Best Towing Setup for a 2018 Volvo XC90

Published 11/15/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(36)

$251.09

2-to-3 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles w/ Incandescent Tail Lights

(172)

$38.14

T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(83)

$57.18

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(19)

$254.97

Curt Echo Wireless Brake Controller - 7-Way Plug-in w/ Bluetooth App - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional

(1769)

$279.95

50mm Hitch Ball - 1" Diameter x 2-1/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 8K

(137)

$33.95

Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

(3398)

$119.76

7-Way Molded Trailer Wire Connector - 3' Long

(195)

$33.16

Adjustable Ball Mount for 2" Hitches - 9" Rise to 10-1/4" Drop - 5,000 lbs

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$106.39

Question:

Hello Etrailer Team, Im currently stationed in Germay, My 2018 Volvo XC90 is US spec and willing to install a trailer hitch with wiring haness to tow Euro spec caravan 2018 Dethleffs 495QSK. I also want to install a trailer hitch W/ wiring harness that can be used both in Euro and U.S. Which part do you recommend? Is wiring harness converter required? what is difference of hitch height between EU and U.S.? Thanks

asked by: JK

Helpful Expert Reply:

For your 2018 Volvo XC90, I recommend using the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C53HR because this trailer hitch unlike the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C13233 will not require any drilling into the frame which is not exactly something most want to do on a brand-new vehicle. The install process will be a bit more challenging but the limited vehicle modifications makes it well worth your while. We also have an install video of this hitch which I have attached for you as well.

In order to then couple the trailer to your newly installed trailer hitch you will need both a ball mount and hitch ball. For this, I recommend using the Convert-a-Ball Adjustable-Height Ball Mount part # TK5007 because it has multiple adjustment slots to ensure the trailer is towed level with the 50mm Hitch Ball part # EH53C-C. For a trailer wiring harness, I recommend using the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness part # 118683 because it is nearly entirely plug and play which you can also see in the attached install video.

I did some research on you 2018 Dethleffs 495 QSK and it looks to have braked axles which means you are going to need to convert the above 4-way to a 7-way and then install a brake controller. For these two items I recommend the Universal Installation Kit part # ETBC7L with the Curt Echo Mobile Trailer Brake Controller part # C51180. The Curt Echo is wireless so no modifications to the tow vehicle will be needed once the 7-way is installed. You only need to run the black 12 volt power wire to the battery on the Universal Installation Kit.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to tow a trailer with a Euro trailer connector using a vehicle with a US trailer connector and certainly no way to switch back and forth. They do not make any sort of adapter for this to my knowledge and the only option I can offer you is to remove the Euro trailer connector from the trailer and install a US trailer connector. For this you are going to need both a converter box part # 118158 and trailer connector part # H20042.

On your trailer there should be the following wires:

Yellow: Left Turn Signal
Blue: Fog
White: Ground
Green: Right Turn Signal
Brown: Right Tail Light
Red: Brake Light
Black: Left Tail Light

When converting these wires for use with the US 7-way trailer connector you will need to make the following connections:

Euro Yellow = US Yellow
Euro Blue = Null
Euro White = US White
Euro Green = US Green
Euro Brown + Euro Euro Black = US Brown
Euro Red = US Red

In regard to hitch height, there isn't a standard for each country but the Convert-a-Ball Adjustable-Height Ball Mount has multiple adjustments so you shouldn't worry.