XC70 for Towing or not?

[smithy2k7]

Hello,
We are planning on buying our first caravan around Easter next year, but I need to starting thinking of the car I need to buy to tow it comfortably and efficiently.

I have had an S40 before and loved it, built like a tank and very comfy.

I have been looking at the XC70 on approx. a 12/13 plate but some of the models have relatively high mileage, 70000+. Would you avoid?

Would this be a wise choice for my first tow car and secondly, what is the real reliability like?

Just after some advice off people who have similar cars and tow caravans with them.

Thanks,
Alex

[Mr-V70]

What sort of size (weight) caravan are you looking to tow?

[isleaiw]

Originally Posted by smithy2k7

Hello,
We are planning on buying our first caravan around Easter next year, but I need to starting thinking of the car I need to buy to tow it comfortably and efficiently.

I have had an S40 before and loved it, built like a tank and very comfy.

I have been looking at the XC70 on approx. a 12/13 plate but some of the models have relatively high mileage, 70000+. Would you avoid?

Would this be a wise choice for my first tow car and secondly, what is the real reliability like?

Just after some advice off people who have similar cars and tow caravans with them.

Thanks,
Alex

My brother tows (a 2016 Sprite Major) with a 2008 V70 2.4D geartronic with 80k on the clock and swears by it. The only thing he says he would swap it for is my 2011 XC70 D5 AWD Geartronic....

Perfect tow car - they can take mega mileage if well maintained so dont be afraid of the mileage just make sure it has been well looked after.

[smithy2k7]

Originally Posted by Mr-V70

What sort of size (weight) caravan are you looking to tow?

As this will be my first caravan, it wont be anything too large. 4/5 berth, single axle. 1200kgs, around that figure. But it also depends on the gross weight of the XC70 as I don't have B+E on my license, I can only tow a combined weight of 3500kg

[smithy2k7]

Originally Posted by isleaiw

My brother tows (a 2016 Sprite Major) with a 2008 V70 2.4D geartronic with 80k on the clock and swears by it. The only thing he says he would swap it for is my 2011 XC70 D5 AWD Geartronic....

Perfect tow car - they can take mega mileage if well maintained so dont be afraid of the mileage just make sure it has been well looked after.

The ones I was looking at had north of 70,000 on, but as long as they have full service history and are then looked after by me, they are bullet proof? I would also need to consider things like when the timing belt(s) would be due for change etc.

What's the mileage on yours? Have you had any big problems? What is the gross weight of them?

Thanks

[Tannaton]

There aren't many better tow cars than a XC70 unless you want to go into large 4x4's proper (XC90, Land Rover, Q7 etc.). Unlike many other AWD estates (Merc, Audi, BMW etc) the raised ground clearance is a real bonus when heavily loaded and going across fields, caravan sites etc.

70k miles is slightly beyond run-in for these cars, it's a good mileage to buy them at as they are nicely run in and loosened up so the economy is at it's best but you should expect to do the same again before you start having to change what I would call "semi-consumable" items such as shock absorbers and suspension bushes. Reliability wise there a no major issues - so long as they are serviced appropriately and [on automatic cars] the gearbox oil is changed every 70k, or more often if towing frequently. This is not in the Volvo service schedule but well documented on here and easy to do at home if you have the tools etc.

The kerb weight of the P3 XC70 - depending on options - is around 1870 Kg leaving you around 1600 Kg for passengers, luggage and your caravan.

[Sasha94]

If you don't have a B&E you won't be towing anything meaningfully sized with an XC70. The gross vehicle weight is 2300-2400 kgs depending on engine and box so you only have the room for a 1100-1200 kg van and you will struggle to find a family sized van in that weight range. You'll be better off with a V60 at 2105 kgs which is the lowest gvw they do, that gives you more room to play with if you can get one with that gvw.

The 4 wheel drive system adds weight and although traditionally weight is your friend, it's not if you don't have a B&E entitlement. If you seriously want an XC70 anyway I'd try and go for one with 4C chassis control. I had a normal coil sprung car without nivomats and it was ok but a bit wallowy with the van on the back. If I were buying a Volvo to tow with I'd be looking for a V70 AWD as they aren't as roly poly as the XC. That said I towed a beast of a van, a 1600 kg twin axle one but I only used it twice before the turbo went on the car so I used my Dad's Discovery 3 (the ultimate tow car tbh, only the new XC90 can hold a candle to it from the Volvo range IMO) to tow it when I had the van. We've now sold the big van and are looking for an Elddis Xplore 304 to go behind the V50 to make a better and more compact outfit.

A B&E test and lessons is about £350 but it's very worth it.

Also I wouldn't worry about 70k on a car, mine made it to nearly 160k before giving me a serious issue and even then it was just the turbo engine wise. It's still going and racking up the miles.

[Tannaton]

+1 for Nivomats, they help a lot....

[pagan8c]

I tow a Challenger with max weight of 1550kgs with my 2013 XC70 and it has no problems. It has the normal suspension and is not wallowy to me . It is the geartronic version. I also towed a Lunar twin axle with it with a max weight of 1800kgs and again no problem. I am trading mine in soon for the new V90 so it has only done 31000 miles and is just running nicely. As others have said it is best to make sure it has a full service history (mine has ). The garage have offered me a good price for it so as it is coming up to 4 years old in Jan 17 thought we would treat ourselves to a new Volvo.

[green van man]

Just returned from a trip to Scotland towing a bailey vandee caravan
Cars a 2wd xc70 D4 with polestar.
Average mpg 32.2 according to the computer, solo I average 42 mpg.
430 miles each way sat on 60 mph all the way on motorway and 3 hours of A+B roads to get to motorway.
Plenty of power, really relaxed drive. Mines a manual and as there is only 1.9 litres of oil in the gearbox I change it every 40,000 or 2 years. Normal suspension and find no problem, you have a 75 lb noseweight limit and if the van is loaded to aachieve this then stable as brick outhouse on the road, even overtaking car transporters at 60 on motorway.
In short an ideal tow car. Without b+e my cars tow limit is 1500kgs as shown on the v5, as I have grandfather rights I use the handbook 1800kgs, autos are generally 2000 in the handbook, even the 2wd versions.

Paul.