XC90 Towing problem - Page 3

400-ascona · May 19th, 2011, 20:03

What was the nose weight?

ctreex1 · May 19th, 2011, 21:50

I have not measured the trailer nose weight. Before I bought the XC90 I was concerned that the maximum noseweight permitted is 90 kg, so I 'phoned Ifor Williams and they said so long as the car will take above 80 kg that would be ok.
We have a 6 year old Freelander and the trailer tows fine with that, the maximum permitted noseweight on that is 150 kg. The towball height is 6 cm lower than the XC90.
Thank you for your interest.

Coconut · May 20th, 2011, 06:27

... and what about the tyres ?

Did you manage to check them as suggested, or change them to see if they are causing the problem ?

If they are , then putting an extra 5lbs in the tyres probably won't make much difference ?

400-ascona · May 20th, 2011, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctreex1

I have not measured the trailer nose weight. Before I bought the XC90 I was concerned that the maximum noseweight permitted is 90 kg, so I 'phoned Ifor Williams and they said so long as the car will take above 80 kg that would be ok.
We have a 6 year old Freelander and the trailer tows fine with that, the maximum permitted noseweight on that is 150 kg. The towball height is 6 cm lower than the XC90.
Thank you for your interest.

Strikes me as you are avoiding an obvious potential. If the nose weight is wrong it will tow like a pig. Get the scales under the jockey wheel and determine the nose weight.

ctreex1 · May 20th, 2011, 10:34

Thank you for your suggestions. Alan has offered to let me tow his trailer to see how that performs. It is an HB506, same as ours. Will probably take a week to arrange.

ctreex1 · May 22nd, 2011, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoscoMac

Does your XC90 have the load compensating suspension fitted? There was a recall from Volvo for certain 90s as they hadn't fitted the self-levelling kit to some vehicles.

R.

Thanks RoscoMac, does anyone know when the XC90's were recalled for this problem. Ours was built autumn 2010.

ctreex1 · May 22nd, 2011, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darryl

That sounds awfully like the NOSEWEIGHT of the trailer is incorrect ie the amount of weight exerted by the towhitch onto the towball.

If it is either too heavy or too light instability will result.

Your vehicle will have a MAXIMUM permitted noseweight as will the towball itself.

I think that you can discount the construction of the towbar itself as being the problem as it will be no better and no worse than the Witter.
Why don't you try Alan's trailer on your vehicle and see if that improves things and also put your trailer on Alan's car and see how it behaves.

One last point , with the vehicle solo, measure from the very top of the TOWBALL to the ground on yours and then do the same on Alans.
There should be no major discrepancy but obviously if there is this will have a direct impact on the trailer noseweight.

Darryl

Today I have towed Alan's trailer - still the same problem.
The distance from the top of my towball to ground is 49cm, Alan's is 46cm. On level ground, with the trailer set level using the jockey wheel & spirit level, the distance from the top of the towball receiver to ground is 46cm.
On Friday I 'phoned Ifor Williams technical with 2 questions: Is 49cm ok? and what is the trailer noseweight when empty? The chap went to find answers, I am still awaiting a reply.

Jim314 · May 22nd, 2011, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctreex1

Today I have towed Alan's trailer - still the same problem.
The distance from the top of my towball to ground is 49cm, Alan's is 46cm. On level ground, with the trailer set level using the jockey wheel & spirit level, the distance from the top of the towball receiver to ground is 46cm.
On Friday I 'phoned Ifor Williams technical with 2 questions: Is 49cm ok? and what is the trailer noseweight when empty? The chap went to find answers, I am still awaiting a reply.

Is this same 3 cm difference seen in the height of the body above the ground and from the center of the rear hub to the body ? Measure the vertical height of the wheel well or other feature?

Could it be that your load levelling system is out of adjustment or malfunctioning? Did you own this from new? If not, could a previous owner have installed different springs?

400-ascona · May 23rd, 2011, 05:23

Nose weight............

ctreex1 · May 23rd, 2011, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim314

Is this same 3 cm difference seen in the height of the body above the ground and from the center of the rear hub to the body ? Measure the vertical height of the wheel well or other feature?

Could it be that your load levelling system is out of adjustment or malfunctioning? Did you own this from new? If not, could a previous owner have installed different springs?

Thank for your interest Jim. On Alan's car the top of the towball is 3cm lower than ours when measured from the top of the ball to the top of the rear bumper.
We have owned the car from new in November 2010.
Does anyone know when XC90's were recalled for Load Sensitive Suspension problem?

Ascona - I am still awaiting a 'phone call from IWT technical dept. regarding noseweight.

May 19th, 2011, 20:03	#21
400-ascona Premier Member Last Online: May 24th, 2024 08:09 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Derby	What was the nose weight? __________________ 1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Land Rover Discovery 4; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.

May 20th, 2011, 06:27	#23
Coconut Older than Junior Member Last Online: Oct 12th, 2014 09:28 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Twon/City	... and what about the tyres ? Did you manage to check them as suggested, or change them to see if they are causing the problem ? If they are , then putting an extra 5lbs in the tyres probably won't make much difference ? __________________ 2008 XC90 D5 Executive, Sandstone Beige Leather, Active Bi-Xenons, Electric Sun Roof, Roof rails, Climate Control, Twin electric front heated seats, Volvo DTi, Full integrated phone, Westfalia Tow Bar....

May 23rd, 2011, 05:23	#29
400-ascona Premier Member Last Online: May 24th, 2024 08:09 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Derby	Nose weight............ __________________ 1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Land Rover Discovery 4; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.

May 19th, 2011, 21:50	#22
ctreex1 Junior Member Last Online: Dec 15th, 2015 21:56 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ross on Wye	I have not measured the trailer nose weight. Before I bought the XC90 I was concerned that the maximum noseweight permitted is 90 kg, so I 'phoned Ifor Williams and they said so long as the car will take above 80 kg that would be ok. We have a 6 year old Freelander and the trailer tows fine with that, the maximum permitted noseweight on that is 150 kg. The towball height is 6 cm lower than the XC90. Thank you for your interest.

May 20th, 2011, 10:34	#25
ctreex1 Junior Member Last Online: Dec 15th, 2015 21:56 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ross on Wye	Thank you for your suggestions. Alan has offered to let me tow his trailer to see how that performs. It is an HB506, same as ours. Will probably take a week to arrange.

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