XC60 snaking when towing - switch to S60?

[MattBCL]

I've an 09 XC60 D5 AWD Lux SE (owned since new) and have towed a caravan for the last 4 years. The van is an 80% weight match so the XC60 should have no problem with stability, however I can't tow about 60MPH otherwise it starts oscillating from side to side. I've checked the nose weight and have loaded across the van's axle but it still seems very twitchy.

When the car was 18 months old, it had some rear suspension bushes replaced under warranty (cost was £300) - and I'm wondering if these have gone again? Anyone have experience of this?

I also run a 2011 S60 R-Design D3 (163bhp) and am wondering whether to just fit a towbar to that and sell the XC60. The S60 has a firm suspension and I think should tow better than the softer XC60 (albeit the weight ration rises to 87%) - and oddly, it also seems to have loads more grunt than the 185 bhp XC60 so I have no concerns over power.

So: anyone else heard of towing stability problems on the XC60? Or anyone towed with a new S60 and found it good / bad?

[Lamp Swinger]

Matt,

I would consider checking tyre pressures of the car and caravan. Does the caravan have shock absorbers, are they effective. Is the instability present all of the time at 60 mph? Are you overloading the car's rear end by adding bikes to the load?

Just a few pointer's as I haven't used my XC60 for towing yet, so lack any real experience with it.

David

[XCeed]

I'd get your car suspension checked independently first, and assuming that's ok I'd take a closer look at the caravan and overall outfit-setup. Problem far more likely to lie there.
Tyre pressures also important and the stabiliser operation.
(XC60 has been tow car of the year in its time, no obvious reason why yours shouldn't do a good job)

[Westyman]

Weird you should say about your problems towing with the XC60. I had similar issues with my 2010 V70AWD. Tried fiddling with nose weight, tyre pressures etc but to no avail. 55 was about it before it got twitchy. I borrowed an XC60 with a towbar and took it out with the caravan on, 60+ was no problem so I swapped an otherwise perfectly good car for the XC60 and tow happily at around 90%.
So other than to say it should be OK, I can't help.

[Paul240480]

Not towed with anything more modern that an 850 GLT N/a and a T5 . Thoughts, are the vans wheels balanced? Very often tyre fitters don't bother with 'trailer' tyres. Always insisted mine were done.

Stabiliser? Alko Hitch ones (sorry if thats sucky eggie) are brill.

Spring 'assistors' are a cheap effective way to beef up the suspension, if needed.

Good luck

[ex Triumph Man]

Originally Posted by MattBCL

I've an 09 XC60 D5 AWD Lux SE (owned since new) and have towed a caravan for the last 4 years. The van is an 80% weight match so the XC60 should have no problem with stability, however I can't tow about 60MPH otherwise it starts oscillating from side to side. I've checked the nose weight and have loaded across the van's axle but it still seems very twitchy.

When the car was 18 months old, it had some rear suspension bushes replaced under warranty (cost was £300) - and I'm wondering if these have gone again? Anyone have experience of this?

I also run a 2011 S60 R-Design D3 (163bhp) and am wondering whether to just fit a towbar to that and sell the XC60. The S60 has a firm suspension and I think should tow better than the softer XC60 (albeit the weight ration rises to 87%) - and oddly, it also seems to have loads more grunt than the 185 bhp XC60 so I have no concerns over power.

So: anyone else heard of towing stability problems on the XC60? Or anyone towed with a new S60 and found it good / bad?

Hate to point out but is the max speed limit for towing not 60 anyway?

[GJB]

Changed from XC90 to XC60 last year if anything tows better is the caravan fitted with a friction head on the tow bar and was the cars tow ball head cleaned off before use, will reiterate what has been said before max towing speed in UK 60 MPH but can be faster in Europe.

[XCeed]

Originally Posted by ex Triumph Man

Hate to point out but is the max speed limit for towing not 60 anyway?

True, but it doesn't alter the fact that the outfit should not, under normal driving conditions, be snaking at that speed, or higher. I too would be concerned if it was...

[volvo145]

Originally Posted by Lamp Swinger

Matt,

I would consider checking tyre pressures of the car and caravan. Does the caravan have shock absorbers, are they effective. Is the instability present all of the time at 60 mph? Are you overloading the car's rear end by adding bikes to the load?

Just a few pointer's as I haven't used my XC60 for towing yet, so lack any real experience with it.

David

I concur with above statement
What type of van are you having trouble with?
I had a twin axle once that snaked at 45 which turned out to design fault.
I would start with tyre pressures and increase the towing vehicles slightly over recommended pressure.
You don't say if the outfit did this before your suspension was replaced .previously. If this has returned I would get that checked after you have done the tyre pressures.
If you have a stabiliser head are the pads ok?
Have you done a lot of towing/load lugging with the XC60?Its unusual to need to have the suspension bushes replaced after only 18 months?

[Rooster]

Did the car have a 4 wheel alignment after it had the rear bushs replaced