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-   -   New Trailer Hitch Installation Question (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/112489-new-trailer-hitch-installation-question.html)

ThomHart 10-08-2020 12:08 PM

New Trailer Hitch Installation Question
 
Was fortunate to get an elusive trailer hitch for my '05 X5 and installed it this past week. Got it from timmyc and would recommend him for anything in the future. All the parts were there, packed nicely with no damage, and he thew in some extra nuts and bolts from surrounding area. Price was fair and transaction was painless. Was a little worried because I knew it would be a few months before I got back to NJ to install but in the end no surprises or missing unobtainable parts. Job was involved but not too bad; big thanks to X5Boise and prepatrick for their great tutorials. Didn't come with Westphalia ball assembly which was neither offered nor expected, but therein lies my question. Can I use any standard ball assembly? Looks like I can but just wanted to be sure I don't need to source it from Westphalia. Thought please. Cheers, Thom

mike325ci 10-08-2020 12:20 PM

You mean the hitch ball mount? Any standard 2" will do. I'm using the Curt 45036 rated for 7500 lbs.

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ThomHart 10-08-2020 12:25 PM

Yes, the ball mount. And thanks, assumed it was what you suggest.

Bdc101 10-08-2020 01:11 PM

You just want to make sure you get the proper height so your trailer can be as level as possible. You may find you need a higher or lower offset than you expect.



What are you towing? I use my 2003 3.0i (also a manual trans) to tow my camper trailer in the summers for the past three years. It's a surprisingly good tow vehicle, though it could use a bit more guts to get up hills.

jk715 10-08-2020 05:38 PM

Also, if you have LED lights on your trailer you will need to get an adapter that has built in resistors to account for the low draw from LED's.

srmmmm 10-08-2020 09:06 PM

:iagree: My trailer harness and lights are enclosed in the trailer frame so I had to get a dual 4-pin / 5-pin adapter plug for the vehicle and add a small harness on the trailer with turn signal resistors to stop the rapid flash syndrome.


2002 X5 3.0 383,300 miles
2014 428i 71,800 miles


2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird Under restoration

ThomHart 10-09-2020 12:08 AM

Getting rid of my Land Cruiser which has only trailer hitch in fleet so need something for occasional utility trailer. Plan on a boat next year or two so will need hitch to move it from yard to ramps (mile or so) when that happens.

ThomHart 10-10-2020 09:05 AM

srmmmm, just noticed you are at 383k miles. I’m at 250k and was wondering how much longer I’ve got. Our X5 is just our beach cruiser now and based on your mileage looks like I can keep it running for a while.

timmyc 10-11-2020 11:14 PM

Glad to hear everything showed up undamaged and that you got it installed with no issues.

I can vouch for how well they tow. I have towed 2 different cars on a car hauler and the X barely knew it had something behind it. The 4.4 is an amazing little V8!

srmmmm 10-12-2020 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomHart (Post 1192895)
srmmmm, just noticed you are at 383k miles. I’m at 250k and was wondering how much longer I’ve got. Our X5 is just our beach cruiser now and based on your mileage looks like I can keep it running for a while.


Have you replaced the front driveshaft yet? That was my major show stopper, but it happened at 136,000 miles. There was no grease in the coupling in the transfer case so the splines rusted and stripped out. Nothing else major until motor mounts at about 350,000 miles and catalytic converters at 380,000 miles. I'm still on the original transmission fluid in the GM 5L40-E


2002 X5 3.0 383,400 miles
2014 428i 71,700 miles


2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird Under restoration

ThomHart 10-12-2020 03:18 PM

Nothing major on my end except sunroof and headliner issues. Had to replace entire sunroof as it was the version that was not rebuildable and the headliner started to come away from foam and needed to be recovered. I'm not counting the FOUR times I had to replace front bumper between deer and people backing into me but that wasn't BMW's fault.


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