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      04-03-2017, 12:05 PM   #1
335dye
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Pulling a Car Hauler

I will be moving from VA to WA state at the end of the year. I have. 13 X5 35i without a hitch but considering getting one. My reason is that I have my DD 328i and my e46 M3. So I will have to ship both but am thinking of hauling the m3. I feel that it would be safer. Has anyone made this trip before while pulling with their x5? Or do you have any recommendations for shipping? I would sell one but don't really want to. Thanks a lot.
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      04-03-2017, 12:42 PM   #2
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That's a really long haul, your X5 might have a hard time with that. Someone with experience car hauling in a 6 cylinder X5 might need to chime in with their first hand experience but I would be hesitant to strain your X5 with such a load cross country.

I use Uship a lot. You'd be looking at between $1300-$1500 to have a transporter ship the M3 on an open trailer. IMO that's a safer option. CERTAINLY a less stressful one.
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      04-03-2017, 01:13 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post
That's a really long haul, your X5 might have a hard time with that. Someone with experience car hauling in a 6 cylinder X5 might need to chime in with their first hand experience but I would be hesitant to strain your X5 with such a load cross country.

I use Uship a lot. You'd be looking at between $1300-$1500 to have a transporter ship the M3 on an open trailer. IMO that's a safer option. CERTAINLY a less stressful one.
Yea I was just looking at that site. You are right, I think just the hassle of pulling into gas stations and hotels would be miserable.
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      04-03-2017, 06:48 PM   #4
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I would echo deansbimmer especially since you don't have a hitch already. If you considered the cost of everything you'd probably break even or save little for a lot of headache.

Check out Montway Auto Transport. I used them when I relocated from CA to TX and they were awesome.
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      04-05-2017, 06:47 AM   #5
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I tow with my x5 all the time, have done thousands of miles with my 4.8i and soon like next weekend with my x5 m. There is a good thread about it https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...l-economy.html

So some things to consider. You'll need a hitch and probably a trailer brake system for your X5. Most states require trailer brakes if your towing more than 3500lbs(which is a good idea anyway) Which you will be at with car and trailer. The BMW hitch installed if you shop around is about 1100. Which should include coding to active tow haul mode, backup camera hitch alignment (nice), disables rear parking sensors when attached to a trailer, and activates anti sway. The brake controller is 75-300. So tp just get ready to tow your looking at a minimum of 500 if you diy the hitch and skip the coding, to 1400 if you pay for install.

The second thing to consider is your fuel economy will be a lot lower while towing. I'd expect your car to get between 8-14mpg while towing. So your trip will be at least 2x the fuel of driving solo.

I think the 35i is just fine for towing, it's got about the same amount of power as the 48i, but better low speed torque. BMW built a great cooling system too to handle towing. You'll be fine. It just won't save you any money to add a hitch and get bad gas mileage vs shipping. I'd only do it if you plan to tow in the future.
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      04-05-2017, 02:21 PM   #6
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I tow with my x5 all the time, have done thousands of miles with my 4.8i and soon like next weekend with my x5 m. There is a good thread about it https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...l-economy.html

So some things to consider. You'll need a hitch and probably a trailer brake system for your X5. Most states require trailer brakes if your towing more than 3500lbs(which is a good idea anyway) Which you will be at with car and trailer. The BMW hitch installed if you shop around is about 1100. Which should include coding to active tow haul mode, backup camera hitch alignment (nice), disables rear parking sensors when attached to a trailer, and activates anti sway. The brake controller is 75-300. So tp just get ready to tow your looking at a minimum of 500 if you diy the hitch and skip the coding, to 1400 if you pay for install.

The second thing to consider is your fuel economy will be a lot lower while towing. I'd expect your car to get between 8-14mpg while towing. So your trip will be at least 2x the fuel of driving solo.

I think the 35i is just fine for towing, it's got about the same amount of power as the 48i, but better low speed torque. BMW built a great cooling system too to handle towing. You'll be fine. It just won't save you any money to add a hitch and get bad gas mileage vs shipping. I'd only do it if you plan to tow in the future.
I appreciate the info. Yea it will be cheaper to ship. Not sure if I will tow very much after that either.
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      04-07-2017, 05:28 AM   #7
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Yea our drive shafts and trannies r too sensitive for that much weight, for that long. Maybe in town it will do. What you can do is rent a uhaul with a tow dolly and tow it.
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      04-07-2017, 07:36 AM   #8
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I've done some car hauling myself and the X5 35d had absolutely no troubles towing all that weight. This includes going up a very steep grade where my parents live.

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      04-07-2017, 07:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by racermp View Post
Yea our drive shafts and trannies r too sensitive for that much weight, for that long. Maybe in town it will do. What you can do is rent a uhaul with a tow dolly and tow it.
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      04-07-2017, 10:10 AM   #10
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^^^ my thoughts as well. If anything, around town would be more challenging than on a highway traveling at a consistent speed.
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      04-07-2017, 10:50 AM   #11
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OP, have you ever towed before? It can be a difficult task if you've never done it before, especially with a smaller truck/SUV. The X5 has a 6000lb tow capacity but think about the hitch also and reference the link below for info. Separately, Trailer from uhaul is usually 2200lbs and the car is 3400 lbs so you are right at the limit. The X5 is like 5300 lbs. towing over your vehicles weight at highway speeds can be a little challenging. You 100% need the trailer brakes hooked up. Think about safety before deciding it's not worth transportation costs.

Personally, if it were me and under maybe 800 miles I'd probably give it a whirl provided that my hitch held the weight. All the hitches I looked up for our trucks maxed out at 5000lbs though.

Link for info about actual max load: https://www.doubledtrailers.com/dang...a-safe-weight/
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      04-07-2017, 11:42 AM   #12
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I have towed a short 1500 lb cargo trailer cross country twice. I would never go cross country with anything bigger. Parking hassle, stopping for gas every 200 miles, doing the speed limit makes for a more tiring trip.

If you can, try to make a vacation out of it. Doing it in 4 days is not nearly as fun or meaningful. There is some pretty country out west.
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      04-07-2017, 12:00 PM   #13
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Also, is your M3 lowered? I towed my E46 M3 that had H&R lowering springs on it with a full sized Uhaul. It took a lot of wood and patience to get the lowered car up the ramp. When I got to the new house I decided to cut that out and found a parking lot higher than the adjacent road. I backed the trailer up to the curb, set the ramps down on the curb and backed the car out onto the curb which was level with the parking lot. I blocked traffic for a few minutes but faster than the two hour wood ordeal in the pouring rain.
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      04-07-2017, 01:11 PM   #14
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I just came back from a 7 hour trip each way, towing a 2 place enclosed snowmobile trailer with 2 sleds in it. I figure it was close to 2000 pounds.
My 2013 35i did not know anything was back there, usually 23 MPG on the highway with the trailer 19MPG and that's at 70 - 80 MPH.
The vehicle drove great, like nothing was behind me. I don't think I would want to pull anything close to max weight but I work at a local race track and see numerous BMW Club member's using X5 35i's coming in from 2 -3 hours away pulling their track cars and equipment.
FWIW
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      04-07-2017, 07:21 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jandref321 View Post
OP, have you ever towed before? It can be a difficult task if you've never done it before, especially with a smaller truck/SUV. The X5 has a 6000lb tow capacity but think about the hitch also and reference the link below for info. Separately, Trailer from uhaul is usually 2200lbs and the car is 3400 lbs so you are right at the limit. The X5 is like 5300 lbs. towing over your vehicles weight at highway speeds can be a little challenging. You 100% need the trailer brakes hooked up. Think about safety before deciding it's not worth transportation costs.

Personally, if it were me and under maybe 800 miles I'd probably give it a whirl provided that my hitch held the weight. All the hitches I looked up for our trucks maxed out at 5000lbs though.

Link for info about actual max load: https://www.doubledtrailers.com/dang...a-safe-weight/
I have only towed using Army trucks and trailers. Never with my x5. And with the costs to get a hitch installed and gas, I'll just pay to ship it.
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      04-07-2017, 07:23 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by jandref321 View Post
Also, is your M3 lowered? I towed my E46 M3 that had H&R lowering springs on it with a full sized Uhaul. It took a lot of wood and patience to get the lowered car up the ramp. When I got to the new house I decided to cut that out and found a parking lot higher than the adjacent road. I backed the trailer up to the curb, set the ramps down on the curb and backed the car out onto the curb which was level with the parking lot. I blocked traffic for a few minutes but faster than the two hour wood ordeal in the pouring rain.
Yes it's lowered. That was something I was worried about. But I'm also worried about the truck company scraping it also.
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      04-08-2017, 07:29 AM   #17
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Quote:
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Yes it's lowered. That was something I was worried about. But I'm also worried about the truck company scraping it also.
That is very rare. They inspect before/after shipment. They are liable for damages, and insured in case of it. Frankly you're more likely to damage it towing it yourself than they are.

IMO your best option is to pay for transport.
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