Aftermarket Hitch Installation - what were they thinking?

[UCrewX5]

Apologies in advance if this is an X5 of one of our members, but it does beg the question - was going the aftermarket route route really worth it??

[drex]

yep--

that's the "replacement" for the aftermarket u-haul one that used to rip off bumpers.. this is the one NOT to get. (its still the u-haul one).

go either OEM, da'lan, or hidden hitch..

[JV]

Originally Posted by UCrewX5

Apologies in advance if this is an X5 of one of our members, but it does beg the question - was going the aftermarket route route really worth it??

Looks like it was put on sideways. Not too purty.

I'll keep my eye out for that X5, noticed it's local.

JV

[tsagg]

what would the lower part be for anyway? seems the upper hitch within the bumper and the harness are adequate to tow.

[drex]

its the support to keep the hitch from pulling off the bumper

[diogenes!]

Don'cha just love the way the trailer harness hangs out there on the left

Seriously, if I had paid someone to put a hitch on the wife's X5 and came back to find it looking like that, I would be so PO'd...

Originally Posted by UCrewX5

Apologies in advance if this is an X5 of one of our members, but it does beg the question - was going the aftermarket route route really worth it??

[vendettabmw]

i justv got an 03 x5 4.6 and am getting a hitch from a member......is it bad to tow with x5 4.6..i was worried about the diff, and tranny etc?

[diogenes!]

Originally Posted by vendettabmw

i justv got an 03 x5 4.6 and am getting a hitch from a member......is it bad to tow with x5 4.6..i was worried about the diff, and tranny etc?

It depends on what you're towing. I tow a small utility trailer - full load total weight is 'bout 2,000lb. The 3.0 hardly knows it's back there. Someone posted a photo not long ago of an X5(I think it was a 4.4) with and Airstream trailer hooked up. Just a guess, but I'd bet your 4.6 should handle up to 7,000lb., but I'd definitely get trailer brakes for anything over 2,000lb.

[Intel55]

Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

I want to point at that guy and laugh.

[Intel55]

Originally Posted by diogenes!

It depends on what you're towing. I tow a small utility trailer - full load total weight is 'bout 2,000lb. The 3.0 hardly knows it's back there. Someone posted a photo not long ago of an X5(I think it was a 4.4) with and Airstream trailer hooked up. Just a guess, but I'd bet your 4.6 should handle up to 7,000lb., but I'd definitely get trailer brakes for anything over 2,000lb.

I would want to add a tranny cooler as well if I was pulling anything more than 4000#. Would be easy to put a B&M tranny cooler in front of the radiator.