Towing with an E70 4.8 vs E53 4.4?

[TowX]

Wondering if anyone has experienced the towing difference between an E53 4.4 and the E70 4.8. My E53 pulled my old open deck race car trailer with ease. This past race season I decided to get an enclosed 20' trailer and the E53 doesn't have enough torque to pull it very well. Granted the new trailer with car and tools weighs close to 6,000 lbs. Leaving the Step trans in 5th, it barely pulls hills without requiring a downshift to 4th, at 70 on the interstate. Not sure how other E53 owners got away with pulling enclosed trailers as some had said they were.

So I was wondering if anyone here had ever gone from a 4.4 to a 4.8 and how much more pulling torque was available. I'd really like to stick with an X5 but may have to look at some 2 and 3 yr old Touareg turbodiesels, or even a Yukon Denali.

[jeremym]

How about a vehicle made for towing so you don't put added stress on the X? Just my opinion, I haven't done any research on the specific topic at hand. However, I do have some experience with full size SUV's, pickups and mid-size SUV's with towing. The FS SUV's and pickups always outperform the midsize ones. Perhaps you can pickup a dedicated used pickup for towing for cheap?

I have never towed with my 4.8 but I'd feel much more comfortable with a full size truck rather than my X...

Good luck!

[blue dragon]

Not sure for the 4.8, but the 3.5D has enough power to pull 6k lbs easily

[TowX]

Originally Posted by jeremym

How about a vehicle made for towing so you don't put added stress on the X? Just my opinion, I haven't done any research on the specific topic at hand. However, I do have some experience with full size SUV's, pickups and mid-size SUV's with towing. The FS SUV's and pickups always outperform the midsize ones. Perhaps you can pickup a dedicated used pickup for towing for cheap?

I have never towed with my 4.8 but I'd feel much more comfortable with a full size truck rather than my X...

Good luck!

Completely agree. In the past I've towed with Chevy Suburbans and 3/4 ton turbodiesel trucks. But I don't want a pickup as a second vehicle anymore and would really rather not have a Suburban-sized SUV either. And for the distances I tow I don't want to get a high mile cheap truck. I'll tow 1,000 miles from here to VIR, and 1,000 miles back, in the same weekend, often straight through coming back. So I like being comfortable and knowing it's unlikely I'll have vehicle problems enroute.

So yes, an X5 is a compromise. But it's such a nice SUV to drive when not towing. I'd considered keeping the E53 as my daily driver and getting rid of my 528 instead but then I remind myself that it doesn't make sense to have to fuel hungry SUVs. Unfortunately all roads keep leading back to a full size American SUV like a Yukon Denali with the 6.0L engine.

[TowX]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

Not sure for the 4.8, but the 3.5D has enough power to pull 6k lbs easily

I'm sure it does with the sequential twin turbos. But I've set a budget of $35K for myself and can't get into a used 35D for less than probably $43-45K.