Towing question, have read all the threads

[tetice]

Originally Posted by TowX

I think your challenge with the enclosed trailer will be wind resistance more than weight. I hooked my sister's 24' Haulmark behind my X5 with their 993 Supercup car in it to see what it would do. On flat ground with no headwind it would be fine, but at 65+, the wind resistance of the flat face of the trailer was like a giant parachute back there. And when I hit a headwind, I was down to 4th gear at 65 just to maintain speed.

I notice the same thing if I have the tire rack loaded with 8 wheels and tires. The entire set of tires is exposed to the air. And standing in front of the X5 and looking back, even the open trailer is so much bigger than the hole the X5 punches through the wind. If I tow with no tires up there, it's amazing how much better I can pull at speed.

Where do you live that you come through WV to MidOhio? I get to MidO twice a year, and to VIR at least twice each season. It's a very long tow (13+ hours from Chicago) but VIR is worth it, and the comfort of the X5 with Bluetooth and Sirius makes it easy. As long as I don't hit snow coming up I-77 like I did last month coming back. No fun towing when the interstate is just two tire tracks in one lane in the snow.

I expect you are right about the wind resistance... and I am about to find out as I just bought the trailer. This particular trailer should give me the best possible chance with the X5. I got a 20 foot Cargo Pro which is all aluminum, only weights 2500 lbs, has a V nose and a slope nose. I bought it used from a guy in Florida and towed it home yesterday about 350 miles. Granted it was empty but the wind resistance is still there regardless. I rented a Ford E150 cargo van to pull it home with which was an interesting test. The van had a 4.6 liter 255 HP V8 motor. Even with no trailer, it couldn't hold its speed going up hills in overdrive. Pulling the trailer, I disabled the O/D and was able to pull 75 mph on flat ground and maintain 65 up some decent hills (not quite the mountains of WV though). Anyway, the X5 has a much higher performing engine than this van so I am hopeful it will be okay. I expect 4 gear will certainly be required on hills.

I live in Greensboro, NC so the road to Mid-Ohio takes me through the mountains of both Virginia and WV. My tow to VIR takes me all of 60 minutes .

My next step is to install the brake controller. I haven't done that yet since my open trailer has surge/hydraulic brakes (which by the way are a great option to avoid the hassle of installing an electric brake controller).

I'll report back results after some initial tests. I may do a test even before getting the controller installed.

Tom
'93 325iS SE36 #110
'02 X5/4.4 sport
'98 M3/4


PS BTW, the van cost me all of $55 to rent with unlimited miles and I drove it for 700 - not so sure about that business model??? For $55 I saved a lot of wear and tear on the X5. With the trailer loaded I will need a brake controller so that will not be an option in the future nor would I want it to as that has to be the loudest street vehicle I have ever been in.