BMW X3 M40i and Minilite 2109s

[corn18]

Hello all! Been a long time trailer guy. We started with tents, then pop-up, then hybrid then a 32' travel trailer. All 1/2 ton towing with a WDH. Kids flew the coop and we are now looking at couples camping. We don't own a truck anymore, so we are going to pull with my wife's 2020 BMW X3 M40i. It is rated for 2,400kg or 5,291 lbs. Cargo capacity on the X3 is 914 lbs. It has a factory 2" receiver, 7 pin connector and wiring for a brake controller.

Camping will be short trips in the OH, IN, KY area. So some hills but not killers.

So, I think we are pushing it with a dry weight off 4,171 on the 2109S. I want to get a ProPride 3P just because I always wanted one but could not afford it and I think it would not hurt for this setup.

My question is for those that have a 2109S, what is your loaded weight without water/grey/black? That will help me decide if I want to push this combo.

Thanks, Tom

[The Evil Twin]

I can't help you on actual loaded weight but..... I would go off of the gross weight number of the TT you want. Not what folks say theirs weighs. Everyone has a different set up.

[bikendan]

Just remember that the fictional "dry" weights are based on a stripped-down version of the trailer. They don't include the weights of batteries, factory options, dealer add-ons, water or cargo. Plus the weights of anyone in the car, cargo in the car, loaded tongue and the WDH, go against your payload of 914lbs.

[67L48]

Trailer will be around 5,300 lbs (likely more) going down the road. Over that weight.

You’ll have around 700 lbs on the tongue, add 50 for hitch, 50 for other stuff, and 350 for you and spouse. So, 1,150 lbs onto the vehicle. Over that weight, too.

Work the other way. With you, WDH, and light gear, that’s 450 lbs. That leaves about 450 lbs of payload for your trailers tongue weight. So, you can have about a 3,500 lb trailer, fully loaded. That’s a pop up or one of those short single axle trailers.

[upflying]

Sounds like you can tow it but you can't carry it. The short wheelbase on your BMW might be unstable in winds.

[corn18]

Looking to go lighter with a Coachman Apex Nano 189RBS:

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by corn18

Looking to go lighter with a Coachman Apex Nano 189RBS:

Sorry, the hitch weight is higher than the Minilite 2109S, which is where your problem is. Not the trailer weight.
Many new buyers only focus on trailer weight, when they need to focus on hitch weight FIRST.
Nearly all tow vehicles will run out of payload capacity WAY before reaching the max towing capacity.
Having a payload capacity of only 914lbs, severely limits your choices when it comes to towing a travel trailer.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by corn18

Looking to go lighter with a Coachman Apex Nano 189RBS:

As mentioned above, just do the math.

How much do you and your spouse weigh, fully clothed? I budgeted 350 lbs.
How much gear, wood, electronics, clothes, food, and other stuff do you plan to have in your BMW? I budgeted 50 lbs.
Add 50 lbs for your WDH.

That's ~450 lbs that you'll have in/on your vehicle and your payload capacity is 914 lbs. Thus, you have around 450 lbs of capacity remaining for a trailer's tongue weight.

Most trailers will drop 12-13% of their loaded weight onto the hitch. So, 450/.125 = 3,600 lbs.

You're looking for a trailer with a GVWR of around 3,600 lbs. You're looking at trailers a 1,000 lbs too heavy. A Viking 16SFB, or equivalent, is about as big as I'd tow.

[corn18]

Might be time to trade my Acura TLX for a truck.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Add 50 lbs for your WDH.

The OP wants a ProPride WDH, which weighs WAY more than that.

[Tundra 2014]

Hate to say, you will be over weight. Remember the SUVs have a softer suspension so the tongue weight will effect it more than it does on a PU. Trailer weight should be around 3500 to make numbers work. Check your tire weight caps also, sorry. Bright spot, the shorter length will be much easier to find spots in national parks.

[01tundra]

Loaded with dry tanks - 4,480 lbs / TW = 760 lbs.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by 01tundra

Loaded with dry tanks - 4,480 lbs / TW = 760 lbs.

Thanks 01Tundra. Hitch weight is a show stopper for me. Also, thanks for your great thread on mods to the 2019S.

[st4]

We have the 2109s. My loaded tongue weight is 640lbs. The total weight of it, with all our stuff in it is 4,780 lbs (before we added bike rack). I would not tow this trailer with anything less than a half ton pickup. Because it is so light in weight, it does get blown around some. You need a heavy enough vehicle to keep it tracking straight when it does get pushed over.

We do absolutely love this travel trailer and we have had several in our lifetime.

I do applaud you for looking into this before hand.

PM me if you have any questions and good luck

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by corn18

Might be time to trade my Acura TLX for a truck.

The 2109 is a nice trailer, but its weight definitely puts it in half ton territory. Just make sure you get a half ton with lots of payload capacity. Some really loaded trucks don't have much more payload than your BMW. Always check the yellow payload capacity sticker on the driver's door jamb. Getting a truck with the max tow package wouldn't hurt either, especially if you drive in hot temperature conditions or pull a lot of hills and mountains. My 2019 Silverado has a payload capacity of 1910 lbs, which would be more than adequate to pull the 2109. My 2016 Silverado has a payload capacity of 1572 lbs, but with the canopy and side steps, it's down to about 1400 lbs. With everything I haul, I can easily overgross it with my 192RBS, which is even lighter than the 2109. That's why I made sure my next truck came with the 6.2L engine and the Max Trailering package. It pulls my trailer with ease and the transmission temp stays in the 140s. The 2016, with its 5.3L, struggles up long steep grades and the transmission temp will go over 200° pretty quick. So I'd certainly look at half ton pickups, but get one that's really set up for towing, to include a factory brake controller.

[corn18]

I went to the scales today to get some data. Here's the chit for the X3 (full tank of gas, no humans, normal cargo which isn't much):



5,291 GVWR - 4,320 empty weight = 971 lbs CCC
3,075 RAWR - 2,160 empty weight = 915 lbs left on the rear axle

I am going to take my Sherline hitch scale to the RV place and measure the hitch weight of the 21FBRS on the lot. I might even hook it up and tow it 2 miles down the road to the CAT scales.

[Traveling Circus]

Originally Posted by corn18

I went to the scales today to get some data. Here's the chit for the X3 (full tank of gas, no humans, normal cargo which isn't much):



5,291 GVWR - 4,320 empty weight = 971 lbs CCC
3,075 RAWR - 2,160 empty weight = 915 lbs left on the rear axle

I am going to take my Sherline hitch scale to the RV place and measure the hitch weight of the 21FBRS on the lot. I might even hook it up and tow it 2 miles down the road to the CAT scales.

I weighed the hitch weight on our 21FBRS, about a year ago, also using the Sherline hitch scale, tanks empty, normal camping stuff in storage, hitch scale read 800#. I’m curious as to what your hitch weight will show.

[Traveling Circus]

Originally Posted by corn18

I went to the scales today to get some data. Here's the chit for the X3 (full tank of gas, no humans, normal cargo which isn't much):



5,291 GVWR - 4,320 empty weight = 971 lbs CCC
3,075 RAWR - 2,160 empty weight = 915 lbs left on the rear axle

I am going to take my Sherline hitch scale to the RV place and measure the hitch weight of the 21FBRS on the lot. I might even hook it up and tow it 2 miles down the road to the CAT scales.

I forgot to mention, Cat Scale showed trailer axel at 4100lbs.

[GoneSouth10]

Originally Posted by corn18

I went to the scales today to get some data. Here's the chit for the X3 (full tank of gas, no humans, normal cargo which isn't much):



5,291 GVWR - 4,320 empty weight = 971 lbs CCC
3,075 RAWR - 2,160 empty weight = 915 lbs left on the rear axle

I am going to take my Sherline hitch scale to the RV place and measure the hitch weight of the 21FBRS on the lot. I might even hook it up and tow it 2 miles down the road to the CAT scales.

Is it just me, or is the EXACT perfect balance on the axles a little odd? I know vehicles, especially sporty SUVs, are designed to be well balanced, but EXACTLY 50%/50% seems more than coincidental - as in maybe a scale issue?
Not trying to start an argument, just thought it was a little odd - as always, happy to be educated!

[Bluepill]

FWIW:



2014 Acura MDX. 5K lbs. tow capacity. 2019 192RBS trailer with a BlueOx WDH. Actual trailer weight on the scale of 4800 LBS.

Because of the Independent rear suspension on the MDX (vs. a solid axle pickup/SUV) there is a lot of sway. Worse in crosswinds. I have to drive around 55 MPH to feel comfortable driving it. After a long trip out West (About 9K miles) sold the trailer because we were not ready to sell the MDX.

That said, if your trips are only fairly local, it should be tolerable if you can make the numbers work.