Driving With A Trailer - Volvo XC60 Owner's Manual

STARTING AND DRIVING
||
•
A roof load and ski box increase air resis-
tance, leading to higher consumption -
remove the load carriers when not in use.
•
Avoid driving with open windows.
For information about Volvo Car Corporation's
environmental philosophy, see Environmental phi-
losophy (p. 22).
For more information about fuel consumption,
see Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
(p. 418).
WARNING
Never switch off the engine while moving,
such as downhill, this deactivates important
systems such as the power steering and
brake servo.
Related information
•
Fuel - handling (p. 307)
•
Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
(p. 418)
•
Fuel tank - volume (p. 415)
Applies to manual gearbox.
16
312

Driving with a trailer*

When driving with a trailer there are a number of
important points to think about regarding e.g. the
towing bracket, the trailer and how the load is
positioned in the trailer.
Payload depends on the car's kerb weight. The
total of the weight of the passengers and all
accessories, e.g. towbar, reduces the car's pay-
load by a corresponding weight. For more
detailed information, see Weights (p. 404).
If the towing bracket is mounted by Volvo, then
the car is delivered with the necessary equipment
for driving with a trailer.
•
The car's towing bracket must be of an
approved type.
•
If the towbar is retrofitted, check with your
Volvo dealer that the car is fully equipped for
driving with a trailer.
•
Distribute the load on the trailer so that the
weight on the towing bracket complies with
the specified maximum towball load.
•
Increase the tyre pressure to the recom-
mended pressure for a full load. For informa-
tion on the tyre pressure, see Tyres -
approved tyre pressures (p. 421).
•
The engine is loaded more heavily than usual
when driving with a trailer.
•
Do not tow a heavy trailer when the car is
brand new. Wait until it has been driven at
least 1000 km.
•
The brakes are loaded much more than usual
on long and steep downhill slopes. Downshift
to a lower gear and adjust your speed.
•
For safety reasons, the maximum permitted
speed for the car when coupled with a trailer
should not be exceeded. Follow the regula-
tions in force for the permitted speeds and
weights.
•
Maintain a low speed when driving with a
trailer up long, steep ascents.
•
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of more
than 12%.
Trailer cable
An adapter is required if the car's towing bracket
has 13 pin electrics and the trailer has 7 pin
electrics. Use an adapter cable approved by
Volvo. Make sure the cable does not drag on the
ground.
Direction indicators and brake lights on
the trailer
If any of the trailer's lamps for direction indicators
are broken, then the combined instrument pan-
el's symbol for direction indicators flashes faster
than normal and the information display shows
the text Trailer indicator malfunction
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
.