Lugs on towbar?
 

What are the shiny lugs either side of the towbar?

This is a OEM XC90 electric towbar.

Attachment 126180

The loop is for emergency brakes?

The emergency brake for the trailer will go through the hole under the towball so not that.

Looks as they have a purpose but no idea what!

for the catch which holds it up underneath perhaps

Is it something to help you lock the trailer, perhaps with a U clamp of some sort and a chain?
Or perhaps to support something like a bike rack?

Glad it's not just me that was confused then.

Who knows :D

I think Clan might have a good idea, locking lugs perhaps for when stowed. Need to crawl underneath and have a look.

A mate of mine has a similar tow hitch on his new Discovery, and a locking clamp that locates on the lugs. Anti theft device, stops light fingered people taking off with your trailer.

I'm guessing they are mounting lugs for either a new bike rack accessory from Volvo or even a trailer anti-theft device that has come to market recently as my genuine Volvo electric folding towbar (V90) that was dealer fitted in 2017 doesn't have them.

Went back and had a look, still no idea.

To clip the breakaway cable onto rather than loop round the towbar - which some countries no longer allow. There is a long thread somewhere on the CAMC forum about this, Holland is particularly keen in enforcement of this law.

There is a loop cast in for the breakaway cable as shown , Those posts could well be to aid machining the ball, they hold it in the cutting machine and may secure it by those pins .