BMW X5 towing question

[SKIDMARC]

So i got the wife a new to us 2017 BMW X5. Its got the Turbo Charged V6 in it. Towing capacity is over 5k lbs so it should be ok to tow the 21ft.

Anyone have any experience towing with this kind of car.

On a side note, never really been in BMW's but damm this thing is really nice!! I was impressed.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Across the desert or to the launch ramp?

 

[Blackmagic94]

New Qualified Captain video in 3...2...

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Floor it. It will be fine.

Or take the RDP standard advice and buy and F650.

 

[SKIDMARC]

Across the desert or to the launch ramp?

To Parker for the Enduro and local So Cal lakes, Pyramid and Castaic. Only 35 min away from those.

 

[SKIDMARC]

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

@Chestah Cheetah seems to tow his 28' Bullet with an X5. There are another couple members that use theirs to tow to Havasu.

 

[Riley1]

I had an x5. Towed my 24’ Lavey very well I installed an “Invisihitch” to tow with. I really liked the fact that there was no movement in the hitch.

 

[4Waters]

So i got the wife a new to us 2017 BMW X5. Its got the Turbo Charged V6 in it. Towing capacity is over 5k lbs so it should be ok to tow the 21ft.

Anyone have any experience towing with this kind of car.

On a side note, never really been in BMW's but damm this thing is really nice!! I was impressed.

Come on man, I know you see these things pulling x23's at castiac all the time, you're good, that said sometimes I wonder when I see a 23ft wakesetter behind one of these.

 

[SKIDMARC]

I had an x5. Towed my 24’ Lavey very well I installed an “Invisihitch” to tow with. I really liked the fact that there was no movement in the hitch.

View attachment 803365 View attachment 803366 View attachment 803367 View attachment 803368

Nice!! I like that you cant see the hitch.

Was the breaking and handling good?

I'm used to towing with my Silverado.

 

[SKIDMARC]

Come on man, I know you see these things pulling x23's at castiac all the time, you're good, that said sometimes I wonder when I see a 23ft wakesetter behind one of these.

I know and I always wonder how they handle. I don't really consider them full size SUV's and with a V6 even with a turbo I wonder.

 

[Riley1]

I know and I always wonder how they handle. I don't really consider them full size SUV's and with a V6 even with a turbo I wonder.

track width is something like 3" narrower than a Tahoe, but if i remember correctly, wheelbase is only 1" less. Handles very well for me. Hitch is very close to the rear axle, so a very small leverage arm meant that the tail didn't "wag the dog"

 

[MK1MOD0]

Well you can tow with anything ya want. But remember, the X 5 is just a tall 5 series sedan. So if you are ok with towing with a sedan then no problem. Just Food for thought

 

[SKIDMARC]

track width is something like 3" narrower than a Tahoe, but if i remember correctly, wheelbase is only 1" less. Handles very well for me. Hitch is very close to the rear axle, so a very small leverage arm meant that the tail didn't "wag the dog"

Thanks for the feedback,

 

[Mandelon]

There's a guy who tows a large DCB with a Porsche SUV. I remember seeing that at the Islander a few years ago.
In Germany they tow campers with X-5s. If you are under the tow rating you should be fine.

Change the engine oil more often than it tells you though... I would say at least every 5000 miles. A replacement engine is gonna be over $10K to install. I know this the hard way... LOL

 

[SKIDMARC]

Well you can tow with anything ya want. But remember, the X 5 is just a tall 5 series sedan. So if you are ok with towing with a sedan then no problem. Just Food for thought

That's what i was thinking too, but I see people do it all the time.

 

[sirbob]

Bill Auberlan tows his 36 (?) cat with monster motors. Looks crazy behind it but I hear he’s towed from Newport area to Havasu ...

I saw him in Havsu with the boat behind it.

I’m sure he was overloaded but it worked.

 

[SBMech]

First congrats man!

Second, just take it really easy, that vehicle weighs about as much as your boat, so it CAN get tossed around a bit if things get crazy, just don't let it.

It's the turbo inline 6, not a V6 Unless it's a V8 in the 5.0Xdrive

Lower the service interval to 5k, make sure you use a rated synthetic, you should be fine. Just use all the normal precautions like taking off OD when going up hils etc

 

[BajaMike]

Nice BMW! It will tow fine. Just go easy on the brakes. Dealers and most independents wont turn the rotors on BMW and Mercedes-Benz, so you need to buy all new rotors every time you do the brakes.

Congrats....great SUV...one of the best!

 

[floatn turd]

I don't know who this guy was.
But back in the early 2000s, some cat was always towing an Orange 28ft Carrara with an X5, back and forth to Havasu all the time.

I just seemed to always see that guy.

FT

 

[H2O]

If you haven't already done so, check out etrailer.com for hitch options and installation instructions...and when you are out of warranty, check out RaceChip's options for adding a little more power.

https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/ultra-26-owners.186320/#post-3030302

from thread above: Like most folks here, i’ve towed with a wide variety of vehicles.

If you stay below the rated maximums my favorite tow vehicles are German SUVs, due to their comfort and comparatively tight suspensions .

My first gen BMW X5 with sport package, rides really firm, but the boat doesn’t push it around at all in spite of the relatively short wheelbase . There was a guy in my local BMW club the pulled a 7800 Lb airstream 30,000 miles around the country with a 2003 BMW X5 ( that was only rated to tow 6000). I wouldn’t tow over like that, but he swore it towed his airstream better than his 2002 suburban.

Your F15 gen X5 has a softer suspension than the earlier two generations, so watch your overall tongue weight and Gross Combined Weight Rating, but they are still very capable tow vehicle if you stay in the 5000 lb load range.

 

[SKIDMARC]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Some stuff I didn’t know. I’m going to give it a try!!


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[Riley1]

My only regret was that I got zero return on this hitch when I sold it a couple months ago.
https://stealthhitches.com/products/x5-f15-model-year-2014-2015-2016-2017
I was able to install myself, in my driveway, in about 2-1/2 hours.

 

[SKIDMARC]

My only regret was that I got zero return on this hitch when I sold it a couple months ago.
https://stealthhitches.com/products/x5-f15-model-year-2014-2015-2016-2017
I was able to install myself, in my driveway, in about 2-1/2 hours.

Holy shit, $838?

 

[Riley1]

Holy shit, $838?

Close to 1400 with the wiring harness.

 

[SKIDMARC]

Close to 1400 with the wiring harness.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

View attachment 803423 Bill Auberlan tows his 36 (?) cat with monster motors. Looks crazy behind it but I hear he’s towed from Newport area to Havasu ...

I saw him in Havsu with the boat behind it.

I’m sure he was overloaded but it worked.

Bill is obviously not a member here. He probably gets a new X5 free after every trip.

 

[gqchris]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Some stuff I didn’t know. I’m going to give it a try!!


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Again, remember, its RDP here. Everyone will advise you need a 3500 Dually with AirBags. LOL...

I tow my 19' with my Explorer Ecoboost V6. Does great.

Except for my AC Compressor, but thats a whole 'nother thread! LOL

 

[Shlbyntro]

So i got the wife a new to us 2017 BMW X5. Its got the Turbo Charged V6 in it. Towing capacity is over 5k lbs so it should be ok to tow the 21ft.

Anyone have any experience towing with this kind of car.

On a side note, never really been in BMW's but damm this thing is really nice!! I was impressed.

My next door neighbor tows his G25 with his x5. I've been waiting for something to happen since I moved in, so far nothing

 

[Crazyhippy]

I tow with a Benz GL. Previous truck was a Duramax, and towing 5k lbs, the GL is a more relaxing ride. Used to be worn out pulling into Parker, now it is easy. If I start towing a bunch bigger, I will go back to the big truck... but stay below the tow rating, and the euro stuff is amazing!

Added bonus, the shorter wheelbase makes backing up easier!