I have a '91 240 wagon that needs to be moved by towing. The front bumper has been removed. Do you think it cold be towed using an "A" frame tow bar securely bolted to the bumper mounts? Thanks.
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Interesting what Jarrod's web site will do :) It seems our IDs got crossed somewhere in the netherworld. I had to logout and log back in again to straighten things out.

As for towing, if you already have access to a towbar, the bumper mounts are strong enough. If not, rent a car dolly.

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Well good thing we're not doing bank transactions here. :)

I'm going to complete the overhaul of the session system soon. The old system is unreliable and has been driving me up the wall for years. What you saw was yet another symptom.

It's not as easy as viewing someone else's ID. I think it might be that you were both online about the same time though.

-Jarrod
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. —Bertrand Russell

I think I was looking at your post just before submitting my post. I already notified the webmaster. It was pretty cool being Klaus. jdl

Your user id and pswd were stored on one of MY cookies, so that every time I went to the Brickboard it logged me in as you. I have deleted the cookies on my pc. Never saw a password.
I hope this mess is over now :)

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

If you're talking about the bumper shocks, I'd be a bit worried that they'd get distorted in the hassle. If you're mounting to the frame where the shocks bolt on, I'd say go for it. Those are a super reinforced part of the car, so I don't see how it would be a problem.

How far are you towing it? I've used the tow loops to pull a buddy's car across a town...though that is a bit nerve-wracking when you're in stop and go traffic.

Nate
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1997 850, 1979 242GT, 1990 740GL

I agree that a towbar is a less than ideal solution if you're moving a vehicle more than a few miles. A tow dolly can be pulled by most any vehicle and is only about $60/day at U-haul.

sd

I use an "A" frame tow bar all the time--towing locally (just this past Sunday bought an '89 245 in Brooklyn and towed to home out on Long Island-with my '80 245) and from home to my son's shop in NC, tracks in WV, PA and CT. The bumper pistons are more than adequate for the job and will not be harmed. I use a couple of sections of early 240 bumper (the really heavy one), an assortment of graded bolts/nuts and washers and steel back plates and drilled to mount the tow brackets to the various configurations of bumper piston ends. I made an angle iron front bumper for my 140, as the stamped steel brackets for the early 140's are not strong at all. Wet weather and snow/ice do call for extreme care--slow down. I also use a light bar made from a broom handle and two BMW 2002 tailight units to hang in the rear window or hatch.

Thank you V.F.H. I'm also towing on Long Island Expresssway. I'm not sure how you use the bumper sections. Is that in addition to the drilled plate attached to the end of the shock?

The bumper mounting ends of the pistons are different year to year and 240 to 740. So I use a foot long section for each side, drilled to attach to a variety of flanges and then I bolt the tow bar bracket to at least one of the actual flange holes and the bumper section--with a steel plate spanning to two spots from behind. The spacing of the 2 attaching points on the tow bracket doesn't match any of the Volvo flanges. The '89 I just towed had stepped flanges and I found I couldn't use the bumper sections, but luckily the bracket is angled back towards the outside so with one normal bolt secure to the inside of the flange and washers taking up space in between at the other end I was able to install a smaller diameter bolt at an angle with the brackets facing straight ahead. Are you as confused as I am? Send me a note directly--I'm located in Bay Shore.

I second Bruce/ Lucid: I disconnect the driveshaft for any flat-tow. Maybe not 10-15 miles but even then I go slowly and run the motor if feasible.

I ruined an MB trans once by towing ~ 60 miles on a dolly at highway speed. It's 4 bolts and worth it IMO unless weather prohibits.

If towing more than say 50 miles you should disconnect the rear u-joint and tie the driveshaft off to the side.

Otherwise you risk wear/damage to the tranny (auto or manual) when the rear wheels drive the tranny output shaft — with no internal oiling going on.
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.