BMW E61 525d will it tow a Islandia for 300km trip?

[Wawando]

Hi,

I just got my new boat and unfortunatelly i don't own a truck like most of you guys.
So, will my BMW Stantion Wagon, that has a trailer hitch, be apple to tow the Islandia trailer without being "hurt"? The figures are:

Max unbraked trailer: 750kg
Braked trailer driving up to 8% gradient: 2000kg
Braked trailer driving up to 12% gradient: 2000kg

Thank for the help!

 

[crisso]

Mate.You won't have a problem in the world.You could go to Timbucktoo and back without a problem.This is with brakes on the trailer!

 

[Wawando]

Thank you!
I didn't know the trailer had breaks...
How does it work? I saw no special connection for that...

Thks for the help!

 

[crisso]

If you have a single ski on a trailer and it's a single trailer,it probably wont have brakes.All places are different so check with the local authorities about your situation

 

[Wawando]

Here is a pic of my trailer:

I am sorry i have so basic questions but the trailers i have been using are light and simple.
The attachement of this one looks different . The first time i am going to use it is tomorrow and my question is if the break is automatic by the attachement to the car hitch or if i need to do some mods in the car so that the breaks work...

Thanks for the help!

 

[brock1]

Here is a pic of my trailer:
View attachment 9080
I am sorry i have so basic questions but the trailers i have been using are light and simple.
The attachement of this one looks different . The first time i am going to use it is tomorrow and my question is if the break is automatic by the attachement to the car hitch or if i need to do some mods in the car so that the breaks work...

Thanks for the help!

If the trailor even has breaks which it looks like it does, you will need to install a trailor brake inside your car and possibly the tailor brake outlet in the rear of the car if it dosent already have one, which im pretty sure it wont. If i were you i would be careful pulling a boat of that size with the vehicle you have and no trailor brake. Does your vehicle have a class 3 hitch because youll want at least that for that size boat believe me i know

 

[purple_people_eater]

those look like surge brakes to me. when you put on the brake in your car, the tounge of the trailer slides forword on the ball, hitting the activator for the trailer brakes. unless the brakes are eletric you do not need anything on your car.

 

[brock1]

those look like surge brakes to me. when you put on the brake in your car, the tounge of the trailer slides forword on the ball, hitting the activator for the trailer brakes. unless the brakes are eletric you do not need anything on your car.

i cant see a boat of that size having surge breaks i would think that it would be controlled by a brake controller but i guess its possible. Do you really think a BMW WAGON will pull that? I think hes gonna have a hard time doin it

 

[soccerdan90]

My friends 21ft bayliner has surge brakes. They make a huge difference.

 

[purple_people_eater]

i've seen car-haulers and other big things with surge brakes it not un common. what motor you got in the bmw? and what its max tow rating? i wouldn't tow with it if i where you, then again my "traveling vehicals" are a 99 super duty diesel or a 03 yucon with the 5.3 v8 lol even if the trailer had brakes i would not risk my bmw if i where you.

 

[brock1]

I didnt say there was no way it had surge breaks i just figured a boat like that would have a controllabele trailor brake in the car but hey if it dont it dont. Either way if i were him i would not risk pulling it with a bmw. Well give him the ok to do it and tomorrow well read about the bmw that sank trying to pull an oversized boat out of the water.

 

[purple_people_eater]

I didnt say there was no way it had surge breaks i just figured a boat like that would have a controllabele trailor brake in the car but hey if it dont it dont. Either way if i were him i would not risk pulling it with a bmw. Well give him the ok to do it and tomorrow well read about the bmw that sank trying to pull an oversized boat out of the water.

i completly agree.

 

[Wawando]

I didnt say there was no way it had surge breaks i just figured a boat like that would have a controllabele trailor brake in the car but hey if it dont it dont. Either way if i were him i would not risk pulling it with a bmw. Well give him the ok to do it and tomorrow well read about the bmw that sank trying to pull an oversized boat out of the water.

Relax... i will not be putting the boat in a ramp with my car. The task of putting and removing from the water is done with a specialized lifter with the trailer attached to a tractor.
My question is if the car can tow it safelly for the travel to my vacations . I have friends with big cars i can borrow, but if mine handles it i would prefer to use it, of course.
The car info is in my first post:
It is a BMW Station Wagon E61, 525d (180 hp)
- Max unbraked trailer: 750kg (~1650 lbs)
- Braked trailer driving up to 8% gradient: 2000kg (~4400 lbs)
- Braked trailer driving up to 12% gradient: 2000kg (~4400 lbs)

Thanks for all the help and advices!

 

[brock1]

i HIGHLY DOUBT THAT IT WILL DO IT AND IF YOU TRY YOULL LIKELY BURN SOMETHING UP IN THE PROCESS 180 HP IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH ENGINE TO PULL A BOAT THAT BIG. yOU MOST LIKELY WONT HAVE A TRANNY WEN UR DONE. AND WITH THAT SMALL OF A MOTOR YOU MOST LIKELY DONT HAVE THE HITCH DESIGN OR STRENGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT ANYWAY. JUST TRYING TO HELP MAN BUT YOU CAN DO WAT YOU WANT. I REALLY HATE TO SEE YOU WRECK A NICE BMW JUST TO PULL A BOAT. BORROW FROM A FRIEND IF YOU CAN

 

[Wawando]

Thank you for the warning
I will not do it, although BMW says it is more than enough.

 

[brock1]

Thank you for the warning
I will not do it, although BMW says it is more than enough.

NO PROB BOB!!!! I just hate to see you ruin your tranny over a boat. I work at a car dealership and i see this all the time especially in the summer months. people think that they can pull something like a boat or camper and when they are done they cant seem to figure out why their tranny wont shift right. Have a good one and enjoy ur trip.

 

[speedster32940]

Definitely looks like a surge brake connection. No vehicle mod's probably necessary. I'm thinking it is probably too much boat for the car & tranny. The hitch & frame probably aren't designed for those loads either. My guess is that since you are not talking about pulling up launch ramps you could make the trip, but there could be long term damage to engine and drivetrain, etc. Super careful driving might get the job done, but there are lots of what-if's that could completely ruin your day... Check out my other post in the trailering section, the Vette has plenty of HP, but nothing else going for it!!!!

 

[crisso]

Just to see what you are up against.Check out a few Australian website about towing things.You get the blue rinse brigade and with their 3.8 litre v6 or the 4 litre straight six(which is a 250 c.i.) and they tow vans around Australia.It's a retirement thing.They have the car,buy the van and head off.If they get really serious they may get a Toyota Landcruiser,or Nissan Patrol.Even at a ramp with an Auto, the torq/con takes up the slack.You won't have this problem.If you are going to tow something over the Himilayas,i would think again.Sounds like you are not doing this.Think this,Has the trailer got brakes THAT WORK.How heavy is the boat you are towing?Have you got a very good road or a very bad road.I am in the trucking game so I think about every load that comes onto each vehicle and what MAY happen

 

[crisso]

I was just looking at the specs for your car.For a 300 km trip.You don't need a sledge hammer to drive in a 1inch nail.What it works out too,is 5 people in the car and the air/con on.If you do this every day,yes,everything will wear out.But not a one off trip.Go on holidays and have a good time

 

[HighBeam]

My North American 90 Volvo 740 was rated from the factory at 154hp and rated to tow 3500 lbs. I didn't have any issues towing around 2000 lbs more than a few times a year. If it's rated for it then why not? People will tell you that you need a massive truck to tow a small trailer, but really I don't think you do.

 

[Sink]

Seems the biggest problem is towing with an automatic transmission left in overdrive. The overdrive gear usually doesn't have enough cooling and it burns up the tranny. If you drop it down a gear and slow down, most trannys (not the bisexual kind...) have no problems. Slow down, shift down and take your time. JMHO