Volvo Owners Club Forum - Towing advice with a 940

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- - Towing advice with a 940 (https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=322237)

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicswede (Post 2794641)

We mostly tow with 240's but do also use 940's and 960's. They are much better than V70's for towing

The are great for towing and the tight turning circle is very handy.

We do adapt all our cars as the old rear suspension is too soft. Adding some towing springs and good dampers is what is needed

Exactly that. I've always considered RWD better for towing; the small lock is a bonus when manouvering with a trailer on the back. :regular_smile:

Regards, John.

The other problem with FWD cars is traction. The trailer weight helps RWD bite but unloads the front wheels of a FWD making hill starts hard and setting off on loose surfaces very challenging

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonwheels (Post 2794633)

The p2 xc70 was a euro 3 and bought precisely because I liked the platform but the s60 dpf annoyed me. If the right v70 d5 (last of the euro 3 face-lifts) with sensible miles then I'd certainly be interested...sadly unless it's an enthusiasts car then most need alot of tlc. BCM units ,CEMs failing and stupid annoying things which I learnt from last time with things like the stereos failing and you can't really swap them out as they need coded, rear view mirrors when the self dimming lcd breaks and the mirror can't be swapped etc etc. My last p2 needed a bcm,cem and dem units 🤣....not to mention angle gear, then transfer box, AOC clutch pack and a haldex pump.
To sum up I think I'm getting old and prefer the simple thing in life haha.

That the issue id never entertain a P2 XC70 for precisely all those issues you have highlighted.

Sold our D5 with 228K and it was sweet as a nut, only money id spent was general upkeep and making it look like a V70R! Moment it left the drive i regretted it, that said it was just on the limit for our van, which unladen weight is 1550kg, always like to have a little ooomph in reserve. Then went for a P3 D5 Manual R Design with a factory polestar map, astonishing tow car and sometime didn't even know then van was on the back and felt rock steady.

Now tow with an XC90 which will be making way in the new year for V90

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicswede (Post 2794719)

The other problem with FWD cars is traction. The trailer weight helps RWD bite but unloads the front wheels of a FWD making hill starts hard and setting off on loose surfaces very challenging

With correct pressures and good tyres in all my years of towing ive never had an issue with hill starts on or off decent surfaces with FWD cars

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich850R (Post 2794721)

Now tow with an XC90 which will be making way in the new year for V90

The V90 is a cracking tow car. The 3ltr pulls nice with good low end grunt and the IRS makes it very stable. The extra length of a 960 limo really smooths out the ride and feels much nicer on some of the bumpy motorway sections around. The other great thing with the limo is the higher plated train weight. The length can be a pain but still a much tighter turning circle than the V70. I did the same thing and went backwards in age of cars. The V90 is nice and refined but without the modern car issues

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich850R (Post 2794723)

With correct pressures and good tyres in all my years of towing ive never had an issue with hill starts on or off decent surfaces with FWD cars

If you are not loaded and pulling decent size loads you might not notice how badly they lack

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicswede (Post 2794827)

Ermmm no thanks

V90 R design 72 plate

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicswede (Post 2794828)

If you are not loaded and pulling decent size loads you might not notice how badly they lack

What a load of nonsense

I’d say a gross train weight of nearly 3600kg would be a decent Size wouldn’t you? Or are you suggesting that the 44T articulated truck I train people to drive is more of a decent load?

Like I said with the van loaded as it should, with decent nose weight, coupled with decent tyres and accurate pressures I’ve had no issues, on wet soggy pitches, gravel inclines leaving site and even snow on the A34 where the road was shut for 3 hours while the snow got deeper. Still managed to haul the 26ft twin axle out.

Then again it might be down to driver skill. Who knows

Ended up buying a 240glt instead of a 940 . 240 won't have the grunt to pull my caravan so the old v70's will need to remain the primary towcars. To be honest it amazes me how well the old p80s tow and I use it to tow instead of my p3 xc70

Quote:

Originally Posted by wagonwheels (Post 2831073)

Ended up buying a 240glt instead of a 940 . 240 won't have the grunt to pull my caravan

Just how big is the caravan‽
We do a LOT of towing with our 240 GLT and often heavy loads. Every run involves going up a fairly challenging hill for most cars. Rhuallt hill will see most towing cars slow right down. With the GLT towing a Range Rover P38 (just within this ones plated tow weight) it goes up without slowing down too much. The only alterations are tow pack rear springs and dampers and lowered/stiffer front springs and engine wise a 4 branch manifold with a 2.5 inch exhaust system.