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S80 '06-'16 / V70 & XC70 '07-'16 General Forum for the P3-platform S80 and 70-series models |
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Slightly dissappointed as a towcarViews : 6140 Replies : 58Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Apr 28th, 2012, 01:18 | #11 |
Rodney
Last Online: Aug 4th, 2016 05:02
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How about a Kia Sportage?
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Apr 28th, 2012, 07:56 | #12 |
VOC Member
Last Online: Feb 27th, 2023 21:36
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That had entered my thoughts too!! And why the XC90 came to mind as a pre-Ford Volvo!!
There are very few cars like my V70 AWD. Diesel for torque, auto gearbox and doesn't look like a Tonka toy.
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2014MY XC60 D5 SE Lux AWD Geartronic hauling a 2011MY Vanmaster Accolade And for more fun: 1972 MG B GT |
Apr 28th, 2012, 09:13 | #13 | |
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You have a huge amount of "fancy life saving electronics" on your present car .....
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Apr 28th, 2012, 11:36 | #14 |
clivea
Last Online: Dec 10th, 2014 12:38
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Sorry to hear of your problems. I moved from a Sorento (great tug) to a 2010MY XC70 and find the Volvo to be just as stable as the Sorento but less jittery. What all my previous cars have had is rear seat bases that lift so I can stow the heavy items such as awning, toolbox, food crates behind the front seats of the car thus allowing the rear load area for dogs. But with the XC70 I now have a dog crate behind me and the heavy items go behind the dogs. But the loaded items in the van have not changed so I can compare Sorento v Volvo directly.
I tow 1500kg at up to legal limits here and abroad so a steady 60/62mph where comfortable. This loading is less than yours but I have never had any concerns with stability or the feel of the car. Aids such as towing systems on the car or ATC should not even feature in normal towing driving. When cars are tested by CC, C&CC and Practical Caravan they tow at 85% kerbweight with ATC disabled. And all the tests that I read showed V70/XC70 to be good tow cars without any issues, that is what led me to return to the Volvo fold. I always use max noseweight which is 90kg although with a single axle van it is easier to measure and adjust noseweight than for a twin axle. I set tyre pressures at 38psi which is also the XC70 Eco setting so I don't have to bother re-setting then when on site. Why not try unloading the van except for gas, battery etc and towing it light to a weighbridge which will not only let you see how it tows when light but also confirm your basic weight. Then gradually adjust the load and load positions to see if you can achieve a better feel for the outfit. On the Practical Caravan Forums there have been problems similar to yours on different vans/outfits which were difficult to achieve noseweight without resorting to moving load to the rear which then made the outfit feel uncertain. Good luck
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Cheers Clivea April 2014 Subaru Forester XE Lineatronic. 2010-April 2014 XC70 SE Premium 205ps D5 Geartronic AWD 2010MY Oyster Grey Last edited by clivea; Apr 28th, 2012 at 11:40. Reason: Need to add comments |
Apr 28th, 2012, 16:05 | #15 |
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Thanks for that. We have trouble getting the noseweight up which is different to any other caravan we have had.
Perhaps I need to measure it again and get it up to around your figure, think thats the max for the towbar/car. I did try the eco setting after we had the car but found it a bit hard solo so compromised on 35 but I could try a higher figure on rear too. I get a sort of feeling it's too soft at the rear so, again more reason to try. Don't get me wrong, it's not a huge problem, just seems odd after all the other Volvo/caravan combinations I have had. There was a Swift I had that was twitchy until the caravan's rubber suspension warmed up and then it was fine!!
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2014MY XC60 D5 SE Lux AWD Geartronic hauling a 2011MY Vanmaster Accolade And for more fun: 1972 MG B GT |
Apr 29th, 2012, 09:44 | #16 |
clivea
Last Online: Dec 10th, 2014 12:38
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I agree with you that the Econ tyre pressure is a bit hard, perhaps that is why it aims to save fuel in that we drive a bit slower to stop the passengers moaning.
Be interested to hear how you get on with any further adjustments..
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Cheers Clivea April 2014 Subaru Forester XE Lineatronic. 2010-April 2014 XC70 SE Premium 205ps D5 Geartronic AWD 2010MY Oyster Grey |
Apr 29th, 2012, 09:48 | #17 |
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the eco pressures also increase your tyre life and make cornering have a bit more " feel"
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Apr 29th, 2012, 09:56 | #18 |
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Had plans to fiddle with caravan nose weight and push up rear tyre pressures today....but it can wait. CH back on and couch potato mode today, horrid outside. Sunny and 17deg forecast for Monday :-)
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2014MY XC60 D5 SE Lux AWD Geartronic hauling a 2011MY Vanmaster Accolade And for more fun: 1972 MG B GT |
Apr 29th, 2012, 13:37 | #19 | |
XC40 P8 FIRST EDITION
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Apr 29th, 2012, 13:55 | #20 | |
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Anyway, I had a Mondeo Estate with a decent trim level (Ghia) for nearly 3 years before buying my 59 V70. Personally I think the difference between the two cars is night and day when it comes to the way they feel inside. Everything in the Ford was more flimsy and less confidence inspiring than the Volvo. Handlingwise I can tell you that my V70 feels sharper than the Mondeo I had but that might be the R-design pask and its 18" alloys. As I don't have a towbar I can't compare towing differences between Mondeo and V70 but both are heavy and long enough to look like good contenders on paper... My advise would be to stick with the V70 instead of an XC90 and sell the caravan; a nice en-suite holiday appartement sounds better to me than waiting in line at the shower block of yet another busy French camping spot |
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