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Old 03-27-2014, 05:29 PM   #1
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Need help with hitch advice

Dealer installed the fast way e2 hitch on our 2013 Volvo xc70. We are pulling a new 2014 16' Sport. Decided to stop at the Cat scales on our way back from a couple of nights camping. Here is where we need advice. I'm attaching copies of the Cat scale results and load limits from the Volvo. We had a normal load in the car. 2 adults and a cat and a somewhat loaded trailer with two 30lbs lp tanks and two deep cycle 24 batteries. We have the 600lb grunion bars (I think). Do these numbers look okay? Click image for larger version

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ID:	208389. Should more weight somehow be placed on steer axle? We didn't weigh the Sport alone (unattached from TV)
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Old 03-27-2014, 05:36 PM   #2
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Dump the Cat!
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Old 03-27-2014, 05:36 PM   #3
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Dump the Cat!

Haha
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Old 03-27-2014, 05:56 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by john4170 View Post
Dealer installed the fast way e2 hitch on our 2013 Volvo xc70. We are pulling a new 2014 16' Sport. Decided to stop at the Cat scales on our way back from a couple of nights camping. Here is where we need advice. I'm attaching copies of the Cat scale results and load limits from the Volvo. We had a normal load in the car. 2 adults and a cat and a somewhat loaded trailer with two 30lbs lp tanks and two deep cycle 24 batteries. We have the 600lb grunion bars (I think). Do these numbers look okay? . Should more weight somehow be placed on steer axle? We didn't weigh the Sport alone (unattached from TV)
Congrats! Isn't it a blast?! :-)

From what you've shared, you look within your limits and have a little to spare. I don't think we can answer all your questions without additional tickets but I'll try for starters:

The numbers look like you haven't exceeded either axle rating or the gross rating for the Volvo and it appears you've got 370# of capacity left before you max out.

You don't mention whether you were traveling with tanks full (fresh, gray, black) or other camping gear like you'd be ready for camping. Water can add up quickly at 8.3#/gallon and hopefully you don't need to carry a full cast iron cookware set :-)

We also don't know how much the front axle weighs unhitched so we can't say whether you need more weight on the front. Do you have pics of the rig hitched up? That won't be exact but it should help to see how level everything looks.

Do you also have pictures of the tag on your hitch receiver? That should indicate how much tongue weight and towing capacity you have on the vehicle.

When you get a chance, you might want to try a full set of weigh ins at the cat scales, fully loaded for camping with car alone, car with trailer without WD applied, car with trailer with WD applied. That will help get a more complete picture.

Other who are more knowledgeable than me will give you more info soon! :-)
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Old 03-27-2014, 05:57 PM   #5
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Dump the Cat!
:-D

That's horrible! :-D
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Old 03-27-2014, 06:09 PM   #6
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As weighted you are within the Legal limits of the TV. Not that many of us are.

You should weigh the TV alone and then compare that to the loaded weights to see if the hitch is doing what it is intended to do. Transfer weight to the front axle.

Interesting limit on the tire sticker. Between the occupancy and the tongue weight you are most likely beyond the limit of those tires. You might want to look into a stronger tire if you intend to travel other than weekends.
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Old 03-27-2014, 06:13 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
Congrats! Isn't it a blast?! :-)

From what you've shared, you look within your limits and have a little to spare. I don't think we can answer all your questions without additional tickets but I'll try for starters:

The numbers look like you haven't exceeded either axle rating or the gross rating for the Volvo and it appears you've got 370# of capacity left before you max out.

You don't mention whether you were traveling with tanks full (fresh, gray, black) or other camping gear like you'd be ready for camping. Water can add up quickly at 8.3#/gallon and hopefully you don't need to carry a full cast iron cookware set :-)

We also don't know how much the front axle weighs unhitched so we can't say whether you need more weight on the front. Do you have pics of the rig hitched up? That won't be exact but it should help to see how level everything looks.

Do you also have pictures of the tag on your hitch receiver? That should indicate how much tongue weight and towing capacity you have on the vehicle.

When you get a chance, you might want to try a full set of weigh ins at the cat scales, fully loaded for camping with car alone, car with trailer without WD applied, car with trailer with WD applied. That will help get a more complete picture.

Other who are more knowledgeable than me will give you more info soon! :-)

Thanks SteveSueMac. I neglected to mention the max tongue weight of the Volvo is 165lbs and the towing capacity is 3300. We were traveling without water and nothing in the tanks. I will take some pics and more weigh ins this weekend. Appreciate the help
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Old 03-27-2014, 06:22 PM   #8
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Tongue weight 165# Wow!
Have you checked the tongue weight of your trailer?
Don't know how that is effected with weight distribution hitch, but I bet your way over your Volvo's tongue weight with even a 16' trailer. Mine's 740lbs!
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Old 03-27-2014, 06:26 PM   #9
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Silver Hawk

From his posting how are coming up with a tongue weight? I see 3 axle weights and a total.
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Old 03-27-2014, 06:31 PM   #10
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Tongue weight 165# Wow!
Have you checked the tongue weight of your trailer?
Don't know how that is effected with weight distribution hitch, but I bet your way over your Volvo's tongue weight with even a 16' trailer. Mine's 740lbs!

According to airstream, the tongue weight of the 16' sport is 350
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Old 03-27-2014, 08:52 PM   #11
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If the max tongue weight the Volvo can carry is 165# you are going to have to replace that receiver if there is an aftermarket one available. If not I would be looking for another TV.
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Old 03-28-2014, 11:39 AM   #12
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Another thought: The normal tongue weight is considered min. 10% of trailer, 15% to be safe. If his trailer weighs 2,800 lbs., that's 300lbs. tongue weight min. - 450lbs. to be 'safe'. At 165lbs, I'd reconsider pulling with a C70 Volvo. My wife has one - great road car, but wouldn't consider pulling a trailer with it - it's a light car, not even a SUV. My 1985 J6 Jag. weighs almost 6,000lbs and I wouldn't think of pulling a trailer with it.

You see old pictures of Airstream's being pulled by '60's & '70's sedans, but these were in the years of light weight Airstream's and heavy weight cars, built without regard to gas mileage. Now you have light weight cars and heavy weight trailers.
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Old 03-28-2014, 12:05 PM   #13
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I was under the impression from the AS dealer that the WD hitch would move some of the AS tongue weight to the steer axle and trailer axle? I think the best thing to do is get a complete set of weigh-ins at the Cat scales this weekend to really assess what we are working with.
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Old 03-28-2014, 04:53 PM   #14
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Yes a WD hitch will move weight forward but that does NOT reduce the mechanical load on the TV receiver. In fact it increases it.

If the receiver has a 160 load limit you will be far exceeding that and should consider this before you go much farther.
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Old 03-28-2014, 05:06 PM   #15
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Thanks SteveSueMac. I neglected to mention the max tongue weight of the Volvo is 165lbs and the towing capacity is 3300. We were traveling without water and nothing in the tanks. I will take some pics and more weigh ins this weekend. Appreciate the help
You're welcome, but whoa - 165 for the tongue is likely going to be a problem for you (as you're hearing from others now). On the ticket you provided, your trailer is about 3000# - even at just 10% on the tongue, you're double the capacity of your receiver...

I don't know whether you can upgrade your receiver on the Volvo with something larger and reinforced on your frame - you should look in to that - or, unfortunately, a different tow vehicle. I know some folks don't think manufacturers give accurate numbers - but doubling (maybe tripling) that limit can't be safe.

Andy T of CanAm can usually be found in these forums and he has built a big business on finding ways to handle situations like this - that's kind of controversial as some here love the approach, some hate it - but you might want to investigate that and make your own decision.

Good luck, safe driving and happy camping!
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Old 03-28-2014, 08:20 PM   #16
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We are going to take a look tomorrow at a new Ford F-150 with ecoboost. Having read the answers here I'm a little concerned our tv isn't going to cut it.
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Old 03-28-2014, 09:27 PM   #17
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I think you are on to something...
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Old 03-29-2014, 06:06 AM   #18
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Any of the trucks or even a larger SUV would be a plus. If you pick on you are interested in , run it through the forums here, and you can get pluses and minuses on it. All our opinions for sure. Jim
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Old 03-29-2014, 08:48 AM   #19
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Isn't there a difference between a weight bearing and a weight distributing hitch? I know that years ago when I was towing my white box with my 4Runner the difference in numbers was huge. I had a weight distributing hitch on the Toyota while I had a weight bearing hitch on my little Mazda pickup. The Mazda basically had a ball attached to the factory bumper.

Could this be an issue here?
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Old 03-29-2014, 09:01 AM   #20
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I just looked up the tongue weight on your cx70 and you are correct 165#. This is the issue with vehicles of the last 20 years or so- no full frame vehicles other than the trucks. Here is a link to how some are dealing with the issue that own your vehicle (in Austraila but nonetheless) it may give you some ideas or channels for pursuit as the company is Reese.

Hayman Reese - Home - haymanreese
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