96 Volvo 850, 5 Speed, Non-Turbo

I am going to be moving soon and I need to move my stuff with my volvo, preferably with a uhaul enclosed 4'x 8' trailer that weighs around 850lbs. I need to make a certain leg of my journey with the trailer that is around a 5.5 hour drive with the trailer fully loaded w/ maybe 1000 lbs (around 100 lbs tounge weight).

The drive is mostly flat highway driving, but at the end, there is a nasty long and steep hill to go up (up over the blue ridge parkway in NC).

My question is... is this to much for my old, frail, and underpowered Volvo? Could something like this kill the car in some way - if not the transmission, then the engine? I would obviously be very gentle and take it slow, but even still...

I had an Audi S4 wagon that could do this without a question, but now w/ just my volvo, I am scared that it might do it in.

Please advise.

Thanks!

Towing was a success!!!

Rented 5x8 uhaul trailer that weighs about 900 lbs empty. Loaded it full, probably had a tongue weight of 200 lbs, had stuff piled on top of the trailer and the car - looked ridiculous.

Was able to go 55-65 the whole way except a very steep hill at the end which I had to go around 35.

All in all, very impressed that the car could do it. I'm not sure I would attempt something like this w/ an automatic, but the manual handled it very well.

You need to check your hitch, usually they are 150-200lbs at the tongue. The volvo manual says 1500lbs total weight easily, but you can check it out at speed to make sure it is not wagging the car. Check the tire pressure in that Uhaul.

Don't be like some dodo brains that do 80mph, just stay even with the truckers.

When you hit the small hills in PA, you might want to shift to 4th, just so you don't lug the engine, 3rd if you have to.

Remember, going down hill is more dangerous than going up hill.

Klaus
--
Common sense trumps a PhD