hi - and a question about towing

[sharon small]

Hi Everyone - what a great idea to have a site like this. Thank you!  I am hoping that RV doesn't just mean campers with motors. 

I have a question - we would like to tow a travel trailer with a max loaded weight of about 5100 lbs with a BMW X5 rated for 6000 lbs.

Would love to hear from anyone who tows with that vehicle as we haven'g bought either the RV or the trailer yet - trying to do our homework!! 

Sharon

 

[SeilerBird]

I am hoping that RV doesn't just mean campers with motors. 

Hi Sharon - In my opinion RV stands for recreational vehicle. Personally I feel if you have a tent that you drive to a campground in your car it is a recreational vehicle. If you look at the first page of the forum you will notice we have a complete section for campers. Everyone is welcome here.

 

[Wizard46]

SeilerBird said it right, everyone is WELCOME no matter if they don't even own an RV

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

5100 lbs is likely about the max you want to tow with the X5. You have to depreciate the tow capacity somewhat to allow for the weight of passengers in the SUV and the weight of the hitch itself. Besides, running right at the max limit tends to be a maximum stress scenario, for both vehicle and passengers.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Hi Sharon -

I think you'll be pushing the capacity of the X5 with a 5100 lb. trailer.

Like Gary mentioned, you have to deduct the weight of the hitch, cargo and occupants in the car itself from the maximum tow rating.  Every pound you add to the tow vehicle deducts a like amount from the towing capacity, and the ratings are figured using a single 150 lb. driver and a tank of gas, nothing else in the car.

The other factor is the frontal area of the trailer.  The towing capacity of most SUVs is computed using a trailer with a relatively small frontal area, like a utility or boat trailer that mostly slipstreams behind the SUV.  A house trailer is significantly taller and wider, which means it has more wind resistance to move down the road.

If the trailer is already close to your car's weight limit, there's not much extra power to make up for the higher wind resistance and towing won't be very enjoyable.

 

[sharon small]

Thank you very much.  I would appreciate your advice on any other options.  This will be my primary vehicle and I really prefer not to have it be as big as a full size SUV, such as a suburban, or a pick up.  What is the max weight you think would be comfortable to tow with the X5 or another 6000 max vehicle? We could always consider a smaller travel trailer! 

And on that subject......  we like to tent camp but are retiring and hope to travel for extended periods, mostly camping but some hotel stays thrown in.  We are considering trailers from about 20' to 26' and will  likely set up the tent too as an extra space.  In your experience, will we be happy with a 20 foot trailer with nice bathroom and bed, and small sitting area and kitchen, or are we likely to outgrow/regret that soon?  Trying to avoid too many mistakes here!  There are Soooo many options it is a bit overwhelming.  Thanks for letting us benefit from your experience.

 

[Michael Holden]

I am only mentioning this to help us all (myself included) sort through the advice and hopefully end up with accurate info.
Every vehicle including SUVs has a rated Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), that's the most it should ever weight driving down the road (inluding gas, passengers, cargo, option equiptment, etc.). If an SUV's actual weight plus the tongue weight of the trailer, is less than the rated GVW then I am inclined to believe that the SUV could tow a trailer weighing up to its rated tow capacity.
If on the other hand there is a rated Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGVW), the total max weight of the SUV and the trailer combined, that is LESS than the sums of the two individual (SUV, trailer) GVW's, well then yes, some reduction in cargo would be necessary.
At any rate there are lots of "ultralight" travel trailers (in your length range) out there that are designed specifically to be towed by SUV's. Some even have sharply sloped front ends to aid aerodynamics. So head straight to the Capacities/Specifications sections of your SUV's owner's manual and double check all those ratings.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Michael, every vehicle that is rated to tow a trailer has a Gross Combination Weight Rating by definition, whether it's widely published or not.

That's how the towing capacity is determined - by subtracting the tow vehicle's weight from it's GCWR.

The problem is the published tow ratings are as large as the manufacturers can make them for competitive advantage.  So they use the lightest tow vehicle weight they can get away with - a stripped, no option vehicle with one 150 lb. driver and half a tank of gas.

Every pound you add to the tow vehicle beyond those weights has to subtract a like amount from the allowable trailer weight, or you'll exceed the GCWR.

And staying within the GCWR doesn't address the difference in wind resistance between towing a standard, 60 square ft. frontal area test trailer (think U-haul, horse or boat trailer) versus the usual 80-110 sq. ft. frontal area house trailer.

Being at or near the GCWR will allow adequate performance with a low drag trailer that's largely slipstreaming behind the tow vehicle, not so much when towing a wide and high box.

 

[muskoka guy]

Another factor to consider is the size of the hitch on the vehicle. Say you bought a used vehicle that someone had put a light duty hitch to pull a seadoo or something. Just because the vehicle is rated for x number of pounds , doesnt always mean the hitch on it is. You have to match the hitch size as well to the vehicle and trailer you want to pull.

 

[Molaker]

And then there is wheelbase to consider.  Commonly SUVs have a short wheelbase, especially in the "cross-over" classes.  A short wheelbase can result in the tail wagging the dog when it comes to towing, particularly in emergency stops.  I believe the BMW X5 would fall in that category and should, IMHO, dictate leaning toward the lighter side when selecting a trailer.

 

[Wavery]

Sharon, you might want to take a look at the TrailManor trailers. I actually have one that I am currently selling because we bought a M/H.

The 2720SL TrailManor is like towing a 3500# low profile trailer but is sets up into a 27' hard-sided travel trailer. We've owned 2 of them over that last 8 years. We love it but we are just getting too old for it. It would be an ideal trailer for the X5....... you would barely know that it's there and it would only decrease your regular gas mileage by a few MPG.

http://www.trailmanor.com/

 

[Michael Holden]

More food for thought. All gleened from online sources within minutes so I didn't take time to find matching "years" but I bet it doesn't change things much.

                                                                                      2009 BMW x5                                                          2012 Ford F-150
HP                                                                                      260 - 555*                                                                      302
curb wt.                                                                                5,368                                                                          4,685
GVW                                                                                      6,471                                                                          6,450
max trl wt.                                                                            6,000**                                                                      6,000

Seems pretty equally matched to me, and actually the BMW is heavier so the "tail waggin' the dog" is kinda moot. Got an 80,000 lbs. tractor-trailer, which weighs more, the tractor or the loaded trailer? (Yes, I realize it's not apples and apples 'cause it's a semi, but still... get the point?)

* didn't know which model they have, powertrains vary widely as you can see, assumed basic model so used F-150 V-6 for comparison
**IMPORTANT nowhere in the 318 page owner's manual does it mention towing a trailer or towing capacity! I only used this figure because the owner had offered it. The only time "towing" or "trailer" were mentioned in the owner's manual was in reference to moving the vehicle if it was dissabled, towing it or loading it on a trailer.

Finally, this is a link to a BMW blog where owners discuss their towing experiences with their x5s.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=396163

 

[taoshum]

Get a MH then tow the Beemer... 

 

[dave61]

Towing a camper of that weight will be much better with a full size pick up or Suburban or Expedition. I could not tell if you have the BMW yet but if you don't you might reconsider that as a tow vehicle. Every year Consumer Reports does their automobile issue and in the 2012 they list the BMW x 5 in the worst of the worst category which mainly is due to reliability.

If you own the BMW already something like the Trailmanor would be a better choice for stress free towing. Reducing wind resistance for highway travel makes a big difference in towing. Towing a 5000 lb. boat and a 5000 lb. camper can feel totally different.

All things being equal towing will be more comfortable with a longer wheelbase. The reference above to the tail wagging the dog is more pronounced with lighter and shorter wheelbase tow vehicles.

Comparing the X5 to the Ford F150 in its least capable towing configuration is not very useful. Most people buying a truck for towing would select one outfitted for the task.

Good luck.

 

[wayzgoose]

Buried amongst everybody's opinions, there's a lot of good info in here...I think. I'm still trying to ferret out the relevant data for towing with an SUV, but I think I understand the relationship between gross weights now. I also appreciate the tip on TrailManor. I hadn't considered a pop-up, but now I'll have to take a look. Thanks!
Wayzgoose