First Mod for the Wagon
#1
First Mod for the Wagon
Well I ordered a trailer hitch for the wagon. I proceeded to the installation. Overall it was an easy to medium installation with allot of swearing, knuckle busting, and cramped fingers on my end, but overall was worth it. Planning on using the hitch for bike racks.
CURT Mfg 111942 Class 1 Hitch
CURT Mfg 56146 Wiring Tail Light Converter
This trailer hitch did not require any drilling into the spare tire tub or anything that Ive read about on other hitches. I did have to JigSaw some holes in the cover that transition between the spare tire tub and the bumper covers, to gain access to the but securing it in place.
I had to buy and use (4) m10 35mm cap bolts instead of the supplied bolts. Here's the reason why, the hex head on the supplied bolts was little too big, and got in the way of the edge of the plates. trying fit the bolts and screw them in next to the muffler was almost impossible. Leading to allot of cramped fingers and hands.
Wiring was easy to do, since there was already an installation DIY some where on here How to Install Trailer Hitch and Wiring in a E60 5 Series BMW - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums .
Will post pictures later today.
CURT Mfg 111942 Class 1 Hitch
CURT Mfg 56146 Wiring Tail Light Converter
This trailer hitch did not require any drilling into the spare tire tub or anything that Ive read about on other hitches. I did have to JigSaw some holes in the cover that transition between the spare tire tub and the bumper covers, to gain access to the but securing it in place.
I had to buy and use (4) m10 35mm cap bolts instead of the supplied bolts. Here's the reason why, the hex head on the supplied bolts was little too big, and got in the way of the edge of the plates. trying fit the bolts and screw them in next to the muffler was almost impossible. Leading to allot of cramped fingers and hands.
Wiring was easy to do, since there was already an installation DIY some where on here How to Install Trailer Hitch and Wiring in a E60 5 Series BMW - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums .
Will post pictures later today.
#3
Senior Members
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 0
From: Canada
My Ride: 2010 535 xi - M Sport Pkg & other goodies
I wonder if there's 2" hitches in Europe for our cars. They have a lot more options there and I've seen pics of wagons towing RV trailers even!
Isn't this one, for example?
http://towbars.co.uk/bundle/BMW_5_Se...achable_Towbar
.
Isn't this one, for example?
http://towbars.co.uk/bundle/BMW_5_Se...achable_Towbar
.
Last edited by Lotus99; 02-12-2015 at 08:45 AM.
#6
Members
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Cumming, GA
My Ride: 2007 530XiT BSM/Auburn
Model Year: 2007
I have a 1-1/4"-2" adapter on my Outback. 2 issues with it: 1) sticks out way too far from under the bumper (its a shin knocker) and 2) it negates the ability to put the 2-bike add-on which then lets me carry 4 bikes total.
As for the CURT hitches, they do add some rigidity. What's crazy is that the hitch they make for the 2008+ E61s has a much firmer (or appears to be) attachment. AFAICT, it should bolt right up to an 06-07. My thought is to buy the receiver for the 08+, then get a friend with a welder and fabrication skills to cut out the 1-1/4" portion, weld in a 2" receiver, and re-powder-coat the whole thing.
-r
As for the CURT hitches, they do add some rigidity. What's crazy is that the hitch they make for the 2008+ E61s has a much firmer (or appears to be) attachment. AFAICT, it should bolt right up to an 06-07. My thought is to buy the receiver for the 08+, then get a friend with a welder and fabrication skills to cut out the 1-1/4" portion, weld in a 2" receiver, and re-powder-coat the whole thing.
-r
#7
OCLVFRAME, your right on the shin knockers, but I only put it on when I need to carry my 2" bike racks or hitch baskets. I've got a solution/idea on making a sturdier adapter that doesn't knock our shins. Give me another week, and I'll fabricate the piece, and post.
#8
Senior Members
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 0
From: Canada
My Ride: 2010 535 xi - M Sport Pkg & other goodies
Hmmm... I don't see the point of that too much, in the sense that you can't carry any more weight just because you do that? A class 1 hitch's tongue rating is 200 pounds, whereas a class 3 (typical 2" receiver) has a tongue weight of 600 pounds.
So just because you have a 2" receiver now, won't allow you to carry a 4 bike carrier for example, like you would on a true class 3 hitch...
This hitch for example looks like it's almost a class 3, as it says it can tow up to 2200 kg / 4800 lbs, though its tongue weight is still only 200 pounds:
BMW 5 Series Touring ? 303212600001 ? Westfalia-Automotive
So just because you have a 2" receiver now, won't allow you to carry a 4 bike carrier for example, like you would on a true class 3 hitch...
This hitch for example looks like it's almost a class 3, as it says it can tow up to 2200 kg / 4800 lbs, though its tongue weight is still only 200 pounds:
BMW 5 Series Touring ? 303212600001 ? Westfalia-Automotive
#9
Unsure if this other one offered is any better, but from the design, it looks less of a hitch then the ones I purchased.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...390990&alt=web
One I purchased mounts to the bumper crash frame bolts location vs this one mounts to the wheel well?
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...390990&alt=web
One I purchased mounts to the bumper crash frame bolts location vs this one mounts to the wheel well?
#10
Members
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Cumming, GA
My Ride: 2007 530XiT BSM/Auburn
Model Year: 2007
Yes, the 2" receiver lets me carry up to 4 bikes but since my heaviest mountain bike only weighs 27lbs, I am not too worried about exceeding the tongue weight capacity. Main goal would be to simply swap the rack between my vehicles and not have to buy a different rack.
-r
-r
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