That last sentence is very important... If you choose to knowingly go over the weight limit and there is an incident, I wonder if any insurance company will pick up the tab.

Removing the Back seat cushion is easy and wil save a few pounds.

I'd wager it's a 7,000 gross wt tandem axle trailer he's talking about. 3,500 lb axles are a very common axle rating, and it wouldn't surprise me if the tire load ratings are commensurate with that axle. Trailer tires, especially with a few years under their belts (:bustingup) are kinda notorious for failing if tire pressure is even a bit low. Regardless of your decisions, I suggest being all kinds of anal about checking them yourself and don't run even a little bit below max pressure on the sidewall if you are (and you will be) approaching the tire's design load. If possible, after you pick up the trailer, you can generally find a load vs. pressure table on manufacturer's website.

Second, check them often if you don't have a portable tire pressure monitoring system (spendy, so likely not, but for those who tow often, I'll tell ya what, I wouldn't be without mine). If one tire fails you may not be aware of it, but then the other will fail very shortly thereafter, and you will then be acutely aware of it. And it sucks to be on the side of he road near "Thumbnail, Nebraska" waiting on the rental company to get it unscrewed.

Thanks for the responses gents. I'm still not sure if I'm going to risk it.

I was figuring towing the car would take away about 2mpg (26' deisel Penske). There websit says "up to 12mpg" so I was figuring 10mpg (no trailer). With trailer 8 mpg. Seem about right?

If so, traveling 2900+ miles it will cost me anoth $270 in gas pulling the trailer. $270 + $430 for trailer means I'm at $700. If I can ship for $1,000 it might be worth it. As I'm talking to these shipping companies though they all seem like a scam.

I think you should just drive the X. I did a 6600 mile trip in my M3 and it was my best memory to date.

There should be trailers available with higher ratings, but I think you would be fine.

How much stuff do you have? Did you think about using the X to tow a uhaul trailer? A lot cheaper!

As far as shipping, I think you are likely going to be above $1000. The good companies are more expensive.

Good luck...

Most of these shipping companies are a joke. Be very careful. Check bbb on them. Check how long they have been around. Stuff like that. I hear horror stories sometimes.

You gave Civdiv99 a mental visual of "Bubba" wheelin' around in dude's X5......

6531 is MOS I presume. Aviation(ish) right?

San Diego - so, what, travelling from Mirimar then?