XC40 road spray whilst towing

[gedger]

This is my first winter towing with the XC40 and I've been surprised at how much road muck is thrown out the back and onto the van. I fitted genuine mudflaps but I'm not convinced they help that much. Definitely the worse car I've had for this. Just wondered if anyone has found an easy fix?

I'm currently think about buying some 5mm rubber sheet, using the existing mud-flaps as a template and cutting some new ones that are much longer. They wont look as nice but hopefully will cut down the spray.

This is after a 50 mile trip!

IMG_3167.jpg

[Frank Bullitt]

Unless you have an aversion to them, which I know some people do, get a towing cover - so long as it’s specific to the van they fit like a glove and avoid this. You can hose down at your destination and leave it hanging off the back of the caravan to dry or just fold it up carefully leaving the inside face clean.

[unseen]

In fairness to your XC40 - the dead leaves, road salt from the recent cold temps and now biblical rain seem to have created a perfect storm for getting cars flithy at the minute

[gedger]

Originally Posted by Frank Bullitt

Unless you have an aversion to them, which I know some people do, get a towing cover

They look like more hassle to me than a sponge and water when I get there but I will have a think....

[gedger]

Originally Posted by unseen

In fairness to your XC40 - the dead leaves, road salt from the recent cold temps and now biblical rain seem to have created a perfect storm for getting cars flithy at the minute

Having had a more careful look at the XC40 rear mud-flaps the bottom of the rear flap is definitely further from the road surface that others I surveyed at the site I've just been staying at. Our van became a bit of a conversation piece as passers by stopped to look....

[Simmy]

the xc40 is a car with very little body overhang so this kind of thing will always happen it might be worth investing in a battery powered pressure washer . worx do a good one it is popular with off road motorcyclist we got ours from argos

[watto64]

i second the worx power washer for onsite clean up. Buy the extra nozzle with adjustable spray angle as this seems to increase the pressure slightly. Take you water from your external barrel via the supplied hose.

[Frank Bullitt]

Originally Posted by gedger

They look like more hassle to me than a sponge and water when I get there but I will have a think....

They are easy to fit, especially if they are model specific, and leave the front completely clean, no staring through dead flies for your holiday etc. etc.

Takes less than a minute to fit and remove.

[green van man]

Originally Posted by gedger

They look like more hassle to me than a sponge and water when I get there but I will have a think....

I use a tow pro cover on the front of my coachman when towing. Takes 30seconds or so to fit .
Slide up awning rails each side, zip up the middle, clip 4 elastic mounted clips to edge of lower skirt, clip retaining strap under draw bar into buckle.
I could have fitted and removed cover 5 time in the time it took me to type the description.
I paid £260 direct from tow pro. If you are not in a hurry and going to the camping and caravan show at NEC in February I believe it is, you could get show discounts and save a bit.

Tyres also make a difference, I recently fitted Goodyear all season tyres to replace Pirelli scorpion verde all season, not yet towed with them but solo they lift a lit more water than the Pirelli’s did, I also have Volvo mudflaps fitted to my xc70.

Paul.