Curt Hitch Installation Tips and Pictures

Weasel · #1 03-17-2011, 07:45 PM

If that is the one that has the big plate that bolts to the rear floor pan and has a drop-bar that shoots to the front to brace it against the subframe it was simply the absolute worst tow hitch design ever conceived and has caused lots of damage to many X5's. (and yes, I've seen this in person)

Can you snap a couple more pics from underneath and try to capture how it mounds to the vehicle?

JCL · #2 03-17-2011, 08:33 PM

Reese are still listing an 'updated' hitch for the X5. They bolted the original one to the rear pan. Look in post #1, second picture. You can see painted bodywork above the Curt hitch. That is what they attached it to. The Curt hitch is using the bolts from the bumper shock absorbers, but without the internal strengthening. The later Reese hitch added the fore-aft tie bar to stop the hitch twisting off. The strut attached to the bodywork up near the differential.

Photo below.

I wouldn't tow anything substantial with that hitch. It is a 6000 lb hitch attached the same way a 1000 lb hitch would be attached.

TiAgX5 · #3 08-05-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

Reese are still listing an 'updated' hitch for the X5. They bolted the original one to the rear pan. Look in post #1, second picture. You can see painted bodywork above the Curt hitch. That is what they attached it to. The Curt hitch is using the bolts from the bumper shock absorbers, but without the internal strengthening. The later Reese hitch added the fore-aft tie bar to stop the hitch twisting off. The strut attached to the bodywork up near the differential.

Photo below.

I wouldn't tow anything substantial with that hitch. It is a 6000 lb hitch attached the same way a 1000 lb hitch would be attached.

Anyone have any pics of this hitch after a failure? I have used the Reese hitch to haul a 6,500 lb trailer between FL and TX (1100 miles) with NO issues. Even running at over 85 mph on the bumpy and pothole strewn LA highways it has held up just fine.

JCL · #4 08-06-2011, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Anyone have any pics of this hitch after a failure? I have used the Reese hitch to haul a 6,500 lb trailer between FL and TX (1100 miles) with NO issues. Even running at over 85 mph on the bumpy and pothole strewn LA highways it has held up just fine.

I used to, but not anymore. The failures that I had pictures of were in the 2001-2002 time frame. My E53 is long gone now, and the forums involved have all archived their older posts. I did recount some of the history in this thread, and provided links, from posts 13 onwards:

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

Also, Weasel is a BMW dealer technician, and has recounted that he has worked on vehicles with damage from this hitch. I trust him.

Is your Reese hitch attached to the sheet metal between the bumper struts, or to the same bolts as the bumper struts use? All of these hitch makers seem to remarket very similar designs, so yours could be different than the current Reese catalogue picture.

Towing speed is not the issue IMO. Tongue weight, or the use of any bike racks/load carriers/etc that apply a bending moment to the hitch receiver is the issue. Weasel's example was a 2000 lb boat (including trailer).