[Firefly]

Hi,

I recently got the new retractable OEM towing package installed on my XC90 (2"x2" towbar receiver with 2in ball mount). The standard hitch is about 2in too low for my camper. Has anyone here used the OEM retractable receiver with a 3rd party ball mount? Preferably an adjustable height one?

The Volvo manual states that any 3rd party ball mount needs to fit within the geometric limits for the towbar, which seem to be 4" high, and 3.8" long as measured from the center of the cotter pin hole to the center of the ball. I don't seem to find many options within those limits. The OEM ball mount seems to fit that spec, which is a bit too low for my trailer to begin with.

 

[swede_dreams]

we don’t use the height adjustable one, but we use multiple Reese hitches at various heights with different ball sizes to accommodate for different trailers. they all fit perfectly.

 

[jford2020]

we don't use the height adjustable one, but we use multiple Reese hitches at various heights with different ball sizes to accommodate for different trailers. they all fit perfectly.

I also use a Reece hitch that has a rise to it. It fits perfectly.

 

[VolvoUhu]

Hi,

I recently got the new retractable OEM towing package installed on my XC90 (2"x2" towbar receiver with 2in ball mount). The standard hitch is about 2in too low for my camper. Has anyone here used the OEM retractable receiver with a 3rd party ball mount? Preferably an adjustable height one?

The Volvo manual states that any 3rd party ball mount needs to fit within the geometric limits for the towbar, which seem to be 4" high, and 3.8" long as measured from the center of the cotter pin hole to the center of the ball. I don't seem to find many options within those limits. The OEM ball mount seems to fit that spec, which is a bit too low for my trailer to begin with.

There's another thread that was recently resurrected that goes into it a bit. The thing to keep in mind is that the ratings for a tow bar's tongue weight and towing are based on the torque arm the ball position creates on the system. European makes publish what those limits are (Volvo and VW products like VW, Audi, and Porsche) publish those dimensions. You can deviate but you'd have to recognize that the tongue weight rating will change. It could go up or down, down if you make it longer from the fulcrum as the length increases the torque onto the tow bar, or could increase if you shorten it. Likewise, the height alters the geometry and resulting torque of the applied weight onto the ball.

Towing advice with OEM hitch

I'm going crazy trying to figure how to actually use the retractable OEM hitch I just installed! The hitch includes a ball mount attachment and a card admonishing that any attachment should be made no more than 3.8" out horizontally and 4" vertically as measured from the pin. The included ball...

www.swedespeed.com

 

[rfkuehn]

Suppose you want a good quality hitch but don't want retractable (OEM) nor hidden by removing a pin & parts. Pure install and forget about it. Forever.

I see reference to Reese, how does it compare to any other options that people have tried?

 

[Firefly]

There's another thread that was recently resurrected that goes into it a bit. The thing to keep in mind is that the ratings for a tow bar's tongue weight and towing are based on the torque arm the ball position creates on the system. European makes publish what those limits are (Volvo and VW products like VW, Audi, and Porsche) publish those dimensions. You can deviate but you'd have to recognize that the tongue weight rating will change. It could go up or down, down if you make it longer from the fulcrum as the length increases the torque onto the tow bar, or could increase if you shorten it. Likewise, the height alters the geometry and resulting torque of the applied weight onto the ball.

Thanks VolvoUhu, I did see the other thread, and the tongue weight rating adjustment makes sense. To raise the ball height by ~2 inches I'll have to break those geometric limits, that's a given. But, and that's a big one, i don't seem to find any adjustable towball mounts that fit in the width limit of 4 inches (or close thereof), or fixed ones that are 6in high, all of them seem to jut out about 8 inches or more. Was hoping someone found one that's shorter. Also a math formula to figure out how much of a loss in tongue weight capacity i'd expect with a longer or taller ball mount would be nice too . If adding one inch means I lose 10lbs of capacity, that's probably ok, but if that means I lose 100lbs of tongue weight capacity that's problematic. My trailer is about 400lbs tongue weight, so i figured i might have some wiggle room there.

 

[VolvoUhu]

@Firefly Something else I just saw - someone posted this in another thread about how they tow 6k with a slightly higher rise over the standard one piece ball mount that comes with the foldable tow bar. It seems they have an adjustable height ball mount that has the range you seem to need. You may want to PM @sconnors11 or perhaps post on that thread to ask about what they're using.

Towing 6500 lbs slowly over a short distance?

I have a heavy boat that I need to transport a half mile and launch, then land when done. Wondering if an XC90 T6 would be capable. I know it's rated for only 5000 lbs but I wouldn't exceed 15-20 mph. Any thoughts on what the issue(s) could be? Maybe transmission can't handle it?

www.swedespeed.com