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XC60 tow hitch receiver

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sp123

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2022 XC60 T8
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My XC60 OSD order has been placed, so I've now moved on to considering accessories. Specifically, a tow hitch. This will be used solely for a bike rack; most likely no actual towing. Volvo has a fancy retractable one, but the cost is over $1,000:
  • Volvo accessories web site lists it for $1,047.44 (15% discount to MSRP of $1,232.28), presumably not including labor; and
  • The 2022 OSD Accessory Price List has it for $1,373 (MSRP $1,525), possibly including labor.

On the other hand, I can get a third-party hitch receiver for less than $200, and get it installed for around $100 (I'm guessing).

So while the Volvo hitch is pretty cool, I feel like I must be missing something to justify the extra $1,000.

Any thoughts/suggestions?
 
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#2 ·
I ordered the retractable. We have tow hitches on both of our cars and they’re all rusted and pitted. Functionally fine but they look like ****. I’m looking forward to being able to tuck it away when I’m not using it.
 
#6 ·
The Volvo retractable hitch for the XC60 has a 1-1/4” receiver, FYI. If you are looking for something that has a 2” receiver and is invisible when not in use, there is the Stealth Hitch. This is what I installed on my 2021 XC60. The fit is excellent and the removable receiver makes the hitch invisible when not in use. Pricey at $600+ from etrailer. All of the hitches that I see on etrailer that will fit the XC60 require removal of the bumper cover, an easy job, but I’d be surprised if you get this done for a hundred bucks. Might check U-Haul…?
 
#8 ·
With Volvo discontinuing the OEM fixed hitch, StealthHitch is the only way to go, imo.

Also, if you’re paying a professional, no one who knows what they’re doing will charge less than $100 for labor. It’s not difficult — I DIY‘d mine — but it does involve removing the rear bumper cover as well as some bending of the heat shield. It’s a couple hours of labor.
 
#10 ·
As mentioned by Billk9989 - Volvo XC60 OEM “folding” hitch has 1 1/4” Receiver, so if you have an existing 2” Bike Rack, you’ll need to get a 1 1/4” to 2” Adapter. this would extend the Bike Rack out past the XC60’s bumper - and likely cut your Bike Rack’s safe tongue weight and total weight IN HALF.

The advice I got from my OSD Dealer (Tom Schroeder/Volvo Cars Seattle) was that Volvo OEM “folding” 1 1/1/4 Hitch wasn’t “deep” enough nor “beefy” enough to safely carry a 2” Bike Rack - and that aftermarket hitches from Stealth or Drawtite were recommended.

I haven’t ordered my Stealth Hitch and towing harness yet - I have 2 other vehicles (one is my 2005 V50 AWD with a custom 2” receiver) - but that’s the direction I’m heading. I have a small RIB and trailer I haul around the Columbia River Gorge on occasion, so need the harness and programming for the XC60.
 
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#11 ·
tomkat73 said:
As mentioned by Billk9989 - Volvo XC60 OEM "folding" hitch has 1 1/4" Receiver, so if you have an existing 2" Bike Rack, you'll need to get a 1 1/4" to 2" Adapter. this would extend the Bike Rack out past the XC60's bumper - and likely cut your Bike Rack's safe tongue weight and total weight IN HALF.

The advice I got from my OSD Dealer (Tom Schroeder/Volvo Cars Seattle) was that Volvo OEM "folding" 1 1/1/4 Hitch wasn't "deep" enough nor "beefy" enough to safely carry a 2" Bike Rack - and that aftermarket hitches from Stealth or Drawtite were recommended.

I haven't ordered my Stealth Hitch and towing harness yet - I have 2 other vehicles (one is my 2005 V50 AWD with a custom 2" receiver) - but that's the direction I'm heading. I have a small RIB and trailer I haul around the Columbia River Gorge on occasion, so need the harness and programming for the XC60.
Click to expand...
I put 580 lbs tongue (I exceed their tow specs by a lot) on my xc60's oem fold hitch often it does fine. Even with an adapter to go to 2" I can't see any bike rack being an issue for this thing. I installed my hitch and its pretty well built.
 
#12 ·
kmazz said:
I put 580 lbs tongue (I exceed their tow specs by a lot) on my xc60's oem fold hitch often it does fine. Even with an adapter to go to 2" I can't see any bike rack being an issue for this thing. I installed my hitch and its pretty well built.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your input and experience, kmazz.

Haven't pulled the trigger on a hitch for my 2021 XC60 T8…but still leaning towards Stealth vs OEM for about the same price cuz of the 1 1/4" to 2" Adapter. I have a RockyMounts Backstage 2" Swingaway Rack and 2 eBikes, so "halving" the capacity of the rack with an extension/adapter is not an option.

I plan on installing the Stealth rack myself - then driving 1 1/2 hours to the closest Volvo Dealer to program the towing harness
 
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#13 ·
tomkat73 said:
Thanks for your input and experience, kmazz.

Haven't pulled the trigger on a hitch for my 2021 XC60 T8…but still leaning towards Stealth vs OEM for about the same price cuz of the 1 1/4" to 2" Adapter. I have a RockyMounts Backstage 2" Swingaway Rack and 2 eBikes, so "halving" the capacity of the rack with an extension/adapter is not an option.

I plan on installing the Stealth rack myself - then driving 1 1/2 hours to the closest Volvo Dealer to program the towing harness
Click to expand...
1. If you aren't going to tow you have the option of getting a plug and play harness from etrailer that connects to the battery and tail light connectors. In my T5 the battery is super convenient, located right under the spare tire. No idea where it is in the T8, but they want you to run a hot wire to the battery that starts the car. This harness is about sixty bucks and it works perfectly for tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights. No brake controller function. With this harness you don't have to have Volvo do any programming and it is a super simple install on a T5.

2. If you plan to ever do any towing, note that the $600 version of the Stealth hitch is not recommended for towing. They have a different, more expensive model for towing.

3. I agree with you on the tongue weight question. With the Volvo folding hitch, the problem won't be tongue-weight, per se. Volvo seems to be primarily concerned about the torque that it takes to cause the receiver to fold up, unintentionally, at it's pivot point. Start adding extensions and bicycle racks that place the load far away from the pivot point and you can generate a lot of torque. You have e-bikes that are somewhat heavier, even. The stealth hitch has welded, non-pivoting joints and seems to me like a much safer bet for your bike rack application. Actual towing applications with the Volvo folding hitch have less to worry about, typically, as the ball is located much closer to the receiver pivot point, so it can't create nearly so much torque for a given downward load.
 
#14 ·
Billk9989 said:
1. If you aren't going to tow you have the option of getting a plug and play harness from etrailer that connects to the battery and tail light connectors. In my T5 the battery is super convenient, located right under the spare tire. No idea where it is in the T8, but they want you to run a hot wire to the battery that starts the car. This harness is about sixty bucks and it works perfectly for tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights. No brake controller function. With this harness you don't have to have Volvo do any programming and it is a super simple install on a T5.

2. If you plan to ever do any towing, note that the $600 version of the Stealth hitch is not recommended for towing. They have a different, more expensive model for towing.

3. I agree with you on the tongue weight question. With the Volvo folding hitch, the problem won't be tongue-weight, per se. Volvo seems to be primarily concerned about the torque that it takes to cause the receiver to fold up, unintentionally, at it's pivot point. Start adding extensions and bicycle racks that place the load far away from the pivot point and you can generate a lot of torque. You have e-bikes that are somewhat heavier, even. The stealth hitch has welded, non-pivoting joints and seems to me like a much safer bet for your bike rack application. Actual towing applications with the Volvo folding hitch have less to worry about, typically, as the ball is located much closer to the receiver pivot point, so it can't create nearly so much torque for a given downward load.
Click to expand...
I have a small RIB and trailer that I occasionally tow - and may ultimately get a lightweight travel trailer to replace the Syncro Westy - so will likely get the beefier Stealth Towing Hitch as future proofing.
 
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#16 ·
2021 XC60 T8.

The drawtite unit seems very stout. I chose that over the stealth hitch because my main use case is a 350# scooter on a "bumper" carrier 14" behind the reciever pin. I was more comfortable with the heavy tongue load carried by the welded drawtite unit rather than transferred via the detachable stealth construction. The reciver tube is visible all the time though. DIY install was easy watching along with the Etrailer video. The $60 tekonsha harness was a snap to install too. Battery is right there where the spare tire would be.

Had the F and R axles weighed at a truck scale. Adequate capacity for the overhung load. Car's hitch attachment points looks plenty stout too. This same scooter / carrier worked fine over thousands on miles on my old 2018 XC90.
 
#17 ·
Draw tite hitches are high quality with excellent paint finish and robust mounting hardware. Unless you are uncomfortable with a hitch showing on an SUV , I wouldn’t spend the extra money on a stealth hitch. I haul 2 heavy e-bikes and have a draw tite that I am very happy with.
 
#18 ·
Mcdenny said:
2021 XC60 T8.

The drawtite unit seems very stout. I chose that over the stealth hitch because my main use case is a 350# scooter on a "bumper" carrier 14" behind the reciever pin. I was more comfortable with the heavy tongue load carried by the welded drawtite unit rather than transferred via the detachable stealth construction. The reciver tube is visible all the time though. DIY install was easy watching along with the Etrailer video. The $60 tekonsha harness was a snap to install too. Battery is right there where the spare tire would be.

Had the F and R axles weighed at a truck scale. Adequate capacity for the overhung load. Car's hitch attachment points looks plenty stout too. This same scooter / carrier worked fine over thousands on miles on my old 2018 XC90.
Click to expand...
I'll take a closer look at the Drawtite hitch. Did you have to move the tailgate lift sensor?
 
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#19 ·
tomkat73 said:
I'll take a closer look at the Drawtite hitch. Did you have to move the tailgate lift sensor?
Click to expand...
I installed the DrawTite one and the sensor still works at same location. There was one report here that the bolt hole was not aligned perfectly but mine is fine.

Sent from my moto g power (XT2041DL) using Tapatalk
 
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