Towing Limits.

I'm trying to ascertain the caravan towing limits of a 97 V70 2.5 20 valve with an auto box. Figures seem to vary from 1800kg (Volvo) to 1250Kg (indespension).

Can anyone confirm ? I saw a post earlier this year where this was all detailed, but it seems to have disapeared from the archives.

[Peter Milnes]

When towing, the SAFE limit is given by taking 85% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle. The kerb weight is listed in the owner's handbook for your car. Thus a car with a 1500kg kerb weight can safely tow a 1275kg load. This seems near enough to the quoted Indespension figure. All caravans should be labelled with the maximum all-up weight. So if your caravan is rated at less than the 85% kerb weight of your car, you should have no problems.

All the best, Peter.

The kerb weight of a V70 is model dependent but is in the region of 1500kg for all models, give or take 60kg.

85% of this is 1275kg, which is the maximum weight which most would advise that you tow. In practical terms the weight of a 21ft overall length 5 berth caravan is slightly less than this.

The maximum train weight of a V70 (Kerb weight + weight of fuel + fluids + passengers + luggage + weight of trailer) is 3590kg.

If you add a kerb weight of 1500kg, to a tank of fuel at 70kg, driver and three passengers at 60kg each, 110kg of luggage, this leaves 1600kg to spare from the 3590kg max train weight. Volvo's recommended maximum towing weight is 1600kg, so I hope the figures I have given will give some idea as to how this has been arrived at. I certainly wouldn't consider towing a 1600kg trailer with my V70 though. My caravan weighs 1100kg and the V70 tows it very nicely.

Be aware that the maximum train weight is a legally enforceable figure under the Construction and Use Regs, and the penalties for exceeding it can be very severe!

Hope this helps

Nick
Retired Traffic Cop