jcmbecker
12-09-2010, 07:13 AM
Is it worth investing a bunch of money for a custom hitch set up for a '98 with 125K mileage? Having owned this car since 2000, we had planned to drive this car into the dirt and caring for it accordingly (ie: new timing belt, tensioners, cv boots, brakes, rotors and tires). But we don't want the demise to happen in the middle of the family vacation.
Knowing we'd be towing right at the upper limit of the Volvo's capability, we purchased a Trailmanor travel trailer (about 3300 pounds loaded and roughly 350 tong weight). To our dismay, we discovered the only 2 inch receiver hitch assembly for the XC would have to be fabricated, allowing for the weight distribution hitch and anti-sway system to be installed. Additionally, the trailer has electric brakes which would be controlled via an electronic brake controller. We've found a very reputable RV shop in San Diego that'll do the work for a total of $1550.00.
That said we've talked to our Volvo mechanic of many years and he's concerned we may eat up our transmission towing through the mountains (is more concerned about the downgrades). Additionally he cautioned about messing with the ABS system as a new computer would run $700-800. The RV shop said the electronic brake controller wouldn't interact with the ABS system; rather it picked up the electrical signal going to the brake lights and utilizes an accelerometer to regulate inputs to the trailer's brakes.
We're not concerned about being the quickest folks up the hill, and we thought the electronic brake set up would limit the stress on the transmission coming out of the mountains. But with all the conflicting advice, we're trying to decide if we should move on to another tow vehicle? Realistically we're only talking about a couple of annual trips through the mountains, with the majority of the trips on relatively level grades.
So do we move on to something else, or hold our cards? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Knowing we'd be towing right at the upper limit of the Volvo's capability, we purchased a Trailmanor travel trailer (about 3300 pounds loaded and roughly 350 tong weight). To our dismay, we discovered the only 2 inch receiver hitch assembly for the XC would have to be fabricated, allowing for the weight distribution hitch and anti-sway system to be installed. Additionally, the trailer has electric brakes which would be controlled via an electronic brake controller. We've found a very reputable RV shop in San Diego that'll do the work for a total of $1550.00.
That said we've talked to our Volvo mechanic of many years and he's concerned we may eat up our transmission towing through the mountains (is more concerned about the downgrades). Additionally he cautioned about messing with the ABS system as a new computer would run $700-800. The RV shop said the electronic brake controller wouldn't interact with the ABS system; rather it picked up the electrical signal going to the brake lights and utilizes an accelerometer to regulate inputs to the trailer's brakes.
We're not concerned about being the quickest folks up the hill, and we thought the electronic brake set up would limit the stress on the transmission coming out of the mountains. But with all the conflicting advice, we're trying to decide if we should move on to another tow vehicle? Realistically we're only talking about a couple of annual trips through the mountains, with the majority of the trips on relatively level grades.
So do we move on to something else, or hold our cards? Any advice would be much appreciated.