Towing an Airstream - Help me check all the boxes

[ARZ540I]

1000 Mile round trip complete with relatively no issues. On the return journey pulling the trailer up a 6% grade on I5 under heavy load i got an Engine Malfuntion warning indicating reduced power but did not notice any, Once we leveled out and reached the nearest rest stop i checked around under the hood and found nothing. Let the car rest for 10 minutes and restarted without any warning lights on the dash, No issues with gear shifting etc. rest of the journey was no issue.

Overall i think the X5 pulled extreamily well. On the way there the trailer was loaded, Food items and heavy propane tanks, The return trip you could feel a little difference with the reduced weight. I didnt have any issues really with side winds or big semis storming past me but i did encounter a lot of push/pull motion, thats something i will need to look into with my hitch set-up

I would like to pull the trailer with a full size pick up to compare the difference but frankly i felt the X5 did absolutely fine. I averaged 15.8 MPG, Not to bad all all, I really dont think the diesel felt stained at anypoint during the whole trip. I would like to figure out what the warning light could have been.

I need to invest in a good code reader

Thanks All

[SF2000x5]

Originally Posted by ARZ540I

I need to invest in a good code reader

Thanks All

Glad you made it back. Some readers will have that malfunction stored.

[CLS70]

Great to hear - thx for the update

[bono]

I am towing 33' Jayco 28DSBH with X5 35d. Around 20k towing miles so far. I have the OE hitch reinforced and using ProPride hitch, which eliminates sway. The trailer is usually around 7,200 lbs ready for camping (dry tanks), but recently I was very heavy 7,600-7,800 lbs going to Mammoth Lakes (too much water toys). We ended up going through Monitor Pass which is 9% grade in average. X5 did fine - I needed to turn off the AC, but that was OK, given how heavy we were.

I am using Carly to monitor motor, oil, transmission temps. Also I have sensors in trailer wheels and could not be relaxed with them

From my experience X5 is great tow vehicle. I would never tow with a truck. Just not my world.

Any airstream would tow better then box trailer. Your trailer is relatively small and probably just about to be able to avoid weight distribution. The next size would require WD.

Please let me know if you have any questions. You can find my posts on BF forum under kanar200 (as mentioned by ard).

[ARZ540I]

Originally Posted by bono

I am towing 33' Jayco 28DSBH with X5 35d. Around 20k towing miles so far. I have the OE hitch reinforced and using Proprietary hitch, which eliminates sway. The trailer is usually around 7,200 lbs ready for camping (dry tanks), but recently I was very heavy 7,600-7,800 lbs going to Mammoth Lakes (too much water toys). We ended up going through Monitor Pass which is 9% grade in average. X5 did fine - I needed to turn off the AC, but that was OK, given how heavy we were.

I am using Carly to monitor motor, oil, transmission temps. Also I have sensors in trailer wheels and could not be relaxed with them

From my experience X5 is great tow vehicle. I would never tow with a truck. Just not my world.

Any airstream would tow better then box trailer. Your trailer is relatively small and probably just about to be able to avoid weight distribution. The next size would require WD.

Please let me know if you have any questions. You can find my posts on BF forum under kanar200 (as mentioned by ard).

How funny, We just got back from "Another" trip with the Airstream +X5 Combo, Happy to report so far so good. Our setup is also ran with a Kurt WDH. The trailer itself is almost always dry when we pull it but thats 4200 pounds, The LP tanks up front i keep under 50% to reduce weight, I dont feel the x35d struggles at all in terms of power or stopping but i am somewhat nervous about the hitch weight as Airstreams predominantly have heavy hitches but like you said, there are countless folks over on the Air forums using X5's, ML's, touaregs without issue for many many miles.

I do plan on getting a monitoring system of some kind so i can see the Coolant, trans temp etc. That will probably be a size investment.

[CLS70]

Originally Posted by bono

I am towing 33' Jayco 28DSBH with X5 35d. Around 20k towing miles so far. I have the OE hitch reinforced and using ProPride hitch, which eliminates sway. The trailer is usually around 7,200 lbs ready for camping (dry tanks), but recently I was very heavy 7,600-7,800 lbs going to Mammoth Lakes (too much water toys). We ended up going through Monitor Pass which is 9% grade in average. X5 did fine - I needed to turn off the AC, but that was OK, given how heavy we were.

I am using Carly to monitor motor, oil, transmission temps. Also I have sensors in trailer wheels and could not be relaxed with them

From my experience X5 is great tow vehicle. I would never tow with a truck. Just not my world.

Any airstream would tow better then box trailer. Your trailer is relatively small and probably just about to be able to avoid weight distribution. The next size would require WD.

Please let me know if you have any questions. You can find my posts on BF forum under kanar200 (as mentioned by ard).

Thanks, just curious, are there electric brakes (or anything else) setup in the trailer?

[Mistercamp]

So what's the consensus here on hitches? Currently have a class 3 and was only $120. However, I may be needing something a little beefier. Are there any other options for ~7500 lbs other than the stealthitch? Not really looking to spend $700 on just a hitch.

[bono]

Yes, electric brakes with Tekonsha Prodigy RF brake controller.

Originally Posted by CLS70

Thanks, just curious, are there electric brakes (or anything else) setup in the trailer?

[bono]

Not sure, what brand of hitch you have. I have OE hitch which was reinforced to use weight distribution. Stealth hitch was advertising their hitches as capable of carrying 7,700 lbs (from memory - I believe they just matched EUR towing capacity of the vehicle), but then they changed this to 6,000 lbs. HOWEVER, Stealth hitch is not capable of working with weight distribution (even if you reinforce). I would think twice before towing 7,500 lbs with ca. 10% tongue weight without weight distribution. I think X5 is extremely stable tow vehicle, but why to potentially exceed axle / tires limits - these limits are much more important than payload / towing rating.

Originally Posted by Mistercamp

So what's the consensus here on hitches? Currently have a class 3 and was only $120. However, I may be needing something a little beefier. Are there any other options for ~7500 lbs other than the stealthitch? Not really looking to spend $700 on just a hitch.

[bfeng]

I have the OEM setup plus the Prodigy wireless brake controller.

Recent I added WD. I have it setup very ‘light’.
It is transferring less than 200 lbs (I can lift the spring bars without any leverage device).

This noticeably reduces porpoise-ing, even when pulling an empty trailer (2800lbs without payload). I don’t get this type of porpoise-ing with 2 adults and luggage in the cargo area. This makes me think it’s due to the dynamic load of the trailer and not the static tongue weight.

I have perhaps 2500 miles with WD, and no ill effects of the WD that I can detect.

Therefore I personally recommend WD when you are towing 3000lbs and up.