Real world towing experience 110 300 tdi

[galen216]

I have the opportunity to buy a 110 300 tdi. I have a pop-up camper that I currently tow with my Volvo XC90 daily driver. It barely knows its back there. My Series has no chance of towing the camper to events. The pop up weighs about 1500lbs dry weight. How well will a 300tdi do towing the camper?

 

[pfshoen]

Fine.

 

[jymmiejamz]

You will definitely know it’s back there

 

[mgreenspan]

It’ll work, but you should sell me the series, ditch the Volvo and buy a F-550 to tow the 110 and camper.

 

[JimC]

1500 is not too bad on a stock Tdi. I’ve towed 1500 pound u-hauls across country with my Tdi 90. My Tdi 110 with the VNT tows really well, I’ve towed up to about 3000 on the interstate with it. Fuel mileage is minimally affected.

 

[galen216]

It’ll work, but you should sell me the series, ditch the Volvo and buy a F-550 to tow the 110 and camper.

Selling the Series is part of the deal in order to buy the 110. Every time I mention it my daughter cries and everyone tells me I'm stupid. They aren't wrong! But, if I even entertain selling the Series, the 110 has to be able to tow the camper otherwise there's no point.

 

[galen216]

Wish this would work, but I only have so many days to get where I'm going!

 

[erover82]

Wish this would work, but I only have so many days to get where I'm going!

LS Swap!

 

[SCRover]

Looks good on paper, at least.

110 300TDI specs

Also says top speed of 81 m;h...

 

[erover82]

By modern standards, a 300 Tdi 110 is slow, and it'll be slower pulling a trailer. That might be fine. It depends on how many hills you climb and your tolerance for putting along in the right lane.

 

[lcdck]

I definitely would not sell that series truck.

 

[Greg_M]

There are popups as light as 350 lbs. I'd do anything to avoid selling that series truck.

 

[pfshoen]

The short height of the trailer makes a big diff aero-wise, less drag. At a point, enough wind resistance and/or weight turns the 300 Tdi 110 into a dog of a tow vehicle, but it wouldn't in this case. It would make a nice combination.
When towing, it's generally recommended to travel at lower speeds than you would without a trailer, for safety reasons. Modern traffic is used to this on the open road. During the rush hour rat race, not so much.
A 110 weighs about 500 lbs more than a 90, so wouldn't perform as well with comparable loads.

 

[rocky]

Keep the series,

Sell the XC90, get an F150 V8 Crew Cab

 

[CDN38]

Just wait until you guys can get Td5's in a couple years, it's a game changer if you
like a diesel truck.

 

[CDN38]

Towed the ATV up the local ski hill a few days ago on the 16' trailer. Pretty steep on a couple sections, it pulled like a champ. Started laughing out loud at one point when I pulled out on a 2 lane section and passed a concrete truck.

 

[Z.G]

I pulled around 1200 with my 300tdi disco, never knew it was back there. Really depends on how well your tdi is running.

 

[MountainD]

Also depends on if you are towing over any mountain passes like here in CO. Then you will definitely know it is back there. Passing will be non-existent. So will 65mph. But on the flats it is fine. You can estimate that you loose 3% of power per 1000' of elevation gain. So Vail pass, for instance, is taking a marginal towing capacity down of power. It is a struggle. Some will say that the turbo charger, particularly the VNT, will compensate for this. It is true that it certainly helps. But I doubt many of those people have towed over these passes as much as I have... And although you have some power, your cooling is also drastically affected and VNT doesn't help that. So cooling becomes a big issue.

 

[galen216]

Keep the series,

Sell the XC90, get an F150 V8 Crew Cab

My Volvo (and my wife's Volvo) are paid for and have no mechanical issues. Not going to spend $70k for a new car. The Series to 110 would be a no cost solution.

 

[galen216]

Also depends on if you are towing over any mountain passes like here in CO. Then you will definitely know it is back there. Passing will be non-existent. So will 65mph. But on the flats it is fine. You can estimate that you loose 3% of power per 1000' of elevation gain. So Vail pass, for instance, is taking a marginal towing capacity down of power. It is a struggle. Some will say that the turbo charger, particularly the VNT, will compensate for this. It is true that it certainly helps. But I doubt many of those people have towed over these passes as much as I have... And although you have some power, your cooling is also drastically affected and VNT doesn't help that. So cooling becomes a big issue.

While there are lots and lots of hills here in PA, it is nothing like the west.