V70 Towing capacity

[Kev0607]

My Dad has a P3 Volvo V70 D5 with 185bhp (front wheel drive) with the 6 speed TF80-SC automatic transmission. It doesn't have nivomat rear suspension, just the standard setup.

What's the maximum towing capacity on these cars including a trailer? He's thinking of buying a small mini digger and using the Volvo to tow it. He hasn't got a trailer either, but it would only be a small one adequate enough to hold the weight of the machine. However, it would be a proper plant/excavator trailer. It wouldn't be going off-road, just normal roads with maybe the odd hill climb here and there.

The mini digger would weigh around 1 tonne or 1.5 at most, then add the trailer on top. He'd have to get a tow bar installed too, as his car currently hasn't got one.

Would this be legal, or is it a stretch too far for a front wheel drive V70? Is the auto okay for towing?

He can tow up to 7 tonne according to his license (that's the combined weight of the vehicle, trailer and whatever he's towing) as far as I'm aware. I know the V70 wouldn't be able to tow that much, but he's licensed to tow that amount (just not in that car obviously).

[Andymharrison]

The rating plate and manual should confirm but...

Our P3 XC70 is 2100kg, depending on configuration yours should be between 1800 and 2100kg.

I wouldn't think twice about towing 1500kg, most caravans are at least that heavy these days. It really depends on the trailer for how close to the limit you would be.

[Kev0607]

I just checked the load plate on the pillar inside the rear passenger door on the driver's side. It says;

2310kg
4310kg
1 - 1220kg
2 - 1150 kg

Not sure what those numbers mean. Does that help?

Just to be sure, this is a V70, not an XC. I haven't got an owner's manual for it.

[Andymharrison]

If I understand those plates they are

Max permissible car load
Max permissible train load, ie Inc trailer
Front axle Max load
Rear axle Max load

So you can tow 2000kg with a fully laden car.

When looking at trailers keep an eye on the nose weight as well as total.

I have towed 1800kg with a FWD non volvo, never had an issue except when off road, which is why we have an XC90 and an XC70!

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Andymharrison

If I understand those plates they are

Max permissible car load
Max permissible train load, ie Inc trailer
Front axle Max load
Rear axle Max load

So you can tow 2000kg with a fully laden car.

When looking at trailers keep an eye on the nose weight as well as total.

I have towed 1800kg with a FWD non volvo, never had an issue except when off road, which is why we have an XC90 and an XC70!

Thank you for your help.

It would never be off road. It would be just be towing on normal roads with the odd natural incline/decline. Its not too hilly around here.

So, the car can tow 2000kg which includes the weight of the trailer/whatever is being transported?

What is nose weight? Is that the amount of weight that can be directly applied on top of the tow bar and does the nose weight have to be included in that 2000kg figure?

With regards to the auto transmission, is this where the manual mode will come into use? So push the gear lever to the left and select the relevant gear, or do you just leave it in "D" when towing?

[Andymharrison]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

Thank you for your help.

It would never be off road. It would be just be towing on normal roads with the odd natural incline/decline. Its not too hilly around here.

So, the car can tow 2000kg which includes the weight of the trailer/whatever is being transported?

What is nose weight? Is that the amount of weight that can be directly applied on top of the tow bar and does the nose weight have to be included in that 2000kg figure?

With regards to the auto transmission, is this where the manual mode will come into use? So push the gear lever to the left and select the relevant gear, or do you just leave it in "D" when towing?

Yes, you can legally tow something that is 2000kg inc the trailer but It's generally considered that 85% of the 2000kg should be your maximum. I don't know where that came from, probably a caravan club thing.

Your manual will give the maximum nose weight, probably 90kg, its the force pushing directly down onto the tow ball. You need to balance the trailer so as not to exceed this. If you park the digger right at the front of the trailer more weight will push down on the nose, if you park it right at the back you may have too little weight. Both can be unstable.

Personally I just leave it in D, when I see a hill coming I put the boot down to drop a gear and that picks up a bit of speed and revs to carry me over the top. But we rarely see "proper" hills.

If neither of you have towed much consider going on a course.

[apersson850]

Originally Posted by Andymharrison

If I understand those plates they are

Max permissible car load
Max permissible train load, ie Inc trailer
Front axle Max load
Rear axle Max load

So you can tow 2000kg with a fully laden car.

That's correct.
Note that there are cars where this data could imply that you can tow, say, 2100 kg, but not with the car fully loaded.
However, that's not the case for the V70. Max towing capacity is indeed 2000 kg, which in Sweden requires a license for car plus heavy trailer. That's already OK in this case.

A trailer capable of loading 1.5 tons typically weighs in at around 500 kg unladen, so that combination is the max allowed. For towing an excavator you may want a two-axis trailer with smaller wheels, to keep the height down. That could still be fine. Remember that you can tow a trailer with a max weight of, say, 3 tons, provided it's not loaded to an actual weight of more than 2 tons when towed by the V70.

The trick with removable hitches is that you alwasy do that, remove them, when they are not in use.

[simboc2004]

As a frequent tower of my caravan and a single axle Ifor Williams trailer I would say it's vital to get the nose weight right. Occasionally, when towing the car back from storage, I don't bother checking the nose weight and it can pitch a lot. Not dangerously, but certainly uncomfortably. When I adjust the balance on either trailer to 60kg nose weight it tows brilliantly. The 90kg max quoted by Volvo is just that - a max, not a target - 60 to 70 kg is a far better level. Also check what the tow hitch itself is plated at - it may have a lower limit if not an official Volvo towbar.

I have just upgraded my caravan to an Alko jockey wheel with built in nose weight gauge. That really helps, because it's so easy to check before hitching up. Remember that you ideally need to check the nose weight with the tow hitch at the same height as it sits on the car towball. I check it just before hitching up.

On my Ifor Williams trailer I use a simple compression nose weight gauge - works well. Or you can use a set of bathroom scales and a stick cut down to the right length. I recently took an upright piano to the Pyrenees in it and you'd hardly have known there was anything on the back.