S80: Electrical S80 2009 towbar and sensors

[urban60]

I would appreciate some confirmation that towbar (itself) won't trigger rear parking sensors on 2009 s80, because I'm looking for those cheap fixed non-removable towbars (only gonna tow bikes from time to time).
I've found out that it doesn't trigger on xc60 and xc90, but need some confirmation that it won't on the s80.

Towbar: STEINHOF V-296

[Whyman]

If you use the genuine Volvo electric kit it will automatically switch off the parking sensors when the trailer is attached.

Not all of the other systems will do this!

[urban60]

I don't worry for the sensors when something is attached to the bar. I worry for the towbar itself - "when nothing is on it". I also have the button to turn of the sensors, but I don't want to do that every time I get in the car and also loosing both rear and front sensors.

[Tatsfield]

I don't worry for the sensors when something is attached to the bar.

That's when you have to worry about the rear sensors because otherwise they will be bleeping continuously when they "see" whatever it is that you are towing. The Volvo towing electrics kit turns off the rear sensors only when you plug in the trailer lights to the car.

[urban60]

Once again...
I want to mount a fixed non-removable towbar, meaning it will be on the car at all time!
I don't care for the sensor when I have a rack on, because I can simply turn off the sensors for the day, but when I remove the rack, I want be able to use the sensors with the towbar on.

[Tatsfield]

If the rack obscures the rear plate, you would need a towing licence plate bar anyway and that would plug into the Volvo wired tow socket and shut down the rear parking sensors. You could fit one even if it wasn't strictly needed just to fulfil that function, or if it wasn't needed, use a dummy wired plug secured to the rack with a lanyard to do the switching for you. And then you would be equipped to tow a trailer if you ever needed to.

[ferg55]

Hi Urban,

I have a towball permanently attached to my S80, and factory-fit parking sensors. The sensors don't detect the towball when I reverse. I think this is the answer you were after.

[urban60]

This is indeed the answer I've been looking for, thank you. May I ask which towball do you have?

[apersson850]

I have a detachable towbar, but the sensors don't see that one either, when there's nothing attached, but the ball is mounted.

[jodiexii]

I had fixed towbar on mine , cannot remember make but that never had issues with parking sensors on rear.