Towing with a car?

[AsLan7]

.
John I’m curious what the BMW sedan’s owner’s manual says regarding tow limit, Gross vehicle weight rating,
and Gross Combined weight rating.

[jhnmdahl]

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John I’m curious what the BMW sedan’s owner’s manual says regarding tow limit, Gross vehicle weight rating,
and Gross Combined weight rating.

Aslan, I can't find specs on that online anywhere, but BMW rates their own tow package at 2000 kg, or 4400 lbs. Doesn't seem a huge stretch that stealth hitch could make one rated to 6,000 lbs, but it still feels just a bit sketchy and I have to wonder if stealth hitch does the same degree of testing that BMW would or is being less conservative in rating the car for that. I'm still tilting toward an X5 when the time is right.

[jhnmdahl]

OK, here's an answer from Stealth. Not sure how they feel it's a good idea to advertise 6,000 lbs towing capacity on their website, but now I know:

Thank you for your interest in Stealth Hitches. While our hitch is rated at 6000 lbs. you need to use the lowest rating of all to components for your maximum towing capacity. It is my understanding that the 5 series is not rated to tow in the United States, but it is rated for 4400 lbs. in Europe. You do not want to exceed the 4400 lbs. when towing with the 5 series.

Thanks,

RICHARD GOMRICK | OPERATIONS MANAGER | 4580 COMMERCE PKWY, SUGAR HILL, GA | 678.714.3592

[sailor55330]

OK, here's an answer from Stealth. Not sure how they feel it's a good idea to advertise 6,000 lbs towing capacity on their website, but now I know:

Thank you for your interest in Stealth Hitches. While our hitch is rated at 6000 lbs. you need to use the lowest rating of all to components for your maximum towing capacity. It is my understanding that the 5 series is not rated to tow in the United States, but it is rated for 4400 lbs. in Europe. You do not want to exceed the 4400 lbs. when towing with the 5 series.

Thanks,

RICHARD GOMRICK | OPERATIONS MANAGER | 4580 COMMERCE PKWY, SUGAR HILL, GA | 678.714.3592

To me it makes perfect sense. I think they are saying their hitch will handle 6k (probably a blanket statement about all their hitches) but The limiting factor is the lesser of the car or hitch capacity. In this case the car is 4400 so don’t excess 4400. If the car could handle 6k then the hitch would do it at well. Think of Itnas limited by the weakest link —in this case the car

[jhnmdahl]

OK, here's an answer from Stealth. Not sure how they feel it's a good idea to advertise 6,000 lbs towing capacity on their website, but now I know:

Thank you for your interest in Stealth Hitches. While our hitch is rated at 6000 lbs. you need to use the lowest rating of all to components for your maximum towing capacity. It is my understanding that the 5 series is not rated to tow in the United States, but it is rated for 4400 lbs. in Europe. You do not want to exceed the 4400 lbs. when towing with the 5 series.

Thanks,

RICHARD GOMRICK | OPERATIONS MANAGER | 4580 COMMERCE PKWY, SUGAR HILL, GA | 678.714.3592

To me it makes perfect sense. I think they are saying their hitch will handle 6k (probably a blanket statement about all their hitches) but The limiting factor is the lesser of the car or hitch capacity. In this case the car is 4400 so don’t excess 4400. If the car could handle 6k then the hitch would do it at well. Think of Itnas limited by the weakest link —in this case the car

Sailor, I agree it makes sense in the context of the email they sent, I'm just not nuts about advertising the 6,000lb towing capacity on their website with no mention that the car itself (and therefore the hitch on the car) is limited to 4400lbs, leading people to think they can tow 6,000lbs with a 5 series and their hitch. If I were their attorney, that wouldn't fly.

[sailor55330]

OK, here's an answer from Stealth. Not sure how they feel it's a good idea to advertise 6,000 lbs towing capacity on their website, but now I know:

To me it makes perfect sense. I think they are saying their hitch will handle 6k (probably a blanket statement about all their hitches) but The limiting factor is the lesser of the car or hitch capacity. In this case the car is 4400 so don’t excess 4400. If the car could handle 6k then the hitch would do it at well. Think of Itnas limited by the weakest link —in this case the car

Sailor, I agree it makes sense in the context of the email they sent, I'm just not nuts about advertising the 6,000lb towing capacity on their website with no mention that the car itself (and therefore the hitch on the car) is limited to 4400lbs, leading people to think they can tow 6,000lbs with a 5 series and their hitch. If I were their attorney, that wouldn't fly.

I agree with you--- I did some digging and in the instruction manual it does call out "don't exceed vehicle weight ratings". They covered themselves, even if not very transparently.