does anyone tow with a volvo?

We had a Volvo 240 estate about 10-15 years ago that occasionally used to tow, can't remember what it towed but it was quite good as far as I remember.

Thats probably not much help as the car would be 25 years old now!!!
 
whw-why not?
Erm I think they are called a v70?
Thing is I can't afford to run a 4 x 4, but I want to be able to take borrowed horse out to some shows. It gives me motivation if I have a competition to aim for...
 
Check your owners manual or volvo website. See what the max braked tow weight is. Your 505 will be about 900KG (will say on the plate). So long as trailer + Horse etc is within max tow weight then legally yes you can. I wouldn't however tow on a motorway/dual carriageway without a heavy vehicle (ie big 4X4 or big van) due to the increased risk of slipstream.
 
thanks, I will check all that. If the horse is 600kg, the trailer is 1000kg I think, then the car needs to weigh ... oh bugger, I know it 85% but I can't remember which way round, or work out what it is in my tired state.
Thanks
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thanks, I will check all that. If the horse is 600kg, the trailer is 1000kg I think, then the car needs to weigh ... oh bugger, I know it 85% but I can't remember which way round, or work out what it is in my tired state.
Thanks
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with modern cars it doesn't work that way, they are designed to tow certain braked weights, so the best way is to check the specs
 
We tow my 15.2 middleweight in a Ifor williams 510 with a ford mondeo estate. I'm also in a similar situation, i have non horsey parents and would have no use for a 4x4 so have to make do.
Has been brilliant all of last season just not so good with mud and dodgy ground... usually results in getting horse out of the trailer and lots of revs so not an absolute disaster. Also have to be pretty switched on where you park so you can get a quick getaway preferably not uphill.
 
Hi, I've towed lots of trailers with lots of different tow cars, obviously a decent sized 4X4 is preferable but your volvo should be more than up to the job, just check car/trailer makers spec shets info. Ivor Williams have a web site you can check. Incidentally I also tow with a 1.8TD ford Mondeo which has covered 181'000 miles - Ive been bogged a few times, but hey, it's par for the course. Just plan your route and try to avoid steep hill starts.
 
I used to tow a 505 with various Volvo 740 and 940 estates, 2.0 and 2.3 engines, all automatics.

The cars' user manual states a max weight of 1800kg provided a transmission cooler is fitted - however the fact that the car may be capable of towing that weight does not necessarily make it safe to do so. Livestock makes any load inherently unstable, whatever the arithmetic suggests, and a big 4x4 makes for a far more stable combination than a low-slung estate car. Having said that, I think you'll be fine with just one horse on board, unless it's an absolute giant.

When the girls were younger and the load consisted of the trailer, and ponies of 11hh and 13.2, the Volvo was fine. By the time we were transporting chunky 14.2 and 15hh Welsh Ds I changed to a Land Rover Discovery. The Volvos are much better built cars than Land Rovers but even the 4WD Volvo estate is just not a heavy enough car to tow two horses in safety.
 
before the laws changed i used to tow 2 17hh hunters in a half wooden trailer with a vectra hatchback i know it would not be within the law now but i never had any problems either getting going or braking you just have to adapt your driving thinking ahead and braking distances have a volvo V70 now with towbar and would not think twice about using it to tow if the lorry broke down
 
Yes I used to and I still will if I only have 1 on board on long journeys. Volvo V70's (well estates anyway) tow up to 1800kg (probably capable of more, but hey, there you go)

Fantastic cars for towing. I definitely prefer it to the landrover 90 I have had to "upgrade" to as the kids ponies got bigger.
 
Yes - volvo XC70 tows one horse in an Ifor really well. Ours is auto so it is really easy to drive. Wouldn't try and tow two.
Only thing about XC70 is massive depreciation, but OH is is 04 plate, has done more than 100,000 miles and still going strong, so worth hanging on to them. He was offered £7k for it by the finance company so you might get one of a similar age for that sort of price?
 
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whw-why not?
Erm I think they are called a v70?
Thing is I can't afford to run a 4 x 4, but I want to be able to take borrowed horse out to some shows. It gives me motivation if I have a competition to aim for...

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We tow a 505 with a V70 (btw I hope it's a diesel you are looking at). Copes fine with 2 ponies so one horse should be OK. Ours is AWD but that makes no difference to the towing, just the not getting stuck in mud.
 
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