X5 towing experience and fuel economy

[MudyOvl]

Whizzo, Thanks for the picture. I am still trying to figure out if adding a 3P/Hensley Arrow WDH would put excessive tongue weight on my hitch. There are a few instances of the 2" hitch tube being rotated due to excessive tongue weight.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by MudyOvl

Whizzo, Thanks for the picture. I am still trying to figure out if adding a 3P/Hensley Arrow WDH would put excessive tongue weight on my hitch. There are a few instances of the 2" hitch tube being rotated due to excessive tongue weight.

If your worried, weigh the tongue then. The maximum hitch weight is 600lbs on the X5. You can measure it using a 2x4 some blocks and a bathroom scale. https://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-...ue-weight.aspx

Adding weight to the trailer tongue does not translate into pure additional hitch weight, unless its directly over the hitch. Some of the weight is taken by the rear axle. Also adding weight behind the rear axle reduces hitch weight, so its a balancing act. Frankly with my trailer, I don't find it tows well with he X5 unless is at least 10% of the trailer weight. I added batteries to the tongue and water to the fresh water tank to increase hitch weight. Basically having a 9 year old kid standing on the a-frame aint gonna make your hitch fail.

In general you want at least 10-15% of your trailer weight on the hitch. I've never heard of a hitch being rotated because of excessive weight, but they can fail and they can detach from the car. A class IV 2" receiver hitch should be able to handle 1200lbs in tongue weight, well in excess of the vehicles suspension and GVW.

[MudyOvl]

Thecastle, Thanks for the input. I have measured my tongue weight using the beam and scale format and I am very, very close to the 600 lbs. limit. The additional weight of the 3P hitch would be directly on the hitch ball and that is one of my concerns. The other concern is the extended torque arm induced by the longer WDH system. FYI, BMW has a specification that spicifies where your hitch ball should sit with respect to the hitch pin in your receiver. I believe they do this to "control" the length of torque arm on the vehicle's receiver with respect to the tongue weight.

I do also agree that some weight is shared by the TT axles, but it is very minimal when adding weight to the trailer tongue. And, placing cargo behind the axles does reduce tongue weight depending upon the beam length using the axle locations as the fulcrum(s).

I am just trying to determine how much of the WDH weight is actually added at the hitch ball and how much is transferred to the front axles of the vehicle and to the TT axles before I invest $2K+.

[bfeng]

Seems to me that anything which significantly lengthens the effective distance between the trailer axles and your hitch receiver has the effect of reducing tongue weight thru the simple principle of a longer lever arm. If there is a WD that does this, it might help you with t-weight. My solution is going to be loading my race car backwards (engine toward the rear), and keeping the tools and spares to a reasonable amount.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by bfeng

My solution is going to be loading my race car backwards (engine toward the rear), and keeping the tools and spares to a reasonable amount.

This is what i do.

[captpilly]

Thought I would share a photo too - D loaded down with an apartment full of stuff ready to head from TX to CA - will be driving down around the 30th

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by captpilly

Thought I would share a photo too - D loaded down with an apartment full of stuff ready to head from TX to CA - will be driving down around the 30th

Nice! Hide all your "assault weapons" well

[captpilly]

They will have to work to find'em!

[dlh1228]

I regularly tow my 16' toy Hauler loaded with 2 ATVs and/or 2 dirt bikes, loaded with a full water tank, and gear. We have towed up 8,000 ft. Mountains and out onto the sand dunes. The 4.8is has performed perfectly. I use a weight distribution hitch and calculated approximately a 10mpg. avj. Trailer + all gear is probably around 6,000lb.

[80stech]

I'm going to add my 2 cents. As some of the previous posters have suggested, you are going to use more gas when you tow something, there is no "magic" way of getting around that. Towing your load safely and comfortably is the main thing, difference in economy will be a drop in the bucket no matter what your towing vehicle choice. In the end, it takes a certain amount of fuel to overcome the weight and wind resistance of what you are towing. period.