V70: General Slightly dissappointed as a towcar

[Westyman]

My 2010 registered but allegedly 2011MY V70 D5 AWD Geartronic is the least stable Volvo towcar of the 6 I have had.
The car solo is fine, a bit less robust maybe than previous Volvos, but fine. Towing my 1650-1700kg (guess) caravan, the power and torque are great, the gearbox is fine, perhaps a tiny bit late changing down but nothing too concerning. No it's stability that's just not as good. I know the 'van is heavyish for the car but not overly so, but it was the same with the previous 1500kg 'van too.
I have fiddled about with tyre pressures and noseweight but it's the same, as speed gets above about 55 mph it just feels twitchy. Now, being a retiree, I am not unhappy tootling along at 55 but it leaves nothing in hand. A gentle downhill and speed drifts upto 60 it feels quite alarming. The caravan has Alko ATC on so I shouldn't worry I suppose but that's not the point, it should be better.
This Volvo was going to last us but am wondering if there's a better towcar, maybe my old 2005 V70??!!
Am wondering about the XC90 - the dog pen won't fit the XC60 - but have never taken much interest in them so not sure what's what with them.
BTW I have been towing for 33 years, 8 diferent caravans and 9 different towcars so I am not inexperienced!!

Any views/comments?

[apersson850]

My most recent car is a Volvo XC70 D5 AWD automatic, model year 2012. So very close to your's, except for a slightly higher ground clearance, but that doesn't make it any more stable. Rather the opposite.

Still, this is definitely the best car I've towed with so far. I have a caravan with gross weight of 1600 kg (Tabbert 560), width 250 cm.
With good hitch pressure, around 75 kg, it tracks the car in an excellent way, regardless of which (sensible) speed I use. 80 km/h is highest allowed when towing in Sweden, but as you say, occasionally it runs a bit faster, but that's no problem.

I do have one question, though. Do you have the automatic levelling system? All cars in which I've had that had been significantly better and more stable when towing, since the levelling system makes the suspension harder when it feels the heavier load. Thus less sway in the rear part of the car when you are towing.

[spandelly]

Maybe its something to do with the feel of the four wheel drive system that your not used to?

[Westyman]

Originally Posted by spandelly

Maybe its something to do with the feel of the four wheel drive system that your not used to?

This is the third AWD I have had!! But thanks for the idea!!

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Westyman

This is the third AWD I have had!! But thanks for the idea!!

Have you got the genuine volvo tow bar electrics with Trailer module?

[Westyman]

Originally Posted by Clan

Have you got the genuine volvo tow bar electrics with Trailer module?

No. Witter bar and third-party electrics.

[Westyman]

Yes it does have the "Load Compensating" rear suspension.

Well at least it was specified to have it!!

[JetBlastDeflector]

Originally Posted by Westyman

My 2010 registered but allegedly 2011MY V70 D5 AWD Geartronic is the least stable Volvo towcar of the 6 I have had.
The car solo is fine, a bit less robust maybe than previous Volvos, but fine. Towing my 1650-1700kg (guess) caravan, the power and torque are great, the gearbox is fine, perhaps a tiny bit late changing down but nothing too concerning. No it's stability that's just not as good. I know the 'van is heavyish for the car but not overly so, but it was the same with the previous 1500kg 'van too.
I have fiddled about with tyre pressures and noseweight but it's the same, as speed gets above about 55 mph it just feels twitchy. Now, being a retiree, I am not unhappy tootling along at 55 but it leaves nothing in hand. A gentle downhill and speed drifts upto 60 it feels quite alarming. The caravan has Alko ATC on so I shouldn't worry I suppose but that's not the point, it should be better.
This Volvo was going to last us but am wondering if there's a better towcar, maybe my old 2005 V70??!!
Am wondering about the XC90 - the dog pen won't fit the XC60 - but have never taken much interest in them so not sure what's what with them.
BTW I have been towing for 33 years, 8 diferent caravans and 9 different towcars so I am not inexperienced!!

Any views/comments?

The XC90 uses a P2 platform which was designed by Volvo in 1999 before Ford bought Volvo. The P2 platform was also used on the 2001-2007 V70, therefore also a genuine Volvo's. I have owned a 2001 V70, a 2005 V70, a 2008 V70 and a 2010 V70. I now have an XC90 and the XC90 still retains the old, solid, heavy, Volvo feel that my two earlier V70's had. My newer V70's were good, but could have been Ford Mondeo's to be honest. So what I am saying is that if you are looking for a 'new' tow car that has the same feel as your old 2005 V70, I am sure that the XC90 would fit the bill and solve your problems.

[cloggers]

Originally Posted by JetBlastDeflector

My newer V70's were good, but could have been Ford Mondeo's to be honest

Was the Mondeo not based on a development of the V70 which was already underway instead of the other way round?

Anyway, I had a Mondeo Estate with a decent trim level (Ghia) for nearly 3 years before buying my 59 V70. Personally I think the difference between the two cars is night and day when it comes to the way they feel inside. Everything in the Ford was more flimsy and less confidence inspiring than the Volvo.

Handlingwise I can tell you that my V70 feels sharper than the Mondeo I had but that might be the R-design pask and its 18" alloys. As I don't have a towbar I can't compare towing differences between Mondeo and V70 but both are heavy and long enough to look like good contenders on paper...

My advise would be to stick with the V70 instead of an XC90 and sell the caravan; a nice en-suite holiday appartement sounds better to me than waiting in line at the shower block of yet another busy French camping spot

[Westyman]

We did look at the XC90 once, around 2009ish but one thing, and I know it's a minor thing, every Volvo from the 240 onwards has had that useful storage beneath the boot floor. The XC90 fills it with seats I don't want. I have seen a thread on the XC90 section about removing them but then I assume the flat boot floor would go.
Anyway, got fed up watching the rain so been out and fired up the compressor to raise the tyre pressures. Trying 35F and 37R. Caravan tyre pressures were down a touch too so sorted that and only lost one valve cap under the car....(now recovered)...
Will re-check nose weight tomorrow.
Sell caravan? NEVER!! :-)
We're having a narrow boat built next year too but will still use caravan. Happy times for over 30 years.