Towing with a CVT

[Hair bear]

Does anyone regularly tow with a CVT? What are the weight limits? Is it inadvisable?
Thanks, Rob.

[940Graeme]

I have never towed with a 340 CVT, but having owned one......I would say NO!. Whilst great little cars, they are serious underpowered for everyday use, I imagine towing with one with be at best painful.

However, I've looked up the original spec towing info from the sales brouchure and specfies as follows:

Braked Trailer Max = 1000kg
Unbraked Trailer Max = 450 kg

BUT with an note:

"Data valid for manual transmission only, Add 20kg for automatic kerb weight"
which I assume means max 980kg/430kg for CVT?

In addition, the suppliment for CVT transmission leaflet that came with the cars says, to paraphrase, that when towing the "low gear" switch should be engaged at all times. This means that you are limited to 50 mph.

I can provide you with scans of these pages if you would like, but I would suggest that even Volvo at the time were not keen on recommending towing with a CVT..........even if they didn't say so outright!!

Let me know if you would like further info

Best regards
Graeme

[classicswede]

Not sure on the situation is with the 340 but I have made and sold a number of towbars for 66's. The towing weights are marked on the 66 chassis plate. I would say with a small trailer you would be fine but avoid anything heavy.

If good CVT advice I would ask on the daf club forum.

[Hair bear]

Thanks for the advice, I used to tow all sorts of things with a manual but I wasn't sure about the CVT. My old 343 would easily start a 700kg boat and trailer on a 35% slipway but I did wonder if the belts would put up with that sort of abuse. My other trailer is 380kg empty so it's a lot to ask before it's got anything in it. The only time I had any doubts about the manual was doing a (solo) reverse hill start up the infamous 40% hill in Harlech but it didn't falter (lost the engine oil pressure for a few moments but I think it was all down at the front!).
The CVT I was looking at has been sold now so I've a bit more time to consider the options.
Rob.

[Clan]

The only problem for towing with a CVT would be the clutch , you have no direct control over it so it would overheat if doing any steep hillstarts and it is not a generously sized clutch to start with . The situation would be worse with a poorly adjusted clutch .

The answer would be use a manual clutch and fit a clutch pedal . You would only use the clutch for starting off and when coming to a standstill . Why not fit a 1.7 engine with it'ss manual clutch, it would transform the car .
The B14 CVT is not underpowered when it is all working correctly , it is faster than the manual and as fast as a cavalier 1800i from 0-70 mph ..

this would not be true with a caravan on of course !

[Joe Harding]

Should you ever break down, ensure that the recovery company send a vehicle capable of loading the complete car on board. Never allow them to tow your CVT as they would like to, namely with the back wheels freewheeling along the road. You will wreck your transmission.

[Hair bear]

Originally Posted by Joe Harding

Should you ever break down, ensure that the recovery company send a vehicle capable of loading the complete car on board. Never allow them to tow your CVT as they would like to, namely with the back wheels freewheeling along the road. You will wreck your transmission.

Interesting...
When I did a search before starting this thread I came across a post saying it would have no detremental effect, but thanks Joe, point taken.
I have to say I did tow a CVT about 10 miles once, never gave it a second thought as I only wanted it for the engine and I was told the gearbox was toast and wouldn't select, appeared to be ok afterwards and seemed to cure the reason for the tow. The only fault I could find was that it appeared to be capable of going as fast backwards as it did forwards (apparently a stuck relay?)!
Sorry, off topic.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Hair bear

Interesting...
When I did a search before starting this thread I came across a post saying it would have no detremental effect, but thanks Joe, point taken.
I have to say I did tow a CVT about 10 miles once, never gave it a second thought as I only wanted it for the engine and I was told the gearbox was toast and wouldn't select, appeared to be ok afterwards and seemed to cure the reason for the tow. The only fault I could find was that it appeared to be capable of going as fast backwards as it did forwards (apparently a stuck relay?)!
Sorry, off topic.

Yes all the belt driven CVT DAF and 300 series will go as fast backwards as forwards , so that is 92 mph :-) no electronic computer systems in those days, the CVT is all mechanical except for a few micro switches and an electronic Tachometric relay which engages the overdrive function over about 2500 rpm ..
The only drawback when towing is that the towing vehicle will sap more energy rotating the primary and secondary gear units which comprise the CVT transmission , there is nothing else which can come to harm ..

[Joe Harding]

I got this nugget from the RAC or whoever it was towed our CVT back from the garage (after it had been fuelled with diesel by accident.) I defer to the greater knowledge above with passing interest now as we got shot of the CVT not long after getting it.

Thanks folks.

[reb067]

Originally Posted by Joe Harding

Should you ever break down, ensure that the recovery company send a vehicle capable of loading the complete car on board. Never allow them to tow your CVT as they would like to, namely with the back wheels freewheeling along the road. You will wreck your transmission.

Hallo Joe,

just one question:

do you have experience with the CVT and how would you repair it or change ir?

thanks for reply