Trailer Hitch

[02 X5 3.0i Jordan]

I have been reading all of the history files and continue to run across problems people have with other trailer hitches. I was wondering is there any hitch other than the OEM BMW hitch that works well on the X5?

this topic has been beat to death. There are two opinions out there. One is to only go the OEM route. The other is that aftermarket hitches such as U-Haul will suffice.

Only you can decide if the extra expense of the OEM hitch kit justifies the added safety factor. It was worth it to me.

[JMD]

...of course I installed it myself.

JMDXX5
JMD
...not that I will, but it can!
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<img src="http://members.roadfly.org/JMD540is/4.6is_Sig/jmdxx5_02_46is_1.jpg">

[X5ian]

I have a after market Hitch (better than U-Haul, 6000lb rated) and using it to pull a 3-seater SeaDoo (900-lb total). It is fine for light duty but I suggest to get the OEM if you are planning to pull anything over 1000 lb.

[Snowzone]

Still no problems, no electrical "gremlins", no failures. I'm loving the $$ I saved. My boat and trailer total nearly 4000 lbs.

[Lee]

I bought an aftermarket unit from my local hitch guy - installed et.al. for like $200... I pull my 24 foot bowrider with it (4800 lbs, duley w/ brakes) and it works great..

Lee

[Jsun]

I went the aftermarket route on this one, with no problems at all.
I had the draw-tite installed by a local shop, for about $350....saved hundreds and it works like a charm. I pull a street bike/ATV, around 1500lbs on the class 3 hitch. Good Luck!

[DLP24]

A non OEM hitch for towing anything over 1000lbs. +- is absolutely insane. It is amazing that someone would go cheap on their safety and the safety of everyone on the road over a few hundred bucks. Aftermarket $200 hitch is not comparable in any way. I hope I never meet you on the road with your 10,000 pound rig (X5+boat) with a $200 hitch.

My OEM hitch and harness was under $500 and it was designed for the X5 by the freakin BMW engineers.

[Lee]

It looks just like oem and mounts to the same structure points - I've bought a dozen drawtite hitches in my life - they have all been very solid.. what on earth makes you think "bmw steel" is stronger than "draw-tite" steel?

[DLP24]

Try reading at **********.com or *******.com and search on "X5 hitch". Drawtite makes a great hitch for most applications. But it is not comparable in the design. The only exception is maybe Dalan hitches who make exact-spec OEM duplicates. For a Surburban or Explorer, any good hitch may be fine, but why drive a very expensive vehicle that has trailer stability controls designed into the vehicle, why would you put a generic part on it and tow 5000 pounds....?
Here, some light reading get you started: http://www.*******.com/showthread.php?t=2987&page=1&pp=10&highlight=hitch

[Lee]

I don't need to read that non sense - I've got one, it's on my truck and its been there for a while.. I've pulled my boat with it many times, its the same brand that I've had on my jeeps, range rovers, hondas, etc. never had a problem - quality and strength is consistant.

Before I bought it I compared the design to bmw's and the differences were negligable. This entire thread is a waste of breath.

After comparing the two and owning the draw - I have no reason to believe there is any differientiating factor aside from price.

But - to each his own.

[wmhne]

Considering the incremental cost of the OE vs the aftermarket hitch on a vehicle at this price point, I thought my money was well spent having the BMW engineered hitch. I know everything including the crash protection design will function as intended without question. Spend your money where you want to spend it. I know the reasons for my choice and I'm very satisfied I've received the value I purchased.

[Lee]

steel is steel and screws are screws; some screws and break; some steel rusts but for all pratcial pourposes how you determine quality of a trailer hitch is beyond me.. BMW has a very short history for making trailer hitches where is draw tite has been a retail market leader for decades.

I've had a dozen BMWs and everyone of them has had a host of design flaws/ breakages - but I've never had a problem or ever heard of anyone breaking a trailer hitch (under approved application)

This subject is silly - I'll bit my tongue if you guys want to continuye to banter it.

Good luck.

ps: now that I've babbled at nausium - I'm planning to pull one of my boats out of the water this weekend to get the bottom repainted - cross your fingers my trailer hitch does not fall off.. or that my tranny does not fall out for that matter.

Lee

[DLP24]

"I don't need to read that non sense " [Lee]

Eveyone, I think that sums it all up. No homework = no clue.

Note to Lee: Buy a cheap American truck next time since you can't seem to see the difference in engineering.

[Lee]

DLP - I've had 3 jeeps - I understand cheap trucks - I've also owned (among others) an '87 635, '89 M6, 91 325 IC, 97 M3, '98 540/6, '99 M3, '00 528, '01 X5 4.4, and '03 540/6.

How many BMWs have you had personal experience with?

Tomorrow I am test driving a '05 X5 4.4 and a 4.8 - I understand what makes BMWs great, I love them and I'll continue to buy them - I'm also smart enough to know they have some faults..

They oil pump bolts never backed out on my grand Cherokee; and the original A/C still works on my 92 Cherokee - never even added Freon - but the Final Stage unit died on both my M3's; on all my E39's and my X5 is on it's second..

Once I buy something and use it for a few years I don't need to read random posts to determine if it works or not - I have user experience. Currently I own a 24 foot Crest pontoon boat, a 24 foot Larson bow rider and a 15 foot Boston whaler - all of which I have pulled back and fourth to the beach, to the repair shop and yes I even pulled the 5500lb Larson to Florida - all with the drawtite hitch on the X5 - no broken welds, no rust, no problems.

Good luck to you.

[DLP24]

Lee - I don't feel the need to tell you all about the BMWs and Italian sports cars I have owned. Or my boats, or my houses, or the American cars I have been through. It is irrelevant. As a structural engineer for 22 years, I will always put my money where it counts. When it comes to my family's safety I will never save a buck for the sake of saving a buck.

If you are happy towing your boats with that hitch, just be happy. Hopefully next time you are towing you will never remember this conversation and won't worry a bit about your rig. No need to defend the aftermarket part. Ultimately the thread topic starter will do his homework and decide accordingly.

Cheers

[Lee]

Now talk about tough love - I'm an Alfa fanatic myself.. Sometimes form and feel is more important than function/durability.

Fair enough.

[NONOEMISAOK]

Face it. You spent too much money and wasted a day or two of your life installing a chunk of metal under the car. Just quit going after these guys and move on. Save the cognitive dissonance for your therapist.

A non-OEM hitch is not going to bend your frame, make you loose control of your car, or give your dog fleas. I've only found one post that claimed anything happened, along with about a million other posts from the rabid BMW-only crowd that points back to it. On the other hand, we've seen planty of posts like this from people with experience telling otherwise. It's high time we called this myth debunked.

[DLP24]

True.

[DLP24]

DONT EVER use my Lord's name in vain, you disprectful kid.

SInce you broght it up, it is $450 and 3 hours labor for OEM hitch and OEM wiring harness and 7-pin connector. If you are going to point it out, GET IT RIGHT. You probably have never mounted a hitch in your life or even changed a fuse.

Does your mom know you are on her computer??