Load for the road
You’ve chosen a Volvo, which means you are driving a vehicle with extremely flexible loading solutions that allow you to be both creative and innovative when loading your car. However, no matter whether you pack your gear inside the vehicle or on the roof, it is vital that you load and secure your cargo properly. By using Volvo’s loading and securing accessories, you will transport your cargo in both a convenient and safe way.
Tips and recommendations
Load capacity
Your car’s load-carrying capacity is the maximum permitted extra weight specified for your vehicle – the total weight of passengers, cargo and any accessories that may be installed. Exceeding that weight can cause tyre overheating as well as difficulties in steering and braking. Before loading your car, check its load-carrying capacity in your owner’s manual or on your vehicle’s data plate.
Braking distance
Bear in mind that driving a heavily loaded car means its braking distance will be increased and that you need more space for stopping and also for overtaking. And remember that excess weight also puts a heavier load on the engine, causing higher fuel consumption. Reduce the weight of luggage or objects carried in your car whenever possible in order to maximize fuel economy.
Tyre preassure
Check the tyre pressures when you have taken on extra weight. Driving a heavily loaded car for a long distance, especially at high speed, requires increased tyre pressure. Consult your owner’s manual for the tyre inflation tables.
Headlamps
If your vehicle has a system for adjusting the headlamps, adjust your headlights slightly downward when carrying a heavy load in the luggage compartment. Otherwise the rear of the vehicle might sag, directing your headlights high enough to blind oncoming traffic.