Guest Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 I will be getting my V90 in two weeks time so I'm looking at booking getting a tow bar fitted. For cost reasons (and the fact that some detachable tow bars seem fiddly to use) I was looking at a fixed swan neck type. All of the information I can find state that it shouldn't be a problem rather than it won't be a problem with the parking sensors. Speaking to two companies they are quite non-committal. Does anyone with a V90 have any information on this? I have had fixed swan necks on previous cars and the retractable ones on the last two cars were fine with the sensors if the towbars were left in place, so I THINK I'll be okay, but it'd be good if anyone had any experience to reassure me a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisn7 Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 Modern cars aftermarket set ups will have either have a dedicated module that integrates with the cars bus systems, or the car has to be coded to recognise a trailer by dealer level software. Either way, these turn off parking sensors, fog lights and car brake lights to avoid back glare from the van. Its only when you start using universal electrics as for older vehicles that problems start. Detachables aren't any more fiddly than to retrieve, fit, remove your hitchlock, and a lot less so than a wheel clamp....especially if you value your shins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBullet Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 (edited) 26 minutes ago, chrisn7 said: Modern cars aftermarket set ups will have either have a dedicated module that integrates with the cars bus systems, or the car has to be coded to recognise a trailer by dealer level software. Either way, these turn off parking sensors, fog lights and car brake lights to avoid back glare from the van. Its only when you start using universal electrics as for older vehicles that problems start. Detachables aren't any more fiddly than to retrieve, fit, remove your hitchlock, and a lot less so than a wheel clamp....especially if you value your shins Thats not the issue Gary eludes to, it’s of the tow bar interferes with the parking sensors if there is no van on the back. My understanding is that it won’t - you can easily check when you get the car by putting a pole about 75mm (or whatever the distance is) from the rear bumper and selecting reverse - if it doesn’t see the pole, it won’t see the swan neck. Edited June 4, 2019 by FrankBullet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike James Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 I have an aftermarket detachable swan neck on a 2012 XC60 and even with it on, it does not affect the sensors. Like you I was told it shouldn't, but not assured it wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacko1 Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 Have got a tow sure detachable on my XC 60 although it spends 90% of the time fitted (there’s a message there) when fitted the sensors do not go off. with van on they do go off but I just turn em off. Good luck with XC 90 and look forward to hearing how you get on with it. Quote 2018 Volvo XC60 D4 AWD + Penshurst Premier Plus (AKA Elddis Affinity 550) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 2 hours ago, FrankBullet said: Thats not the issue Gary eludes to, it’s of the tow bar interferes with the parking sensors if there is no van on the back. My understanding is that it won’t - you can easily check when you get the car by putting a pole about 75mm (or whatever the distance is) from the rear bumper and selecting reverse - if it doesn’t see the pole, it won’t see the swan neck. That's right. Seeing how my parents struggle with the detachable bar on their Kia Ceed AND the higher cost (i'm currently out of work), i am looking at a fixed swan neck. I'll try the idea of having something behind to replicate a tow ball and see if it "sees" it, thanks for the idea. 11 minutes ago, Jacko1 said: Have got a tow sure detachable on my XC 60 although it spends 90% of the time fitted (there’s a message there) when fitted the sensors do not go off. with van on they do go off but I just turn em off. Good luck with XC 90 and look forward to hearing how you get on with it. Thanks, mines a V90 not XC90, my wife would need a ladder to get in & out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacko1 Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 9 minutes ago, GaryB1969 said: That's right. Seeing how my parents struggle with the detachable bar on their Kia Ceed AND the higher cost (i'm currently out of work), i am looking at a fixed swan neck. I'll try the idea of having something behind to replicate a tow ball and see if it "sees" it, thanks for the idea. Thanks, mines a V90 not XC90, my wife would need a ladder to get in & out! Oops note to self, read the post properly? actually my OH gets in and out fine and is 4ft nothingish!! mate has got the V90 and loves it. Quote 2018 Volvo XC60 D4 AWD + Penshurst Premier Plus (AKA Elddis Affinity 550) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdingbilly Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Bit late to this but is it a new V90 you are getting ? If so does it have BLIS and other rear facing safety systems ? If it does then frankly I wouldn't mess around with a non Volvo towbar just get the dealer to retrofit the "factory" electric towbar then you know everrything will work as it should. Quote Volvo & Bailey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Noticed a V90 with a fixed swan neck in a garden centre car park on Friday, spoke to the owner who confirmed no issues with parking sensors. So, Brink fixed swan neck and vehicle specific wiring loom ordered. PF Jones had the Brink on offer so in the end the lot came to £245. No vehicle recoding is needed so I'll fit it myself, it'll give me something to do in between applying for jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mw3230 Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Slightly off the point, but we have a Mercedes GLE 250 fitted with a Witter demountable and the rear parking sensors work equally as well with the tow bar in situ or without. The towbar was fitted by an independent specialist contractor and to my knowledge no updating of the car electronics has been done (unless done by the fitter as part of his normal service) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheltenham Caravanner Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) I have the Volvo detachable towbar on my V70 and it works just fine. However, you need to read this thread : Volvo V90 Towball - Too High Edited June 10, 2019 by Cheltenham Caravanner added link to another thread Quote Volvo V70 D4 Estate automatic Swift Challenger SE 580 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Yes I remember that thread and did some research. There are three different towbars offered, all exactly the same but with different ball heights to suit the R-Design (lowered suspension), standard V90 - Momentum/Inscription and Cross Country (higher suspension). It's quite easy for the wrong towbar to be fitted resulting in the towball either being too high or too low. From memory that particular thread was concerning a genuine Volvo towbar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBullet Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 It also related to a car with rear air suspension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macafee2 Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 just curious. For those with parking sensors that do not see the tow ball, do you have a parking censor in line with the tow ball? I.E centre of the bumper Same question to those with sensors that do see the tow ball and therefore think you are close to something? macafee2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBullet Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 When the towbar is fitted it doesn’t see our sensors but there are 4 in total, none in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macafee2 Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 17 hours ago, FrankBullet said: When the towbar is fitted it doesn’t see our sensors but there are 4 in total, none in the middle. and I would expect this to be the case, no sensor in the middle, tow ball not seen. Thanks FrankBullet macafee2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovinmad Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 (edited) On 04/06/2019 at 19:22, GaryB1969 said: That's right. Seeing how my parents struggle with the detachable bar on their Kia Ceed AND the higher cost (i'm currently out of work), i am looking at a fixed swan neck. The one on my SMax went in vertically and I found that difficult. I needed to use my garden kneeler and still struggled. The one on my Sante Fe goes in horizontally and is very easy to fit. Both were Witters and the same mechanically. Edited June 14, 2019 by rovinmad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 30 minutes ago, rovinmad said: The one on my SMax went in vertically and I found that difficult. I needed to use my garden kneeler and still struggled. The one on my Sante Fe goes in horizontally and is very easy to fit. Both were Witters and the same mechanically. The one on my parents Kia Ceed goes in vertically, my stepfather is 85 and while still reasonably fit he struggles. He also uses a garden kneeler but it's still fiddly. None of the towbar receiver is visible so you really do have to feel around to line it all up. He fits it in April and leaves it in place until they stop using the caravan in September time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 Well it got delivered today & it's lovely. I gave up fitting the towbar myself & booked it into PF Jones at Stoke on 8th July. While fitting the towbar (and dedicated electrics) is straightforward, trying to get to grips with the various trim znd bumper clips without breaking them was challenging......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 All done today managed to get it done earlier than expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddywagon Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Can I ask, did it need the bumper cutting and what make bar did you go for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 6 minutes ago, paddywagon said: Can I ask, did it need the bumper cutting and what make bar did you go for? Only underneath, see the pictures below, it's a Brink towbar: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T Moakes Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 can i ask, did the swan neck affect beepers? just bought a v90 myself and debating the same issue -detachable or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 On 06/07/2020 at 08:54, T Moakes said: can i ask, did the swan neck affect beepers? just bought a v90 myself and debating the same issue -detachable or not No, not at all, no issues with parking sensors. Been towing with it for a year now, it’s a great tow car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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