Towing with my X5

DaveNW · #1 07-06-2009, 02:21 AM

Hi everyone. I've been away from the Board for awhile, but wanted to share this picture with you. When I was here before, everyone (including me), was wondering about towing with the X5, how to do it, what equipment to get, and so forth.

I've just returned today from a first-time trip in my X5 towing my 2006 Fleetwood (Coleman) Highlander Niagara folding trailer. This is the largest tent trailer Coleman makes, and is about 20 feet long and about 5.5 feet high when closed. It weighs about 3500 pounds empty. I understand the X5 is rated to tow 6000 pounds, but I was still a bit nervous. I shouldn't have worried - the X5 performed flawlessly. I could not be happier. It didn't get overheated, it didn't flinch having the trailer attached - in fact, I used the air conditinoing the whole time. If it hadn't been for the big white thing in the rear view mirror, and the slowness climbing some hills, I wouldn't even have known a trailer was back there. Even the gas mileage wasn't affected all that much.

The weekend camping trip was over Washington State's North Cascades Highway to the town of Winthrop, Washington. This route required going over the 4000 ft. Washington Pass in both directions. Some steep grades, and lots of turns. It's not the highest Pass we have, but for a first trip, it was fine. I wanted to test how the X5 would do, and I'm very pleased with how things turned out.

My rig is a 2003 4.4i X5, all stock, except for the staggered Toyo Proxes tires and Beyern 5 20" rims (8.5 front, 10 rear) I put on it last year. The X has about 48K miles on it. I bought the BMW OEM trailer hitch, and had it installed by a local "Truck Toys" kind of place, along with a Prodigy electric brake controller. Everything was installed by the book. The extra mirrors you see clamped on the X5's rear views are Cipa Towing Mirrors, (model #11960) purchased at a local Camping World store.

I'm offering this to anyone who is reluctant or curious about towing with an X5. Don't be. If you have the right gear, it's a piece of cake.

Pardon the pun, but I'm a Happy Camper.

Dave

X5Flyboy · #2 07-06-2009, 03:42 AM

the 4.4 is definitely the motor to have going up western mountains - frankly, I worry more about the brakes on the trip down (ie, Teton Pass into Jackson,WY, talk about steep!) - I try to brake on the straightaways and get off the brakes for the turns to keep the wear and heat buildup even to keep from warping the rotors

admranger · #3 07-07-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5Flyboy

(ie, Teton Pass into Jackson,WY, talk about steep!)

I can vouch for how steep that is. I bicycled (junk bike w/full paniers, etc.) up it as a kid 31 years ago!

The downhill side was way too much fun for words! Did the lower loop of Yellowstone before heading up the pass over towards Idaho Falls. Great trip. I'm too smart to do that now (and too out of shape). Scary roads with too many rental RVs (having big mirrors wizzing over your head is no fun).

Not having towed w/the X5 (I have a Chevy crewcab diesel dually for such things), can you use the manual feature of the automatic trans to 'engine brake' on the down slopes by holding a gear? I love that part of the Allison trans in my truck. Also, sport mode or regular drive when you tow (no, I didn't read the manual b/c I don't have a hitch or anything, just curious)?

DaveNW · #4 07-08-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by admranger

Not having towed w/the X5 (I have a Chevy crewcab diesel dually for such things), can you use the manual feature of the automatic trans to 'engine brake' on the down slopes by holding a gear? I love that part of the Allison trans in my truck. Also, sport mode or regular drive when you tow (no, I didn't read the manual b/c I don't have a hitch or anything, just curious)?

Kirk, sorry, I didn't see your question before this. I didn't try the manual shift thing because I was having good luck with running things normally. I left it in Drive, and let the equipment do the work. Heading down a steeper slope, I took my foot off the gas, and let the weight of things work itself out. If the speed climbed to about 60mph, I gently braked till it slowed to low 50's, then let it go again. I never felt out of control, or that the engine or brakes were being overtaxed. That was why I said it was like I didn't have much behind me - things were that smooth. Definitely a better towing experience than with my Ford pickup. (Love Ford trucks for heavy work, but this one just wasn't much up for the task of towing well. I love that the BMW does it better.)

One of my coworkers owns a 2002 M3, and we swap stories about our BMWs all the time. His comment after hearing of the smooth towing experience I had was that "No surprise. X5's have a tuna boat motor in them. They can haul anything." He's a fan. In fact, he says if I ever want to sell my X, he wants to buy it. Pretty cool of him.

Dave

Seabass · #5 07-07-2009, 04:50 PM

I've started towing a 16' Hybrid Trailer (Kodiak 160) this year. My X is a 2005 4.4i. I can echo your great experience. My fuel economy hurts a bit more since the hybrid is quite tall. It's like towing a sail. Other than the wind resistance, I can hardly notice the 3000 pound trailer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex-jeepguynw

Hi everyone. I've been away from the Board for awhile, but wanted to share this picture with you. When I was here before, everyone (including me), was wondering about towing with the X5, how to do it, what equipment to get, and so forth.

I've just returned today from a first-time trip in my X5 towing my 2006 Fleetwood (Coleman) Highlander Niagara folding trailer. This is the largest tent trailer Coleman makes, and is about 20 feet long and about 5.5 feet high when closed. It weighs about 3500 pounds empty. I understand the X5 is rated to tow 6000 pounds, but I was still a bit nervous. I shouldn't have worried - the X5 performed flawlessly. I could not be happier. It didn't get overheated, it didn't flinch having the trailer attached - in fact, I used the air conditinoing the whole time. If it hadn't been for the big white thing in the rear view mirror, and the slowness climbing some hills, I wouldn't even have known a trailer was back there. Even the gas mileage wasn't affected all that much.

The weekend camping trip was over Washington State's North Cascades Highway to the town of Winthrop, Washington. This route required going over the 4000 ft. Washington Pass in both directions. Some steep grades, and lots of turns. It's not the highest Pass we have, but for a first trip, it was fine. I wanted to test how the X5 would do, and I'm very pleased with how things turned out.

My rig is a 2003 4.4i X5, all stock, except for the staggered Toyo Proxes tires and Beyern 5 20" rims (8.5 front, 10 rear) I put on it last year. The X has about 48K miles on it. I bought the BMW OEM trailer hitch, and had it installed by a local "Truck Toys" kind of place, along with a Prodigy electric brake controller. Everything was installed by the book. The extra mirrors you see clamped on the X5's rear views are Cipa Towing Mirrors, (model #11960) purchased at a local Camping World store.

I'm offering this to anyone who is reluctant or curious about towing with an X5. Don't be. If you have the right gear, it's a piece of cake.

Pardon the pun, but I'm a Happy Camper.

Dave

X5Dawg · #6 07-07-2009, 04:54 PM

A few weeks ago I got behind another Alpine White 3.0 and he was towing a G35 drift car on a trailer - I could not believe it!!!

With that said, I used to tow a 24' Centurion wakeboard boat with no issues whatsoever. Got rid of the boat, but still haul around my 2900 lb. utility trailer loaded with stone, mulch, sod, or whatever the current project is. I just make sure to never exceed the 6000lb limit.

RickM5X3 · #7 07-07-2009, 11:58 PM

Great write-up.

How much of a drop are you using on the hitch? The camper looks like it isn't quite level. I went with a 3 1/2 inch drop and my Fleetwood Resolute rides fairly level.

2004 X5 4.4i Sport

DaveNW · #8 07-08-2009, 01:33 AM

Thanks, guys. Appreciate the comments. Nice to know others have towed with their X5's, too.

Yeah, Rick, the trailer is definitely a bit off level. (It didn't look that bad in person, but looks like it in this picture.) I hadn't tested the weight on the hitch till the day before, and learned it was too short. I had hoped that the load inside the X5 of coolers and camp chairs and firewood and whatever would force the back end of the X5 down enough to compensate, but it didn't. The X springs were too strong, I guess. The hitch is from a Ford F150 4X4 pickup I used to have (and originally used to tow the trailer.) I'll be getting a longer drop hitch before the next trip, now that i know the one I have isn't long enough.

Dave

Weasel · #9 07-08-2009, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex-jeepguynw

Thanks, guys. Appreciate the comments. Nice to know others have towed with their X5's, too.

Yeah, Rick, the trailer is definitely a bit off level. (It didn't look that bad in person, but looks like it in this picture.) I hadn't tested the weight on the hitch till the day before, and learned it was too short. I had hoped that the load inside the X5 of coolers and camp chairs and firewood and whatever would force the back end of the X5 down enough to compensate, but it didn't. The X springs were too strong, I guess. The hitch is from a Ford F150 4X4 pickup I used to have (and originally used to tow the trailer.) I'll be getting a longer drop hitch before the next trip, now that i know the one I have isn't long enough.

Dave

You won't ever be able to get that back end to squat... the V8 X5s all have self leveling air suspension in the back.

Weasel · #10 07-21-2009, 07:07 PM

There are a few members on here that tow within that range or over without problems. It is just a matter of getting the right trailer brakes setup, right amount of tongue weight, and proper driving technique. Should be just fine