Trailer hitch question?

[clubrcr]

I know I am new to this forum, but not new to towing and I felt I needed to add something to this thread.

Don't rely on the BMW's maximum towing capacity. A truck's wheelbase, weight and brakes have alot to do with it.

I have been racing for the last 12 years. I pull an enclosed 24' trailer with a Ford Diesel. The problem is stopping and swaying. Smaller wheelbase trucks are not ideal for pulling big weight, the picture of the Airstream shows nothing but how foolish someone might be. Even with level load stablizers and anti sway bars, I feel my trailer sway when the tractor trailers goes by on the Interstate. I am very smooth and deliberate while pulling, but during a rain storm a few years I slid through a red light.

All I'm saying is be careful

[ZDigital 1]

Thanks Clubrcr!
I appreciate your input. My intentions are for hauling my vehicle to various car shows within my state. (100 to 200 miles total)
Thanks again!

[eddybilt]

:xoutpost: ......... Brakes agre great for stopping the X5 alone....I wouldn't feel comfortable pulling the max rated capacity.After all we drive and tow well..... it's those idiots that think they can pull in front of us panic brake and think we can stop. Sorry for venting...I've driven a fire engine for 14 years and you would be surprised at some of the things people do infront of a heavy rigg... ....especially those cell phone users....

[JCL]

Originally Posted by clubrcr

I know I am new to this forum, but not new to towing and I felt I needed to add something to this thread.

Don't rely on the BMW's maximum towing capacity. A truck's wheelbase, weight and brakes have alot to do with it.

I have been racing for the last 12 years. I pull an enclosed 24' trailer with a Ford Diesel. The problem is stopping and swaying. Smaller wheelbase trucks are not ideal for pulling big weight, the picture of the Airstream shows nothing but how foolish someone might be. Even with level load stablizers and anti sway bars, I feel my trailer sway when the tractor trailers goes by on the Interstate. I am very smooth and deliberate while pulling, but during a rain storm a few years I slid through a red light.

All I'm saying is be careful

Welcome to the forum. From your profile, I am not sure what model X5 you may have, or what your towing experience with it may be.

I have towed extensively with Ford 3/4 ton pickups, Explorers and Expeditions, and my current X5. I also drove F350 4x4 and F450 Super Duty tow trucks (boom and wheel lifts). By design, those trucks didn't have the benefit of trailer brakes, since they were usually towing disabled vehicles or one-time movements of trailers that didn't have functioning brakes.

While towing with lightweight short wheelbase tow vehicles should be approached cautiously, I would not put the X5 in that category. It isn't a CJ or YJ. The most important design characteristic of the X5 with respect to towing (apart from the generally good vehicle handling) is the distance from the rear axle centreline to the hitch ball. That distance is very short. Most US pickups have much greater distances, meaning that the trailer can 'wag' the truck much more. That is where your sway is coming from. It is the reason why 5th wheels tow very differently than conventional trailers.

Suggest you try towing with an X5, and report back on the experience. I feel very safe at 5000 lbs with my 3.0, as long as the trailer has brakes. As always, towing needs to be approached with due care and consideration, but I don't think it is reasonable to dismiss the X5 purely on wheelbase.

Just my $0.02.

[Sterling]

would an 02 3.0 be able to tow a trailer with 2 seadoo's? I'm not sure of the total weight probably less than 1800 lbs and tongue weight under 500......

[X5 in AK]

I recently bought an OEM hitch from the dealer in Anchorage. $495 for the hitch, AND the wiring harness/module. It all came together in the same box. Any dealer that is trying to charge you extra for the wiring harness and module is pulling a fast one on you. The OEM hitch is a very high quality unit that is worth the extra couple hundred bucks over the aftermarket ones.

As far a towing with an X5, it can do it just fine, and it will not destroy your tranny and brakes if you use a little common sense. And change your tranny fluid. The reason, IMHO, that all these trannys fail is because no one is changing thier fluid. BMW is full of it trying to tell us not to touch it, all that does is wear the tranny out prematurely.

JCL is correct, the distance from the hitch to the rear axle is key, on the X5 its only a couple feet, on a pickup its about 4 feet. As the wheelbase on the X5 is only about 10 inches shorter than that of a full size regular cab pickup, it tows just fine.

Anyways, enough ranting, buy the OEM hitch and tow away! Its rated for 6500 lbs, and it will tow that just fine if the trailer is braked, and it will tow 2500-3000 lbs just fine with an unbraked trailer.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by X5 in AK

I recently bought an OEM hitch from the dealer in Anchorage. $495 for the hitch, AND the wiring harness/module. It all came together in the same box. Any dealer that is trying to charge you extra for the wiring harness and module is pulling a fast one on you. The OEM hitch is a very high quality unit that is worth the extra couple hundred bucks over the aftermarket ones.

As far a towing with an X5, it can do it just fine, and it will not destroy your tranny and brakes if you use a little common sense. And change your tranny fluid. The reason, IMHO, that all these trannys fail is because no one is changing thier fluid. BMW is full of it trying to tell us not to touch it, all that does is wear the tranny out prematurely.

JCL is correct, the distance from the hitch to the rear axle is key, on the X5 its only a couple feet, on a pickup its about 4 feet. As the wheelbase on the X5 is only about 10 inches shorter than that of a full size regular cab pickup, it tows just fine.

Anyways, enough ranting, buy the OEM hitch and tow away! Its rated for 6500 lbs, and it will tow that just fine if the trailer is braked, and it will tow 2500-3000 lbs just fine with an unbraked trailer.

Couple of comments:

There are two part numbers for the hitch, one with the electrics and one without. Two prices does not mean the dealer is stealing from you, it means he is selling the parts separately, possibly because he has them in stock. It is cheaper to buy the kit with the electrics, than the two separate parts.

The hitch may be rated for 6500 lbs, but the vehicle isn't. Mine is rated at 5000 lbs due to the Steptronic, and other model years are rated at 6000 lbs.

You can't tow 2500-3000 lbs without brakes. From memory, it is something like 1600 lbs. Towing more than that is asking for trouble. It is easy to determine the weight, look up the Sea Doos and see what they weigh each, then add the trailer. I am sure it is over 1600 lbs, but still any easy pull for the X5 if the trailer has brakes.

[Mark Blue X5]

One thing you should consider is the electrical plug that comes with the genuine hitch: Its a 13pin round plug that (In Aus) only BMW sell.
In Australia the regular type is either 7 pin flat or 7 pin round, and noone sells an adapter except- you guessed it - BMW - and typically that will set you back $280 (although that is Australian $, so that would probably equate to the price of a big mac in $USD... Ha Ha)
Cheers,
Mark

[windsor]

When I wanted to purchase a hitch, I was told by multiple hitch dealers that OEM is the only one that will work with park distance sensors. Electric brakes are another issue on our X5's, but it can be done with a bit more effort than most other vehicles.

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by windsor

When I wanted to purchase a hitch, I was told by multiple hitch dealers that OEM is the only one that will work with park distance sensors.

really? is that true?