Prepairing for towing
 

I'm thinking about selling our f150 that sits in the driveway and costs me money, and prepping our 2001 x5 3.0 for towing

any weak points on the x5 for towing? Transmissions up to the task?

Will be towing a 4000 pound trailer and camping gear, I get 12mpg towing it with the f150 currently

I have an aftermarket hitch with a bar that reinforces it up under the x5, I use the x5 with a motorcycle carrier (high tongue weight) to haul my xr400 and ktm 200, lot better mileage than trailering it

oops almost forgot

I need one of those large round plug trailer brake setups for my prodigy controller and electric brake trailer

it looks like the bavauto kit is 200 $ does anyone know if that's complete and ready for a controller?


Or if the OEM trailer hitch kit with hitch + wiring is complete and ready for a brake controller?

looks like a royal pain to DIY it

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/BM...er%20Brake.pdf

i tow a 2k lb car trailer and 3 quads that weigh right around 400 lbs a piece so like 3200-3400 lbs and thats pushing the limits !!

and thats with a 4.6 i wouldnt even attempt it with a 3.0 !!

just cause they say they can do 5-6k lbs i really don't think they can !!

I used to tow a 22 ft. wakeboard boat with my 3.0 with no issues. Have factory hitch and boat trailer had surge brakes.

I currently tow a 6 X 10 utility trailer - it currently has 2100 lbs of rock sitting on it. Brought it home they other day with no issues.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 4.6/4.8 tows less than a 4.4 / 3.0 due to the gearing

Get the factory towing package....
 

It includes the hitch (best fabricated hitch out there for the X5), wiring, 6 pin round receptible, blank plug, and the interface box to literally plug all the electronics together. I pull a 5,000 lb race car and trailer with my 4.4 and it does great. 12 mpg at 75-80. Friend tows the same trailer as I have, with a slightly heavier car, with his 3.9 manual and it does fine too, though he does have to downshift for hills on the interstate.

Here's what I just towed for 800+ miles with speeds ranging from 65 to over 80:

I see you are using a motorcycle tray on your X5 Mega. I recently purchased an 06 4.4 without a trailer hitch. I believe i will be purchasing the OEM hitch and installing it myself. My bike is an 06 YZ125, weighs less than 200 lbs, much lighter than your XR. Have you had any issues with your current hitch setup ?

I had no problems, sold the x5 for something a little more off road worthy (jeep wrangler)