Towing Capacity

[ChiBimmer]

I've seen other members in the forum towing sea-doos and motorcycles.

I'm looking at getting a small travel trailer like a tear drop or a popup. These can weigh from about 1,000 to 1,600 pounds. What is a safe towing capacity?

[tvo9]

2,000 lbs with trailer hitch

[ChiBimmer]

Originally Posted by tvo9

2,000 lbs with trailer hitch

Thanks for the answer. Sorry if this comes across like a jerk... How did you learn that?

[tvo9]

From the installation instruction of the hitch.

[spain4065]

Bump...I'd like to know as well.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by spain4065

Bump...I'd like to know as well.

No need to bump, just read the previous post.

[ChiBimmer]

Originally Posted by dtla1

No need to bump, just read the previous post.

Fwiw I've had people in rv forums tell me that the rating is for the hitch and not the car itself. I've read stuff about tongue weight and gcwr and feel like I know less than when I started researching.

I'm confuzzled.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ast-70594.html

[JimD]

The issue with a tow rating for our BMW cars is that BMW doesn't give them a tow rating. It would be best to stay within both the rating of the car and the hitch. But no rating for our cars.

Another source of some guidance is to look at what U-Haul will rent us. It seems to be based upon the hitch. With a 2000 lb hitch, they will rent you a trailer that will carry 2000-the weight of the trailer. They care about liability so this is a data point.

When you are towing, you have to worry about starting and stopping. My 128i has more hp and torque than my primary tow vehicle. So it should be able to pull things better. But it has smaller tires, it weighs less, and it's drivetrain is probably not as sturdy. It's brakes are great for a car but will they stop a heavy trailer?

If you do not exceed the Gross vehicle rating I am sure you would be OK - trade the trailer for a full load of people and luggage. But that won't be much of a trailer. If you want to tow more than that, you might need to think about brakes on the trailer. If you did that, you should be OK - but it's up to you.

It is clearly safer to get a vehicle rated to tow. Like a X3 or X5. If I had to, I would tow a little utility trailer with my 128i but I would keep the weight low, more like 1,000 than 2,000. I wouldn't tow a camping trailer at highway speeds. I think I could get it up to speed but you also have to handle it in the wind and stop it. Maybe a pop-up.

[spain4065]

Anyone ever towed a pop-up with a 1er? They have some small ones that weigh around 1000-1200 lbs. I know they tow a lot in Germany, I used to live there at it was like a right of passage to becoming a man when you tow something with your BMV.

[ChiBimmer]

Originally Posted by spain4065

Anyone ever towed a pop-up with a 1er? They have some small ones that weigh around 1000-1200 lbs. I know they tow a lot in Germany, I used to live there at it was like a right of passage to becoming a man when you tow something with your BMV.

Anyone have a UK or other owner's manual from outside the US with tow capacity? This UK site gives tow ratings to the 135i. The numbers are all over the map with a low 1399 pounds to a high of 3968 pounds.

http://www.uktow.com/towing%20capaci...MW&model1=135I

Here's a UK site which reviews trailers (caravans) and tow vehicles. Its just stunning to see sentences like this: "The Ford Focus is an established veteran in the towing stakes."
Read more at http://www.practicalcaravan.com/revi...OBxdbIfDWq0.99

Or something called a Ford C-Max with a whopping 123bhp and torque 148lb ft. The found it suitable for their test caravan which was under 2000 lbs fully loaded. http://www.practicalcaravan.com/revi...716-ford-c-max

[ChiBimmer]

Apparently BMW makes or made a retrofit hitch for the e82 but it looks like only for certain models not including the 128, 135 or 1M. Anyone have an idea why?

http://www.etk.cc/bmw/EN/parts/appliance/71606778935