a start [and trailer salesmen never seem to know what the trailer actually weights ......]. Good luck!

Riggodeaux · #3 04-24-2015, 01:30 PM

Imndeep, you got me motivated to look at the airstream site. I would think a 16' airstream bambi, approx. 3500 lbs/350 lb tongue weight, may exemplify your sweet spot. See this guy's post on pulling with a wrangler with a WD hitch -
New 2015 16' Sport, towed by Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Airstream Forums

JCL · #4 04-24-2015, 02:57 PM

The automatic E53 was rated 5000 lbs up to 2003, then 6000 lbs from 2004 onwards. Look for a 4.4 for any large trailer with a large frontal area. Also, my E53 owners manual did not list a tow rating. The only rating was provided with the OE hitch, and is specific to that hitch. Outside North America hitches were sold by BMW with ratings over 6000 lbs.

Considering payload, you will need a WDH, and with one, you don't need air suspension. More important to get the front axle loading right than just get the vehicle level. Payload ratings are real limits IMO, unlike the tow rating.

The E53 tows very well. The short distance from the rear axle to the hitch ball matters more than the wheelbase. Recommend the OE hitch, and if you need to wire up the brake controller the instructions are listed here.

Air forums is a good resource if you can get past those who promote a one ton pickup for towing anything.

Look at posts here and on air forums by poster withidl. He used a 4.4 for years with a 31' Airstream with great results, including over mountain passes. My towing with a 3.0 included box trailers, enclosed trailers, a mobile boom lift, and a flat deck designed for construction equipment.

http://www.xoutpost.com/942426-post16.html

Jeff

Imndeep · #5 04-24-2015, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

First, do you already have an OEM westfalia hitch, with proper electronics? If not, very hard to find, and I would not trust an aftermarket hitch [given the necessary installation into the unibody construction] to tow even a small/light travel trailer. See the long DIY hitch install thread here for lots of info. Second, do you have V8 E53, and the fancy air adjusting rear suspension? The 3.0L, with automatic, is only rated to 5k, and the manual 3.0L is tested pulling over 4k lbs or so [I've hauled maybe 4800-5000 of hay and trailer, and it really tests the 3.0L in even moderate hills]. Third, these are short wheel-based vehicles [111"]. The sail area of a travel trailer means, with a short wheelbase and the relatively heavy tongue weight of a travel trailer, you will likely need a good antisway/weight distribution hitch added to the trailer [Blue Ox, Andersen, etc.]. Check out the good rv.net forum for info, and the airstream owners' forum, which has lots of smart posters. You will also need the RF Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller, as you don't want to mess with the wiring in an E53 to hard wire a controller. Given the stuff people normally carry in trailers, I would be reluctant suggesting anything heavier than 4,000 empty trailer weight as your goal. I've hauled big horse trailers behind Ford diesel pickups, and am about to buy a light 2 horse tag along we can pull behind my E53 and the CEO's diesel Benz ML350. It weights 2350 lbs; loaded with horses and tack, that puts us around 5k lbs, as much as I would haul even with the 6k rating. I'll see whether I need to install a weight distribution/antisway hitch - I expect I will. In short, E53s are not particularly well-suited to hauling their 'rated' weight, though they are fine for lighter loads and, with a proper WD hitch, brake controller, and particularly V8 power, are likely fine for occasional hauling of boat, horse trailer, travel trailer, etc. with a gross loaded weight around 5k or so. If I towed a lot at that weight, I would also consider investing in a tranny temp gauge and the possibility of a tranny cooler with an auto tranny. In short, you have lots to consider beside trailer weight to consider, but I suggest a 4k max empty weight is a start [and trailer salesmen never seem to know what the trailer actually weights ......]. Good luck!

I do have the 4.4 with the self leveling chingas in the rear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

The automatic E53 was rated 5000 lbs up to 2003, then 6000 lbs from 2004 onwards. Look for a 4.4 for any large trailer with a large frontal area. Also, my E53 owners manual did not list a tow rating. The only rating was provided with the OE hitch, and is specific to that hitch. Outside North America hitches were sold by BMW with ratings over 6000 lbs.

Considering payload, you will need a WDH, and with one, you don't need air suspension. More important to get the front axle loading right than just get the vehicle level. Payload ratings are real limits IMO, unlike the tow rating.

The E53 tows very well. The short distance from the rear axle to the hitch ball matters more than the wheelbase. Recommend the OE hitch, and if you need to wire up the brake controller the instructions are listed here.

Air forums is a good resource if you can get past those who promote a one ton pickup for towing anything.

Look at posts here and on air forums by poster withidl. He used a 4.4 for years with a 31' Airstream with great results, including over mountain passes. My towing with a 3.0 included box trailers, enclosed trailers, a mobile boom lift, and a flat deck designed for construction equipment.

http://www.xoutpost.com/942426-post16.html

Jeff

I planned on keeping it at around 4k, I don't expect to pack more than 300 pounds of misc stuff in the trailer. An Airtream would be nice but out of my price range. Thanks for the tips. I have the factory BMW Hitch as installed by the BMW Dealership. I planned on WD hitch along with sway control. a Trans cooler is a great idea as I have a auto. I hope that Camping World knows what the heck they're doing cause I'm having them do the brake controller install. My 4.4 M62 is a peppy engine, I just don't want to over stress the vehicle as a whole. After posting this I found another person here from the Great State of Washington that went on North Cascades Highway with his X5. If he did that, that is affirmation to me! That is a twisty turny steep grade both ways type of road!

I personally wouldn't attempt it, good on ya mate whoever you are!

Thanks everyone for their input, I feel more relaxed than I did about this.

ants_oz · #6 04-24-2015, 05:29 PM

My caravan (travel trailer) is 2500 kg (5500 lbs), and Tasmania is hilly, winding etc. The X5 hauls it like a dream. I've been towing boas all my driving life, and the X5 is an excellent mid-weight tow vehicle.

For my preferences a quality electric brake controller is essential - I run a tekonsha prodigy p3.

JCL · #7 04-24-2015, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imndeep

I do have the 4.4 with the self leveling chingas in the rear.

I planned on keeping it at around 4k, I don't expect to pack more than 300 pounds of misc stuff in the trailer. An Airtream would be nice but out of my price range. Thanks for the tips. I have the factory BMW Hitch as installed by the BMW Dealership. I planned on WD hitch along with sway control. a Trans cooler is a great idea as I have a auto. I hope that Camping World knows what the heck they're doing cause I'm having them do the brake controller install. My 4.4 M62 is a peppy engine, I just don't want to over stress the vehicle as a whole. After posting this I found another person here from the Great State of Washington that went on North Cascades Highway with his X5. If he did that, that is affirmation to me! That is a twisty turny steep grade both ways type of road!

I personally wouldn't attempt it, good on ya mate whoever you are!

Thanks everyone for their input, I feel more relaxed than I did about this.

You already have a transmission cooler. I wouldn't add another one. It is worth paying attention to the shifting of the transmission and ensuring that you keep the torque converter in lock up mode. That has more impact on heat than anything else. Use auto, but manually select a gear if you find it hunting back and forth on hills, just to prevent the hunting.

I would print out the relevant parts of the following thread with the wiring tips and provide it to the brake controller installer. That way he will take the signal from the LCM (light control module).

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ontroller.html

admranger · #8 04-24-2015, 08:01 PM

I have done some looking at travel trailers and there are some nice, all aluminum trailers out there that are way less than an airstream (and don't have the wood flooring of the airstream!). I tossed all my site when it was apparent I wasn't going to be getting a trailer until I retire. Just google "aluminum travel trailers" and "lightweight travel trailers". Tons to pick from.