towing

allent · 02-25-2019, 04:17 AM

I have a sailboat that I want to tow. It is just over 20' long and the gross weight of the boat and trailer is around 2000#. It has a fair amount of windage, so anti sway is important to me.

It tows easily with my 8cyl Grand Cherokee. I am considering the 40i. The trailer fits within the specifications for tow capability.

Do I need the 50i to tow it for longer distances, eg 400 miles in a day?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thank you.

allent · 02-25-2019, 04:44 AM

I am looking at the gasoline versions of the 40 and 50i.

gofast182 · 02-25-2019, 05:49 AM

You're going to be towing at 30% of its capacity so I wouldn't hesitate to get the 40i, plus the engine choice shouldn't have much influence on sway. I'll be towing 4,000# with mine. With the MDX we traded I was towing at 80% of its capacity and it managed. I tow 6-7 weekends a year so as long as I'm within the capability of the vehicle on those weekends I'd tend to make sure I'm not spending more on gas the other 46 weeks.

allent · 02-25-2019, 06:08 AM

Good point. Thanks for sharing your experience. I will likely go with the 40i.

My Grand Cherokee has additional transmission and oil coolers for towing. I do not think the 40i does. I realized this is overkill, but I do not want to damage anything by stressing it too much.

Thanks again.

Mark609 · 02-25-2019, 07:48 AM

I have the 40i and it's plenty. Factory installed hitch is really nice.

My kick foot opener doesn't work which is fine with me. Not sure why using the key or the light touch to the rear button isn't enough for folks.

rmorin1249 · 02-25-2019, 08:41 AM

Does anyone know if ordering the factory hitch does result in any additional cooling?

gofast182 · 02-25-2019, 09:37 AM

My understanding is that it does not. Apparently there's enough cooling capacity for BMW to rate the vehicle the way they do without it?

Captain Gumbo · 03-19-2019, 06:22 AM

Just ordered a 50i with the tow package. My plan is to rent a truck when I actually need to tow, because my boat is way too large to tow with the X5, but I'm contemplating what to do if a hurricane is bearing down on Florida and I can't rent a Tahoe/Suburban type truck. Since I'm only about a mile from the ramp, I'd never get above 30mph, and Florida is flat as a board, I'm thinking in an emergency I could tow the Whaler. But I'm really hoping to never have to need to find out.

VTENGR · 03-19-2019, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark609

... Not sure why using the key or the light touch to the rear button isn't enough for folks.

It's useful if your hands are full...

02-25-2019, 04:17 AM	#1
allent Enlisted Member 7 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2019 x5 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	towing I have a sailboat that I want to tow. It is just over 20' long and the gross weight of the boat and trailer is around 2000#. It has a fair amount of windage, so anti sway is important to me. It tows easily with my 8cyl Grand Cherokee. I am considering the 40i. The trailer fits within the specifications for tow capability. Do I need the 50i to tow it for longer distances, eg 400 miles in a day? Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you.
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02-25-2019, 04:44 AM	#2
allent Enlisted Member 7 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2019 x5 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	I am looking at the gasoline versions of the 40 and 50i.
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02-25-2019, 05:49 AM	#3
gofast182 Captain 629 Rep 773 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	You're going to be towing at 30% of its capacity so I wouldn't hesitate to get the 40i, plus the engine choice shouldn't have much influence on sway. I'll be towing 4,000# with mine. With the MDX we traded I was towing at 80% of its capacity and it managed. I tow 6-7 weekends a year so as long as I'm within the capability of the vehicle on those weekends I'd tend to make sure I'm not spending more on gas the other 46 weeks.
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02-25-2019, 06:08 AM	#4
allent Enlisted Member 7 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 2019 x5 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	Good point. Thanks for sharing your experience. I will likely go with the 40i. My Grand Cherokee has additional transmission and oil coolers for towing. I do not think the 40i does. I realized this is overkill, but I do not want to damage anything by stressing it too much. Thanks again.
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02-25-2019, 07:48 AM	#5
Mark609 Banned 167 Rep 405 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 Xline Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Central Texas iTrader: (0)	I have the 40i and it's plenty. Factory installed hitch is really nice. My kick foot opener doesn't work which is fine with me. Not sure why using the key or the light touch to the rear button isn't enough for folks. Attached Images
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02-25-2019, 08:41 AM	#6
rmorin1249 Lieutenant Colonel 817 Rep 1,785 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 MSport 40i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Hagerstown MD iTrader: (0)	Does anyone know if ordering the factory hitch does result in any additional cooling? __________________ COL(Ret), US Army Hagerstown MD 2019 X5 40i MSport Alpine White/Coffee (my 13th BMW) 2015 Mercedes SL400; 2009 Lexus RX350
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02-25-2019, 09:37 AM	#7
gofast182 Captain 629 Rep 773 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	My understanding is that it does not. Apparently there's enough cooling capacity for BMW to rate the vehicle the way they do without it?
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03-19-2019, 06:22 AM	#8
Captain Gumbo Private 30 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Pompano Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	Just ordered a 50i with the tow package. My plan is to rent a truck when I actually need to tow, because my boat is way too large to tow with the X5, but I'm contemplating what to do if a hurricane is bearing down on Florida and I can't rent a Tahoe/Suburban type truck. Since I'm only about a mile from the ramp, I'd never get above 30mph, and Florida is flat as a board, I'm thinking in an emergency I could tow the Whaler. But I'm really hoping to never have to need to find out.
	Appreciate 0 Quote