I have a 07 FX2 sport with factory 20" wheels on it and I would like to know if my truck could pull this car below. Im pretty sure it can but im not sure as to what is needed. Can I use a trailer that doesnt have its own brakes and just rely on the truck brakes (If this is so), or will I need to install my 7 pin wiring harness and rent a trailer that has its own brakes. Im hoping to pick this car up and it will take me about 2-3 hours to get it home. Also if you guys have any other tips as far as tying the car to the trailer, that would help to.

 

not knowing much about options on you truck its hard to say. What motor do ya have 4.2,4.6,or 5.4? Do you have the towing package? Beings you have the FX2 prob at least the 4.6 if not the 5.4 and good poss you have the towing package if you have the 7pin tlr plug out back. If so you shouldn't have any probs depending on the trailer you have. As long as its not a huge equipment tlr. If its a standard car/utility trailer w/ a gvw of 7000 you be ok. You should be ok without tlr brakes too. I would just plan your stops in advance to be safe, but always a good idea no matter what you are pullling brakes or not. As far as tying it down, I have always be of the school of thought there is no such thing as too secure. I have seen people with cars on trailers and only 2 tie down points. I like to use 4 for safety in a X pattern, one at each corner. You may have to look for places under the car to attach too but make sure you use the frame or axles at attach points. To actually attach it i use a combo of chain and ratchet straps. I use the chain on one end and the 2 straps on the other to lock it down. For the straps, mine are 3in wide and rated at 15000lbs and the chain is similar. You'll know when you are getting it down snug when it start compressing the suspension, once you start doing that your locked down, just tie up the excess strap and chain, make sure lights work and trailer safety chains hooked up and your good to go. I haul a toyota celica on a car trailer this summer with my 2000 f150 and about 65miles and didnt have any probs at all. Hope i have help ya...

jd

 

You should not have any trouble towing, but you should have trailer brakes. If not for peace of mind, but more than likely your state requires it for anything over 3-4k.

 

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You want to have at least surge brakes on the trailer that you use. I have towed a car home from Pennsylvania to Iron Mountain in the Upper Pennisula and it was not a fun trip with surge brakes coming through the mountains. Most rental trailers have hydraulic surge breaks on them. The car I towed home was an Eagle Talon on an aluminum doulble axle car trailer with hydraulic surge brakes.

 

I have the V8 5.4 engine with trailer package. Where does the 7 pin harness get installed?

 

If you rent a trailer from U-Haul, it will have surge brakes and all you need is a 4 pin. The BMW is light enough you could probably do it with a dolly which is half the price of a trailer. I'd even do that with my V6, you don't need a moose engine to tow things that light. Extra coolers, WD, suspension beefing, etc. is not necessary. We are talking about a one time tow of a couple hundred miles, just go do it. The factory towing package is more than adequate.

I'm as **** as anyone around here about towing over capacity, but that car and a device to put it on will be way under the capacity of any F-150 except one with a M5OD manual trans - that may be pushing the 3500# advertised limit.

 

Unplug the 4 pin, and plug in the 7 pin. Install a few relays and fuses, along with a GOOD brake controller, and you'll have working brakes.

A serious question that isn't trying to make fun of you... Have you ever towed anything?

 

I would have to agree that if this is a one time towing of this car, get a u-haul dolly trailer (assuming this car is front wheel drive). I towed an Escort with one of those for a short distance with my truck when it was all stock and it towed great. I've also towed a U-Haul car carrier with a rear-wheel drive Volvo Wagon when my truck was all stock. That was totally different, I definatley knew something was back there and I was towing it in the mountain areas of Western MD. I thought the surge brakes on both U-Haul trailers were adequate for what I needed to do, no issue at all.

 

That Bimmer is a RWD car... He'll need a flat bed trailer for it, unless he wants to disconnect the driveshaft.

 

If you already have the "trailer package", then you 'should' already have the 7 pin harness... If you don't have the factory 7 pin, then you don't have the "trailer package".....

The new rigs with the factory 'Tow Package', come with both a flat 4 and a round 7 on the factory frame mounted hitch.

If an F150 can't haul that little thing, then we all have something else to worry about!!

Mitch

 

I have the 7 pin harness but its in plastic clear bag (never open or installed)

 

Lower your spare tire, and follow the 4 pin harness back. It plugs into the vehicle harness on the driver's side frame rail. Unplug it and plug your 7 pin harness in. The bag should also have the required fuses and relays in it.

 

i think he is talking about the brake controller wire in the bag with the relay......you need that wire if you want to buy a controller and make your own harness.........the 7-pin will be on the back of the truck by the hitch receiver and have a round look to it........it will have 6 connectors around it and one in the center to make 7.......you will need to install the relay from the bag to make your electric brakes work if you get a brake controller......it gets installed in the fuse box down by the passanger feet......

 

if its a standard he's fine, just throw it in neutral. We had our secretaries 328 i towed down to florida behind the motorhome using a high end tow bar...blue ox I think.