93 Volvo 945 TV

People keep asking about my Tow Vehicle, so here is my story;

When I read the specs on TMs I thought Wow! an RV I can tow with my Volvo.
1994 945 2.4L 4 cylinder, Non Turbo, Asian Warner Automatic Trans. 185,000 on the speedo. Estimated Actual mileage 350,000 (I know it has been turned back but I don't know how many times)
I like cars I can fix my self. This is my 4th 940. I had 3 240s before. I drive 35to 45,000 mi per year. The engines and transmissions in the rear wheel drive 4 cylinder Volvos are bullet proof.

I got a great deal on the exact model TM I wanted (2720SL) <10 mile from home.
I installed a brake controller, 30A line for the TM battery, 7 pin connector and added the anti-sway bar ball to my ball mount.
I had a trip planned for 5 days after we signed the paper.
When I went to hook up to my car two of us could not pick up the tongue. I was expecting about a 270 lb tongue weight (10%) on a 2700 lb dry trailer.
When we lowered unto the, ball the hitch dropped ~2 1/2". I could see the stars out the windshield.
Panic set in! There are no WDHs for 1 1/4" receivers.
After a lot of searching I found some one who could get me Air Shocks over night. Well..... actually in 3 days.
I put in the shocks, hitched up, pumped the shocks to 120 PSI (Its not easy to find 120 PSI). The rear came up, the front went down, The Volvo was level, the TM was level and I hit the road, Stuart FL to Tampa, to Orlando, to Stuart, to Charlotte NC.
The shocks constantly leaked down. Handling deteriorated as the shocks would bleed down. This was not a casual tow. However; I was never tossed about by passing trucks or uneven road surfaces. I maintained safe fallowing distances etc.
While in Charlotte I replaced the plastic lines, O rings, Valve, etc.
After a month in the cold (it got down to 17 deg f), I headed back to Florida. The shocks would not inflate. There was a hole in the boot of one. Apparently they were NOS (New Old Stock) and had exceeded their shelf life. I drove home 630 miles on the axle Bump Stops. It still handled better than one would expect.
The parts man got me free replacement shocks.
I have towed my another 800 miles or so at 70 -80 mph (at that speed only 40% of south Florida drivers pass you in a 65-70 zone). It tows rock solid. Stops straight even in a panic stop (love that Primus controller).
I drive alone and don't carry much in the back. However; I don't recommend this setup for the casual driver.
For the last 3 months I have lived in my TM in Homestead, FL. Monday I'm OTR (on the road again). This will be the last trip for the Volvo.


My new TV is a 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport 4WD Diesel. So much for easy to fix cars.