[mikestpierre]

I am planning a 4 week tour from Central PA to Tuktoyaktuk in northern NWT this February. I expect to see blizzards, off-road situations, minor river fording, mud, extreme low temperatures.. etc...

My current G05 40i does not have the off road package, but I did put the General Grabber off-road wheels/tires on this past week. I am looking for recommendations of modifications, accessories, suggestions for a trip of this length with the harsh weather I’m sure to face.

Thoughts I had...

- Suspension upgrade to raise the ground clearance, but I do not want to turn it into a monster truck. Ground clearance rec?
- Tire Chains
- Shovel/sand/salt
- Electric winch
- Some underbody waterproofing
- Skid plate for oil pan
- Roof basket for storing extra fuel, along with a tow hitch basket. Currently do not have a tow hitch and am going to hold off it causes an issue with clearance.
- Full spare wheel/tire combo with hydraulic jack

Help me turn this beast into the most comfortable off-road/winter monster I can!

[teefive]

Subbed. Sounds like a great trip. You'd be better off doing the trip in a Tacoma or 4Runner though (like my 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro I'm selling )

You might consider a small off road trailer that can hold much of the gear, fuel, spare tires, etc. Once you get it built up it will last you a lifetime.

[MystroX5]

You lost me on "minor river fording, mud". I would be taking my Power Wagon. The X5 is a luxury SUV and not a off roader in my book. You are describing a genuine off road "truck" type of traveling.

Very interesting trip. Why are you going up there?

[roadkillrob]

I would take a different car.

[robby818]

Take a GoPro & Mavic mini drone and post the videos on Youtube. I bet you would get a lot of views and could offset the cost of the trip. Sounds like a great trip.

[mikestpierre]

Originally Posted by teefive

Subbed. Sounds like a great trip. You'd be better off doing the trip in a Tacoma or 4Runner though (like my 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro I'm selling )

You might consider a small off road trailer that can hold much of the gear, fuel, spare tires, etc. Once you get it built up it will last you a lifetime.

Love the idea of a trailer! I’ll need to get on suspension upgrades and the trailer hitch in the next few weeks to look into trailer options.

I should stated in the original post that I am well aware that this is not the ideal starting vehicle for a trip like this. It’s a vehicle I love and want to have many adventures with it.

I’ve crossed 40ft sections of river with 14 inches of water in a Dacia Duster more times than I can count in Iceland (10 trips over 8 years, over 3 months of exploring the highlands and camping)

I think the X5 can handle it, I know it can.

[mikestpierre]

Originally Posted by robby818

Take a GoPro & Mavic mini drone and post the videos on Youtube. I bet you would get a lot of views and could offset the cost of the trip. Sounds like a great trip.

I plan on it! I have an aerial-photography business and plan on lots of drone footage, mounted go-pro, still photography.

[teefive]

Originally Posted by mikestpierre

Love the idea of a trailer! I’ll need to get on suspension upgrades and the trailer hitch in the next few weeks to look into trailer options.

I should stated in the original post that I am well aware that this is not the ideal starting vehicle for a trip like this. It’s a vehicle I love and want to have many adventures with it.

I’ve crossed 40ft sections of river with 14 inches of water in a Dacia Duster more times than I can count in Iceland (10 trips over 8 years, over 3 months of exploring the highlands and camping)

I think the X5 can handle it, I know it can.

Sweet. Sounds like you're taking this seriously (which is a great thing). I got hooked on this Expedition Overland series on YouTube. Would recommend watching as they review gear in detail.

I think the X5 will be good. Saw this video of the f15 in Africa and it did fine. Will definitely need a thorough cleaning when you return.

[X6M50i]

Originally Posted by mikestpierre

Love the idea of a trailer! I’ll need to get on suspension upgrades and the trailer hitch in the next few weeks to look into trailer options.

I should stated in the original post that I am well aware that this is not the ideal starting vehicle for a trip like this. It’s a vehicle I love and want to have many adventures with it.

I’ve crossed 40ft sections of river with 14 inches of water in a Dacia Duster more times than I can count in Iceland (10 trips over 8 years, over 3 months of exploring the highlands and camping)

I think the X5 can handle it, I know it can.

Some of the situation can literally be life OR death, so don't think, you need to be absolutely certain!

G wagon or LX 570, good luck and have fun

[mikestpierre]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

I would take a different car.

I appreciate the response, but I should have specified that I’m not looking for discouragement, just suggestions for upgrades and modifications to make it up to the trip. It’s more than capable, and I bought it to beat the hell out of it while having fun doing it.

[mikestpierre]

Originally Posted by X6M50i

Some of the situation can literally be life OR death, so don't think, you need to be absolutely certain!

G wagon or LX 570, good luck and have fun

I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve been shoveling gravel and rocks under the wheels of a Vitara in a river and in that moment understood how unprepared I was. Made it out, learned from it, and here I am working to be more prepared for the next one.

🤘

[teefive]

Was checking out driving in the NWT. Is this the route you'd take? if so, looks totally doable.

[X6M50i]

Originally Posted by mikestpierre

I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve been shoveling gravel and rocks under the wheels of a Vitara in a river and in that moment understood how unprepared I was. Made it out, learned from it, and here I am working to be more prepared for the next one.

��

Right on! Power to you, and be safe!

[Kief]

I take it the Grabbers aren't on these that you have had listed for sale Haha (mark the thread sold if sold or no longer for sale)
22 Inch Style 749m Jet Black M Performance Complete Wheel Set https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1612933

What part of Lancaster are you at? I'm surprised I haven't run into you. GL on the trip, sounds phenomenal!

[randybobandy]

Ah some fellow Pennsylvanians!

I think you've got a good idea of what you need/want to make it a comfortable and practical trip. I would really focus on the worst case scenario, since it's best to address the elephant in the room. For me, it would be reliable communication (perhaps a satellite phone?), first aid, emergency blanket, and the whole shebang. Two big ones would be an E-Tool and VS17 panel, which you can find online or at an Army/Navy store. I wonder if there's a roof storage configuration similar to the Land Rover Defenders. Would look badass on the X5! I be worried about the front end as well. Wonder if there's a brush guard/push bar to avoid any damage to the lower sensor? Sounds like you have the mobility aspect figured out. I agree with others about documenting via GoPro and Mavic. Might be a cool "battle test" for the X5!

Not going to lie, I am jealous just reading the post. Enjoy yourself, and stay safe!

[mikestpierre]

Originally Posted by Kief

I take it the Grabbers aren't on these that you have had listed for sale Haha (mark the thread sold if sold or no longer for sale)
22 Inch Style 749m Jet Black M Performance Complete Wheel Set https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1612933

What part of Lancaster are you at? I'm surprised I haven't run into you. GL on the trip, sounds phenomenal!

They are definitely still for sale, Faulkner is storing them for me right now. Perhaps I should lower the price... I purchased the off-road wheel package from them when I bought the car.

I’m in the NE part of the city!

[jumpingpint]

Most of the time, off road for X5 or other lux cars means parking lot

[homerrr]

Agreed on satellite communication or emergency beacon and a front push guard type thing. Hit a deer once that took the left front off my 2nd gen X5 and damaged a little auxiliary radiator, rendering the whole car useless since it allowed the coolant to leak out from there.

[randybobandy]

Originally Posted by jumpingpint

Most of the time, off road for X5 or other lux cars means parking lot

I give him props...I probably wouldn't even take a Raptor off-road! Given my luck and stupidity...I'd be the guy up to my windows in mud or on my side.

[homerrr]

Originally Posted by jumpingpint

Most of the time, off road for X5 or other lux cars means parking lot

I have a high success rate pulling people out of the snow when I was driving my 2nd gen X5, and that was in Texas, most of the vehicles I was pulling out of the snow were trucks and SUVs, several of them 4 wheel drive. For some reason the xDrive bypasses the laws of nature, I have full confidence in it, with the proper tires of course, which seems to be covered!

[jumpingpint]

Originally Posted by homerrr

I have a high success rate pulling people out of the snow when I was driving my 2nd gen X5, and that was in Texas, most of the vehicles I was pulling out of the snow were trucks and SUVs, several of them 4 wheel drive. For some reason the xDrive bypasses the laws of nature, I have full confidence in it, with the proper tires of course, which seems to be covered!

Well, I didn’t get the towing hitch
Bummer

[perikifi]

Originally Posted by jumpingpint

Well, I didn’t get the towing hitch
Bummer

But fortunately you do have the screw-in tow fitting, with threads front and back. They can't handle lateral loads like a towing hitch but are much better than nothing when someone is stuck.