[AlanKilian]

REALLY nice job on the towing package Volvo.

I get in and start the engine and I get:
1) Trailer connected, BLIS disabled.
2) Trailer light check? (OK, Cancel) click OK
3) Left signal, right signal, running lights, brakes, off with the trailer lights!

Then when I start out, it again tells me BLIS is disabled, makes me acknowledge and puts up a permanent icon showing that.

I believe auto start/stop is disabled even though it's selected and green in center console leftmost page.

After I parked, got out and locked the car, the trailer running lights were on.
The car running lights were not on.
The went out when I walked away, and came back on when I walked closer.
I'm not sure if the car was sensing the key or my body or what.
It's going to take a little more experimentation to see what exactly is going on.

Oh, man, one more thing, when backing, the backup view has a "Towball" setting instead of "Lines" that draws a line from your towball to wherever it's going depending on the steering wheel angle. I backed RIGHT TO THE HITCH the first time.

I'll give Volvo an A+ for this towing package.

 

[SeattleCat]

Nice review and pretty car
What’s the range like towing that?

 

[AlanKilian]

What’s the range like towing that?

We'll be doing a cross-country trip in September so I'll be able to report the fuel economy then.

 

[ColoradoNative]

My P8 was ordered with the towing package, and I've used it a few times to move a raft trailer short distances. I get the warnings about BLIS and parking sensors, and do get an opportunity to test the trailer lights.

However, no onscreen help with locating the tow ball, which would be helpful since the rear camera is offset and movement is distorted. Just another example of how the P8 lacks features that are standard on the ICE version.

I also find that the normal receiver / hitch / ball rattling is transmitted throughout the vehicle. It's impossible to forget you are dragging a trailer.

 

[AlanKilian]

I also find that the normal receiver / hitch / ball rattling is transmitted throughout the vehicle. It's impossible to forget you are dragging a trailer.

I use a hitch rattle eliminator, but I notice a lot more squeaking from the ball/coupler connection that I ever had towing with an aftermarket receiver hitch on a 2004 V70.
A light grease helped, but now the ball is greasy!

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[imdunne8]

My P8 was ordered with the towing package, and I've used it a few times to move a raft trailer short distances. I get the warnings about BLIS and parking sensors, and do get an opportunity to test the trailer lights.

However, no onscreen help with locating the tow ball, which would be helpful since the rear camera is offset and movement is distorted. Just another example of how the P8 lacks features that are standard on the ICE version.

I also find that the normal receiver / hitch / ball rattling is transmitted throughout the vehicle. It's impossible to forget you are dragging a trailer.

The setting is actually there on our P8 models as well! I've used it and can also attest to it being a very useful feature. When you have the cameras showing, there should be a setting icon on the screen. Press that and you'll get three options for the back up view line settings, one of which is Towball.

 

[ColoradoNative]

The setting is actually there on our P8 models as well!

Thanks for the tip - I found the setting and played with it. I'm looking forward to trying it out next time I hook up my trailer.

 

[pajonline]

I am towing in Europe so i will give you my results in metric:

on a 400 km drive the car is reporting 6.2 liters per 100 km.
I am towing a 1450 kilo caravan.
my car is a hybrid T5 with polestar software upgrade installed.
when polestar driving mode engaged, the car does not use the electric engine.

update: another 280 km driven and we are now at 6,8 liters per 100 km.
update 2: now at 800 km and the numbers are 7.1 liters per 100 km.

 

[2BlueYam]

I use a hitch rattle eliminator, but I notice a lot more squeaking from the ball/coupler connection that I ever had towing with an aftermarket receiver hitch on a 2004 V70.
A light grease helped, but now the ball is greasy!

You can put a rubber hitch ball cover over it when you unhitch. They even have novelty ones shaped like trailers, fish, deer, golf balls and all sorts of colors. Make sure you get one appropriately sized for your hitch ball.

 

[AlanKilian]

We'll be doing a cross-country trip in September so I'll be able to report the fuel economy then.

The cross-country trip was cancelled due to a broken leg, but we did some New England camping and pretty reliably got 22 MPG on the highway/up/down/hills.
(10.7 l/100km) I think the fuel economy is going up as we pass 2,000 Miles on the odometer. Maybe there's a break-in mode that keeps the RPMs higher.

 

[pajonline]

I did a short review of our towing experience last month On a Dutch caravanforum. below is the Google translated text of that submission.

we are towing an Adria 522UP of 1650 kg. Our car is the European XC40 T5 hybrid.

===== translation below ======

The car has quite the predominance (not overweight!) on the caravan. You can drive (much) too fast. Until now, we rode a maximum slope of 5-6% and that was no problem at all; even in cruise control we could very easily maintain the set speed without the revs rising enormously.

With this combination we drive a maximum of 90 km per hour, and preferably even 85. Then the caravan is very solid behind the car. The combination is somewhat crosswind-sensitive, but I think that is also because the Volvo itself is already crosswind-sensitive.

As a nose weight we use a maximum of 85-90 kilos. With the Volvo's own towbar, the Volvo can have up to 110 kilograms of weight on the towbar.

We have 2 e-bikes without battery on the drawbar and in the drawbar cabinet 2 lightweight gas bottles with 10 kg of gas each.

We had the spare wheel mounted just behind the axle using an ALKO wheel carrier under the caravan.

We leave the water tank in the front left empty. An air conditioner is mounted on the roof, also behind the axle.

We also load a lot in the car, I think we have about 300 - 325 kg in the car, including 2 people. This gives the car a good overweight on the caravan.


It is also important to report that we have tuned the Volvo with the Polestar software. This gives us 14 HP and 15 Nm more (totals are now 194 HP and 280 Nm). because of the tuning we now get the maximum pulling power at 3000 rpm.

With the caravan we drive in the 'Polestar position' of the engine as standard.

With regard to consumption, we see that we have so far that we drive about 8.5 liters per 100 kilometers. This on the route from the Netherlands to the coast of north-east Spain.

For us this is a great combination, if you prefer to drive 100 km or 110 km per hour, I would suggest a heavier car. At these higher speeds we feel less comfortable; although it could certainly be done mechanically.

if you have any questions, let me know.
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