Sensible and safe Swedish suggestions for Volvo XC90's?
- Thread starter Model97
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Model97
Active member
Going to at least have a Gransfors Bruks axe holder on it.
XCvagn
Member
What year do you have? We have a 2010 3.2 R-Design and a 2017 R-Design T8. Our 2010 has made more progress over the years as it's seen more adventures although our 2017 has seen some pretty spectacular scenery of it's own particularly from our summer trip this year.
Here are some ideas based on our 2010. Thule basket with adapters I made to mount 2 full size spares and 2 20L Wavian cans. Needed those for our ALCAN adventure a few years ago including going up to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway.
Carry solar panels to keep onboard battery topped up on camping trips while ARB fridge is hooked up in the back's integrated 12v outlet.
For our frequent late night drives to ski camp added VisionX 4.7" LED with amber and blue lenses depending on conditions. Used Volvo's Aux Light Kit to mount and integrate them into Volvo's CANBUS. I use Volvo's Aux Light switch integrated into the dash to activate with high beams.
Here we were for a rest stop at Fort McPherson, NT on our way to Inuvik. The year we went up the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers was finishing up the summer road up to Tuk so Inuvik was as far as we could go.
Here's our 2017 - first order of business will be new tires when the stock Pirelli are worn out on these wheels. On the original R-Design wheels I already replaced the Pirelli with Nokian Studded Hakkapeliitta 9 once the Pirellis on those wore out.
Here are some ideas based on our 2010. Thule basket with adapters I made to mount 2 full size spares and 2 20L Wavian cans. Needed those for our ALCAN adventure a few years ago including going up to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway.
Carry solar panels to keep onboard battery topped up on camping trips while ARB fridge is hooked up in the back's integrated 12v outlet.
For our frequent late night drives to ski camp added VisionX 4.7" LED with amber and blue lenses depending on conditions. Used Volvo's Aux Light Kit to mount and integrate them into Volvo's CANBUS. I use Volvo's Aux Light switch integrated into the dash to activate with high beams.
Here we were for a rest stop at Fort McPherson, NT on our way to Inuvik. The year we went up the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers was finishing up the summer road up to Tuk so Inuvik was as far as we could go.
Here's our 2017 - first order of business will be new tires when the stock Pirelli are worn out on these wheels. On the original R-Design wheels I already replaced the Pirelli with Nokian Studded Hakkapeliitta 9 once the Pirellis on those wore out.
XCvagn
Member
That's great to see another new XC90 in the overland world. I expect my first "upgrade" to be getting AT tires for it when the Pirelli on the black wheels above are worn out. Today I just got new AT tires on our 2010 to replace the old General Grabber AT2. In 255/55x18 for the 2010 I was picked up a set of BFG T/A KO2 from TireRack. They're not available for SPA XC90 [yet] although if I go to 265/50x20 Toyo recently came out with Open Country A/T III and Cooper has Discoverer Open Trek which are comparable.
There's an increasing number of options in that size which is nice to see. That size works; the only trick is making sure they're not lightweight as XC90 require XL load rating or better (surprising how many options there are at lower rating). I know of a few other XC90 T8 and T6 that have gone that route in size (in UK and in ZA - the one T8 I know if in ZA goes out on dunes quite a bit). Plus I saw one in Spain with General Grabber AT3 rubber which was nice to see in person. What size wheel do you have on yours?
Sadly the Grabber AT3 in 275/45x20 size were short lived. In EU it's pretty certain they didn't put those tires on for show - likely going out in the country or to the farm. We're not afraid to use them properly
Another upgrade I have been contemplating is adding aux lights like on our 2010. Volvo hasn't offered an aux light kit like on older XC90 probably since the newer LED lighting is much better than the old Xenon. When picking up our Volvos in Göteborg we noticed how common it was for Volvos to go around with 2 to as many as 4 Hella aux lights mounted on the front bumper! It was a must to improve winter driving in the country up there I'm sure!
There's an increasing number of options in that size which is nice to see. That size works; the only trick is making sure they're not lightweight as XC90 require XL load rating or better (surprising how many options there are at lower rating). I know of a few other XC90 T8 and T6 that have gone that route in size (in UK and in ZA - the one T8 I know if in ZA goes out on dunes quite a bit). Plus I saw one in Spain with General Grabber AT3 rubber which was nice to see in person. What size wheel do you have on yours?
Sadly the Grabber AT3 in 275/45x20 size were short lived. In EU it's pretty certain they didn't put those tires on for show - likely going out in the country or to the farm. We're not afraid to use them properly
Another upgrade I have been contemplating is adding aux lights like on our 2010. Volvo hasn't offered an aux light kit like on older XC90 probably since the newer LED lighting is much better than the old Xenon. When picking up our Volvos in Göteborg we noticed how common it was for Volvos to go around with 2 to as many as 4 Hella aux lights mounted on the front bumper! It was a must to improve winter driving in the country up there I'm sure!
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