The can weights 1650kg but its also very high and makes towing hard work . Even the tdi doesn't like it and it's about now at 180+bhp with alot of torque . The 240 just about manages to pull itself along let alone pulling a caravan :tounge_smile:

Out of interest what is the towable weight of the 240?

From memory without checking in the case of that 240 the tow limit is around 3500kg but 99% of 240's are not plated.

Wind drag can be a pain. You do feel it when towing things like campers etc and it is more important to use a trailer with a low deck.

The 240 has progressed to being a sunny day only car sadly and I don't have the heart to chop the rear valance up for a towbar so I bought ANOTHER volvo. Saved from being scrapped because of Ulez(it was on the back of the scrap lorry) . Its a 2 owner 940 Se D24 m90 7 seater. I think they are pretty rare. Already have a towbar and spring assistors. Now lightly tuned and goes great.

Clutch bought for the 940 and now the 240 has started to slip between changes lol

I don’t think you could put three and half tons behind a 240 bud! That’s Range Rover’s territory. I think the only pickup to manage that is the Ford Ranger.

They will pull a lot more than that

Towed things like Range Rovers behind a 240 very often for long distances

240 clutch is quicker to swap than the 940
Do the rear oil seal and bearing as part of the job

A Range Rover doesn’t weigh three and a half tons! What something WILL pull isn’t really the point. A 240 is a great tow car ,we know that, but three and a half tons, not safe.

Towing on rope/chain is not the same as towing a trailer. On a rope/chain the towed weight is still in the control of the towed vehicle.

Range Rover is about 2000kg and the trailer is around 800kg so not quite that heavy. Landcruiser is around 2250
Brakes are more than upto the job, bear in mind anything over 750kg must be a braked trailer and if the brakes are not working you will know about it
What I can not understand is how anyone towing a caravan etc complain the car does not have enough power to pull it, engine must be close to dead or just no idea how to drive

Yes tow starting a loaded 11ton lorry is nothing like pulling a trailer with that kind of weight on it and that certainly did not do the clutch or rear tyres any favours

As I understand it the maximum trailer weight for the 240 models was 1,500Kg, with some later models 1,600Kg. Manufacturers generally set the maximum trailer weight at the level the car can predictably set off from rest with on a 10% uphill gradient. This is why generally the only vehicles rated for the maximum trailer weight with overrun brakes of 3.5T are those with 4x4/AWD and high/low gearboxes.

Whilst in theory with a braked trailer the tow car is less relevant, keep in mind a Volvo 240 weighs less than a modern Ford Focus, even some Fiesta's, and only later 240's had ABS.