Tow bar

[ltec]

Originally Posted by gmonag

That is just insulting. You will never get more honest or knowledgable advice than here.

There is some very knowledgeable people but their is more silly answers on how xc90s cannot survive without everything genuine and make sure its good for 15 years.
In reality most people change their cars every 3 to 4 years so its money wasted.

[Rich850R]

Thanks for the replies and help, it’s not a genuine tow bar, it’s from a company, call tow trust, our old one on the V70 was a genuine Volvo bar etc

Both cars have Nivomats but the V70 sat perfect and the van was level

The XC was fine towing, although has far less grunt than the V70 did with its polestar map. I also found the XC to be no different in terms of stability over the V70, but I am careful how we load both car and van for stability.

It’s more aesthetically the way the combined the car and van looked.

I will double check the nose weight though

I measured the ball height with the XC unladen if that helps

Thanks for the comments, didn’t mean to create some issues with anyone of you though!

See the images for comparison.

[Tannaton]

Looks like you've done your home work and know your stuff...

Strangely - it may be my eyes but on the XC90 photo the caravan looks to be lower at the front than the rear - so on a balanced twin axle set-up you would have negative nose weight.

That looks like a R-Design V70, hence lower suspension, but the caravan looks level....

I see where you are coming from now. How does the tow ball height on the V70 compare to the XC90?

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by ltec

You left out my helpful bit before it. Up until that we were talking about whether it was genuine or not which was irrelevant.
I participate to ensure the genuine gang dont have people throwing away good parts and wasting money and educating them to do their homework and where possible buy parts just as good but cheaper were possible.
The answer to every question is. Because its not genuine.

I rarely get involved in this pointless stuff as I think the forum is, and should be, about cars - not people. But if you've read a good few of my posts, I guess I'm part of the "genuine gang". It's quite exciting, I've never been in a gang before, not even at school.

I think it might be forum member S80-D5 who once had a lovely signature - "Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

[Rich850R]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Looks like you've done your home work and know your stuff...

Strangely - it may be my eyes but on the XC90 photo the caravan looks to be lower at the front than the rear - so on a balanced twin axle set-up you would have negative nose weight.

That looks like a R-Design V70, hence lower suspension, but the caravan looks level....

I see where you are coming from now. How does the tow ball height on the V70 compare to the XC90?

Thanks for the reply, no idea how to quote multiple posts in a reply, the V70 has been sold and replaced with the XC90, so cannot measure the tow ball height

I am going to have to have a play with the nose weight of of the van and re adjust how I load it overall until I hit the sweet spot for both the car and van, interestingly though the pic of the V70 was just after we had hitched up so it hadn’t have time to level up as it had only moved about 15 yards and at speed of no more than 3-4 miles per hour

[Familyman 90]

There's always the possibility that your Nivomats are tired. That said, they are pretty robust so thats more of an outside chance, something to consider when all else has been eliminated.

[Rich850R]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

There's always the possibility that your Nivomats are tired. That said, they are pretty robust so thats more of an outside chance, something to consider when all else has been eliminated.

I did consider this but we took our time to find the right XC, just nudged past 100k, interior is immaculate, the boot looks like it’s hardly been used, and doctor owned, never been off road as the chassis is a clean as it left Volvo, not even a hint of rust on the rear subframe

No tow bar ever fitted either so it’s not really worked hard it seems. Our 2003 V70 D5 had over 240k on with original Nivomats and they were absolutely fine even when towing, but you are right for sure. Worth considering

[gmonag]

It is difficult to find that sweet spot. I have been towing caravans (both single and twin axle) for 30+ years. As long as you load the van sensibly and check that the max permitted nose weight is not exceeded when you hitch up you should be OK. Twin axles are not as sensitive, with regard to instability, as single axles.

The brand of the towbar is immaterial.

[ltec]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

I rarely get involved in this pointless stuff as I think the forum is, and should be, about cars - not people. But if you've read a good few of my posts, I guess I'm part of the "genuine gang". It's quite exciting, I've never been in a gang before, not even at school.

I think it might be forum member S80-D5 who once had a lovely signature - "Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Then why get involved. Your disagreeing with your own statement.
Your always involved anyway. As soon as someone mentions non genuine you cant help yourself.
Your smart indirect insults aren't impressive.

[Rich850R]

Originally Posted by gmonag

It is difficult to find that sweet spot. I have been towing caravans (both single and twin axle) for 30+ years. As long as you load the van sensibly and check that the max permitted nose weight is not exceeded when you hitch up you should be OK. Twin axles are not as sensitive, with regard to instability, as single axles.

The brand of the towbar is immaterial.

Oh absolutely yes, I much prefer twin axles, in a HGV driver trainer so understand the basic principles of axle weights etc. I will double check the nose weight when we go to Cornwall in a couple of weeks, a couple of tweaks here and there with maybe shifting the awning and the wife’s bottles of gin and wine i might just find the spot!!!