Towing/launching boat with X5

[hoffmeister]

Anyone have experience launching a boat with their X5? We are looking at a pontoon boat and would occasionally need to use our X5 (x5 5.0 2015) to launch it. Any issues with electronics etc in the back getting close to the water?

From other threads looks like these have no issues towing.

[MrTookies]

Originally Posted by hoffmeister

Anyone have experience launching a boat with their X5? We are looking at a pontoon boat and would occasionally need to use our X5 (x5 5.0 2015) to launch it. Any issues with electronics etc in the back getting close to the water?

From other threads looks like these have no issues towing.

I tow with mine 5000-6000lbs all the time... Not sure how launching a boat works but I think as long as you don't submerge the back in water you should be fine... I mean the gets wet in rain and I drove it through foot high water wifh out any issues...

[Live4USMC]

I tow my boat with mine. If your boat trailer has surge brakes you will have to wire the brake lock out circuit using a relay. I’d be happy to help explain how I did this on mine.

[hoffmeister]

Originally Posted by Live4USMC

I tow my boat with mine. If your boat trailer has surge brakes you will have to wire the brake lock out circuit using a relay. I’d be happy to help explain how I did this on mine.

Thank you! Would love any advice. The trailer will have surge brakes.

Have you launched your boat using the X5 as well?

[kendrick07]

I have experience towing/launching my 3000 pound boat without any issue. Average pontoon boats weigh less than that so I don't think you'd have any issues. You shouldn't be backed up enough to be submerging any electronics when launching. If you need to submerge the car at all, you probably have the wrong trailer for the boat. Happy boating.

[Live4USMC]

Originally Posted by hoffmeister

Thank you! Would love any advice. The trailer will have surge brakes.

Have you launched your boat using the X5 as well?

Yes I have. The car tows my 20 foot boat fine but I only averaged 12 mpg with the 50i. I used the stealth hitch kit with the non-bmw wiring harness. This setup does not account for a powered reverse circuit that only comes on when the vehicle is in reverse in order to prevent the surge brakes from locking up when backing the trailer. I located the reverse light wire located in the bundle of wires near the right rear tail light. I wired this wire to a relay and then the relay directly to the battery to avoid undue load on the reverse light circuit of the car. If you need more detail pm me and I will help some more.

[BettyWhite]

I thought the Stealth wiring harness came with the purple wire for surge/reverse lights?

[Live4USMC]

Originally Posted by BettyWhite

I thought the Stealth wiring harness came with the purple wire for surge/reverse lights?

It might if you go with the factory harness. I went with the cheaper harness and had to figure it out myself. I would be surprised if even the factory setup powered the purple wire as it isn’t a very common need in europe.

[BettyWhite]

Originally Posted by Live4USMC

It might if you go with the factory harness. I went with the cheaper harness and had to figure it out myself. I would be surprised if even the factory setup powered the purple wire as it isn’t a very common need in europe.

I think I see what you mean. The factory wire harness is pre-wired for the surge wire and works out of the box. The universal 7 way wire comes with the purple surge wire in the harness and the blue trailer brake wire, but not instructions on how to wire it. A buddy of mine just installed a Stealth Hitch with the 7 way harness and I helped him with the wiring on it. This was the case on his.

[X5D MSport]

Originally Posted by Live4USMC

It might if you go with the factory harness. I went with the cheaper harness and had to figure it out myself. I would be surprised if even the factory setup powered the purple wire as it isn’t a very common need in europe.

How do you like the stealth hitch? I am researching which hitch I am going to buy

[BettyWhite]

Originally Posted by X5D MSport

How do you like the stealth hitch? I am researching which hitch I am going to buy

I had a 2015 X5 3.0d with the Invisihitch on it, that I used to tow a 20ft RV. It was a good hitch and when the drop was removed you could not tell there was a hitch on the vehicle. The only problem I had with it was I left the drop in all season (as we were going camping every few weekends) at the end of the season when I removed the drop I had to take a hammer and beat the drop to get it to release due to surface rust in between the block and the drop.

I now have a 2017 X5 3.0d with a Stealth Hitch on it. I took a factory hitch off as the block is made out of cheap pot metal.

I prefer the Stealth Hitch as it has a solid stainless steel block to relieve the rusting issues. It also has more ground clearance because of the way the drop is made.

I have attached pictures, I hope this helps!