Re Beach towing

C

Cracker 48

New member
Hey there Guys

Has any one have an opnion on pulling a boat on the beach with an X5 BMW?.I have an opurtunity to buy the 4.0ltr at a VERY good price and sell my Pathfinder, but am no to sure what to do. I travel down from Jhb with the boat and launch at Zinkwasi with her, she is 1.5 tone with a ton on the trailer.

The other thing I would like an opinion on is trawling for Tuny does one keep your spread more or less the same colour patterns or do you rather test with various colors to see what the fish are looking for? taking into consideration the dark colors for dark conditions......:ifishin
 
F

FLUKE

Sealiner
At a guess I'd presume the X5 has no low range and towing 1,5ton on the beach I'd think you'd need low range especially considering that the X5 motor is very unlikely to be designed around low rev pulling power. I'd also cringe at the thought of salt water and sea sand getting into all the electrics.
 
W

werries

Senior Member
I wouldnt recommend it at all. You will get stuck ...gauranteed!
I have a friend who had a X5 and he couldnt even get his jetski on and off the beach at Ponta. He even got stuck on the uphill of those last dunes before you get to Ponta Malongane.
He then sold the jetski , bought a 17ft mono, thinking he will only launch from slipways . He went to PE, launched at some spot there but at spring low the slipway was exposed and he had to get onto the sand again. Same story. He had to be recovered again. Eventually he saw the light and bought a Prado...no problems after that.

Problem: No low range!
Very nice car that...but not for beach driving with a boat.
 
C

Cracker 48

New member
Thanks a Mill For the input
If I were to put normal tyres on it ? The car is 235 KW with 600Nm torque lovely to tow on the road I am just not sure of the electronic 4x4 system if it is good enough.
I think I must stay with my Pathfinder I have the 2.5 Turbo diesel and had it chipped so it is giving me about 148.6 kw with 435 Nm that should be more than enough with the low range dont you think ?

Cheers
 
W

werries

Senior Member
Cracker...the power of the car is not the problem...you will need low range on the beach. You will loose your car or damage it intensely when a wave hits you over your bonnet after getting stuck.All that electronics...I shudder!
I've seen it too many times.He had 17" tyres fitted to have more sidewall and/off-road capabilities...didnt help.
Your chipped Pathfinder does have sufficient power , for sure. I launched his jetski and my boat with my Disco 3 which had 145kW and 440Nm....again, with Low-range= No problem.
The X5 does , however, tow the boat like a dream...but you dont want to spoil your holiday and fishing time with slogging on the beach...
 
P

Poensie

Member
@ Werries - Let me set the record straight. A certain Landrover driver pulled all sorts of tricks at Ponta to make the X5 get stuck. The said driver, wanting to give his Landrover some beach time offered to do all the launching:fbash


@ Cracker 48
I would not recommend it. While the x5 can pull itself over the sand it becomes a problem when towing. Whilst I could sort of helped myself with the jetski, the boat was just to heavy (900kg). It runs out of power, even with all that torque, and you definately require lowrange.

While it is the most amazing towing vehicle, as the said Landrover driver indicated, I changed to the Prado, which has sorted out all my beach towing hassles.
 
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