Towbar for V70 R-design

[NAD]

Would anyone be able to tell me which Brink or Westfalia Towbar I need? My 2011 D5 R-design has self-levelling Nivomats. Looking online it seems as if I need a lower Towbar hitch than the standard one, presumably because the suspension won’t sag as much when weight is added onto the rear.

I’d also like to know which Volvo genuine electrics module I need. I understand this will need coding by a Volvo dealer (or potentially Volvo specialist with Vida?)

Many thanks in advance.
Nick

[Phil S]

Hi - went down the TowTrust route myself - but bought the wiring from Volvo as it's not expensive - it will have to be programmed by Volvo, I tried with D5T5, but it doesn't do the job.

If your car is an imported car, then when Volvo programme the wiring, that act will also reset your car back to the originating country.

[NAD]

Many thanks, I was planning to go down the genuine electrics route, as it seems far more sensible to use the inbuilt functionality than start chopping into wiring looms. I’ll get a quote from Volvo, but I have a sneaky suspicion that it would be more cost effective to change the car! I was hoping to fit the Towbar myself, and let the dealer program electrics. Shame it can’t be programmed by my icarsoft unit.

[Phil S]

I fitted the bar and the electrics myself - i tried with d5t5 to activate the electrics but it just didn't work - i suspect that the electronics box that you get with the electrics needs to be programmed specifically to what options your car has - reversing camera, sensors, etc.

So - i went in to Volvo with a fully fitted bar and electronics and asked them just to programme it. Can't remember how much it was - something like £50.

[Tatsfield]

Definitely don't chop into the electrics. When I bought my XC70 it had a tow bar fitted but I found there were some electrical problems. The Volvo dealer that sold me the car examined the system and confirmed that the fitting was third party and that they had failed to notice that and stripped out the tow bar wiring and replaced it with an OEM Volvo system for no charge. I recovered the rear window heating function! IIRC, the cost would have been £300 to have that done, so having it done by Volvo correctly from the get go would seem to be a good idea!