Would you tow with a wagon?

I've started several threads over the last couple of months asking about various SUV's, mainly LAnd Rovers LR3/4, 4Runners, Land Cruisers, and various Jeeps.  The reason is I (we, the family) need a new tow vehicle now we exist in the post company car world where we got a new vehicle every year no matter if we needed one or not.  I haven't found anything yet that hits my emotional WANT along with my rational NEED at a price point, age and/or reliability I feel happy with.  The LR4 hit's the emotional want, N280 4Runners hit the rational NEED, but both fall down on the price point/age/reliability area for different reasons.  Outside of SUV's I love wagons and Volvo's.  We are currently a two Volvo family, my C30 I've had since new and an 07 S60 2.5T we recently bought for my daughter that I"ve been driving for the last few weeks as she's out of the country.  I really like Volvo's, especially the mid 00's ones.  

The prime reason for wanting an SUV/Wagon is that I need an all season DD And tow vehicle.  No, we don't tow race cars or horseboxes so I don't need a SuperDuty  PSD or the similar.  The biggest thing we tow is out pop up camper (below)  While it might look large, when I went searching I sought out a pop up without a shower, toilet, hot water or A/C, so it's relatively light, just a hair over 2.000lb's dry.  Let's call it 2,500-2,600 lb's full.  We tend to use it a fair amount with at least one, often two trips well over 1,000miles each way per year (Florida, Colorado, Montana, etc.)  

Would you guys see a Volvo XC70 as a sensible choice for pulling it?  The 00-07 XC70 (and V70/V70R for that matter) have a 108.5" wheelbase, weighs in the region of 3,800lb's itself and has a towing capacity of 3,300lb's. So it's at least comfortable rated with 7-800lb's to spare.

While for some reason cross overs don't appeal compared to 'real' SUV's one exception is the XC90, specifically with the final iteration of the Yamaha V8.  That rolls in at 112.5" wheelbase, a curb weight of 4,700-4,800lb's and a tow capacity of 4,960lb's.

Thoughts? Am I nuts? 

Didn't you like MKC you had?  Ours tows well. Or are you in a no-ford-zone now (understandably)?

I wouldn’t be afraid of towing with the Volvo - yiu might look at what trans settings to yse for hils etc...

Dude, I'd do it and I wouldnt even think twice.  Your vehicle is rated for it, your trailer is under that rating.  Tug away!
 

bluej said:

Didn't you like MKC you had?  Ours tows well. Or are you in a no-ford-zone now (understandably)?

 

We had an MkC, a couple of Edge's, Flex's Explorer etc.  All great tow vehicles but this is now my money, not a company car.  First off we've already bought two cars in the last month (07 S60 and 17 Mini Clubman) so I'm not buying new.  Secondly, Ford are off my personal buy list unless I win the lotto and can buy a new GT.  Also, now it's my money, crossovers just don't do it for me.  Great when you're getting something new all the time, but for my money, it has to hit my WANT button.  If I'm shopping int he SUV market it needs to be a real SUV, something that I can daydream about Overlanding in.  Cross overs just don't do that for me.  No, it doesn't make sense, but this isn't an entirely ration decision, I just don't want a cross over.

84FSP said:

I wouldn’t be afraid of towing with the Volvo - yiu might look at what trans settings to yse for hils etc...

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I"ve read the trans issue is really slack in the output splines for the drive to the rear.  I believe that can be replaced underneath for sensible money in a few hours in your driveway?

Also, the V8 version of the XC90 has considerably uprated trans and drivetrain and doesn't have the issues?

Again, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hungary Bill said:

Dude, I'd do it and I wouldnt even think twice.  Your vehicle is rated for it, your trailer is under that rating.  Tug away!
 

I love you man, that's what I figure, just passing it by the borg as I don't always trust my own judgment!

I towed a slightly heavier popup all over creation with an old V8 explorer - 111" wheelbase, 4whl disc but probably worse brakes, and slightly higher tow rating than the XC90. It was a great tow pig for the application.  I would think the XC90 would be a walk in the park with your trailer. With the XC70 I think I'd look into adding an additional trans cooler if not factory equiped (and applicable) and consider adding electric brakes to the trailer. You can get the full brake sets stupid cheap on Amazon if the trailer axle already has the mount plates. 

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

You don't remember that Mr Hoard towed his Alfas for many years with an V70R?  He may still be doing it, as I've not been in touch directly for a few years.  

And locally, it would not just be the cars, but many hundreds of pounds of autocross stuff in the back of the car.

I don't recall him ever having problems....

In reply to Cooter :

Yeah, I know, I’ve always been a proponent of not going overboard with tow vehicles and frequently been shot down here and other places for my views  just checking my sanity at contemplating towing the trail at 75+ with a wagon.  Pity V70R’s appear to be made of diamonds and titanium from the prices people want  

ultraclyde said:

I towed a slightly heavier popup all over creation with an old V8 explorer - 111" wheelbase, 4whl disc but probably worse brakes, and slightly higher tow rating than the XC90. It was a great tow pig for the application.  I would think the XC90 would be a walk in the park with your trailer. With the XC70 I think I'd look into adding an additional trans cooler if not factory equiped (and applicable) and consider adding electric brakes to the trailer. You can get the full brake sets stupid cheap on Amazon if the trailer axle already has the mount plates. 

The trailer has electric brakes, but they don't appear to work and/or I dont' know how to work them.  I"ve never bothered.  I did make sure when I had to replace the whole suspension arm/hub/brake/wheel assembly on one side of the trailer that I got the correct electric brake set up, so I'm still good to go.  I will check on the trans cooler.  

In reply to alfadriver :

Good to know.  thx, forgot that.

Adrian_Thompson said:

Hungary Bill said:

Dude, I'd do it and I wouldnt even think twice.  Your vehicle is rated for it, your trailer is under that rating.  Tug away!
 

I love you man, that's what I figure, just passing it by the borg as I don't always trust my own judgment!

The Borg say: "Resistance to Towing is Futile"

In reply to Indy-Guy :

Fail, no pic of 7 of 9.  

Adrian_Thompson said:

ultraclyde said:

I towed a slightly heavier popup all over creation with an old V8 explorer - 111" wheelbase, 4whl disc but probably worse brakes, and slightly higher tow rating than the XC90. It was a great tow pig for the application.  I would think the XC90 would be a walk in the park with your trailer. With the XC70 I think I'd look into adding an additional trans cooler if not factory equiped (and applicable) and consider adding electric brakes to the trailer. You can get the full brake sets stupid cheap on Amazon if the trailer axle already has the mount plates. 

The trailer has electric brakes, but they don't appear to work and/or I dont' know how to work them.  I"ve never bothered.  I did make sure when I had to replace the whole suspension arm/hub/brake/wheel assembly on one side of the trailer that I got the correct electric brake set up, so I'm still good to go.  I will check on the trans cooler.  

Seriously, they're so cheap there's no reason to work on them. They come pre assembled on the backing plates. Bolt them on, connect the wires, done.

$55 for both brakes

In reply to ultraclyde :

That's all there and brand new on one side after I lost a wheel due to studs snapping (PO issues, not self inflicted)  I need to read ow to make them work and get a controller.  I assume there's a way to test them when not attached to a tow car?

Well screw it.  I've ordered a tow bar and wiring harness for the S60.  We will take it up North (270 miles each way all flat) at the end of August and see.  If it feels confident then I see an XC70 (or V70R if I get lucky) on the horizon, if not I'll go and drive an XC90.   It's not 1,300 miles to Colorado, but it should be a good test.

I have towed with a Volvo wagon for 40 years. Not the same one, but always RWD. Do it.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

that makes sense to me. rock the wagon!

2600lbs? You could tow that with just about anything. That's a bit more than a steel 1-car open trailer weighs before you put anything on it.

I bought my wagon to do specifically everything.

I just need to find a tow kit and something to tow and it'll be set.

GameboyRMH said:

2600lbs? You could tow that with just about anything. That's a bit more than a steel 1-car open trailer weighs before you put anything on it.

But I expect to be able to hit cruise control at 80mph while towing.

Of course you can tow with a Wagon. Just load the trailer/car properly and keep to reasonable speeds.

Side note worth mentioning: Back home (Sweden + rest of EU) it is VERY common to tow with your normal station wagon, if it is of decent size (Volvo XC70, BMW 5-series, Audi A6, etc). However, it is worth mentioning that within the EU, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g that tows (from semi to Civic with track day trailer) is limited to a 80km/h (50mph) speed limit. This is why identical cars can have different tow ratings on the US vs the EU markets.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

Oh yeah. It's been a while since I worked on a set, but it's just a 12v solenoid system. One wire to volts, one to ground.