Volvo XC60 bumpy ride when towing
Comments
-
I've been following this thread with some interest, my xc60 is a 2016 model D5 SE LUX NAV AWD. Presently I'm on a european tour and towing with a nose weight of around 90kg my van does not have ATC and I have the standard 18" Pirellis on the car psi 39
I have no issues and I've towed in some pretty poor weather over the past few weeks. I tend to agree with others this seems to be a van issue.Thanks for your reply from sunny Portugal, envy envy!
I tried 39psi all round and the ride was very harsh so bad that aftre 3 miles I reduced them to 35psi. Do you just increase the pressures in the rear tyres, as I have usually done previously, or do you increase all four tyres?
I am unsure whether the van or car is at fault only suggestion from Coachman was "plenty of noseweight" no figure offered and "load sensibly but do not overload under the bed" The only weight over the axle is the fridge and cooker so everything else is forward
of the axle increasing noseweight or under the bed balancing noseweight and inducing instability. I am beginning to wish I had not bothered upgrading the car or the caravan.Thanks
Dave
Hi David
I have all the tyres at 39 psi as this is the recommended setting from Volvo for a fully loaded vehicle and it seems to work fine, although my van is only 1350 fully loaded, it is prone to be nose heavy and I have countered this by loading under the beds
just behind the axle, without any stability issues.0 -
Dave,
I have a Coachman 565/4, and I too certainly found it to be more "twitchy" than my earlier 520/4. I put it down to the fact that fixed bed vans naturally seem to have more weight aft of the axle than traditional vans.
The cure, - certainly in my case was to ensure that I increased the nose weight right up to the maximum and that immediately smoothed things down. Infact I am now totally happy and the van tows as if it is on rails!
That might all be down to the fact that I tow with the best "Tugger" I have ever experienced - a Mercedes ML300CDI. A smooth 3 Litre V6 and a wheel literally at each corner (i.e.no overhang at the rear). The Merc certainly out tows my previous 4 Toyota landcruisers and a Shogun.
I have no experience with Volvo's so cannot really compare, but I do have a lot of experience with Coachman caravans and consider them to be very good vans from a towing perspective, especially the later ones with tow assist and shock absorbers.
TF
0 -
Dave,
I have a Coachman 565/4, and I too certainly found it to be more "twitchy" than my earlier 520/4. I put it down to the fact that fixed bed vans naturally seem to have more weight aft of the axle than traditional vans.
The cure, - certainly in my case was to ensure that I increased the nose weight right up to the maximum and that immediately smoothed things down. Infact I am now totally happy and the van tows as if it is on rails!
That might all be down to the fact that I tow with the best "Tugger" I have ever experienced - a Mercedes ML300CDI. A smooth 3 Litre V6 and a wheel literally at each corner (i.e.no overhang at the rear). The Merc certainly
out tows my previous 4 Toyota landcruisers and a Shogun.I have no experience with Volvo's so cannot really compare, but I do have a lot of experience with Coachman caravans and consider them to be very good vans from a towing perspective, especially the later ones with tow assist and
shock absorbers.TF
Hi Tigerfish, Thanks for your encouraging reply. I am at a loss as what to try next. My noseweight limit is 90kg which I have tried and other weights down to 80kg without much change. I have put an artificial load in the caravan but that seems to go against
the grain as it must surely be better to have a light a van weight as possible. I am not relly sure were the problem is but The suspension seems very lively and as mentioned earlier there is quite a bit of swaying when using the motor mover and coming to a
stop which makes me suspect the shocks, but surely not. Do you use a mover and what is your van movement like when you stop the mover. my previous van which did not have shocks stopped dead.0 -
Dave,
Yes I do use a motor mover, very often. - As recently as last Monday. I have never experienced any sway in the van whilst the motor mover is in use, which suggests to me that you might well be on the right track. I suggest that a serious discussion with your dealer is called for.
Failing any satisfaction from them try talking to Coachman Caravans Customer care Dept. I have dealt with them in the past and will say that their then manager Trevor Baxter is the real star of that company. Time has moved on and I believe Trevor might now be taking more of a back seat. But it wouldn't hurt to ask to speak to him if he's there.
TF
0 -
Am i reading / understanding this correctly ? "the van sways when using the mover" . If this is the case it could point to a brake problem , like it is grabbing at some point in rotation or a problem with a hub assembly. I would think the ATC can be ruled
out as it would not be operational when moving with the mover. As the wheel rotation been checked by jacking up and rotating wheels ?.0 -
PS i did once see a caravan that when moved with a mover would not travel in a straight line , one brake was sticking on and causing much more drag on that side,
0 -
Am i reading / understanding this correctly ? "the van sways when using the mover" . If this is the case it could point to a brake problem , like it is grabbing at some point in rotation or a problem with a hub assembly. I would think the ATC can be ruled
out as it would not be operational when moving with the mover. As the wheel rotation been checked by jacking up and rotating wheels ?.Hi Brakes are free, Sway occurs when the mover stop button is pressed ie the van stops but the boby sways quite a lot and compared to my previous van which just stopped dead and did not have shocks on the suspension makes me think the shocks or suspension
on the new van is too lively or undamped, But I am told by the dealer everything is fine.Dave
0 -
Dave,
Yes I do use a motor mover, very often. - As recently as last Monday. I have never experienced any sway in the van whilst the motor mover is in use, which suggests to me that you might well be on the right track. I suggest that a serious discussion with
your dealer is called for.Failing any satisfaction from them try talking to Coachman Caravans Customer care Dept. I have dealt with them in the past and will say that their then manager Trevor Baxter is the real star of that company. Time has moved on and I believe Trevor might
now be taking more of a back seat. But it wouldn't hurt to ask to speak to him if he's there.TF
Thanks for the name, I have a feeling he may still be there as I think he features in a video on the Coachman website. i have spoken to an understanding but non technical person in their After Care dept but not really acheived anything yet.
0 -
If the van sways when the mover stops does this point to one of the mover rollers stopping very slightly before the other one ? This may have nothing to do with your van/car bumpy ride issue .
0 -
If the van sways when the mover stops does this point to one of the mover rollers stopping very slightly before the other one ? This may have nothing to do with your van/car bumpy ride issue .
Mmmm Interesting point as moving the van today It did not travel in a straight line. On investigation the gap between the roller and tyre on the wheel that was lagging behind is 5mm greater than the otherside and that one is larger than the 19mm gap that
they should be set to. this will be the third time that the Dealer has resecured the mover to the correct gaps, first time was first trip away when the mover would not move the van because the gaps were 16mm greater than they should have been set to and the
rollers were just spinning on the tyres. Asimilar thing may be happening now causing the caravan to travel in an arc but I do not know if this would cause the bounce, that to me seems more like the dampers are ineffective which may be causing my rough pitching
uncomfortable ride.0 -
I think you may have two seperate issues , on the one hand a bumpy ride and on the other an issue with the mover. Seems odd that the mover mounts need adjusting again , it's usually fit and forget so to speak , mine have only been moved once since fitted (tyre change) . I do hope the mover is not moving whilst towing and catching on the tyre. Is it a new mover ,was it changed from a previous van, are the correct type/new locking nuts used, it should not keep moving.
0 -
I think you may have two seperate issues , on the one hand a bumpy ride and on the other an issue with the mover. Seems odd that the mover mounts need adjusting again , it's usually fit and forget so to speak , mine have only been moved once since fitted
(tyre change) . I do hope the mover is not moving whilst towing and catching on the tyre. Is it a new mover ,was it changed from a previous van, are the correct type/new locking nuts used, it should not keep moving.New mover and fixings and in the fitting instructions there are tightening torque figures, maybe someone has a faulty torque wrench. I do not think the mover is loose enough to move when travelling but it may be moving when pressed against the tyre.
0 -
The mover should not move when applied to the tyres ( bet you knew that though ) you will see the tyre just distort very very slightly. An interesting one this, please let us know the outcome which i hope is achieved shortly to your satisfaction .
0 -
Just written a Latest Developments which was quite long winded so I think I must have been timed out, it is not visible anyway so apologies if it turns up cos I will now try again but abbreviated.
Loaded van to 130kg including mover and battery but not gas bottle. Noseweight first at 85kg then 90kg. Did a 15 mile test tow and rough pitching ride.
Today repeated test tow with friends Volvo xc90 same rough ride. and it felt surprisingly that the caravan was bossing the XC90??
At end of test run N/S brake quite hot O/s cool car brakes cool. Jacked caravan up and N/S wheel free but some movement in the wheel bearing or stub axle or somewhere. O/S wheel brake binding a little, but cool? and no movement whatsoever in that wheel assembly.
Dealer to have another look and provide another Coachman for a comparison test tow.
0 -
Good report.
So it appears a faulty bearing or loose locknut was the issue? Something thats checked annually at service.
Is there a hidden 'between the lines' comment there Xtrail? Not sure if you're implying the OP hasn't had the 'van serviced or the tech hasn't picked up an iffy bearing when it was serviced. Things can & do fail within 12 months
0 -
Good report.
So it appears a faulty bearing or loose locknut was the issue? Something thats checked annually at service.
...Van is brand new delivered april 2016 seems like the only use I have had has been test tows to try and solve the problem or taking it back to the dealers
0 -
see other report
0 -
I tow with a Volvo XC 60 and have had no problems with it towing our Sterling Elite Opal and is similar in weight to Coachman, in fact it is the best tow car I have had in well over 30 years caravanning
0 -
I tow with a XC60 D4 AWD, recently changed a series 1 Unicorn Valencia to an Elddis Affinity, towed extensively in UK (and France with the Bailey) with both vans. Volvo towed easily and very comfortably, no pitching or ride issues.
0 -
I tow with a XC60 D4 AWD, recently changed a series 1 Unicorn Valencia to an Elddis Affinity, towed extensively in UK (and France with the Bailey) with both vans. Volvo towed easily and very comfortably, no pitching or ride issues.
Hi, Thanks for your reply, I am pleased that you have no problems with the XC60. Could you tell me what size wheels you have fitted please.
Dave
0 -
I tow with a Volvo XC 60 and have had no problems with it towing our Sterling Elite Opal and is similar in weight to Coachman, in fact it is the best tow car I have had in well over 30 years caravanning
Hi Thanks for your reply, Before buying the XC60 I read many reports similar to your best tow car etc. But something is not working for me, very disappointed as we like the car very much.
Dave
0 -
We have an XC60 D5 (the wheel size is 18" if that's any help Dave).
I have towed tow vans with it, each with a MTPLM of 1500kg.
No issues with pitching or ride at all, quite simply the best towcar we have had.
We towed witha V70 before this car which was alos good, but not a patch on the XC60
0 -
We have an XC60 D5 (the wheel size is 18" if that's any help Dave).
I have towed tow vans with it, each with a MTPLM of 1500kg.
No issues with pitching or ride at all, quite simply the best towcar we have had.
We towed witha V70 before this car which was alos good, but not a patch on the XC60
Thanks for your reply, I was interested in the wheel size as ours are 18" also and I had heard that 17" wheels give a smoother ride. Unlike your experience we are currently thinking this is the worst tow car we have had and i would very much like it to be
"the best" as we would really like to keep the car but it is such a jerky uncomfortable ride when towing so it is being replaced by an XC70 which we have tried with our caravan and it was fine, so I do not know what we are doing wrong with the XC60 and so
many people tell me, as you do, that it is a brilliant tow car. We often tow to Switzerland, two drivers, in one day from North Yorkshire with the V70 and no problems with fatigue etc but with the XC60 I feel drained after about 60 miles. what am I doing wrong?
This van is 115kg heavier than our previous van, at max load, loading is OK, noseweight is ok and has been varied for experiment, I consider myself experienced at towing having done it for more than 25 years without mishap or problem. We have tried a similar
caravan to ours with same results. I just do not know!Dave
0 -
If you have 18" wheels then almost certainly the tyres will be lower profile which generally give a harsher ride. My personal view is that for any towcar you don't want a profile ratio lower than 60.
0 -
..... My personal view is that for any towcar you don't want a profile ratio lower than 60.
That'll make for a small rim size then, though it depends on what tyre width the 60% is of. Mine are 255/50R19 and the ride is anything but harsh ... air suspension helps though
Last
car had 235/45R17 and I wouldn't have called that harsh either0 -
I'm on 19" with 55 profile, no problem atall, but i wouldn't go below 55 having been on 17" with 45 profile with an Audi the ride was too hard, but the Audi did have sports suspension, the Mazda is on standard suspension.
So IME its not just the wheel size, but the profile and suspension. When i test drove an XC60 i didn't get any impression of a hard ride or bouncy for that matter, in R design trim.
Huge power with the D5 auto the 5 cyl job with over 200bhp.
0 -
.... an Audi the ride was too hard, but the Audi did have sports suspension, ...
No surprise then
There does seem to be a growing trend for sports supension on various makes of cars .... E Class Merc, S Line
is it on Audi? I want the opposite, especially in a large 'exec' saloon0 -
If you have 18" wheels then almost certainly the tyres will be lower profile which generally give a harsher ride. My personal view is that for any towcar you don't want a profile ratio lower than 60.
Hi, The tyres on my XC60 are 60 ratio profile and having had cars with low profile tyres I agree with your comment
Thanks Dave
0
