Towing with an e39 touring

[Scamp's Walker]

Have just had a towbar fitted in order to tow a medium sized trailer on trips to the "Civic Amenities" site etc. Have never towed with an auto before and was a little unnerved by how poorly it towed an, admittedly. heavily laden trailer but was given a little advice earlier and am not sure if it's correct? As I have a sport/manual auto box I have been advised to drive the car in manual when towing a laden trailer until I reach at least 40mph (or 60mph where the road allows!), apparently the same would apply if I were to tow a caravan/large double axle trailer, this will prevent the car from feeling so leaden!

Is this true, and does anyone have any advice they can pass on? It feels as if I am trying to tow the trailer with the brakes on!

[phelix]

Unless the car is shifting up and down when you're trying to maintain a steady speed I would just leave it in auto mode and let the electronics decide what the right gear is. What engine?

[Scamp's Walker]

'98 523i. I had checked that the car could tow the laden wait and it should do easily! It maybe that I am a little rusty not having towed the trailer for a while. I think it is changing up but is spending a long time in the lower gears. I have yet to try it on a longish run though. As it is an adaptive gearbox I assume it would adapt after a period of time?

Edited by Scamp's Walker on Monday 9th March 08:03

Edited by Scamp's Walker on Monday 9th March 08:05

[bramley]

Scamp's Walker said:

I think it is changing up but is spending a long time in the lower gears. I have yet to try it on a longish run though. As it is an adaptive gearbox I assume it would adapt after a period of time?

Surely it's inevitable that it will hold lower gears for longer due to the extra weight it's pulling? If it changed up at the normal revs/speed with all that weight I'd imagine progress would be very slow. They all hold the lower gears longer when cold too, so maybe a short journey with a trailer would make that more noticeable. I've no experience of towing at all but looking at it logically I'd say there's nothing wrong with what you describe.

If others on here can't help, maybe try a caravan forum <shudder> for advice

[reeventu]

used a 530D to tow a trailer with car all over the UK.

The ar will be slow to change when cold , do not let it labour and if neccessary used manual hold.

short runs are not really a good idea ( towing or not ) but sometimes inevitable. Try to get the engine warm then use the trailer if that is possible.

I had no issues with engine or gearbox.

[dan101smith]

Scamps - where did you get the towbar supplied/fitted, and how much?