XC60 - Towall Fixed Or Removeable

[cbjroms]

Just ordered a new XC60 and wondering whether to have the fixed or removeable towball fitted.

On my XC90 I went for the fixed towball and it was pretty unobtrusive and there is, on the XC60, quite a significant difference in price.

Is the remoevable ball worth the money (and does it suit the Alko hitch/stabiliser)?

Thanks
Chris

[JackRussel]

You can see some pics of my fixed towbar in the showroom section. I always prefer a fixed towbar. You can't lose it and no-one ever dents your rear bumper !

[pdr944]

it has to be detachable for me.cosmetically all towbars look awful especially on saloons and estates.you wont have any problem with the alko stab/hitch and there not that much more expencive.

peter.

[Lzygo]

I fully agree with pdr944 on this one. Removable and no probs with alko hitch!!

[Jim314]

Protruding towbars (at least the US style) are a hazzard to pedestrians in parking lots. People looking beyond them can be tripped by them and have grave injuries. An elderly but spry man in my neighborhood got a badly broken hip by tripping over a projecting hitch (from the rear of a pickup truck I think) in a supermarket car park.

I have a removable one on my V70 and I never leave it in place without a trailer hitched.

[pdr944]

Originally Posted by Jim314

Protruding towbars (at least the US style) are a hazzard to pedestrians in parking lots. People looking beyond them can be tripped by them and have grave injuries. An elderly but spry man in my neighborhood got a badly broken hip by tripping over a projecting hitch (from the rear of a pickup truck I think) in a supermarket car park.

I have a removable one on my V70 and I never leave it in place without a trailer hitched.

a very good point jim and all the way from the sunny US of A.

regards peter

[JackRussel]

Originally Posted by Jim314

Protruding towbars (at least the US style) are a hazzard to pedestrians in parking lots. People looking beyond them can be tripped by them and have grave injuries. An elderly but spry man in my neighborhood got a badly broken hip by tripping over a projecting hitch (from the rear of a pickup truck I think) in a supermarket car park.

I have a removable one on my V70 and I never leave it in place without a trailer hitched.

Who walks so close to the back of a car that they would trip over the towbar ( see picture ) ?

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/attach...3&d=1244674284

[Jim314]

Originally Posted by JackRussel

Who walks so close to the back of a car that they would trip over the towbar ( see picture ) ?

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/attach...3&d=1244674284

Agreed that it would not seem to be much of a problem with the European/UK style hitches. The US style hitches protrude more when the ball unit is installed in the receiver, especially on pick-up trucks.

However with a hitch in place a small bumper tap could cause much more damage with a hitch in place, perhaps even to the car with the hitch. For example, maneuvering in a tight space one could be backing up and might just touch the bumper of another vehicle. Having a hitch in place would result in significant damage whereas without one there would be no damage.

[Steve Elliott]

I have just taken delivery of my XC60 with a fixed towbar. The cut out for the towbar seems excessive. Does anyone have dimensions of the cut out for a fixed or removeable towbar as i think that the dealer has cut out for a removable towbar but fitted a fixed?

[JackRussel]

Originally Posted by Jim314

Agreed that it would not seem to be much of a problem with the European/UK style hitches. The US style hitches protrude more when the ball unit is installed in the receiver, especially on pick-up trucks.

However with a hitch in place a small bumper tap could cause much more damage with a hitch in place, perhaps even to the car with the hitch. For example, maneuvering in a tight space one could be backing up and might just touch the bumper of another vehicle. Having a hitch in place would result in significant damage whereas without one there would be no damage.

With rear parking sensors I tend not to have too many bumper taps ! As for other people reversing into my towbar rather than my bumper, that's an advantage as I said above.