How much horse can a 940 tow???

[achapski]

Ok have a wentworth estate 155 bhp as you well know.It is not used a great deal as we also have a C70.

Anyway my sister has asked if she could use it to tow her horsebox with her fat massive horse inside!!!

I saw these cars advertised in the 90`s volvo ad with horse box attached...but the towing rec..is 1500kg I think....Ummmm doesn`t seem right to me.... Horses are heavy....

What do you think?? Surely horse and horsebox must weigh alot of bags of sugar....

[James_N]

It might be a little borderline. I imagine the horsebox on its own would weigh a fair bit. I always think for towing horses, your much better off with a 4x4.

[karlos_uk]

kiss goodnight to your clutch!

[Clan]

The combined weight is going to be in the 2 ton region depending on horse of course . So not advisable , Clutch wont be a problem though unless you are starting on a 1 in 10 hill every day .

[johnjp]

I had no trouble pulling 1700kgs in my 240glt (from Sussex to south Wales) and 740 so, with a newer lightweight trailer and anything but a Suffolk Punch, I would think you could put the 940 to very good use. If it is an auto you have less to worry about!

[RealEstate]

Towing weight

I have towed our 500kg 14hand Welsh cob for years with my 940. My Ifor Williams HB505 trailer weights 900kg empty, so total of 1400kg is well within Volvo's recommended trailer weight for the 940. My 940 has a ZF22 auto box and I have fitted a Kenlowe oil cooler for the gear box. I tow in 3rd gear and not normally above 3000rpm (50mph) for less noise and fuel consumption. Horse trailers have a lot of windage.

Rear wheel drive is better than front wheel drive for towing.The only drawback of not having 4-wheel drive is that you can get bogged in muddy fields at horse shows etc.
All the best,
Ben

[James_N]

Personally towing with my 740 was terrifying. Caravan wallowed all over the shop, very dangerous, but was fine behind my parents mondeo. Probably my bushes on the 740.

[Laney760]

I found a chart on the net once of all cars and the weights they can tow, the 940 diesels can tow more than the petrols no doubt due to their extra weight because of the heavy engine, will see if I can find it again

[740 In France]

Saw a 92/93 940 saloon this morning towing a huge horsebox with a huge horse. It wasn't having any difficulty although the rear suspension on the car was very low!!
My old 1986 740 towed a large 1980 4 berth abbey piper caravan from Birmingham to France with stuff inside no problem. I took it at a steady 55mph on the motorway. I did fit a stabilizer beforehand. It did get through nearly 2 tanks of fuel though!!! James:thumbs_up:

[James_N]

Saw a 92/93 940 saloon this morning towing a huge horsebox with a huge horse. It wasn't having any difficulty although the rear suspension on the car was very low!!
My old 1986 740 towed a large 1980 4 berth abbey piper caravan from Birmingham to France with stuff inside no problem. I took it at a steady 55mph on the motorway. I did fit a stabilizer beforehand. It did get through nearly 2 tanks of fuel though!!! James:thumbs_up:

Is that all? I got through about 4 from stafford to le mans with my caravan!!

[rippedoffagain]

How big is the horse? What breed is it and how tall is it?

There is no such thing as a 'typical' horse, but I'd expect one that was big enough for an adult to ride to weigh between about 300 and 1000kg. The biggest shires and clydesdales weigh in at about 2000kg, but they are really the exception as they are not really horses at all, but organic battle tanks.

A 940 should easily manage it. Its not like you're going to be ragging it while towing as you don't want poor horsey to fall over all over the place in the back as you tear round corners and burn off some rubber when the traffic lights change.

[Laney760]

Just found the site I was on about. It says a 1991 petrol 2.3 SE turbo estate has a kerb weight of 1536 kg and the 85% maximum towing weight is 1306 kg. A 1991 turbo diesel estate has a kerb weight of 1950 kg and the 85% max towing weight is 1657 kg. 1306 kg does not sound a lot of weight to cover a horse box and big horse!

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/volvo.htm#940

[rippedoffagain]

Just found the site I was on about. It says a 1991 petrol 2.3 SE turbo estate has a kerb weight of 1536 kg and the 85% maximum towing weight is 1306 kg. A 1991 turbo diesel estate has a kerb weight of 1950 kg and the 85% max towing weight is 1657 kg. 1306 kg does not sound a lot of weight to cover a horse box and big horse!

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/volvo.htm#940

I reckon its plenty for most horses. Horseboxes surely don't weigh that much. They are only a trailer with an aluminium top on, and horses aren't that heavy (ok, I'll admit, I couldn't bench press one so they are heavy, but not heavy heavy).

[jor]

According to the 940 handbook over 1200kg a gearbox oil cooler is advisable. Between 1500-1800 kg a Volvo kit is advised.

jor

[RealEstate]

The original Volvo 940 manual that came with my car says for trailers with brakes:
Max 1500kg auto with no oil cooler - max 50 mph
Max 1600kg auto with oil cooler - max 50mph
Max 1800kg auto with oil cooler - max 45mph, provided reinforced Volvo towing bracket ard anti-snake vibration damper are fitted.

I have been told that there is no plated max legal towing weight for cars as old as the 940, 740 240 etc, and provided you are not holding up traffic you will not be stopped by the police simply for being 'overweight'.

It is important that the trailer brakes are in good order and that you have at least 50-75kg nose weight on the drawbar to improve trailer stability, the higher weight for heavier trailers. Also change your brake fluid every 2 years to make sure it doesn't boil going down long hills.

Ref horses, provided you only tow one average pony club/riding horse in a double trailer and drive sensibly you will be fine and legal. Two horses are too much.

I know a well-known 240 owner who is in the motor trade and posts on another site, who tows a 240 on a trailer with his 240. He assures me it is safe and legal. He keeps up with the traffic and the police don't trouble him.

All the best,
Ben