3.0i Towing(ish) My R35

[workingonit]

I just returned from a 500 mile, five-day camping trip, where I towed my 2250 lb squareback trailer at mostly excessisive speeds, over two states. My '01 X5 3.0i stayed home, and my '04 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L did the towing.

I'm currently having a self-deflating tire(s) problem https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...bolts-e53.html, my fuel pressure regulator may be failing (or not), and the amount of gear I carry camping needs paring-down to transfer from my 8-ft truck bed in order to fit in the miniscule X5 trunk, before it gets to go camping.

Nevertheless, if I had taken the X5 instead, I would've towed at mostly 75-80 mph, regardless, just to keep proper spacing on highways, byways, and country two-lanes; if not, I think that I might've been involved in a collision, due to careless drivers failing to maintain even moderate spacing between cars. It seems like everyone wants to tailgate and/or gawk at my trailer from close-up (it's unusual, and different, and draws attention like my drag-race Chevelle used-to, when towed), so I have to speed up to maintain space, and avoid blindspots.

Though the X5 runs great, I'm not sure if it would've liked the bad roads, whoop-de-do road heaves, and overall tossing around I had to subject my HD & trailer to, while on the trip. If I could've taken the X5 (after sorting out the tires & FPR? problems), I still haven't converted the four-way trailer wiring to seven-way, in order to use the trailer's electric brakes (I relied on both those, my truck's 4-wheel discs, and the tow/haul transmission braking when someone would suddenly pull blindly in front of me on I-30 east of Dallas...3x).

But all is not well with my truck either, the transmission is slipping on takeoff in first, from a dead stop, but is fine otherwise, and perfect if using higher line-pressure in tow/haul mode. A little bit of Lucas Transmission Fix will solve that (it has worked before, 25k miles ago), but it was doing that before the trip started. If the X5 had been used, then who knows if the 5L40E would've fared any better than the OP's? The 4L80E was built for towing.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by workingonit

I just returned from a 500 mile, five-day camping trip, where I towed my 22250 lb squareback trailer at mostly excessisive speeds, over two states. My '01 X5 3.0i stayed home, and my '04 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L did the towing.

I'm currently having a self-deflating tire(s) problem https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...bolts-e53.html, my fuel pressure regulator may be failing (or not), and the amount of gear I carry camping needs paring-down to transfer from my 8-ft truck bed in order to fit in the miniscule X5 trunk, before it gets to go camping.

Nevertheless, if I had taken the X5 instead, I would've towed at mostly 75-80 mph, regardless, just to keep proper spacing on highways, byways, and country two-lanes; if not, I think that I might've been involved in a collision, due to careless drivers failing to maintain even moderate spacing between cars. It seems like everyone wants to tailgate and/or gawk at my trailer from close-up (it's unusual, and different, and draws attention like my drag-race Chevelle used-to, when towed), so I have to speed up to maintain space, and avoid blindspots.

Though the X5 runs great, I'm not sure if it would've liked the bad roads, whoop-de-do road heaves, and overall tossing around I had to subject my HD & trailer to, while on the trip. If I could've taken the X5 (after sorting out the tires & FPR? problems), I still haven't converted the four-way trailer wiring to seven-way, in order to use the trailer's electric brakes (I relied on both those, my truck's 4-wheel discs, and the tow/haul transmission braking when someone would suddenly pull blindly in front of me on I-30 east of Dallas...3x).

But all is not well with my truck either, the transmission is slipping on takeoff in first, from a dead stop, but is fine otherwise, and perfect if using higher line-pressure in tow/haul mode. A little bit of Lucas Transmission Fix will solve that (it has worked before, 25k miles ago), but it was doing that before the trip started. If the X5 had been used, then who knows if the 5L40E would've fared any better than the OP's? The 4L80E was built for towing.

While I was very pleasantly impressed by the E53's towing capability, I would have absolutely no interest in towing nearly four times its rated load. If I'm going to tow heavy, I've got an LBZ/Allison to do it.

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

While I was very pleasantly impressed by the E53's towing capability, I would have absolutely no interest in towing nearly four times its rated load. If I'm going to tow heavy, I've got an LBZ/Allison to do it.

There is no such thing as a 22,250lb camper trailer -- that was surely a typo. Even the longest fifth-wheels top out around 15,000lbs. I am guessing he meant 2,250lb. Which would be very easy to carry with an E53 or almost any cute-ute.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

There is no such thing as a 22,250lb camper trailer -- that was surely a typo. Even the longest fifth-wheels top out around 15,000lbs. I am guessing he meant 2,250lb. Which would be very easy to carry with an E53 or almost any cute-ute.

I think that toy haulers can end up there, but fair enough. I was wondering how a bumper pull would be *that* heavy.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

There is no such thing as a 22,250lb camper trailer -- that was surely a typo. Even the longest fifth-wheels top out around 15,000lbs. I am guessing he meant 2,250lb. Which would be very easy to carry with an E53 or almost any cute-ute.

HAHAHA...While my little, but heavy 4'x8' squareback trailer is about twice the weight of others, about the same or similar size, it would have to be packed with bricks inside to weigh 22250 lbs.


I really overpack for my short trips of 4-5 days, but I'm always prepared for most conditions (spare this & that, etc.). Sometimes, I bring double what I'd need for two weeks (a habit I'll cease doing, now that I have FINALLY arrived at the exact combination of items needed for my expeditions).

The heaviest load towed using my '04 Chevy was just under 10000 lbs, while hauling five large round bales of hay (actually bent an axle on the tandem axle car-hauler trailer), but my usual load was under 7000 lbs; my truck doesn't even feel like it's towing the 4'x8' trailer, on smooth highway, but the X5 probably would have a bit more trouble, weighing less, with a shorter wheelbase and less hp/tq than the 2500HD truck has.

[Henn28]

I will add that an upgraded AT cooler shouldn’t be too difficult to do if it keeps happening. Could be good insurance and peace of mind and a nice upgrade project. Lots of good mfrs out there.

I’m partial to CSF and installed their Boss cooler on my X5 project as my 02 didn’t come with a factory oil cooler. I’ve been very happy with it. It’s a two row cooler and absolutely bulletproof. Their Universal line of coolers would work fine for a tranny application and the Boss model is nice as it has AN fittings and mounting lugs braised in already and is reversible for mounting. AN plumbing would be the easiest for sure, and you could incorporate a thermostat into the line as well if you want to decrease warmup times.

I mounted mine out front, under the bumper like an X5 drift car…not really, but that’s what it looks like right now. It will be incorporated into a low profile brush bar I need to design and fabricate at some point. More like have fabricated since I don’t weld.

[Attacking Mid]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

AM, have you installed any external transmission cooler for your towing setup?

No extra cooler. From everything I read it wasn't needed (though I'm sure it also can't hurt). I DO change my fluid regularly.

AM.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by workingonit

HAHAHA...While my little, but heavy 4'x8' squareback trailer is about twice the weight of others, about the same or similar size, it would have to be packed with bricks inside to weigh 22250 lbs.
Attachment 82101

I really overpack for my short trips of 4-5 days, but I'm always prepared for most conditions (spare this & that, etc.). Sometimes, I bring double what I'd need for two weeks (a habit I'll cease doing, now that I have FINALLY arrived at the exact combination of items needed for my expeditions).

The heaviest load towed using my '04 Chevy was just under 10000 lbs, while hauling five large round bales of hay (actually bent an axle on the tandem axle car-hauler trailer), but my usual load was under 7000 lbs; my truck doesn't even feel like it's towing the 4'x8' trailer, on smooth highway, but the X5 probably would have a bit more trouble, weighing less, with a shorter wheelbase and less hp/tq than the 2500HD truck has.

The E53 is very stable towing. I remember a lot of speculation when the E53 was new that this was because the hitch is much closer to the rear axle than it is on many trucks.

I was also surprised by how well the M54 did. On the 6MT, I was able to cruise in 6th gear comfortably as long as the road was flat or only mildly uphill. (I dropped to fifth for moderate upgrades, and needed 4th on steeper hills.) That was with my race car on a heavy steel trailer - about 5,000lbs.

[7to3_enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I will add that an upgraded AT cooler shouldn’t be too difficult to do if it keeps happening. Could be good insurance and peace of mind and a nice upgrade project. Lots of good mfrs out there.

I’m partial to CSF and installed their Boss cooler on my X5 project as my 02 didn’t come with a factory oil cooler. I’ve been very happy with it. It’s a two row cooler and absolutely bulletproof. Their Universal line of coolers would work fine for a tranny application and the Boss model is nice as it has AN fittings and mounting lugs braised in already and is reversible for mounting. AN plumbing would be the easiest for sure, and you could incorporate a thermostat into the line as well if you want to decrease warmup times.

I mounted mine out front, under the bumper like an X5 drift car…not really, but that’s what it looks like right now. It will be incorporated into a low profile brush bar I need to design and fabricate at some point. More like have fabricated since I don’t weld.

Cool, this is something I'll look into if I have any more problems after the fluid change.

[7to3_enthusiast]

Created a new post with some more towing adventures!

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...3-0-could.html