Towing - Standard vs. Load-Leveling Suspension

[digdesign]

I hear you. I know that feeling when a trailer is light on the tongue. Not fun at all. Thanks for the advice.

The limiting factor is that I want to carry a spare for the X5, since I don't want to rely on run flats if I get a puncture while towing. Which is what had me thinking that I don't want the 3rd row. For daily driving I don't mind relying on run flats. So another option is to find an X5 with the 3rd row and just carry an X5 spare on the trailer.

It all depends on what I find on the used market.

[digdesign]

Originally Posted by Bayerische E53

One more thing, after reading your first post again I realized that you will be carrying spare tires and tools. Presumably you have a tire rack and tool box on the front of your trailer. All that weight is way near the tongue and exerts a larger force than if it were centered perfectly over the trailer axles (in which case it would exert zero force on the tongue). The longer your trailer, the more exaggerated this effect will be. With that setup, I'd definitely weigh your tongue weight. You honestly may not be able to offset that weight merely through the location of your car on the trailer.

How long is your trailer? Do you have a picture of it?

It's a Trailex CT-8045, which is 14' (20' overall). It does have a tire rack in the front, but the toolbox and gas jugs are in the back. I do plan on weighing the tongue and making adjustments. This trailer has the axles mounted on rails so, if needed, I can tweak the axle location to get it just right. I bought it specifically for downsizing so that I can tow with an SUV (I was previously towing with a GMC 2500HD Durmax) I'm confident I can get the load balanced.

Originally Posted by Bayerische E53

BTW, what do you race in; M3T?

No. The car isn't legal for M3T, it was built long before M3T was created.

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by digdesign

It's a Trailex CT-8045, which is 14' (20' overall). It does have a tire rack in the front, but the toolbox and gas jugs are in the back. I do plan on weighing the tongue and making adjustments. This trailer has the axles mounted on rails so, if needed, I can tweak the axle location to get it just right. I bought it specifically for downsizing so that I can tow with an SUV (I was previously towing with a GMC 2500HD Durmax) I'm confident I can get the load balanced.


No. The car isn't legal for M3T, it was built long before M3T was created.

Trailex makes really nice trailers. That said, Christ, that's a REALLY small one. I didn't think you could fit any 3 series on something less than 16' long without the ass hanging off the back! Regardless, that's super compact and super cool.

I went the opposite route. I just picked up a 24' enclosed aluminum trailer myself (not Trailex, though). All in, she'll tip the scales at approx. 7,400lbs with a full load. I'm going to try towing her with the X5. First unloaded (4200-4300lbs), then with just the car, 6,900lbs, and then loaded up at 7,400lbs. There are quite a few guys on this forum towing over 6,000lbs. One has actually towed a 31', 8,900lbs Airstream over 40,000 miles without a problem (albeit with a Hensley WD/SC - a hitch which I have going on my trailer as well). That is not a typo: a 31', 8,900lbs Airstream. Anyways, that's how I'm setting up my rig - if it doesn't work I'm going to go with a 1/2 ton. If other people are doing this successfully AND SAFELY, it's at least worth a try.

A little known fact is that BMW offers an option called "increased towing capacity" that increases the X5's tow limit to 7,700lbs (this option is available on both the E53 and E70). I just found out about this and will be calling BMW tomorrow to find out what software/hardware that option actually includes. A cursory observation reveals that it's all cooling and not structurally related so the chassis should be able to handle up to 7,700lbs unmodified. You could go this route as well.

I'm just saying all this stuff so you don't worry about the load you're carrying - your expected load is not going to stress your X5.

I hear you about your E30. Very cool car.

[digdesign]

Originally Posted by Bayerische E53

Christ, that's a REALLY small one.

Come on now. My mom tells me size isn't important

It's not as small as it sounds. Here's a pic of a CT-8045 carrying an E46 behind an E53. My trailer is the same, except the toolbox is mounted behind the axles.
FS: 2007 Trailex CT-8045 SB Aluminum Open Trailer with Extras

Your setup sounds great. Please post up pics. I'd love to see, and hear, how that works out.

I appreciate the advice. Thank you.

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by digdesign

Come on now. My mom tells me size isn't important

It's not as small as it sounds. Here's a pic of a CT-8045 carrying an E46 behind an E53. My trailer is the same, except the toolbox is mounted behind the axles.
FS: 2007 Trailex CT-8045 SB Aluminum Open Trailer with Extras

Your setup sounds great. Please post up pics. I'd love to see, and hear, how that works out.

I appreciate the advice. Thank you.

Your mom's correct! At least I'd like to believe so! Haha.

You know, I've actually seen those pictures - many moons ago - but I've seen them. I actually considered buying that trailer, but couldn't justify the cost at the time so I got a custom-built 22' open deck steel trailer for about $1,000 cheaper. In hindsight it was a stupid rationale because the steel one I got was bare; no tire rack, no tool box, no nothing. Plus, I'm currently trying to sell that same steel trailer - for about a $1,000 hit. Had I bought that Trailex, I could have sold it today for the same price I paid for it. Ultimately, I lost money by not buying that Trailex and, of course, the functionality of a tool box and tire rack. God, and what about the extra fuels costs? My steelie weighs in at 2200lbs or so unloaded; 5,000lbs with the car on it. Stupid error - you live and learn.

Resale is just one of the beauties of aluminum trailers and one of the main reasons why I decided to get a custom built aluminum trailer. Yes, the one I've got on order is pricey, but the justification is that I'll recoupe about 85%-90% of the price tag when I sell it on. And because the one I've got on order is larger than anything I'll ever need, it will have a long operational life for me. If I prorate the loss over several years, the hit I take is, relatively speaking, a lot softer than it would be with a steel trailer.

Thanks, I'll post pictures of my lash-up in about 2 months when I pick up the trailer. I've got a thread going in the E53 forum about it so I'll post them there.

Oh, and now that I've been on such a tangent, back to the answer to your original query: no, you shouldn't need a WD hitch or worry about overloading a suspension that isn't an air setup. That said, although not necessary, a WD would add a nice touch of extra stability anyways.

Let us know how you get on with the trailering

[digdesign]

I went through the same thing. I had a very basic Dively open steel trailer. Bought it new for about $2300, then sold it 2 years later for $900. I bought my Trailex used for $4500 and I don't think it'll lose much of it's value as long as I take care of it. Their values seem to bottom out in the $4000-4500 range.

You should be in great shape with that trailer. From what I've seen, enclosed aluminum trailers hold their value very well. Who built it?

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by digdesign

I went through the same thing. I had a very basic Dively open steel trailer. Bought it new for about $2300, then sold it 2 years later for $900. I bought my Trailex used for $4500 and I don't think it'll lose much of it's value as long as I take care of it. Their values seem to bottom out in the $4000-4500 range.

You should be in great shape with that trailer. From what I've seen, enclosed aluminum trailers hold their value very well. Who built it?

Yup, you hit the nail on the head.

inTech is building the trailer. Similar in concept to those below but with some personal additions/omissions (i.e. in-floor winch, tire racks, corrugated aluminum floor, and some other stuff):

inTech Aluminum Trailers for Sale | RPM Trailer Sales

Aluminum Trailers

[digdesign]

That looks sweet. I wish I had the space for an enclosed. Some day.
What are you hauling?

[Bayerische E53]

Originally Posted by digdesign

That looks sweet. I wish I had the space for an enclosed. Some day.
What are you hauling?

Yeah, storage for those things ain't easy. And, honestly, neither is the maintenance. Although aluminum trailers are supposedly pretty "maintenance free," when you buy something like that, you're really going to want to care for it. I'd give your Trailex the same attention to detail (but it just wouldn't take as long because it's smaller and simpler). I'm sure you know what I mean as I bet you care for yours. Aluminum trailers aren't "buy it and forget it" items regardless of the fact that many people treat them as such. I'm not really looking forward to week-long detailing/maintenance sessions.

I'm hauling an E46 325Ci (i.e. 32Slow) track-rat-dog-pig-thing. But I love her. She was my first BMW.

[digdesign]

I'm sure it's a hoot. The rattier the better in my opinion. As they say.. It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.