Driving With A Trailer - Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual

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 288.
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 com-
plies with the specified maximum towball
load.
•
Increase the tyre pressure to the recom-
mended pressure for a full load. For tyre
pressure decal location, see page 187.
•
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 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 288.
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.
06 Starting and driving

Driving with a trailer

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 overheat-
ing.
•
An automatic gearbox selects the opti-
mum gear related to load and engine
speed.
•
In the event of overheating a warning
symbol 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 revo-
lutions.
•
Maintain a low speed when driving with a
trailer up long, steep ascents.
•
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of
more than 12%.
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