XC70: General Tow bars

[yostumpy]

Do aftermarket towbars, with the square section tubing, but long side arms (meaning they fit to original chassis points) , fit the car without the deletion of the cross crumple bar behind the bumper?

[FreshAir]

I have an aftermarket towbar fitted to mine by a towbar specialist. The original Volvo steelwork (actual bumper I suspect) is removed from the car, and residing behind my shed.

Towbar is a modification in eyes of insurance which surprised me. Doesn't appear to increase premium at all though.

[Tannaton]

I've fitted a fair few over the years on XC90, XC60, XC70, C70, etc. and in every case the crash bar behind the bumper has to be removed.

[yostumpy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrWN_zPrxbQ&t=2029s

OK thanks, only on VolvoSwedens video ( @ 26 mins) the genuine towbar retains the crash panel, (removed for fitting, then put back on after) which must be better , shirley. Guess I'll look out for a genuine one.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrWN_zPrxbQ&t=2029s

OK thanks, only on VolvoSwedens video ( @ 26 mins) the genuine towbar retains the crash panel, (removed for fitting, then put back on after) which must be better , shirley. Guess I'll look out for a genuine one.

Very wise, you don't want the crash integrity interfered with. Volvo know exactly what happens when someone hits you in the rear at 50+ mph But things can get out of control with other harder or softer beams fitted or removed.

[FreshAir]

Interesting, I wonder if I can modify the part removed to be able to refit it. I agree it would be much better to have it.

So the one I have says not to refit the crash bar, but this one below (Witter) says to refit it, so aftermarket ones that retain the crash bar are available.

https://towsure.com/collections/towb...016-wvl42bq-15

[yostumpy]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Interesting, I wonder if I can modify the part removed to be able to refit it. I agree it would be much better to have it.

So the one I have says not to refit the crash bar, but this one below (Witter) says to refit it, so aftermarket ones that retain the crash bar are available.

https://towsure.com/collections/towb...016-wvl42bq-15

Yebbut, thinking in a logical manner, in the event of a rear ender, the crash/crush panel would deform and take out the 'sting', but if fitted over a towbar, it can't crush much at all can it?

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

Yebbut, thinking in a logical manner, in the event of a rear ender, the crash/crush panel would deform and take out the 'sting', but if fitted over a towbar, it can't crush much at all can it?

I completely agree. It would definitely help though for those impacts that 'only' cause say 50mm of deformation as it spreads the load over a much larger area and to the body rather than straight to main chassis members. It would also help in case of a major impact to spread the loads. I see no downside to having the piece back in the bumper between the towbar and plastic bumper except weight, and that is not of concern.

I'm a professional mechanical engineer for what it's worth, so my opinion is with some knowledge of the mechanics of what would happen in the event of an impact, which is why I will definitely be looking at fitting the part back, even if some of it needs to be partially cut out for clearance, with nice radii in any corners to avoid stress raisers. Had I known what I do from this thread, I would have had a Witter bar fitted, I had assumed the bumper insert/crash bar was always replaced by the tow bar. I am surprised there is even an option when it is possible to retain it with EU rules for aftermarket towbars. I'll also need to get the bolts as they were not passed to me when the towbar was fitted.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrWN_zPrxbQ&t=2029s

OK thanks, only on VolvoSwedens video ( @ 26 mins) the genuine towbar retains the crash panel, (removed for fitting, then put back on after) which must be better , shirley. Guess I'll look out for a genuine one.

Agreed it must be better - but I'm perplexed as I'm sure the genuine Volvo swan neck fixed bar I bought for my 2017MY Xc70 needed to remove the crash bar?

EDIT: Have just found the instructions that came with the genuine fixed tow bar I fitted to a Mk 2 XC60 recently and with that setup you do not refit the crash bar - instead there is some foam padding between the bumper and the tow bar beam.

[green van man]

My towbar is a genuine volvo removable ball one fitted by a Volvo dealer. That bar was wized and I never got it when I picked up the car. Suspect it was long ago weighed in for scrap.

I always believed that tow bars were defecto rear crash protection, the land rover one certainly is. The thinnest piece of metal on it are the 2 forward facing bracing bars and they are 40x8mm

Regards Paul.