Opinions on towing etc

[Blivit]

My parents will be moving from Michigan to California. They have offered to give me their camper. I have never owned one, and live in Florida. They are willing to make a trip down before they leave and bring it to me.

It is a 2011 Keystone 25RKS. Specs are shown here: https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2011-...n-25rks-tr9802

Basically, 30ft long, weight specs of 5926lb dry and 7660lb GVWR.

I have a 2013 35i X5. No hitch and no other vehicle to tow this with. Could my X5 handle this? I have read towing capacity of 6000lb but am not sure which weight spec of the trailer I would use for that. We camp now maybe 1-2 times per year and travel no great distance to do so. It is all within Florida, so relatively flat and 1-2 hours away.

We have a lot to consider:
1. insurance and registration costs
2. can we haul it
3. can't store at our house so would have to pay to keep it somewhere else
4. upkeep on a trailer...no idea
5. no hitch so cost involved here. I would do this myself but I am assuming probably close to 1k for the trailer, wiring and brake controller.

As I write the above...I'm realizing this may not be worth it....

[Molez93]

FWIW, towing with an E53 4.4l and a E70 3.5d was awesome. The hitch is indeed expensive ($1000 in factory parts?), even DIY. Finding a creative mechanic to wire electronic brake controllers into these things was the biggest PITA for me. Lots of folks love their X5 for towing...including some who swear the rating of 6,000 is too conservative. I recall at least one guy using it for a 30’ Airstream.

I agree your math suggests it’s not worth it, but they are great for the job.

[Ryan5034]

I wouldn’t recommend it. You’ll be overweight for sure. But IMO you’ll be too unstable in the wind. It’s not really the weight but the aero characteristics will not be in your favor. The wheelbase just isn’t long enough, I would use a half ton pickup for this trailer.

I’ve towed lots with my X5 largest is 6000# car hauler, but it is open and a 20’ trailer. You’ll need a brake controller as well.

[Blivit]

Thanks for the insight. We have decided against it. My parents have a dedicated vehicle to tow it with. Even though we would only use it a few times per year it would be hauled with a daily driver and I don't really want the added wear and tear on that. That plus the added expenses of the ownership.

[JDAURIA]

Originally Posted by Molez93

FWIW, towing with an E53 4.4l and a E70 3.5d was awesome. The hitch is indeed expensive ($1000 in factory parts?), even DIY. Finding a creative mechanic to wire electronic brake controllers into these things was the biggest PITA for me. Lots of folks love their X5 for towing...including some who swear the rating of 6,000 is too conservative. I recall at least one guy using it for a 30’ Airstream.

I agree your math suggests it’s not worth it, but they are great for the job.

I plan on buying the OEM hitch and parts. I believe it comes out to be $635 or so:

71602156525 - tow hitch
71600035371 - trim
71602156526 - wiring harness
71600303882 - cap (not really needed)

[Skers 05]

This might help some people...

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/71602156525/

Appears to be everything you need minus the ball. Instructions for coding are available on this forum as well.

[JDAURIA]

Originally Posted by Skers 05

This might help some people...

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/71602156525/

Appears to be everything you need minus the ball. Instructions for coding are available on this forum as well.

Are these OEM parts? What is ORIS?

[jwalker87]

Originally Posted by JDNY516

Are these OEM parts? What is ORIS?

Yes, OEM parts and includes everything you need except for the bumper trim piece (p/n 71600035371) and the plastic rivets to reattach the wheel-arch trim. It appears that ORIS is the actual manufacturer of the hitch that BMW specified as OE. I got it on ebay for $390 and just installed it a couple of days ago, with coding soon to follow. Went just fine. Harbor Freight sells a plastic rivet tool (Item 97757) with a variety of rivets that I'm going to pick up to cover that piece - the BMW ones are $1 a piece (p/n 51777171004 I think) and the tool also works on them, so worst case I need to buy those as well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324097989724

[JDAURIA]

Originally Posted by jwalker87

Yes, OEM parts and includes everything you need except for the bumper trim piece (p/n 71600035371) and the plastic rivets to reattach the wheel-arch trim. It appears that ORIS is the actual manufacturer of the hitch that BMW specified as OE. I got it on ebay for $390 and just installed it a couple of days ago, with coding soon to follow. Went just fine. Harbor Freight sells a plastic rivet tool (Item 97757) with a variety of rivets that I'm going to pick up to cover that piece - the BMW ones are $1 a piece (p/n 51777171004 I think) and the tool also works on them, so worst case I need to buy those as well.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324097989724

Wow thats a really good deal if thats OEM. I priced out all the OEM parts and it was about 635. I'll be buying this ECS kit and the oem trim separately now. Thanks!

edit* BMW of Fairfax has hitch, harness, hardware etc for $395