trailer restrictions

I do not know what you can tow with your car, but it it were my car AND I had enough stuff to stuff into a UHaul, I would not hesitate to put the car on a trailer and drag it.

Last time I checked, UHaul trailers have what is called a Surge Brake. This means that when you apply the brakes on the truck, the trailer catches up, compressing a cylinder that applies braking pressure to the trailer brakes. The trailer brakes work from a surge of pressure that results from the trailer moving slightly faster than the tow vehicle (UHaul truck). Typical trailer brakes work off of an electronic controller in the tow vehicle that sends a signal via the trailer connector to the trailer brakes. This is a "better" system because a surge brake equipped trailer can be difficult to back up in a parking lot, or anyplace where backing up might be desirable.

But, all UHaul trucks can pull a surge brake trailer without the added cost of a brake controller, so UHaul uses surge brakes on its trailers. The only thing you need to keep in mind with the UHaul trailer is that you may not be able to drive in reverse. Some surge brake systems have a valve that you can turn to shut the surge-thingy off, allowing you to go in reverse if you need to. You have to get out of the cab to flip the valve, then drive backwards as needed, then get out again and flip the valve back to its normal position so the trailer brakes work properly on the highway.

Get the UHaul, and wear out their equipment. Save your stuff for your pleasure.

PS A BMW with a trailer hitch on the back looks silly.

Let me know if you have any space left in the truck. There are quite a few New Yoricans around here and I'd be happy to load them up and send them back. BTW - I live a few miles south of you...

Sounds like what we in the UK call 'overun brakes'. The towing hitch on the trailer has a limited travel backwards on a sliding coupling. A strong spring keeps it normally in the forward position, but any rearward travel of the hitch under braking, compresses the spring, allowing the sliding part to act on a hydraulic master cylinder, or mechanical linkage to apply the trailers brakes. To reverse, a simple hand operated mechanical flipover spacer on the hitch itself prevents the hitch from sliding back, thus disabling the brakes. In practice though, on level ground the trailer can usually be reversed without flipping the spacer. The spring built into the coupling is usually strong enough to allow gentle reversing without the brakes coming on. Mike.

IIRC the maximum advised tow weight is approximately the same as the car. I once towed in a broken down van weighing about 1.5x the weight of the car, but this was a short run, the van had a driver to operate the brakes and you could tell the auto was struggling on start up. The maximums should be in the specification section of the manual. Also important is how much down thrust there is on the hook, so you have to load the trailer to get this right. The hook should weigh down, but not more than ~90kg, so if you can just lift it, it is probably OK.

Any trailer but the very smallest should have over-run brakes.

The towing ball on the back of the 735i should be a proper BMW one, and these cost $$$. Anything cludged on at your local 'shop may be anchored to the wrong places and cause problems.

If the 735i is auto you want to try and get the rig up to 56mph* (90kmph) on a long run so that the lock up clutch operates. Otherwise the torque converter will be working very hard and the box will get hot. In a manual it is pulling away that will burn the clutch, so try and avoid coming to a complete halt (truck driver style).

• but this may not be legal in your jurisdiction.

The alternative of hiring a large van with a close coupled trailer and towing the car on that is probably more sensible and secure, plus if you haven't towed before and can't manoeuvre (in reverse) you can always drive the car off, unhook and manhandle the empty trailer - try the same with a laden trailer!

Don't be such a pussy. There's absolutely no problem pulling a trailer with surge brakes behind a BMW. I've done it on several occasions, with no problems what-so-ever, including backing up. I was even going to haul another E34 behind my own this weekend, but unfortunately I couldn't find a suitable trailer.

LOL!

Thank you all for your help. I'm going to either drive a truck and tow the car behind it or use PODS for my stuff and drive the car. My best to all.

Yes, it sounds like the same thing from here.

That sounds like the best idea yet. Put your stuff in a POD and have them come get it, while you take a leisurely drive up the coast in your car loaded down with your golf bag.

Have you ever actually driven a UHaul truck loaded down with crap and a car? It is a seriously unenjoyable experience. Noisy, hot, uncomfortable, and not much fun.

You are right. I drove trucks for years and also buses, but I really want to enjoy the trip. I never drive straight through (1,100 miles) so if I got a nice hotel, the truck could be broken into during the night. It's easier just to have some CD's and a bit of luggage with me in the car. Sorry, I don't golf. But I play a mean game of ping pong. The PODS estimate for me was $2,500 and that included my piano, computer equipment, and tons of network books. I'd take my pc's in the car. Actually, I had regular movers move me down (and they broke stuff and had their hands out for $100 tips every 3 hours) and I drove down last June 2005. Since decided FL is too damn hot and sticky. No offense to the person who told me to put more New Yorkers in the trunk and go home. You can have this swamp for all I care. I think God took an iron, sprayed it green, put it on "steam", and pressed this whole place flat. There isn't a hill or non-palm tree (barely) within 200 miles. Then he sprinkled every square mile with bugs and spiders. I'll take NJ autumns, dry weather, and mountain foliage. I had a place on the ocean. Thanks again and Yankees are good. :-)

Re: Surge brakes.

Not to be a wet blanket, but the OP might want to check the legality of surge brakes in the states he intends to travel. They are not legal for a trailer GVW of over 2000lbs in some states, Ohio for example.

The reason is this. In the event of a break-a-way, surge brakes do nothing to stop the trailer. Electric brake systems have a battery and safety cable that pulls a pin, engaging the trailer brakes, powered by the small trailer battery.

I suspect enforcement may not be a high priority, but he should know .... maybe ask at the U-Haul place where he intends to rent the trailer.

Eisboch

One problem that is common to cars with a unibody construction is that there is no place that is substantial enough to allow bolting a connection to the trailer in place. You need to evaluate where the hitch needs to be connected and if so whether that place has anything more substantial that thin sheet metal.

Jim

SNIP

Gee it must be bad if you are hanker to go back to New York! 30C+ and saturated in the summer -20C (like Stalingrad and Napoleon's retreat from Moscow) in the winter. Crawling with vermin, smells like a sewer (when you arrive), sprinkled with criminals and taxi drivers who want to know where Wall Street is or go on scenic trips rather than drive straight down an avenue... [space for other contributors favourite recollections of NY].

OTOH anyone can buy a gun in Florida, and if your brother is the Governor he can help get elected president...

Still probably both better than Los Angeles

That's incorrect on all the trailers with surge brakes I'm familiar with. In case of a break away the safety chain automatically activates the brakes. I've never experienced it in practice, but looking at it it was very easy to figure out how it worked.

BTW, doing a search on the net it appears the Euro spec E32 735 is rated to tow 2000kg/4400 lbs.

Ulf

I should have been more precise. I lived an hour south of NYC on the NJ coast. The weather is NOT that bad in winter. Some winters we get less than

6 inches the whole season. Average Jan. daytime is near 40 F and May thru Nov are awesome. Yes, a week of 90's every other summer. How's that compare to down here in FLA???? I have 6 pistols, shoot weekly at the Police range, can hit a dime at 30 feet, and have cops in the family that will get me my carry permit up there. I already carry down here. Beautiful .45 ParaOrdnance 13+1. So no criminals are going to bother me, unless they shoot me in the back. Sorry for the confusion. The city of NY itself?? Yes, you are pretty much on the money. Thanks to all. Enjoy.

Agreed, as long as the safety chain or cable stays intact. I stand by my assertion that surge brakes are not legal in all states above a certain GVW.

Eisboch

FWIW, I own a boat trailer with surge brakes and backing it is not difficult at all. You simply take one of the two safety chains off and stick the S-hook into a little hole that temporarily prevents the surge mechanism from sliding backwards. Easy peasy.

Of course this is a minor inconvenience, but I find that you really only need to pin the brakes if you intend on backing it up a hill. On the flat or down hill there is not enough thrust into the brake mechanism to actuate the brakes.

Wow, hope this wasn't derived from what I said. My comment was that you could take a load of New Yoricans (NY Puerto Ricans) with you. They've figured out they couldn't hack it NY and they've brought the crime here with them...

It's okay. I thought you were kidding and so was I. It is really not my favorite climate, but I wasn't offended. Just for fun. LOL. Have a good one. (I didn't know what "Yoricans" meant. I really don't get into NYC much.)