Towbar questions

Post by **trabitom99** » 28 May 2008 09:14 am

I'd like to fit a towbar to my 360 daily driver. Since I've never towed anything before, nor have I ever owned a car with a towbar (I'd tried to avoid it until now - they're not exactly the coolest-looking things

) I'm a bit of a newbie on the towing front. So here goes:

* ideally I'd like to fit one with as little drilling as possible, and I don't want to have to cut bits out of bumpers etc. Are original Volvo towbars better for this, or are aftermarket towbars OK too (e.g. Bosal tobo, or this one http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0219667024)
* anything to specifically look out for, when looking at used towbars?
* is it easy to tell the difference between a saloon & a hatch towbar, how can you tell if it's a genuine Volvo one?
* are there any differences between towbars MkII and MkIII models (are the bumper mountings the same?)
* any general advice on towing with a 300?

Thanks for any advice,

Tom

Post by **SteveP** » 28 May 2008 09:51 am

Pretty sure the genuine towbar requires a cut out in the rear bumper... bodgetastic Volvo!

Post by **mac** » 28 May 2008 10:24 am

Mornin' Tom,

Have a look in the Tech section under "Blue leaflets" you'll find fitting instructions there.

There are minor differences from Mk11/3 but a "Mk11" bar will fit a Mk3.

You do not normally need to cut the bumper with most "genuine" versions.

Try PMing Jarlidge - he had a MK2 bar off me ages ago and could probably give you a few tips.

Mac.

Post by **trabitom99** » 28 May 2008 02:02 pm

I really don't want to cut the bumper - I recently managed to find a set of unused bumpers which have never seen the sun or been bumped into...

I've PMd Jeff ...

Here's one that's on Marktplaats at the moment:

Looks a bit like an original one,

... but it's a bit rusty

Don't know if I'd trust 1200kg with it ...

Tom

Post by **Tourinki** » 28 May 2008 05:49 pm

Seems similar which i've got in my older 360. It is hard to say which condition it is in the pic. But if it has been taken care of it is only surface rust and cure for it is either wirebrush or sandblasting. And good paint job on it.

If you haven't towed anything before. Don't be afraid if the car feels slow even with little load. Ie. normal trailer and enduro bike on it. At least mine 360 didn't really like tow that trailer at 80km/h, economy gauge showed really big fuel consuption in fifth gear. Then i accelerated to 100km/h it was fine, it was just like cruising without trailer.

Post by **Cloud** » 29 May 2008 02:34 am

That tow-bar looks about right...same as mine (hiss!). It's bolted with 2 plates in the boot, one on either side then another bolt on each side onto the chasis underneath. The bumper then bolts onto the tow bar.

If its as hard to put on as it is to get off (Dremel, Angle Grinder, Drill, 2 weeks of WD and alot of swearing) Don't bother lol.

Post by **trabitom99** » 30 May 2008 10:24 pm

Thanks for all the advice!

I've managed to track one down - original Volvo for MkIII hatch (33402280)

Looks like those are the plates and the chassis bolts you were talking about Cloud. I'll probably have the same experience getting the bumper off as you had with your towbar

Tourinki wrote:If you haven't towed anything before. Don't be afraid if the car feels slow even with little load. Ie. normal trailer and enduro bike on it. At least mine 360 didn't really like tow that trailer at 80km/h, economy gauge showed really big fuel consuption in fifth gear. Then i accelerated to 100km/h it was fine, it was just like cruising without trailer.

I've driven with four bikes on the car, two on the roof and two hanging from the hatch - that pushed the fuel consumption up by about 3 litres/100km. I expect something similar from towing ...

Tom

Post by MJ » 01 Jun 2008 02:15 pm

I don't know what the German towing laws are, but you may want to check them out.

In the UK you need to take a separate test in order to tow all but the smallest trailer, if you passed your car test in 1997 or later. Any trailer with a maximum load capacity of over 750Kg (That's the maximum weight the trailer can take, it doesn't matter how much you've loaded.)

Some speed limits are different as well, such as 60 on the motorway (instead of 70)

Post by **redline** » 01 Jun 2008 10:39 pm

MJ wrote:I don't know what the German towing laws are, but you may want to check them out.

In the UK you need to take a separate test in order to tow all but the smallest trailer, if you passed your car test in 1997 or later.

at last , a benefit to being old(er) and having passed your test32 years ago

I didnt have to take a towing test and I pull this little lane blocker

Post by **trabitom99** » 02 Jun 2008 09:19 am

I too, have an old-fashioned UK driving licence which allows me in theory to drive 16-seat minibuses, 7.5 ton lorries all with / without trailer or caravan. But it's a good point MJ!

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit it - but we're also thinking of getting a caravan. I like moving around on holiday, and we've had some great times in the parts with car + tent. But with two small kids, the concept of having a roof over your head starts becoming more and more attractive.

All those years of being stuck behind the damn things, and meeting strange caravanners with garden gnomes and picket fences used to kind of put me off. But now, I'd like to give it a try.

Even if we decide against it, I still want a towbar to fix a bike carrier on. I now need the roof rack for a roof box, and fitting a bike carrier to the rear hatch isn't an option anymore, as the hinges have already been welded back into place once ...

Mick, any advice on buying a used caravan? I know absolutely nothing about them ...

Tom

Post by **SteveP** » 02 Jun 2008 10:48 am

I'd be a little weary of towing a caravan with a 360... how it won tow car of the year in 83(?) I have no idea... get a bigger brick

Post by **trabitom99** » 02 Jun 2008 11:37 am

If I get a bigger brick, then I don't need the caravan anymore

A towbar is all part of my long-term plan of making the 360 more "family friendly" and not having to upgrade to a bigger car.

Tom

Post by **SteveP** » 02 Jun 2008 12:13 pm

trabitom99 wrote:If I get a bigger brick, then I don't need the caravan anymore

There we go then

Post by **trabitom99** » 02 Jun 2008 12:57 pm

trabitom99 wrote:If I get a bigger brick, then I don't need the 360 anymore

Fixed

And that'd be a shame!

Tom

Post by **redline** » 02 Jun 2008 01:14 pm

the perfect compromise would be a trailer tent or folding camper ,

al this

fits into this

they usually sleep up to 6 , are lighter than a caravan and because of their size are easier to tow and store.

I wouldent tow a caravan with anything as small as a 300 volvo these days but have towed in the past with a citroen bx and a skoda 130 lse
( estelle )

I can confirm that the volvo 960 2.5 24 valve is a very nice tow car though