Can a Volvo XC90 tow a Bambi CCD?

[Thehman]

The max towing capacity for the 2004 XC90 is 5000#. The max hitch (tongue)weight is 200#!

We really want to purchase a Bambi CCD, but I'm afraid that the hitch weights for the 16 or 19 footers are way beyond Volvo's specs?

What, if anything, can we do?

Steve

[robandzoe]

I'd say yes...just don't haul it in Overdrive mode on the tranny.

Rob

[luckydc]

You might want to double check with Volvo. I think they have a trailer package that will increase the tow and tongue weight. I researched the Volvo will deciding on my tow vechicle. Went with the GMC because you need a good cushion on towing weight in order to make the hills. My Envoy will tow 6200 lbs. My Bambi weighs less than 4000 lbs, full around 4200-4300, so I have enough power left to make it up a hill!

[luckydc]

PS - others have suggested a tow weight cushion of 20 to 25 percent.

[Thehman]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will be using a weight distribution hitch on the trailer to reduce the tongue weight. Volvo is probably being way too conservative on the hitch ratings, but I can stay within them.

[Silvertwinkie]

As Road King Moe here would say, the tow rating is minus passengers, cargo etc and the 19' Bambi loaded is 4600lbs. Can the Volvo do it, sure... is it wise to, not at all. Fact is that you will be at the high end of whatever that Volvo can do and most likely exceeding what it should do by any measure. Not to be the grim reaper here, but I saw first hand what an under powered, outclassed tow vehicle can do when I helped an older couple walk away from a wreck from driving a car/truck that was not fully up to towing the load they put on it. It was one of the reasons I laid down war bucks for a Suburban and stopped towing loads with my Impala SS that could have been bad.

Get groceries with your Volvo. Get a tow vehicle that can tow more than 6,000 lbs.

I am not saying you need a 3/4 ton or a semi, but you DO need more than the Volvo can deliver. My Impala SS was rated at 5k and I can tell you, it did it, but I would not have done it with less as I could feel from the car's input I was getting to the upper limits of safe...and your Volvo doesn't have half what my SS did.

[roger n cindy]

what can i pull ? ask also what can i stop !
roger n cindy

[overlander64]

Greetings Roger-n-Cindy!

Many of us like to look at the factory trailer tow rating and take 80% of that rating for a realistic trailer tow maximum (80% of 5,000 pounds or 4,000 pounds) in the instance you are facing. While there are several Vintage coaches that would fall within that gross weight territory (my '78 Minuet 6.0 Metre has a gross weight of 3,100 pounds). Your biggest limitation is hitch weight - - 12% to 15% of gross trailer weight is typical for well-balanced travel trailers in the US. My Minuet when loaded for an extended vacation has a gross hitch weight of 550 pounds. Even if it turns out that the 200 pound hitch weight rating is for a dead-weight-carrying hitch, it is typical for the maximum with weight distribution to be twice the weight-carrying rating or 400 pounds - - such can be found with pre-1965 Vintage coaches, but even then the selection of coaches with less than 400 pounds of loaded hitch weight would be quite limited (these would typically be the smallest of the single axle coaches).

I suspect that what you may find is a situation similar to what I found when trying to tow my light-weight-special Nomad in the 1980s with an import. The car had adequate power and weight, but didn't have the structure to support a propper weight distributing hitch in the rear.

Good luck with your investigations!

Kevin

[Turtle]

Tongue weight on the 16' CCD is 350lbs. Looks like you need a tow vehicle!!!