Attached is the manual I have on file

See page 2-6 for the load table and figure J, page 2-11?, for the hitch shaft dimensions. Finding one that short [8"] with the 4-5.5"? drop is tough, other than the OEM from a dealer or ECF? tuning.

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

I probably won't be towing anything really heavy, but you never know. I'd like to be prepared anyway!

Mostly I'll be flat-towing my VW with a towbar. It's a little over 1700 pounds. The tongue weight should be minimal to nothing since the towbar just pivots on the front axle beam.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...a49b1bd71e.jpg


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Long ago, I used a towbar like that to pull my vw karmann-ghia maybe 400 miles to have the engine rebuilt. Loved that car ......

Yup. The towbar is one in the same. I dig the Ghia as well. It's the sportscar Volkswagen never made!

The old air cooled VW's are a lot of fun - been fiddling with them actively since I was 16 and I am nearly 40 now. They are even more fun when you put some horsepower in them! (Hence the towbar - so I don't have to worry about how I'll get home from the track if I break something)


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So the oem uses a special hitch? Kinda glad the universal three ball hitch from my old 06 f150 fits the aftermarket hitch on my x5 lol. I pull my 2015 21' sea skiff just fine with the 3.0 x5.

On a side note are the aftermarket hitches worth anything? An 03 popped up at the upull recently with an aftermarket hitch and light pack and im wondering if its worth it to pull everything off and toss on ebay?

The hitch is definitely diff than the oem. it mounts to the bumper support and looks like it loops down and bolts to the back axle support? From a glance? The people that installed it also went and tapped in on the passenger side light vs what I did by tapping into the driver side light for most connections....though I see why in hind sight as theres nice beefy power wires in the passenger loom they tspped for the main light control box feed.

I just dont want to pay $50 for everything and it be $50 shipping when a new unit is $125 lol

Edit: after looking they sell new for $189. meh.

I updated Post 37 with a few pics
http://www.xoutpost.com/1025568-post37.html

In ur updated post is that an aftermarket lower valance or factory? looks neat!

stackz, you are a braver [or maybe more foolhardy? ;)] man than I. From the looks of the aftermarket X5 hitches I've seen, like that e30cabrio? yanked off his to mount the OEM, no way I would pull a 21' boat behind one. On the other hand, you new owners of OEM westfalia hitch kits will be impressed. Clearly engineered to manage the tongue weight and distribute the tow load across the unibody. That said, I'd stay within specs [the 8' long, 4"+ drop shaft] when pulling two tons or more. Do read the long DIY before you start the installation, and having two to lift and adjust the kit is very helpful. A couple of items are counterintuitive ..... also, think about your trailer brake controllers if your tow doesn't have hydraulic brakes [like the Uhaul trailers I have used to date]. I still need to install one for when I get a new horse trailer this Spring, and will probably get the RF 'remote' version of the Prodigy to avoid messing with the X5's wiring.

Stackz, O.E. parts. But I installed myself 2 winters ago and after 1 winter I was tired of the snow/ice build-up between the black bumper cover and beige wings.