Driving With A Trailer - Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual

06 Starting and driving

Driving with a trailer

General
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
payload by a corresponding weight. For more
detailed information on weights, see
page 278.
If the towing bracket is fitted by an authorised
Volvo workshop, 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.
06
•
Increase the tyre pressure to the recom-
mended pressure for a full load. For tyre
pressure decal location, see page 179.
•
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.
162
Downshift to a lower gear and adjust your
speed.
•
For safety reasons, the maximum permit-
ted speed for the car when coupled with a
trailer should not be exceeded. Follow the
regulations in force for the permitted
speeds and weights.
Trailer weights
For information on Volvo's permitted trailer
weights, see page 278.
WARNING
Follow the stated recommendations for
trailer weights. Otherwise, the car and trailer
may be difficult to control in the event of
sudden movement and braking.
NOTE
The stated maximum permitted trailer
weights are those permitted by Volvo.
National vehicle regulations can further limit
trailer weights and speeds. Towbars can be
certified for higher towing weights than the
car can actually tow.
Automatic gearbox
NOTE
Some models require an oil cooler for the
automatic gearbox when driving with a
trailer. Check with your nearest Volvo dealer
as to what applies to your car if you have a
retrofitted towbar.
Overheating
When driving with a trailer in hilly terrain in a hot
climate there may be a risk of overheating.
•
An automatic gearbox selects the optimum
gear related to load and engine speed.
•
In the event of overheating a warning sym-
bol illuminates on the instrument panel
combined with a text message - follow the
recommendation given.
Steep inclines
•
Do not lock the automatic transmission in
a higher gear than the engine "can cope
with" - it is not always a good idea to drive
at a high gear with low engine revolutions.
•
Maintain a low speed when driving with a
trailer up long, steep ascents.
•
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of
more than 12%.