Trailer Hitch on the 325iT? Am I crazy?

[WSUBeember]

So, you are all probably going to laugh your tails off after you read my suggestion.

I am a avid motorcycleist and I need to haul my motorcycle to a track day in Alabama in June. I can rent a van or pickup for the weekend (we only have one car in our family) for $300 or I can put a hitch on the back of the touring for $300.

I will use the hitch to travel with the bike a few times a year.

Has anyone seen one or have any hard suggestions on why not to? It will only be on the car when I use the trailer, once the weekend is over I will take it off.

Here is a link to the hitch I am thinking about getting. http://www.hitch-web.com/proDescrip.asp?ProductCode=361884&OID=8# The install seems easy enough and doesn't seem to interfier with anything. I will have to drill some holes in the spare tire compartment, but those holes can be easily plugged with rubber gromets when the hitch is not in use.

What do you all think?

 

[Kirby]

I've been towing trailers (campers, boats, box trailers) for over 25 years, so I can give you some insight from experience.

Not crazy, I'm not laughing at all, it's fine to use your 325iT for towing LIGHT trailers. Just keep that one phrase in mind - LIGHT. Even thought that hitch is rated at 2000 lbs. I would try to stay at a max of 1200 - 1500 lbs. trailer fully loaded. After you drill, paint the holes with 2 coats of a good primer to prevent rust.

The single most important thing is tongue weight loading. You don't want too much or too little weight on the tongue. You should shoot for about 75 - 125 lbs of tongue weight. Too much will make the back of the car sag and wallow like a pig in mud.

But too little weight is worse. Some people will incorrectly think that the lighter the better, so they load the trailer in the back. This is dangerous - the trailer will have a mind of its own. Did you ever see a trailer weaving left and right behind the tow vehicle? That's the result.

The other tip is to limit turbo engagement as much as possible. Towing will heat that baby up pretty quick. Stay on top of your oil changes!

Finally, if you have never towed before, go to a parking lot and spend an hour backing up with a trailer into parking stalls. You'll be thankful when you have to back up in a hurry.

Good luck and keep us posted!

By the way, my future dream plans include a Z4M with a trailer hitch, but only used for a custom race tire/wheel carrying rack!

 

[TUDM]

I don't think you are crazy ... I even asked a sales rep. about this while I was looking at 325i sedans. The only thing I can add is to remind you about Kirby's LIGHT towing warning ... personally, I wouldn't exceed 1000 lbs (grosss trailer and load weight). Apart from that, I agree with everything Kirby says. BTW ... what kind of bike do you own?

TUDM

 

[WSUBeember]

The amount of towing I am going to be doing is very limited. The trailer is light (~300 lbs) plus the bike weights about 400 lbs, so I will be under the 1000 lb limit.

I have been researching it a bit on other boards and people do put them on. There are a couple that pull their jet ski's around with their bimmers. So I think pulling my bike will be a snap.

I have a Ducati Monster.

 

[Chesty Bonds]

Ducati Monster's sound like the absolute business. Every time I hear one of those beasts coming my way I think "Desmodromic!" [headbang]

 

[Kirby]

Monster's a cool bike. The first time I saw one, I was like "Who took off the body panels??"

 

[WSUBeember]

I love that thing! It sounds amazing, everyone knows something diffrent is coming down the road, and a vast majority of peole have not a clue what it is. That is why I like it so much, it is diffrent. I have been in MS for about a month and a half now and have not seen another Monster, let alone a Ducati.

As you can tell, I like the odd things in life. Sport Wagon, Ducati Monster, and I am typing this message on my brand new Apple iMac (just got it from the FedEx man today !!! Yippieee!)

I will post some pics of the bike when I get them loaded on this computer.

 

[325change]

I am a avid motorcycleist and I need to haul my motorcycle to a track day in Alabama in June. I can rent a van or pickup for the weekend (we only have one car in our family) for $300 or I can put a hitch on the back of the touring for $300.

I will use the hitch to travel with the bike a few times a year.

I have a 02 325 and I too love to ride motorcycles (I have a Ninja 250). I have exactly the same idea as you that I can tow the MC with me for vacationing and I will have my own MC to ride around. Since you posted here, have you towed your bike yet? Does it work? Where do you get the trailer, U-Haul?