Looking For ... Unicorn?

[MarkyDee]

Need some advice - tell me if I'm looking for a unicorn....


Is there a shortie or "turtletop" bus with a powerful enough drivetrain to pull a fully-loaded two-horse trailer (about 5-6000lbs) at highway speeds? My wife is currently using an older Buick Enclave (but only one horse at a time). The Buick is acting up and we'd really like to transport 2 horses at a time.



If there isn't a shortie or "turtletop" that can do it, is there a bus more like Mullet's that can?


Thanks!

[allupinc]

Originally Posted by MarkyDee

Need some advice - tell me if I'm looking for a unicorn....


Is there a shortie or "turtletop" bus with a powerful enough drivetrain to pull a fully-loaded two-horse trailer (about 5-6000lbs) at highway speeds? My wife is currently using an older Buick Enclave (but only one horse at a time). The Buick is acting up and we'd really like to transport 2 horses at a time.



If there isn't a shortie or "turtletop" that can do it, is there a bus more like Mullet's that can?


Thanks!

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...809041564.html

[eric801]

I'd . think the techies on this site would know
diesel?

when i think about your request and if my shorty would do it i'm not sure
the hitch would need changing for sure as mine's rated for 6000 but if it was me i'd go higher.

motor wise mines gas. runs fine, new trani, pulls a trailer loaded with canoes not problem. (2500 pounds) but 6000 probably, i think your gas bill might be high

1986 Chevy 30 Blue Bird, 195,000 km (120 miles) gas 16/22 pax

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by MarkyDee

Need some advice - tell me if I'm looking for a unicorn....


Is there a shortie or "turtletop" bus with a powerful enough drivetrain to pull a fully-loaded two-horse trailer (about 5-6000lbs) at highway speeds? My wife is currently using an older Buick Enclave (but only one horse at a time). The Buick is acting up and we'd really like to transport 2 horses at a time.



If there isn't a shortie or "turtletop" that can do it, is there a bus more like Mullet's that can?


Thanks!

I have seen a number of DT-466 equipped 6 windows. A couple with 5 speed manuals.

I would think that a DT-466 equipped shorty with an MT-643, 2000 or a manual transmission would be a great tow rig.

May have to visit Christopher's magic computer though

[leadsled01]

6,000 lbs of horses is a lot. Shuttle bus (turtletop) do come with diesel engines.

[cadillackid]

the ford 6.0 and 7.3 E350 Vans (and busses) have the same drivetrains as their pickup truck counterparts.. other than the vans get a little different turbos.. from what i understand because of the space constraints in a van..



of course the 6.0 should be bulletproofed and a good trans cooler installed.. the 7.3 is pretty solid as is.. a big trans cooler is a must on these too..



I dont know how much those guys pulling car trailers with theier F350 Dualies are towing.. but has to be close to 6000 lbs with 2 cars on them?



of course starting out with a bus vs a truck or van adds a good bit of weight to your rig before you hitch up the trailer... tongue weight would be a concern with a bus body already on the rear axle

-Christopher

[MarkyDee]

Originally Posted by leadsled01

6,000 lbs of horses is a lot. Shuttle bus (turtletop) do come with diesel engines.

I was factoring in the weight of the trailer as well. Heavy horses weigh in about 1500lbs, 2 @ 3000lbs, and another 1500lbs for aluminum trailer, or 3000lbs for a steel trailer (yup, pulled a steel trailer once, don't want to again). Therefore, 6000lbs is hopefully an unusual, worst-case scenario pull.

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the ford 6.0 and 7.3 E350 Vans (and busses) have the same drivetrains as their pickup truck counterparts.. other than the vans get a little different turbos.. from what i understand because of the space constraints in a van..

I figured it was something like that, but having it confirmed is great. TY!

Originally Posted by cadillackid

of course the 6.0 should be bulletproofed and a good trans cooler installed.. the 7.3 is pretty solid as is.. a big trans cooler is a must on these too..

Ok, 7.3 or larger if I can find it. BTW, what would that engine be called? T444? (I know about the DT466E and the Cummins 8.3/5.9....)

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I dont know how much those guys pulling car trailers with theier F350 Dualies are towing.. but has to be close to 6000 lbs with 2 cars on them?

Oh, gosh, not a clue.

Originally Posted by cadillackid

of course starting out with a bus vs a truck or van adds a good bit of weight to your rig before you hitch up the trailer... tongue weight would be a concern with a bus body already on the rear axle

-Christopher

Hence why I'm wanting a shortie with the rear wheel already pretty far back. I don't want the horses hitting the roof when my wife or I go over a bump....

[MarkyDee]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I have seen a number of DT-466 equipped 6 windows. A couple with 5 speed manuals.

I would think that a DT-466 equipped shorty with an MT-643, 2000 or a manual transmission would be a great tow rig.

May have to visit Christopher's magic computer though

Even though my daily driver car is a manual, I'm not sure I want a bus that's manual - at least not yet.


But the DT-466 6 window sounds just-about-right.


I'm betting that those go "like hotcakes" at the auctions....

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by MarkyDee

Even though my daily driver car is a manual, I'm not sure I want a bus that's manual - at least not yet.


But the DT-466 6 window sounds just-about-right.


I'm betting that those go "like hotcakes" at the auctions....

I only buy a manual if possible when car shopping.
I loathe driving big stuff with a clutch, though. Missing about 40% of my left quadracep so YMMV.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the ford 6.0 and 7.3 E350 Vans (and busses) have the same drivetrains as their pickup truck counterparts.. other than the vans get a little different turbos.. from what i understand because of the space constraints in a van..



of course the 6.0 should be bulletproofed and a good trans cooler installed.. the 7.3 is pretty solid as is.. a big trans cooler is a must on these too..



I dont know how much those guys pulling car trailers with theier F350 Dualies are towing.. but has to be close to 6000 lbs with 2 cars on them?



of course starting out with a bus vs a truck or van adds a good bit of weight to your rig before you hitch up the trailer... tongue weight would be a concern with a bus body already on the rear axle

-Christopher

I gross at 26,000lbs with my dualie. Dodge with 5.9

[sheldenflowers]

I have a 2001 Ford E450 for sale with only 31k miles!! It has been EXTREMELY maintained and parked in climate controlled garage. Probably one of the nicest rigs available. Has plenty of power and could tow 5000 lbs from what I understand.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-Ford-E...W9af:rk:1:pf:0


I'm open to all offers. Let me know if you are interested.

[Dr mac]

I pull a 20’ car trailer with a f350 single wheel just fine. And that is with the 5.4 with a car on the trailer
I pulled same trailer with my 250 with idi 7.3
And that is with a car or truck on the trailer.
So a turbo 7.3 is a good choice
If you can find a e350. With a 7.3 your good to go
Some of my friends pull 4 horse no problems

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by MarkyDee

Ok, 7.3 or larger if I can find it. BTW, what would that engine be called? T444? (I know about the DT466E and the Cummins 8.3/5.9....)

The 7.3 and T444 are basically the same engines - the 7.3 being the Ford version, and the T444 being the International version. There are a few minor differences between them (the Ford version, for example, has thicker head gaskets and a higher top RPM), but otherwise share many of the same parts. The engines were both built by International, Ford used them in much the same way Dodge used a Cummins.

[REDD]

What about a longer bus and put horses inside...no trailer needed?
Seal up a wall in between the two halves.

[MarkyDee]

Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur

The 7.3 and T444 are basically the same engines - the 7.3 being the Ford version, and the T444 being the International version. There are a few minor differences between them (the Ford version, for example, has thicker head gaskets and a higher top RPM), but otherwise share many of the same parts. The engines were both built by International, Ford used them in much the same way Dodge used a Cummins.

Ah! That's really good information to know. One question - how does the T444 compare to the T466?

Originally Posted by REDD

What about a longer bus and put horses inside...no trailer needed?
Seal up a wall in between the two halves.

Well, we already have the trailers; we need to replace an SUV that can pull; and my wife doesn't want to have a daily driver that's too long....

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by REDD

What about a longer bus and put horses inside...no trailer needed?
Seal up a wall in between the two halves.

that's what I intend to do with my conversion, only for sleddogs instead of horses

[Sp6saz]

If there is a shortie with a dt466 engine with an allison 3000 transmission it will pull it.... those combos or the 2500 motorhome transmission will pull another full size 40' bus. Then ya got what I call mountain climbing gears or highway gears in the ass end you get the torque gears and it will pull 2 of those trailers you just need a monster hitch.

[aluric]

I have a "Shortie" - it was a para transit bus for New York City company. It held seating for 5 and 3 wheelchairs not counting the driver. Its 2006 Ford E-350 cutaway - with the 6.0 power stroke Diesel - and the original transmission. no exhaust brake - basically I put a new wiring harness, EGR and Cooler, new fan, and a new turbo unit - replacing the things that looked like they needed it. I have had it for 4 years now and added 30K miles to the 170K it had on the odometer. All of those miles have been going across I84 up and down those hills dragging a haulmark 26' foot dual ael trailer - loaded to the gills - and no problem. Acceleration may not be the best especially on the entrance ramps on some of hose hills but it does a fine job for us. The hitch came from U-haul, there 10K 2 inch receiver. I did have to have a muffler place re-route the exhaust pipe to accommodate the hitch mounting - and the load leveler hitch mounting is set to counter the low height of the receiver - but nothing drags and the wife has never had a complaint - even when I had an explosive blow out of the right front tire, at 80 mph. Other then the length of time for the road service to get to us.

[n2wbl]

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...809041564.html

Awesome size Bus.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by n2wbl

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...809041564.html

Awesome size Bus.

Too bad it has that drive train and they want $7K for it.