Curt S019 hitch - similiar to OEM

[X5chemist]

Hitch installation is coming soon.

Does anyone need one? RockAuto has a close out sale. One "CURT 13070 Class III 2 in. Receiver; 5000lbs. Gross Trailer Weight Info
Rear; (Superseded To 13162); Minor Fascia Trim; Drilling Required For Install; Temporary Bumper Removal; Main Body Concealed [Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty] (Only 1 Remaining)" for $58.79!!
Someone grab it!

[workingonit]

Though I already have an aftermarket hitch installed on my '01 X5, i've been following all the hitch, wiring, and module threads concerning the 2000-2006 E53.

I was going to make my cobbled-together 4-way wiring into a 7-way, so I could tow my 4x8 camping trailer (with electric brakes, because it's heavy, at 2225 lbs), but since I quit camping (and already have 2 trucks with hitches and 7-ways), I never did anything about it. The X5 could still tow it or my 5x10 utility trailer (never used since I got it 4 years ago), using the 4-way without brakes, which would be OK since the X5 has good brakes already.

The hitch I have on the X5 is the Draw-Tite 75492, which is the same design, as far as I can tell, as the Curt 13162,


which the Curt Numerical Trailer Hitches chart https://assets.curtmfg.com/webfiles/...Hitches_19.pdf shows superceded the 13070.



I never found the vaunted S019 hitch anywhere, to see how it compares to the 13070, or the current 13162 model.

Many have complained that the underside bracing bar, on both the Draw-Tite 75492 and Curt 13162, isn't needed nor looks good, but it is there for a reason...to help support the weight of the trailer tongue better. I also view it as a plus, because it will contact the ground first (instead of the lower rear valance/bumper cover) and force the X5 rear to rise up & over an obstacle (handy if crossing a ditch or even a speed bump, if your ride height is low).

But, anyway, every X5 should have a hitch, because what's a SAV for anyway?

[X5chemist]

I want a hitch for a fourth brake light insert. Or for using a cargo carrier. Mostly for transporting anything that weighs less than 500 lbs. For example, I need to transport a driveway compactor back to its owner. It weighs slightly above 200 lbs. I don't feel like trying to lift it up onto my truck bed. I did an engine swap on it. If my X5 had a hitch, I could quickly drag the compactor up a ramp. For now, I'll use the cargo carrier insert on my truck's hitch. Picking up the compactor was no easy task. I was by myself. I lifted the compactor using cinder blocks. Using two blocks at at time, I lifted a corner and went up a cinder block layer at time. Once the compactor was up on four layers of cinder block, it was high enough to slide onto my truck bed.

[wpoll]

I'm not sure what the Curt and Draw-Tite hitch's actually bolt to (the sheet metal aft of the spare tire?) but I sure wouldn't want to pull a very heavy load with either of them...

The factory hitch has inserts that bolt into the rear pseudo sub-frame rails and is a little more confidence inspiring...



But I'm sure the Curt and Darw-Tite are fine for bike carriers and other light loads.

[andrewwynn]

I have an aftermarket hitch on my E70 and it's bolted to the sub frame like the factory hitch but it comes out under the bumper.

It's great with the tail rack that folds up. It doesn't block the plate like the factory hitch with e53.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[workingonit]

The two hitches both bolt to the bumper structure, using the same holes as drilled at the factory (becomes part of the bumper, beneath the cover), with the angled support bolting to the crossmember behind the rear differential.

With a load being placed on the hitch (via a trailel tongue or a cargo carrier), the hitch tube will be leveraged downward, while the upward-angled support will be cantilevered up against the crossmember, adding more capacity, and stability. Both the 74592 and 13162 hitches are rated for 6000lb towing, with 600lbs tongue weight (with Weight Distributing equipment, as I ALWAYS use).

Nominally rated as Class III, they're in actuality midway between a Class II and III (3500lbs and 8000lbs). Regardless, I'd say that they both meet or exceed the towing specs in the owner's manual, at least for my '01 E53, with the M54. If you need more, get a 3/4 ton or bigger pickup, and a Class IV hitch!

[X5chemist]

The S019 uses the non hitch frame rail inserts. Photo credit to AVHemi. I would like to find the factory frame rail inserts. The two pentagon inserts have support for two more bolts each. I assume those two bolts allow the OEM hitch to reach the max 6000 lbs limits. Since the M54 is limited to 5000 lbs, the S019 is okay for my use. For anything more than 2500 lbs, I'll use m HEMI truck.