X5 Pulling 5900# Boat . . . Awesome!!

[JCL]

Couple of comments:

6000 lbs was the limit in North America. The same X5 vehicle in Europe had a higher published rating.

If you cause an accident, you cause an accident. Just because your trailer is under 6000 lbs doesn't make you not culpable.

The X5 is rated to stop 1600 lbs of trailer. Anything over that requires trailer brakes. Bigger trailers have bigger brakes. Maintenance of those brakes is a key point though, because in my experience most drivers towing don't check their brakes at truck stop brake checks at the start of long grades. I drove commercial trucks, all GVW, with and without air brakes, and consider that brake maintenance is part of the deal. We got tested on pretrip inspections, brake checks, and so on. Not many jurisdictions require special licenses for towing, and perhaps they should.

Suggest that those interested search on withidl's posts, and read up. He describes his weight distribution hitch (Hensley Arrow), his Dinan mods, his shifting technique with respect to the lock up torque converter, and so on. You will keep transmission temperatures down by keeping the torque converter in lock up mode. Excellent stuff. There is a big difference between an engineer with a very cautious approach and a lot of prep work towing 8300 lbs, vs someone bolting on a hitch and heading off with the same load. Just saying. I am not recommending that everyone go out and tow that much, but it does speak to the capabilities of the vehicle for those that are worried about the 6000 lb limit.

Originally Posted by withidl

Regarding the transmission; use MANUAL mode. You want to keep the transmission from "hunting" gears to maintain speed. On my 2001 4.4i 5 speed the torque converter locks-up (direct drive) at about 62 mph. I use cruise control set at an indicated 70 mph in MANUAL mode 5th so the engine can be max throttled (by cruise control) without downshifting or unlocking the torque converter. Your 6 speed transmission should behave the same except the 6th speed torque converter lock-up may be at a different speed than my 5 speed.

The following was posted some years back; at last report the truck was over 90,000 miles, with over 30,000 of that towing the Airstream.

Originally Posted by withidl

I've made numerous posts on Bimmer.org regarding towing and the capabilities of the X5, but because a "picture is worth a thousand words" I'm attaching one of my assembly for those who might be interested.

Following are some statistics on the assembly:

BMW X5
*2001 April build
*All options except phone & load floor
*4.4i with Sports Package (rear axle has air suspension)
*Dinan throttle body, engine & trans software (298 hp & 350+ #' torque)
*Current miles = 60,369 (engine oil consumption = 1 pint every 6,500 miles)
*Hitch is the BMW OEM hitch (I installed it)
*Average city mpg = 13 to 17 (basis number of stop lights)
*Average highway mpg = 18 to 22 (basis wind direction)
*Average towing mpg = 8 to 12 (basis wind direction)

Airstream
*2002 (May 2001 build) 31 foot Classic Limited
*GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) 8,300# (have loaded it to 8,900+#)
*Tongue weight 750 to 1,000 pounds (weight distributed)
*Miles towed by X5 = 20,706

Hensley Arrow
*Towing interface (orange component between the X5 & Airstream)
*Totally negates sway via mechanical geometry (no friction involved)
*Incorporates weight distribution springs with jack screws
*Web site = Trailer Sway Elimination Guaranteed - Hensley® the ONLY trailer hitch guaranteed to totally eliminate trailer sway.