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Towing with an S60

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's stylish, distinctive P2 platform cars sold as model years 2001-2007 (North American market year designations).

2001 - 2007 V70
2001 - 2004 V70 XC (Cross Country)
2004 - 2007 XC70 (Cross Country)
2001 - 2009 S60
2003 - 2007 S60 R
2004 - 2007 V70 R

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Yycvolvo
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Joined: 16 September 2020
Year and Model: 2008 S40 2.4i
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Re: Towing with an S60

Post by Yycvolvo »

abscate wrote: 28 Oct 2020, 01:10 In ny it doesn’t matter what tow vehicle you use, above 1500# gross trailer weight you have to have trailer brakes.

I detest the electric ones , surge brakes are so much better
I’ll have to do a trip to princess auto and find out what I can set it up with.
1999 Volvo V70 T5 ASR. Sold
2002 Volvo S60 2.4t ASR. Sold
2008 Volvo S40 2.4i ASR. Current daily driver

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volvolugnut
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Year and Model: 2001 V70
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Post by volvolugnut »

I have electric brakes on my 16 foot flat bed trailer and electric controller on my Ford truck. I think they work fine. I like that you can use the controller in the cab to test the trailer brake operation. I have towed 5000 lb with this combination.
volvolugnut
The Fleet:
Volvo: 2001 V70 T5, 1986 244DL, 1983 245DL, 1975 245DL, 1959 PV544, multiple Volvo parts cars.
Mercedes: 2001 E320, 1973 280, 1974 280C, 1989 300E, 1988 300TE, 1979 300TD, parts cars.
2009 Smart Passion
Ford: 1977 F350, 1964 F150 (2), 1938 Tudor Sedan
Farmall tractors: 1956 400 Diesel, 1946 A
And others.

Yycvolvo
Posts: 13
Joined: 16 September 2020
Year and Model: 2008 S40 2.4i
Location: Calgary, AB
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Post by Yycvolvo »

volvolugnut wrote: 28 Oct 2020, 08:57 I have electric brakes on my 16 foot flat bed trailer and electric controller on my Ford truck. I think they work fine. I like that you can use the controller in the cab to test the trailer brake operation. I have towed 5000 lb with this combination.
volvolugnut
I was originally planning on going the electric brake route, but a quick google search makes me question this for a boat trailer application. It seems like submerging the electro-magnets when launching or retrieving the boat might give questionable longevity and reliability. I really like that on an electric setup, the trailer's brakes brake first, before the tow vehicle's. Maybe the electric-over-hydraulic setup would be better suited for marine use. I think that I'll have to do plenty more research before choosing the route to go down for this application.
1999 Volvo V70 T5 ASR. Sold
2002 Volvo S60 2.4t ASR. Sold
2008 Volvo S40 2.4i ASR. Current daily driver

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

If you ever think it might salt water, it's surge brake. Even in fresh, I use surge brake in everything marine.

Flush brake fluid to keep them happy, annually. I think that's why people go electric, because they detest bleeding brakes.

I crack the bleeders and pump the runaway lever watching the bleeder hose for fresh fluid. 5 minute job.
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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