Towbar fitting dealer v independent.

[Gary Gwynedd]

I now own S60 R Design B5p (2022 reg) I will be using this vehicle to tow a caravan mtplm 1375kg. My volvo dealer quoted £1500 for fitting towbar + electrics. I find thus expensive. Just been quoted £712 for det. towbar and designated wiring from an independent fitter with excellent reviews. Designated volvo wiring should mean no worries. Am I right in thinking thus way?

[Rich850R]

Bite the bullet and get the Volvo tow bar. I did on the V90 although prices seem to have risen from 2 years ago

Also you will have to watch the nose weight on your van, S90 being R-Design, my dad a V90 D5 AWD R-Design on 18”s and put quite bluntly it sat on its arse with the van on the back. He is OCD with how the van and car is packed etc. He got rid of that and now has V90CC

[Gary Gwynedd]

Thanks for your views. I am aware of noseweights etc. I still think that the quote for the volvo towbar is extortionate. With dedicated wiring and a quality detachable towbar at less than half the price of the the volvo towbar is extremely tempting. My only concern is that the complexity of the electrics on my car could be affected...its got loads of 'toys!'

[Simmy]

pf jones is a well respected tow bar fitting company and always do a quality job.

[watto64]

I would ask your independent fitter if dedicated means re-programming the cars safety features so it detects when your connected enabling trailer stability assist, deactivating the blind spot detection and reversing sensors, lights check.

Our last car had a 'dedicated' wiring loom but it did not activate the trailer stability or auto switch off the reversing sensors.

Anyway, no matter the choice - enjoy your caravaning. I can recommend the EMUK towing mirrors.

[Japster]

Originally Posted by Gary Gwynedd

I now own S60 R Design B5p (2022 reg) I will be using this vehicle to tow a caravan mtplm 1375kg. My volvo dealer quoted £1500 for fitting towbar + electrics. I find thus expensive. Just been quoted £712 for det. towbar and designated wiring from an independent fitter with excellent reviews. Designated volvo wiring should mean no worries. Am I right in thinking thus way?

Is that for a retractable towbar from Volvo? I mean it drops down from a button press? They are the most expensive.

Unless the Indy is fitting and programming the Volvo Trailer module to your car you won’t get the full benefits.

The Volvo Trailer Module disables, car rear fog lights and I think car reversing lights, rear parking sensors, BLIS, CTA (Cross traffic alert), when you plug in the caravan.

I also interacts with the cars braking system and stability control to individually brake different wheels to counteract snaking, I believe it also interfaces with the Auto gearbox too.

This is what you are paying the extra for

[Rich850R]

Originally Posted by Japster

Is that for a retractable towbar from Volvo? I mean it drops down from a button press? They are the most expensive.

Unless the Indy is fitting and programming the Volvo Trailer module to your car you won’t get the full benefits.

The Volvo Trailer Module disables, car rear fog lights and I think car reversing lights, rear parking sensors, BLIS, CTA (Cross traffic alert), when you plug in the caravan.

I also interacts with the cars braking system and stability control to individually brake different wheels to counteract snaking, I believe it also interfaces with the Auto gearbox too.

This is what you are paying the extra for

Genuine question, would this all be dependant on the age of the caravan? Our van is 2007 and I don’t think it has the ALKO - ATC

[watto64]

Originally Posted by Rich850R

Genuine question, would this all be dependant on the age of the caravan? Our van is 2007 and I don’t think it has the ALKO - ATC

The Volvo towing safety stuff as no interaction with the alko ATC fitted to the caravan.

[rmvm]

I have had two towbars fitted to my Volvos one was fitted by a well respected independent and the other by a volvo dealer fitting original towbar equipment. With the indy I had a boat load of trouble with the electrics, the car wouldn't self check, (lights, ATC, Blind spot, reversing sensors etc) and eventually I took the car to a Volvo dealer for the electrics to be checked. I also didn't like the detachable tow bar it was fiddly especially when the weather was bad. The original electric Volvo towbar was fitted by my local Volvo dealer with no issues at all and is much easier to live with, yes its more expensive but in my view well worth the extra. Original fitment everytime.

[Tannaton]

At the very least you should buy the genuine Volvo electrics kit and get that fitted at the dealer - they're not usually expensive.

With the Volvo kit you will get features like fog light, reversing lights and parking sensors disabled when van attached, and more importantly Trailer Stability Control program activated on the cars DSTC system. Only Volvo electrics do that.