pics for link

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

xe

ssw

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

ssw

de

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

de

rf

[PropellerHead]

de

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

de

ed

[workingonit]

PropellerHead, nice X5 (blue is best, IMO, hahaha). I'm concerned about excess loading and the resultant tire & suspension wear that your extended bike carrier may end up causing.

Are your bikes very heavy, do you have air springs to help compensate for the added load, and have you considered using a small trailer (either an enclosed or an open type) that would help distribute the rear load better?

I used to have a single-motorcycle trailer that the previous owner had converted to haul three bicycles; it was 50" wide X 60" long (with a 36" tongue, IIRC), and it would've been perfect for your bikes, but I converted it to a 4'x8' squareback camping trailer.
"single-bed" frame used for size comparison

In your case, with the aluminum carrier sticking way out behind the truck, the carrier/bikes exert a greater load on the rear axle, tires, and suspension than if you were towing a small trailer (like shown in another of your photos).
see how the trailer helps ditribute the load

I carry a lot of tools and supplies in the trunk of my X5, pushing them up against the rear seat back, to focus the weight closer to the rear axle centerline. I have steel springs, not air suspension, but if I were to try to carry your bike carrier, I'd have to add supplementary overload springs (possibly Sumo or Timbren or homemade, like on my camping trailer), air shocks (if available for X5's), or overload shocks (coil over shock), like I use on my 2500HD Chevy.
comparison of loading


Though I don't carry bikes like you, I do haul my 2225 lb camping trailer, which exerts 245 lbs on the hitch (negligible behind the overbuilt 2500HD, but perhaps a concern behind the X5, if/when I install an AHM braking module or alternative). I sometimes use a "Weight Distributing Hitch" (if camping far away or semi-offroad, or hauling heavier trailers (up to 11000 lbs, max), and would do the same behind the X5, because I can really tell the difference when the WDH is being used.

I'm just sharing my opinion and some experience with you, not being critical. Perhaps at some later date you might need to switch to a light trailer, and if so, could you compare the differences with me/us?

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by workingonit

I'm just sharing my opinion and some experience with you, not being critical. Perhaps at some later date you might need to switch to a light trailer, and if so, could you compare the differences with me/us?

I do have air springs. Towing or hitched bikes is the chief reason I have not replaced with coil overs.

The bikes are not terribly heavy. The basket is probably the heaviest at under 30lbs. The new fatty is next. All 4 together would probably be a little over 100lbs. It's rare that I would carry all 4, but I would move the heaviest ones to the front tray closest to the body, of course.

The hitch and the 3 trays are aluminum, so they are probably not over 50lbs. That swing away though is massive. I'd say it alone is nearly 50lbs. So, fully loaded, I am probably at 200lbs on the rear. While it is concentrated further outbound, I figure it's about like hauling a couple good size people or animals in the rear.

I have hauled as many as 4 bikes with my old carrier. It was also closer to the rear axle. But I have covered from Colorado to South Florida with a couple of VERY heavy bikes without a problem. Gas mileage does suffer by about 20%, but I attribute that to drag.

With my investment in this carrier exceeding what I can get for 189k mile 2004 X5, I am pretty married to the platform. I do like flexing a tow muscle though so if I can tow again I will jump at the chance. We are headed on a 6-700 miler later this month. I expect at least one bike in tow. Probably 2. At least two.

Amazeballs graphics, BTW. You could do that for money!