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  #1  
Old 01-06-2014, 05:52 PM
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Trailer hitch, OEM vs aftermarket

So here is a question I have been thinking about.


I will be putting an OEM hitch on my X5 to tow the car trailer and out RV.

Here is my question, the OEM hitch is higher or closer to the bumper centerline where the aftermarket units are closer to the ground, does this not increase the leverage of the drawbar trying to tear the receiver off the car?

I will be close to the 600lbs on my tongue weight and I want to make the safest strongest tow rig I can, this also work in reverse with a WDH I would think.

Just a thought, am I crazy?
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  #2  
Old 01-06-2014, 08:00 PM
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Why would you want to put an OE hitch on? There is a better alternative to the same price, an Invisihitch. This hitch is hidden, you don't have to cut the bumper, is rated to 7,700 lbs vs 6,000 lbs for the BMW hitch plus you can change the hitch ball height from the ground, especially handy if you have trailers with different heights.

Take a look at this (long) thread on BF 2013 BMW x5 - Trailer hitch recommendations? - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums
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Old 01-06-2014, 09:17 PM
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You have to separate the issues of hitch rating vs vehicle rating.

BMW rate their hitch at 6000 lbs, and the vehicle at 6000 lbs only if you use the OE hitch.

Aftermarket companies can rate their hitch whatever they like, but it doesn't change the vehicle rating. The important thing isn't the hitch construction, but rather the interface to the vehicle. And BMW is the only one qualified to do that calculation.

On my E53, the 6000 lb rating depended on the hitch ball height and rear offset from the pin. It doesn't matter if the receiver is positioned lower, you would have to offset the hitch ball back up to maintain the vehicle rating, if that matters to you. If aftermarket companies don't specify similar limits it shows that they aren't considering the attachment point to the unibody in their calculations.
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Old 01-06-2014, 09:22 PM
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also on the e53 and I would bet e70 the oe has burly inserts that go far into the frame rails and bolt in two places into the trunk.
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Old 01-06-2014, 09:25 PM
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Thank you for the response and I agree with you but I think you added a zero.

I am only wondering about the tongue load and not trailer weight, my trailer is under the 6000 all day long but depending on the model of RV I go with the tongue weight may approach max, if I happen to end up with full tanks over the course of a camping stay I may exceed the 600lbs and want to cause the least stress to my X5.

The aftermarket rate them the same 600/6000, I am 100% sure I am over thinking this but the engineer in me likes to think of stuff.
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Old 01-06-2014, 09:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by finnbmw View Post
Why would you want to put an OE hitch on? There is a better alternative to the same price, an Invisihitch. This hitch is hidden, you don't have to cut the bumper, is rated to 7,700 lbs vs 6,000 lbs for the BMW hitch plus you can change the hitch ball height from the ground, especially handy if you have trailers with different heights.

Take a look at this (long) thread on BF 2013 BMW x5 - Trailer hitch recommendations? - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums
You totally did not answer my question at all and in fact will end up causing me to spend money on an invisihitch lol

Ya its nice, great info in the tread as well and really has made the choice for me, its nice to finally learn why the Euro version gets the 7700lbs but still no mention of tongue weight over 600 on the Euro version, so I wonder if it is still 7700/600. They are two different forces so I can see the 600 being the max while tow weight goes up.
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Old 01-06-2014, 10:08 PM
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i have no idea about the E70 hitches, but i just thought a moment ago - what if i have a car rated at 6000 lbs towing, i have hitch rated at 7700 lbs towing and the whole thing is attached to the car with kitchen aluminum foil, that is rated at 1 oz teardown force... i wonder what my total capacity would be... hmmm

we should start numbering these tow hitch threads, i am getting too old and lose track of them... lol...
on the other hand - what is the price difference between the factory and aftermarket kits?
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Old 01-06-2014, 10:14 PM
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Well too be fair to me I did not ask about capacity or if I can overload it or how much can I tow.

I will be under my tow limit and under my combined limit and under my tongue limit, I was just wondering if the longer lever will put more strain on the car that's all.

Most of the towing threads are will this fit, how do I install it, can I tow 10k etc... not my first rodeo.
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Old 01-06-2014, 10:19 PM
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European trailers typically have much lower tongue weights (5% vs 10-15%) so aren't directly comparable.

I know the E53 hitch well, but not the E70. I don't see the same mounting reinforcements in the E70 kit as the E53.

Since you are in Canada, recommend you talk to Can Am RV in Ontario. Andy, the owner, writes articles for several publications on hitch issues and would know whether additional reinforcement would be required to deal with weight distribution equipment and your expected tongue weight.
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Old 01-06-2014, 10:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by conedoctor View Post
I was just wondering if the longer lever will put more strain on the car that's all.
Yes. Specifically on the interface point between the receiver and the vehicle. And on both BMW hitches I installed, the maximum dimensions were provided. Beyond those height/offset figures the bending moment will exceed the BMW specs.
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